Coffee County Felony Records

Coffee County felony records are maintained by the Clerk of Superior Court and the Sheriff's Office in Douglas. With a population of around 44,000, Coffee County is a mid-size county in south-central Georgia. The Waycross Judicial Circuit handles felony cases here. The clerk keeps all court filings and the sheriff manages arrest records and jail bookings. You can search these records at the courthouse, over the phone, or through state online tools that cover Coffee County data.

Coffee County Clerk of Superior Court

The Clerk of Superior Court is the main holder of felony records in Coffee County. All criminal case filings pass through this office. Indictments, plea bargains, sentencing orders, and final case dispositions are all stored here. The clerk maintains paper files and digital records for cases heard in the Coffee County Superior Court.

Visit the courthouse at 101 S. Peterson Avenue, Douglas, GA 31533 to request records. Bring a photo ID and know the person's name. A date of birth or case number makes the search go faster. Copy fees are $0.10 per page under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70. Certified copies cost a bit more. Call (912) 384-2865 for questions about Coffee County felony case records.

The clerk's office accepts walk-in requests and written requests by mail. Coffee County is not a huge county, so wait times are usually manageable. Still, calling ahead is a good idea for complex requests.

Coffee County Sheriff's Office

The Coffee County Sheriff's Office handles arrest records and jail bookings for the county. Under O.C.G.A. § 42-4-7, the sheriff must track everyone held in the Coffee County jail. Records include the person's name, charges, booking date, and the court that issued the warrant. Felony arrest records in Coffee County are public under state law.

The sheriff's office is at 225 S. Peterson Avenue, Douglas, GA 31533. Call (912) 384-4227 for inmate information or to ask about recent arrests. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34, local law enforcement can charge up to $20 for a criminal history check. The Coffee County Jail processes a moderate number of bookings. Arrest data is separate from the court records held by the clerk, so check both offices if you need the full picture.

The GDC offender search portal shown above lets you search for Coffee County inmates who received a state prison sentence.

Searching Coffee County Felony Records Online

Several online tools let you search Coffee County felony records without going to the courthouse. State databases are the fastest option.

The GDC Offender Query is free. It covers all current and former state prison inmates. If someone from Coffee County was sentenced to state prison, they will show up here. Search by name, GDC ID, or physical details. The results list charges, sentence length, the facility, and possible release dates.

The Georgia Felon Search costs $15 per search. It checks the GCIC database for every felony conviction in the state. You will need the person's full name, date of birth, and sex. Results come back instantly. A "no record found" result still costs $15. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-35, this information can be shared without a fingerprint match. This is the most complete paid search tool for Coffee County felony records outside of visiting the courthouse.

The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority links clerk offices across all 159 counties. Coffee County is part of this system. Real estate records and some court filings are searchable through the GSCCCA website. Not all criminal data is available online yet, but the system keeps adding more records. It is worth checking to see what Coffee County records are currently in the system.

Record Access and Restrictions

Felony records in Coffee County are mostly public. Anyone can request them. Court filings, arrest records, and booking data are all open under the Georgia Open Records Act. Agencies have three business days to respond.

Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, some arrest records can be restricted if the case was not prosecuted. For arrests after July 1, 2013, the prosecuting attorney handles restriction requests. Older cases go through the arresting agency. Restricted records are hidden from public searches but still show up for law enforcement.

The First Offender Act, O.C.G.A. § 42-8-62.1, allows first-time offenders to seal records after finishing probation. Violent felonies under O.C.G.A. § 17-3-2.1 carry a seven-year waiting period. In general, felony convictions in Coffee County stay on the public record for good.

State Resources for Coffee County

The Georgia Crime Information Center collects criminal history records from all 159 Georgia counties, including Coffee. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-33, GCIC must maintain complete arrest and disposition records. You can get a background check through the Coffee County Sheriff or through GCIC.

The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority connects all county clerk offices. Coffee County participates in the shared system for filings and record management. The State Board of Pardons and Paroles handles parole information for offenders convicted in Coffee County or elsewhere in Georgia.

Coffee County also has a state prison facility. The Coffee Correctional Facility is a private prison located in Nicholls. It holds state inmates, though records for those inmates are managed through the GDC, not the county. Keep in mind that state databases may not have the most recent filings from the Coffee County Superior Court.

How to Get Copies of Coffee County Records

You have several options for getting copies of felony records from Coffee County. The most direct way is to visit the courthouse in Douglas. Ask the clerk for the case file and bring an ID. Standard copies are $0.10 per page. Certified copies cost more and may be required for certain legal purposes.

Mail requests go to the Coffee County Clerk of Court at 101 S. Peterson Avenue, Douglas, GA 31533. Include the person's full name, date of birth if you have it, and a check or money order for the fees. The clerk will mail the documents back to you.

For arrest records, reach out to the Coffee County Sheriff at (912) 384-4227. They can provide booking reports and arrest details. Under the Open Records Act, they must respond within three business days. If you need a statewide criminal history that goes beyond Coffee County, use the Georgia Felon Search or request a GCIC report.

Cities in Coffee County

Coffee County includes the city of Douglas and a few smaller communities. No cities in Coffee County meet the population threshold for a separate city page. All felony cases from these areas are handled through the Coffee County Superior Court in Douglas.

Nearby Counties

These counties are near Coffee County. Each one maintains its own felony record system at their courthouse.