Find Felony Records in Decatur County

Decatur County felony records are stored at the Superior Court Clerk office and the Sheriff's Office in Bainbridge. This southwest Georgia county has around 26,000 residents and sits along the Florida border. You can search for criminal cases, arrest records, and offender information through local offices or state tools. The Clerk of Superior Court files and stores all felony case records from the court, while the Sheriff's Office keeps arrest and jail booking data. Bainbridge is the county seat, and that is where you go for in-person felony record requests in Decatur County.

Decatur County Superior Court Clerk

The Clerk of Superior Court is the primary custodian of felony records in Decatur County. All criminal case filings from the Superior Court are housed here. Indictments, plea agreements, sentencing orders, and case dispositions are all part of the record. The clerk keeps both paper and digital files for felony cases. You can ask staff to pull a case by the defendant's name or by case number.

For in-person requests, bring a valid ID to the clerk's office. Having a date of birth or case number makes the search go faster. The Georgia Open Records Act, O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, gives you the right to access these records. Standard copies are $0.10 per page. Certified copies of Decatur County felony records cost more depending on the document type.

The Decatur County Clerk of Court is at 112 E. Water Street, Bainbridge, GA 39817. Call (229) 248-3025 for questions.

Sheriff's Office Arrest Records

Arrest records and jail data in Decatur County come from the Sheriff's Office. O.C.G.A. § 42-4-7 requires the sheriff to track every person booked into the county jail. These records list the person's name, charges, booking date, and issuing court. The records are public.

The Decatur County Sheriff's Office is at 815 E. Water Street, Bainbridge, GA 39817. Phone is (229) 248-3022. You can call to ask about current inmates or check on recent felony arrests. The sheriff also runs criminal history checks. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34, the fee is capped at $20 per person. Walk-in and phone requests are both accepted during business hours.

Note: Booking records are updated as new arrests occur in Decatur County.

How to Search Decatur County Felony Records

There are multiple ways to search felony records in Decatur County. Some are free. Some cost money. The method you pick depends on what info you need.

The GDC Offender Query is a free online tool. It lists all people in Georgia state prisons. If someone from Decatur County was sent to a GDC facility, they will show up here. You can search by name, ID, or physical description. Results show charges, sentence length, and projected release dates.

The Decatur County government website has general info about county offices and departments.

The Georgia Felon Search is $15 per search. It pulls from the GCIC felony conviction database. You provide the person's full name, date of birth, and sex. Results are instant. O.C.G.A. § 35-3-35 allows this data to be shared without fingerprint verification. The $15 charge applies regardless of whether a record is found.

For full court files, visit the Decatur County Courthouse in Bainbridge. The clerk can show you the complete record, including documents not available online.

State Criminal Record Resources

The Georgia Crime Information Center is the state's central hub for criminal history data. GCIC collects records from every county, including Decatur. Arrest records, court outcomes, and prison data all feed into the system. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-33, GCIC must maintain complete and accurate criminal history records for the whole state.

The GSCCCA connects all 159 county clerks through shared e-filing and records systems. Decatur County uses these tools for managing felony case data. The Georgia Sheriffs' Association has a statewide directory if you need to reach the Decatur County Sheriff or sheriffs in nearby counties.

Decatur County Record Restrictions

Most felony records in Decatur County are public. You can request them whether or not you are part of the case. The Open Records Act gives you that right. Agencies must get back to you within three business days.

Some records have restrictions. O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37 allows arrest records to be restricted from public view when charges are dropped. For arrests after July 1, 2013, the prosecutor handles that. Older cases go through the arresting agency. The First Offender Act, O.C.G.A. § 42-8-62.1, lets eligible first-time offenders seal their records after finishing probation. Serious violent felonies under O.C.G.A. § 17-3-2.1 require a seven-year wait before any automatic restriction. Felony convictions in Decatur County are nearly always public.

Nearby Counties

These counties are close to Decatur County in southwest Georgia. All keep their own felony records.