Oglethorpe County Felony Record Search

Oglethorpe County felony records are stored by the Clerk of Superior Court and the Sheriff's Office in Lexington. This small, rural county has about 15,000 residents and sits in the Northern Judicial Circuit. The clerk holds all court filings and case files, while the sheriff manages arrest logs and jail records. Searching for felony records in Oglethorpe County can be done at the Lexington courthouse, over the phone, through the mail, or by checking state databases online.

Oglethorpe County Clerk of Superior Court

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

You can search records in person at 111 W. Main Street, Lexington, GA 30648. Bring a valid ID and the name of the person you are looking up. A date of birth or case number will help. Copies run $0.10 per page under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70. Certified copies cost more. Call (706) 743-5731 for questions. As a smaller county, the clerk's office usually has shorter wait times than you would find in metro areas. Walk-in requests are common here.

The Northern Judicial Circuit also covers Elbert, Hart, Madison, and Franklin counties. Judges and prosecutors serve across all these counties. But each county clerk keeps its own set of records. Oglethorpe County files stay in Lexington.

Oglethorpe County Sheriff's Office

The Oglethorpe County Sheriff's Office keeps arrest records and booking data. Under O.C.G.A. § 42-4-7, the sheriff must log every person held in the county jail. These records include the person's name, charges, booking date, and the issuing court. Felony arrest records are public.

The sheriff's office is at 109 W. Main Street, Lexington, GA 30648. Call (706) 743-8171 for inmate information or arrest record requests. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34, the agency can charge up to $20 for criminal history checks. In a county this size, the sheriff's staff often knows cases personally, which can sometimes speed up record lookups.

The GBI's Georgia Crime Information Center page shown above explains how criminal history data is collected and shared across all Georgia counties, including Oglethorpe.

Searching Oglethorpe County Felony Records Online

State online tools are the easiest way to check Oglethorpe County felony records without a trip to Lexington.

The GDC Offender Query is free and shows all current and former state prison inmates. If someone from Oglethorpe County was sentenced to prison, they will appear here. Search by name, GDC ID, or physical description. The results show charges, sentence length, facility, and release info.

The Georgia Felon Search costs $15 per lookup and checks the full GCIC database. You need the person's full name, date of birth, and sex. Results are instant. The $15 fee applies even if no record is found. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-35, this data can be disclosed without fingerprints. For a thorough Oglethorpe County felony check, this is the best paid option.

The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority connects all county clerk offices. Oglethorpe County participates in this system. Some real estate and lien records are free to search, but criminal case lookups may need a subscription.

Record Access and Georgia Open Records Act

Felony records in Oglethorpe County are public. The Georgia Open Records Act gives anyone the right to request them. Court files, arrest records, and jail data are all open. Agencies must respond within three business days.

Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, arrest records can be restricted if the case was never prosecuted. For arrests after July 1, 2013, the district attorney handles these requests. Older cases go through the arresting agency. Restricted records still appear in law enforcement searches but not public ones. The First Offender Act (O.C.G.A. § 42-8-62.1) lets first-time offenders seal records after completing their sentence. Violent felonies under O.C.G.A. § 17-3-2.1 carry a seven-year wait before restriction.

In practice, most felony conviction records in Oglethorpe County remain public and accessible for the long term.

State Resources for Oglethorpe County

The Georgia Crime Information Center collects criminal history from all 159 counties. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-33, GCIC must keep complete records. Background checks can be requested through the sheriff or GCIC.

The State Board of Pardons and Paroles tracks parole data for offenders convicted in Oglethorpe County. The board also handles pardon requests. State databases may not reflect the most recent filings from the Oglethorpe County Superior Court, so contact the clerk for the latest info.

Cities in Oglethorpe County

Oglethorpe County includes the towns of Lexington, Crawford, Arnoldsville, and Maxeys. All felony cases from these areas go through the Oglethorpe County Superior Court in Lexington. No cities in Oglethorpe County meet the population threshold for their own page.

Nearby Counties

These counties are near Oglethorpe County. Each has its own courthouse and felony record system.