Access Rabun County Felony Records

Rabun County felony records are maintained by the Clerk of Superior Court and the Sheriff's Office in Clayton. Located in the far northeast corner of Georgia, Rabun County has around 17,000 residents and is part of the Mountain Judicial Circuit. The clerk holds all court filings and case documents, while the sheriff manages arrest records and jail bookings. You can search felony records at the Clayton courthouse in person, by phone, through mail, or using Georgia's statewide online databases.

Rabun County Clerk of Superior Court

The Clerk of Superior Court is the primary source for felony records in Rabun County. Every criminal filing goes through this office. Indictments, plea agreements, sentencing orders, and final dispositions are all stored here. The clerk maintains both paper files and digital records for cases heard in Rabun County Superior Court.

Visit the courthouse at 25 Courthouse Square, Clayton, GA 30525 for in-person searches. Bring a valid ID and the name of the person whose record you need. A date of birth or case number helps. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, copies cost $0.10 per page. Certified copies cost more. Call (706) 782-3615 with questions. Rabun County is a small mountain county, so the clerk's office usually handles requests quickly without a long wait.

The Mountain Judicial Circuit also covers Habersham, Stephens, and Towns counties. Judges and prosecutors rotate among all four courthouses. But each county keeps its own records. Rabun County files stay in Clayton. If you need records from Habersham County, for example, you would contact their clerk in Clarkesville.

Rabun County Sheriff's Office

The Rabun County Sheriff's Office handles arrest records and jail bookings. Under O.C.G.A. § 42-4-7, the sheriff must log every person booked into the county jail. These records include the person's name, charges, booking date, and the court that issued the warrant. All of this is public under Georgia law.

The sheriff's office is at 25 Courthouse Square, Clayton, GA 30525. Call (706) 782-3612 for inmate information or arrest records. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34, local agencies can charge up to $20 for criminal history checks. The sheriff covers all of Rabun County, which includes the Tallulah Falls area and the Chattooga Wild and Scenic River corridor. Rural areas mean the sheriff's office is the main law enforcement for much of the county.

The Georgia Felon Search portal shown above is the statewide paid tool for checking felony convictions. It covers records from all 159 Georgia counties, including Rabun.

Searching Rabun County Felony Records Online

State databases let you check Rabun County felony records without traveling to Clayton.

The GDC Offender Query is free. It shows all current and past state prison inmates. If someone from Rabun County was sentenced to state prison for a felony, they will appear here. You can search by name, GDC ID, or physical description. Results include charges, sentence length, prison facility, and release dates.

The Georgia Felon Search costs $15 per lookup. It checks the GCIC database for all felony convictions statewide. You need the full name, date of birth, and sex of the person. Results are instant. The $15 fee applies even if nothing is found. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-35, this information can be released without fingerprints.

The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority connects all county clerk offices through a shared network. Rabun County is part of this system. Some records are available to search online, though full criminal case lookups may require a paid account or an in-person visit to the courthouse.

Record Access and Restrictions

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

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 restriction requests. Older cases go through the arresting agency. Restricted records still show up for law enforcement but not in public searches. First-time offenders may seal records under the First Offender Act (O.C.G.A. § 42-8-62.1) after completing their sentence. Violent felonies per O.C.G.A. § 17-3-2.1 carry a seven-year wait before any restriction is possible.

Most felony convictions in Rabun County stay on the public record for good.

State Resources for Rabun County

The Georgia Crime Information Center gathers criminal history from all 159 counties, including Rabun. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-33, GCIC must keep complete records. You can request a background check through the sheriff or GCIC directly.

The State Board of Pardons and Paroles tracks parole information for offenders convicted in Rabun County. The board also handles pardon applications. State databases may not include the most recent filings from the Rabun County Superior Court. Contact the clerk for the latest case information.

Cities in Rabun County

Rabun County includes Clayton, Dillard, Mountain City, Sky Valley, and Tiger. All felony cases from these towns go through the Rabun County Superior Court in Clayton. No cities in Rabun County meet the population threshold for their own page.

Nearby Counties

These counties are near Rabun County. Each maintains its own felony records at their courthouse.