Find Sumter County Felony Records

Felony records in Sumter County are maintained by the Clerk of Superior Court and the Sheriff's Office in Americus. With about 30,000 residents, Sumter County is a mid-sized county in southwest Georgia that serves as a regional hub for the area. The county is part of the Southwestern Judicial Circuit, and all felony proceedings go through the Sumter County Superior Court. Records can be accessed in person at the Americus courthouse, by phone, by mail, or through several statewide online databases that include Sumter County data.

Sumter County Clerk of Superior Court

The Clerk of Superior Court is the primary source for felony records in Sumter County. All indictments, plea agreements, sentencing documents, and case dispositions are filed here. The clerk keeps both paper and digital records for cases processed through the Sumter County Superior Court in Americus.

To search records in person, go to 500 W. Lamar Street, Americus, GA 31709. You need a photo ID and the full name of the person you are looking up. Having a date of birth or case number helps. Copies cost $0.10 per page under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70. Certified copies are priced higher. Call the clerk at (229) 928-4537 with questions about record availability. The office handles walk-in requests during business hours and also accepts written requests by mail.

For mail requests, include the person's name, the record type, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Attach a check or money order for the copy fees. Sumter County sees a moderate volume of filings, so turnaround on mail requests is usually within a week or so.

Sumter County Sheriff's Office

The Sumter County Sheriff's Office is responsible for arrest records and jail bookings. Under O.C.G.A. § 42-4-7, the sheriff is required to keep records for everyone held in the Sumter County Jail. Each record lists the person's name, charges, booking date, and the court that issued the warrant.

The sheriff's office is at 117 W. Lamar Street, Americus, GA 31709. Phone: (229) 924-4092. Call for questions about recent arrests or inmate status. Felony arrest records are public. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34, the sheriff can charge up to $20 for processing a criminal history check at the local level.

Americus serves as the county seat and the main population center. The jail sees a steady flow of bookings compared to the smaller surrounding counties. Booking records from the sheriff are separate from the court files kept by the clerk. The arrest record shows the booking; the court file shows the prosecution and outcome.

The GDC Offender Search Portal above is a free statewide tool that includes inmates from Sumter County and all other Georgia counties.

Online Felony Record Searches

Sumter County does not run its own online case search portal. However, several state-level tools provide access to felony records from every Georgia county.

The GDC Offender Query is free and open to the public. It lists all current and past Georgia state prison inmates. If someone from Sumter County received a prison sentence, they will show up in this database. You can search by name, GDC ID, or physical description. Results include charges, sentence details, facility, and projected release dates.

The Georgia Felon Search costs $15 per lookup and pulls from the GCIC database. You need the person's full name, date of birth, and sex. Results are immediate. A "no record" result still costs $15. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, this data can be released without fingerprint verification. For a Sumter County felony records search done from home, this is the most complete paid option.

The Georgia Crime Information Center collects criminal data from all 159 counties, including Sumter. This is the central database that feeds both the Felon Search and the GDC query. You can also request a direct criminal history check through GCIC or through the Sumter County Sheriff's Office.

Restrictions on Felony Records

Felony records in Sumter County are mostly public. Court filings, arrest data, and booking information are available under Georgia's Open Records Act. State law requires agencies to respond within three business days.

Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, arrest records for cases that were not prosecuted can be restricted. For arrests after July 1, 2013, the district attorney handles restriction requests. Older cases go through the arresting agency. Restricted records show up in law enforcement systems but are removed from public-facing databases.

First-time offenders may be eligible under O.C.G.A. § 42-8-62.1 to seal their records after completing probation or their full sentence. Violent felonies carry a seven-year wait before restriction can be considered. In general, felony convictions in Sumter County stay on the public record unless a court orders them sealed.

State Resources for Sumter County

The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority connects all clerk offices statewide. Sumter County is part of this shared system for case management. The GSCCCA also provides access to real estate and lien records from participating counties.

The State Board of Pardons and Paroles handles parole information for offenders sentenced in Sumter County. If someone was convicted at the Americus courthouse and later paroled, the board tracks that data. You can search parolee records through their site.

Fingerprint-based background checks through the GBI are available for employers and licensing agencies. These are more accurate than name-based searches but cost more and take longer. The Sumter County Sheriff can help you start this process if you need a fingerprint-based check.

Nearby Counties

These counties border or are close to Sumter County. Each one keeps its own felony records at the local courthouse.