Search Telfair County Felony Records

Felony records in Telfair County are maintained by the Clerk of Superior Court and the Sheriff's Office in McRae. The county has about 11,000 residents and sits in the Oconee Judicial Circuit in south-central Georgia. Telfair County is also home to Telfair State Prison, which gives it a direct connection to the state corrections system. The Telfair County Superior Court handles all felony cases, and records can be searched in person at the McRae courthouse, by phone or mail, or through statewide online tools.

Telfair County Clerk of Superior Court

The Clerk of Superior Court is the primary source for felony records in Telfair County. All indictments, plea deals, sentencing documents, and case dispositions are filed with this office. The clerk keeps both paper and electronic records for cases processed through the Telfair County Superior Court.

Visit the clerk's office at 91 E. Oak Street, McRae, GA 31055. Bring a valid photo ID and the full name of the person whose record you need. A date of birth or case number speeds up the search. Copies are $0.10 per page under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70. Certified copies cost more. Call (229) 868-6525 to check whether a record is on file before you visit. Walk-in requests are accepted during regular business hours.

You can also send requests by mail. Include the person's name, the record type, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and a check or money order for copy fees. Telfair County is a small county, and the clerk's staff tends to turn around mail requests fairly quickly.

Telfair County Sheriff's Office

The Telfair County Sheriff's Office is responsible for arrest records and jail bookings. Under O.C.G.A. § 42-4-7, the sheriff must maintain records for every person held in the county jail. These records list the person's name, charges, booking date, and the court that issued the warrant or order.

The sheriff's office is at 8 E. Oak Street, McRae, GA 31055. Phone: (229) 868-6621. Call for arrest record inquiries or inmate status. Felony arrest records in Telfair County are public under state law. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34, the sheriff can charge up to $20 for a local criminal history check.

The Telfair County government website shown above provides department contacts and information about county services.

Telfair State Prison is in the county, but its inmates fall under the Georgia Department of Corrections. State prison records are separate from the county jail booking records. The sheriff handles local arrests and pretrial detention. GDC handles state prison inmates. If you are looking for someone in state prison, use the GDC search tool instead.

Online Felony Record Searches

Telfair County does not have a local online court search. State-level databases are the easiest way to check records from home.

The GDC Offender Query is free and open to anyone. It covers all current and past Georgia state prison inmates. Anyone from Telfair County who served time in a Georgia prison will show up. You can search by name, GDC ID, or physical traits. Results include charges, sentence details, facility, and expected release dates. With Telfair State Prison in the county, this tool has a lot of relevance locally.

The Georgia Felon Search costs $15 per lookup. It checks the GCIC database for felony convictions statewide. Enter 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. § 35-3-37, data is released without fingerprint comparison. For a thorough remote search of Telfair County felony records, this is the best paid option.

The Georgia Crime Information Center manages the central criminal history database for all 159 counties. Telfair County reports to GCIC like every other county in the state. You can request a formal criminal background check directly through the center or through the Telfair County Sheriff.

Record Restrictions and Access

Felony records in Telfair County are generally public. Court files, arrest data, and booking records are covered by Georgia's Open Records Act. State law requires a response within three business days.

Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, arrest records for cases that were never prosecuted can be restricted. For arrests after July 1, 2013, the district attorney handles restriction requests. Older cases go to the arresting agency. Restricted records are removed from public searches but remain accessible to law enforcement.

The First Offender Act under O.C.G.A. § 42-8-62.1 allows first-time offenders to seal records after finishing probation or their full sentence. Serious violent felonies carry a seven-year wait. In most cases, felony convictions in Telfair County stay public unless a court orders the record sealed.

State Resources for Telfair County

The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority links all clerk offices in the state. Telfair County is part of this shared platform for case management and e-filing. The GSCCCA website also offers search tools for property records and liens.

The State Board of Pardons and Paroles keeps parole data for offenders sentenced in Telfair County. If someone convicted at the McRae courthouse was later released on parole, the board tracks that information. Their website provides a parolee search tool.

The GBI provides fingerprint-based criminal history checks that are more accurate than name-based searches. These are used by employers and licensing agencies throughout Georgia. The Telfair County Sheriff can assist you in starting this process if a fingerprint-based check is what you need.

Nearby Counties

These counties are near Telfair County. Each one has its own felony record system at the county courthouse.