Towns County Felony Records

Felony records for Towns County are maintained at the Clerk of Superior Court in Hiawassee. Situated in the north Georgia mountains near the North Carolina border, Towns County has a population of around 12,000. It is one of the state's smaller counties by population. The clerk stores all criminal case filings from the Superior Court, and the sheriff's office keeps arrest and booking records. Searching felony records here can be done at the Hiawassee courthouse, by mail, or through Georgia's statewide online databases.

Towns County Clerk of Superior Court

The Clerk of Superior Court is the primary source for felony records in Towns County. All criminal case filings that move through the Towns County Superior Court are stored here. This includes indictments, arraignment records, plea agreements, trial records, sentencing orders, and appeals.

The office is at 48 River Street, Hiawassee, GA 30546. Bring a valid photo ID and the full name of the person you are searching. A case number or date of birth helps narrow results. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71, the clerk must provide public records within three business days. Copies cost $0.10 per page. Certified copies are more expensive. Call (706) 896-2130 for questions about specific cases or to check hours before visiting.

Towns County has a light felony caseload compared to urban counties. This means requests are usually handled quickly. The small office staff can walk you through the search process if you are not sure what you need.

Towns County Sheriff's Office

The Towns County Sheriff's Office manages arrest records and jail operations. Under O.C.G.A. § 42-4-7, the sheriff must keep records of everyone booked into the county detention facility. These records show the person's name, charges, booking date, and bond information.

The sheriff's office is at 1471 Jack Dayton Circle, Young Harris, GA 30582. Call (706) 896-4444 for information about recent arrests or current inmates. Walk-in requests are taken during regular business hours. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34, the sheriff can charge up to $20 for a criminal history check run through the local system.

The sheriff's arrest records are separate from the court files at the clerk's office. An arrest record shows what the person was charged with. The court record shows the outcome. Both are public in most cases.

Searching Felony Records Online

Towns County does not run its own online case search system. That is typical for small mountain counties. Statewide databases cover Towns County records though.

The GDC Offender Query is free to use. It covers anyone currently or formerly in the Georgia prison system. If a Towns County felony resulted in prison time, the person shows up here. Search by name or GDC ID number. Results include charges, sentence length, and facility location.

The Georgia Felon Search costs $15 per name and searches the GCIC database for all felony convictions in Georgia. You need the full name, date of birth, and sex. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-35, fingerprints are not required. Results are instant.

The GSCCCA links all 159 county clerk offices. It may have case index data from Towns County that you can look up from home. This is useful when you are not sure which county filed the case.

The GSCCCA website shown above connects all Georgia county clerks and can help locate case records from Towns County.

Record Access and Restrictions

Felony records in Towns County are public under Georgia law. The Open Records Act gives anyone the right to request court files, arrest records, and conviction data. Agencies have three business days to respond.

Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, some arrest records can be restricted if charges were dropped or the person was found not guilty. For arrests made after July 1, 2013, restrictions may be handled automatically by the prosecutor. Older records require a formal application. The First Offender Act, O.C.G.A. § 42-8-62.1, allows first-time offenders to seal their records after completing their sentence. Serious violent felonies under O.C.G.A. § 17-10-6.1 are not eligible. Most felony convictions in Towns County stay on the public record.

State Resources

The GCIC collects criminal history data from all Georgia counties, including Towns. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-33, GCIC maintains complete records. You can request a background check through the sheriff or directly from GCIC.

The State Board of Pardons and Paroles tracks parole for offenders from Towns County. The GBI's Open Records Request Portal accepts formal criminal history requests covering Towns County cases.

Fees

Copies cost $0.10 per page. Certified copies are about $2.50 for the first page plus $0.50 each after. Georgia Felon Search is $15. GBI checks are $20. Sheriff checks run up to $20. The GDC Offender Query is free. Mail requests should include a check or money order and a return envelope.

Nearby Counties

These counties are near Towns County in the north Georgia mountains. Each keeps its own felony records.