Find Cartersville Criminal History

Criminal history records in Cartersville come from the Cartersville Police Department and the Bartow County court system. Cartersville is the county seat of Bartow County, located northwest of Atlanta along Interstate 75. The police department keeps local arrest records and incident data for crimes within city limits. Court records for felony and misdemeanor cases go through the Bartow County Clerk of Superior Court. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation's state databases also include Cartersville cases. Being the county seat, the main courthouse is right in town, which is convenient for in-person record searches.

Cartersville Police Department Records

The Cartersville Police Department is at 178 West Main Street, Cartersville, GA 30120. Call them at (770) 387-5636. The department keeps arrest reports, incident records, and case files for crimes within the city. Each arrest generates a report with the charges, date, and information about the person involved.

Cartersville has about 25,000 people. It is the largest city in Bartow County and serves as the county seat. The police department is the main law enforcement agency within city limits. Outside the city, the Bartow County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement. These are two separate agencies with separate records. If a crime happened near the edge of town, check which agency responded before you request records.

The department sends arrest data to the Georgia Crime Information Center. That means local arrests in Cartersville show up in the statewide system as well. If you need a copy of a police report, contact the records unit at the department. Walk-in requests are taken at the West Main Street address. Georgia's Open Records Act gives the public access to most police reports. Some records from active investigations may be withheld.

Cartersville PD also handles traffic-related incidents within city limits. Serious traffic offenses that result in criminal charges will show up in the criminal history system. Minor traffic tickets typically do not.

Bartow County Court Records for Cartersville

Cartersville is the county seat of Bartow County. Criminal court cases from Cartersville go through the Bartow County court system. The Clerk of Superior Court keeps records for felony cases and serious misdemeanors. The courthouse is in downtown Cartersville. You can go in person to search for case records or ask the clerk about available online access.

The clerk charges a fee for certified copies. Walk-in requests are taken during business hours. You can call the clerk's office for case status. The Bartow County criminal history page covers the full details on the clerk's office, sheriff, and other county resources.

Cartersville has a Municipal Court for city code violations and minor offenses. These cases may not show up in the Superior Court records. If the case was a city ordinance issue or minor violation, check municipal court records separately. Bartow County is part of the Cherokee Judicial Circuit, which also covers Gordon County. The district attorney's office handles criminal prosecutions for both counties.

The Bartow County Magistrate Court handles warrant applications, preliminary hearings, and some civil matters. If you need information about a warrant or a first appearance hearing, that court is the place to check. It is also located at the courthouse in Cartersville.

State Criminal History Tools

The Georgia Felon Search costs $15 per search. You enter a first name, last name, date of birth, and sex. Results come back right away. The fee applies even if no record is found. It covers the entire state, including Cartersville cases.

The Georgia Department of Corrections offender search is free. It shows people in state prison. Someone convicted in Bartow County who is serving time at a GDC facility will show up here. People in the county jail or those who already finished their sentence are not included.

The GBI FAQ page explains how to get criminal history records in Georgia. It covers personal requests and third-party searches. The GBI offers a fingerprint-based criminal history check, which is the most thorough option for getting an official copy of your own record.

Record Restriction for Cartersville Cases

Georgia uses record restriction instead of expungement. A restricted record is sealed from public view. Law enforcement keeps access. Public searches will not return it.

Charges that were dropped or dismissed may qualify. Completed pretrial diversion programs are eligible too. The First Offender Act under O.C.G.A. Section 42-8-60 lets first-time offenders complete their sentence without a formal conviction appearing on their public record. After the sentence, the court discharges the case and the record gets restricted from public view.

The full rules are in O.C.G.A. Section 35-3-37. For arrests after July 1, 2013, contact the prosecuting attorney. For older arrests, go through the arresting agency. In Cartersville, that means the Cartersville Police Department or the Cherokee Judicial Circuit district attorney.

How to Search Cartersville Criminal History

There are several ways to find criminal history from Cartersville. The best one depends on what records you need.

• Call the Cartersville Police Department at (770) 387-5636 for local arrest and incident reports
• Visit the Bartow County Clerk of Superior Court at the courthouse in Cartersville for court records
• Use the Georgia Felon Search for statewide felony conviction data
• Check the GDC offender search for people in state prisons
• Contact the Bartow County Sheriff for jail and booking records

Police records cover the arrest. Court records from Bartow County cover the case outcome. State tools add felony and corrections data. Check more than one source for a complete picture. If the case was a city-level violation, check the Cartersville Municipal Court too.

Nearby Cities With Criminal Records

Cartersville is in northwest Georgia. A few other cities in the region have their own police departments and criminal record systems. These pages cover local agencies and search options.