Savannah Criminal History Records

Criminal history records in Savannah are managed by the Savannah Police Department, the Chatham County court system, and state-level databases from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Savannah is the county seat of Chatham County and one of the largest cities in Georgia. The police department handles arrest reports and incident data for crimes inside city limits. Court records for criminal cases go through the Chatham County Superior Court. The Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department merged city and county law enforcement in 2003, which means criminal records from the metro area are centralized through one agency. State tools add another layer for statewide felony searches.

Savannah Police Department Records

The Savannah Police Department is the main law enforcement agency for the city. Their headquarters is at 201 Habersham Street, Savannah, GA 31401. You can call them at (912) 651-6675. The department handles all arrests, incident reports, and crime data for events within Savannah. Because of the merged metro police setup, the department also covers areas of unincorporated Chatham County. That means records from a broader area flow through this one agency.

Arrest data from the Savannah PD goes to the Georgia Crime Information Center as state law requires. A Savannah arrest shows up in the statewide GCIC database as well as in local police files. To get a copy of a police report from a Savannah case, contact the department's records unit at the Habersham Street office. Walk-in requests are accepted during business hours. You can call ahead to check on what is available.

Savannah processes a high volume of criminal cases compared to smaller Georgia cities. The city has a larger police force and more recorded incidents per year. That means the records system is bigger and searches can take more time. If you file an open records request, it may take a bit longer than in a smaller department. The Open Records Act still requires a response within three business days, but complex requests need more time to fill.

The Savannah Police Department website has information about how to request records and file open records requests. You can ask for incident reports, arrest records, and other public documents. Fees apply for search time and copies. Some records from ongoing investigations may be withheld until the case is closed.

Chatham County Court Records for Savannah

Savannah is the county seat of Chatham County. All felony criminal cases from the city go through the Chatham County Superior Court. The courthouse is in downtown Savannah. The clerk of courts keeps case files that include charges, pleas, trial outcomes, and sentencing data. These records are public in most cases, and the clerk's office handles requests from the public during business hours.

There are fees for copies. Certified copies cost more than plain ones. The clerk can certify documents if you need them for legal use. Some Chatham County court records can be searched through the Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority, a statewide portal. That is a good starting point before making a trip to the courthouse.

The Chatham County Sheriff's Office keeps booking records for the county jail. People arrested in Savannah are booked into the Chatham County Detention Center. Booking data includes the arrest date, charges, and bond information. The sheriff runs an online inmate search that shows current detainees. It is free but only shows people in custody right now.

The Eastern Judicial Circuit handles prosecution for Chatham County. The district attorney's office processes criminal cases from Savannah and the rest of the county. The Chatham County criminal history page covers the clerk's office, sheriff, and other county-level options in more detail.

State Criminal History Tools

The Georgia Felon Search checks the GCIC database for felony convictions across Georgia. It costs $15 per search. You enter a first name, last name, date of birth, and sex. Results come back quickly. The fee is charged even if no record is found. This tool covers all of Georgia, including Savannah. It only shows felony convictions. Misdemeanors and restricted records will not appear.

The Georgia Department of Corrections offender search is free. It shows people who are currently in a state prison or on state supervision. Someone convicted in Chatham County courts and serving time at a GDC facility will show up here. People in the Chatham County Detention Center or those who have already served their sentence will not appear.

The GBI FAQ page answers common questions about criminal history in Georgia. It covers how to request your own record and how to search for someone else. The GBI offers fingerprint-based checks for the most complete results. These checks pull from the full state database and catch records that name-based searches sometimes miss.

Record Restriction for Savannah Cases

Georgia uses the term record restriction. It is not the same as expungement. A restricted record is sealed from public access. Law enforcement can still see it. But the public cannot find it through standard searches.

Dismissed or dropped charges may qualify for restriction. People who completed a pretrial diversion program can apply. The First Offender Act, found in O.C.G.A. Section 42-8-60, lets eligible first-time offenders finish their sentence without a formal conviction on their record. After the sentence is done, the court discharges the person and the record gets restricted from public view.

The rules are laid out in O.C.G.A. Section 35-3-37. For arrests after July 1, 2013, the process starts with the prosecuting attorney. For older arrests, contact the arresting agency. In Savannah, that means the Savannah Police Department or the Chatham County district attorney, depending on the case. The Eastern Judicial Circuit district attorney handles prosecution for Chatham County.

A retroactive First Offender petition is possible too. If someone should have been sentenced under the act but was not, they can petition the court afterward. The Chatham County Superior Court handles those petitions for Savannah cases. If granted, the conviction is taken off the public record.

What Savannah Criminal Records Include

A criminal history record tied to Savannah draws from local and state sources. It shows the person's name, date of birth, and physical traits. Arrest records list the agency, the date, and the charges filed. Court records from Chatham County show whether the case ended with a conviction, a dismissal, or a plea. State prison data shows up if the person served time at a GDC facility.

Some records are not open to the public. Restricted records stay hidden from public searches. Juvenile records are sealed in most cases. Federal crimes handled in federal court are not part of the state GCIC system. Savannah has a federal courthouse that handles cases in the Southern District of Georgia. Those records sit with the federal court clerk, not the state.

Because of the metro police merger, Savannah criminal records may cover a wider geographic area than you might expect. The merged department handles cases from both the city and parts of unincorporated Chatham County. That can be useful if you are not sure exactly where an incident took place.

Getting Your Own Criminal History in Savannah

Any person can get a copy of their own Georgia criminal history record. Under O.C.G.A. Section 35-3-37, you file a written request, get fingerprinted, and pay a fee. The Savannah Police Department or the Chatham County Sheriff's Office can handle the fingerprinting. Your prints go to the GBI's Georgia Crime Information Center. They send back what they have on file. The fee is $15, not counting the fingerprinting cost.

If your record has errors, you can challenge them. The agency has 60 days to act on your challenge. Contact the GCIC at P.O. Box 370808, Decatur, Georgia 30037-0808. You can also call (404) 244-2639. Walk-in appointments at the GCIC office are not available same-day. Plan ahead if you need to visit in person.

Savannah Municipal Court

The Savannah Municipal Court deals with city ordinance violations, traffic offenses, and some misdemeanor charges. Felonies do not go through this court. Those are handled by the Chatham County Superior Court. If you are looking for a record from a minor criminal case or a traffic offense in Savannah, the municipal court is where to start.

Municipal court records can be requested through the court clerk. You may need to visit in person or call the court to ask about the process. Not all records from the Savannah Municipal Court are searchable online. Certified copies usually need to be picked up at the court. Savannah's municipal court handles a large number of cases each year given the city's size and visitor traffic. The court is located at 133 Montgomery Street in downtown Savannah.

Nearby Cities With Criminal Records

Savannah is near other cities in the coastal Georgia area. Each has its own police department and local records. Arrest data from all agencies feeds into the state GCIC system.

Pooler is west of Savannah in Chatham County and uses the same county court system. Hinesville is in Liberty County and has its own police force and court structure. Both cities handle criminal records through their local agencies and county courts.