Cherokee County Criminal History Records

Cherokee County criminal history records are held by the Superior Court Clerk and the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office, both based in Canton. If you need to search for criminal records in Cherokee County, there are a few ways to get started. The clerk's office at the county courthouse keeps case files from Superior Court, and the sheriff maintains arrest and booking data. You can visit in person, call, or use state tools to pull up records tied to Cherokee County. Most searches begin with knowing the person's name and some basic details like date of birth.

Cherokee County Criminal Records Clerk

The Cherokee County Superior Court Clerk is the main source for criminal case records in this part of Georgia. The office is at 90 North Street, Suite 150, Canton, GA 30114. You can reach them by phone at (678) 493-6511. The clerk holds files on all criminal cases handled in Cherokee County Superior Court. That covers felony charges, some serious misdemeanor cases, and appeals from the lower courts. Each file has the charges, court dates, plea info, and the final case outcome. Walk-in requests for records are taken during normal hours at the Canton courthouse.

The Cherokee County Clerk of Courts website has info on how to look up case records and what forms you may need. Criminal case files in Cherokee County can be searched by name or case number if you go to the clerk's office in person. Staff can pull up docket sheets that show every step a case took from filing to final order. If you need a certified copy of a Cherokee County criminal record, the clerk charges a per-page fee. Certified copies are often needed for legal matters or to prove the outcome of a past case.

The Cherokee County Clerk of Courts page shows services and contact info for getting criminal history documents in the county.

Once you get a case file from the Cherokee County clerk, it will show the full record of what happened in court. You can see the charges that were filed, any motions from the defense or the state, and the judge who heard the case. Sealed or restricted records will not show up in a public search. If a record has been restricted under O.C.G.A. Section 35-3-37, it stays hidden from the public but is still there for law enforcement to see.

Cherokee County Sheriff and Criminal Records

The Cherokee County Sheriff's Office sits at 498 Chattin Drive in Canton, GA 30115. The main line is (678) 493-4200. For records, call (678) 493-4080. The sheriff handles the county jail, patrol, and criminal investigations in the parts of Cherokee County not covered by a city police force. Arrest reports and jail booking records are part of the criminal history system here. When someone gets booked into the Cherokee County jail, the record shows the date, the charges at time of booking, and bond details.

The Cherokee County Sheriff's Office website lists contact numbers and resources for the public. The records unit at the sheriff's office can help you with copies of arrest reports and incident reports from cases they handled. Under Georgia law, arrest data gathered by local agencies like the Cherokee County Sheriff feeds into the state criminal history database run by the Georgia Crime Information Center. This means an arrest in Cherokee County becomes part of the person's statewide criminal history file.

The Cherokee County Sheriff's Office page provides details on the records division and how to reach them for criminal history requests.

If you are looking for someone currently held in the Cherokee County jail, the sheriff's office can help with that too. Jail records are updated as new bookings come in, though there can be a short lag before a new arrest appears in the system. Bond info and court dates tied to the booking are also available through the sheriff's records division in Canton.

Criminal History Restriction in Cherokee County

Georgia does not call it expungement. The state uses the term record restriction. When a Cherokee County criminal history record gets restricted, it is sealed from any public search but it still exists in the system. Law enforcement can still see it. Several types of cases can qualify for restriction in Cherokee County, and the rules come from state law.

People who were arrested in Cherokee County and had their charges dropped or dismissed may be eligible to have that record restricted. Certain misdemeanor offenders under 21 can apply as well. If you went through a pre-trial diversion or intervention program in Cherokee County and completed it, you may qualify. First Offender cases that fall under O.C.G.A. Section 35-3-37 are also eligible for restriction once the sentence is done. There is a retroactive path too for people who should have gotten First Offender status at sentencing but did not receive it at that time.

Note: For Cherokee County arrests on or after July 1, 2013, you contact the prosecuting attorney to start the restriction process rather than the arresting agency.

Cherokee County First Offender Act Cases

The First Offender Act plays a big role in how criminal history works in Cherokee County and across Georgia. Under O.C.G.A. Section 42-8-60, a first-time offender who completes their sentence can be discharged without a formal conviction on record. The court enters an order of discharge, and the criminal history record tied to that Cherokee County case gets restricted from public view. This means it will not show up in a standard background check or on the Georgia Felon Search tool.

Not every case qualifies for First Offender treatment. Serious violent felonies and certain sex offenses are excluded. But for many first-time offenders in Cherokee County, this act offers a way to move forward without a conviction showing on their record. The decision to grant First Offender status happens at sentencing, and it is up to the judge in the Cherokee County Superior Court to approve it.

State Criminal History Tools for Cherokee County

Beyond local offices in Canton, you can search for Cherokee County criminal history through state-level resources. The Georgia Felon Search is a paid tool that costs $15 per search. It checks the GCIC database for felony convictions across the whole state, and that includes any Cherokee County felony cases. You need the person's first name, last name, date of birth, and sex to run a search. Results come back right away. The fee applies even if no record is found, so keep that in mind before you start.

The Georgia Department of Corrections offender search is free to use. It shows people currently in a GDC prison facility. Someone convicted in Cherokee County and sent to a state prison will show up in this tool. The GDC search does not cover people held in the Cherokee County jail or those who have already served their time and been released.

The GBI criminal history FAQ page is a good place to start if you have questions about the process in Georgia. It covers how to get your own record, how to request someone else's, and what the fees look like. The GBI runs the Georgia Crime Information Center, which stores criminal history data from every county in the state, Cherokee County included. Local arrest data from the sheriff's office and court outcomes from the clerk's office both feed into the GCIC system.

Note: Georgia Felon Search only shows felony convictions and does not include restricted records, juvenile cases, or misdemeanor charges.

How to Search Cherokee County Criminal History

There are several paths to find criminal history records tied to Cherokee County. The right one depends on what you need and how soon you need it.

• Go to the Cherokee County Clerk of Courts at 90 North Street, Suite 150 in Canton for court case records
• Call the Cherokee County Sheriff's records unit at (678) 493-4080 for arrest and incident reports
• Use the Georgia Felon Search for statewide felony conviction checks
• Check the GDC offender search for people serving time in state prisons
• Visit the GBI FAQ page for guidance on the criminal history request process

Each of these sources covers a different part of the criminal history picture in Cherokee County. The clerk has court case files with charges, pleas, and outcomes. The sheriff has arrest and booking data. State tools add felony convictions and corrections info to the mix. For a full view of someone's criminal history tied to Cherokee County, you may need to check more than one source. The county seat of Canton is where both the clerk's office and the sheriff's headquarters are based, which makes it easier if you plan to visit in person.

Criminal History in Cherokee County Cities

Cherokee County has two cities with populations over 25,000. Both Canton and Woodstock have their own police departments that handle arrests within city limits. Those arrest records become part of the state criminal history system. Criminal cases from these cities go through the Cherokee County court system in Canton. If you are looking for criminal records tied to an arrest in Canton or Woodstock, the Cherokee County Superior Court Clerk and the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office are your main contacts.

Nearby Counties With Criminal Records

Cherokee County shares borders with several other Georgia counties. Criminal cases near the county line sometimes end up in a neighboring jurisdiction. If you cannot find a record in the Cherokee County system, one of these nearby counties may have what you need.