Franklin County Criminal History Search

Franklin County criminal history records are maintained by the Superior Court Clerk and the Sheriff's Office in Carnesville, the county seat. This northeast Georgia county is part of the Northern Judicial Circuit and has a population of about 24,500. Criminal records here cover arrests, jail bookings, case filings, and court outcomes from across the county. You can search for these records at local offices in Carnesville or use state databases run by the GBI. The sheriff holds booking and arrest data while the clerk keeps case files with charges, pleas, and final results. This page goes through the main ways to look up criminal history in Franklin County.

Franklin County Sheriff Criminal Records

The Franklin County Sheriff's Office is in Carnesville. Call (706) 384-2525 to reach them. The sheriff handles law enforcement for the county and runs the jail. Every person booked into the Franklin County Jail gets a record. That record shows the name, arrest date, charges at booking, bond amount, and release status. These booking logs are one of the first places to look for a recent arrest in the county.

The sheriff's office also processes fingerprint-based criminal history checks. Under O.C.G.A. Section 35-3-37, any person can request their own criminal history record. You go to the sheriff's office with valid ID and get fingerprinted. The request goes to the Georgia Crime Information Center. The GCIC checks the statewide database and sends your full record back. This covers arrests and convictions from every county in Georgia, not just Franklin. The state charges a fee for this service. It is the most thorough personal criminal history check you can get in Franklin County.

The office takes walk-in requests on weekdays during normal hours.

Criminal Records at Franklin County Clerk

The Franklin County Superior Court Clerk is in Carnesville. The phone number is (706) 384-2513. This office holds all criminal case files from the Franklin County Superior Court. Felony charges, probation violations, and some appeals are filed here. Each case file contains charges, hearing dates, plea information, motions, and the final case outcome. This is the office to check if you want to know how a criminal case ended in Franklin County.

Franklin County is part of the Northern Judicial Circuit, which also covers Elbert, Hart, Madison, and Oglethorpe counties. The same group of judges works across the circuit, but case files stay with the Franklin County clerk when the charge came from here. You can visit the clerk's office to search the case index in person. Copies have a per-page fee. Certified copies cost more and come with the court seal.

The Franklin County clerk is part of the Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority. That group runs a statewide court records database. Many Franklin County cases end up there over time. Local agencies must report criminal history data to the GCIC under Georgia law. A conviction in Franklin County should show up in the state system after the data gets processed.

Record Restriction in Franklin County

Georgia calls it record restriction, not expungement. When a record gets restricted in Franklin County, it is sealed from public view. The record still exists in the system. Law enforcement can still access it. The general public cannot.

Several paths lead to restriction. Charges that were never prosecuted can be restricted after a waiting period. Misdemeanor arrests take two years from the arrest date. Most felony arrests take four years. Serious violent felonies need seven years before you can file for restriction. If charges were dropped or the person was acquitted, restriction can come faster. The prosecutor in the Northern Judicial Circuit gets ten days to object after a not guilty verdict. No objection means the Franklin County record gets sealed.

People who finish their sentence under the First Offender Act can also get restricted. That law, found at O.C.G.A. Section 42-8-60, allows a judge to sentence someone without a formal conviction. The person must complete all terms of the sentence first. Once that is done, the record can be sealed from public searches. First-time offenders in Franklin County who plead guilty and finish probation often use this path.

For Franklin County arrests on or after July 1, 2013, you start the restriction process through the District Attorney. Older arrests require contact with the arresting agency first.

State Search Tools for Franklin County

Georgia has statewide search tools that pull data from all 159 counties. The Georgia Felon Search checks the GCIC database for felony convictions. It costs $15 per search. You enter a first name, last name, date of birth, and sex. Results come back quickly. The fee applies even if no record is found. Only felony convictions show up. Misdemeanors, pending charges, and arrests without prosecution are not included. A felony conviction from Franklin County would appear in this search because court data flows into the state system.

The Georgia Department of Corrections offender search is free. It shows people currently in a state prison. If someone was convicted in Franklin County and sent to a GDC facility, they would appear. People in the Franklin County Jail or those who already served their time will not show. It is a focused tool but it helps if you know the person went to state prison.

The GBI FAQ page covers common questions about criminal history records across Georgia. It explains what you can request, the fees, and how data moves from county offices to the state system. The GBI runs the GCIC and manages criminal history for every county.

How to Search Franklin County Criminal History

There are several options for getting criminal history records in Franklin County. The best one depends on the record type and how soon you need it.

• Call the Franklin County Sheriff at (706) 384-2525 for jail bookings and arrest data
• Visit the Superior Court Clerk in Carnesville for case files and copies
• Use the Georgia Felon Search for statewide felony conviction records
• Search the GDC offender database for people serving time in state prison
• File an open records request with the sheriff for specific arrest reports

Each source covers different ground. Court records from the clerk show charges and case results. The sheriff has booking and bond data. State databases add felony conviction data and corrections records. You may need more than one source to put together a full view of someone's criminal history in Franklin County. The clerk is your best bet for case outcomes. The sheriff is best for arrest and jail records. Together with the state tools, you get a solid picture of what is on file.

Nearby Counties With Criminal Records

Franklin County sits in northeast Georgia and shares borders with several counties. Criminal cases near the county line can sometimes end up in a neighboring jurisdiction. If you cannot find a record in Franklin County, try one of these.

Hart County is to the east and is also in the Northern Judicial Circuit. Madison County sits to the south and shares the circuit as well. Banks County borders Franklin to the west. Stephens County is to the north. Elbert County is to the southeast and rounds out the Northern circuit. Each of these counties has its own clerk, sheriff, and criminal record system. All report data to the statewide GCIC database.