Find Johnson County Criminal History

Criminal history records in Johnson County come from the Superior Court Clerk and the Sheriff's Office in Wrightsville, Georgia. Johnson County sits in the central part of the state and is part of the Dublin Judicial Circuit. The population is close to 9,200. The clerk at the courthouse keeps case files from Superior Court, while the sheriff holds arrest logs and jail booking data. You can search these records at the courthouse in Wrightsville or through state tools that tap into the GCIC database. This page covers the main sources for criminal history in Johnson County and how to use each one.

Johnson County Superior Court Clerk

The Johnson County Superior Court Clerk is in Wrightsville. Call (478) 864-3484 for help with record requests. The clerk keeps files on all criminal cases heard in Johnson County Superior Court. That includes felony charges, appeals from lower courts, and misdemeanor matters bound over from Magistrate Court. Each file holds the charges, court dates, plea details, and the final disposition.

Certified copies cost a per-page fee at the clerk's office. They carry the official court seal. Plain copies are less expensive but not always accepted by outside agencies. If you visit in person, bring a valid ID. Under O.C.G.A. Section 35-3-37, any person can request a copy of their own criminal history record. The state caps the fee at $15, not counting fingerprint costs.

The Dublin Judicial Circuit covers Johnson County along with Laurens, Treutlen, and Twiggs counties. Judges rotate through the circuit. The district attorney for the Dublin Circuit handles felony cases in Wrightsville. If you need to request a record restriction for an arrest that took place after July 1, 2013, the DA's office is where that process begins.

Johnson County Sheriff's Office

The Johnson County Sheriff's Office is in Wrightsville. The main number is (478) 864-3943. The sheriff runs the county jail and keeps booking records. These records show the arrest date, the charges at booking, and bond info. To check on someone in the Johnson County jail, call the sheriff's office.

Warrant service is part of the sheriff's duties. When a judge signs an arrest warrant, the sheriff carries it out. That data feeds into the criminal history system. Under O.C.G.A. Section 35-3-34, all law enforcement in Georgia must send arrest data to the Georgia Crime Information Center. An arrest in Johnson County goes into the GCIC. The record includes who made the arrest, the date, charges, and the court result once the case wraps up. So Johnson County criminal data shows up in statewide searches as well.

Record Restriction in Johnson County

Georgia does not use expungement. The state uses record restriction instead. A restricted record in Johnson County is hidden from public view. It still exists in the system, and law enforcement can access it. But a standard public search will not show it.

Several paths lead to restriction. If the charges were dropped or the DA declined to prosecute, the record can be restricted. Pretrial diversion completions qualify. The First Offender Act, found at O.C.G.A. Section 42-8-60, is one of the most common routes. It allows a first-time offender to avoid a formal conviction if the court agrees. Once the sentence is done, the record gets restricted from public searches. Offenders under 21 with certain misdemeanor convictions can also file for restriction of their Johnson County criminal history.

For arrests after July 1, 2013, the request goes to the Dublin Circuit DA. Older arrests go through the arresting agency. How long it takes depends on the case and how backed up the office is.

State Tools for Johnson County Criminal Records

You do not need to visit Wrightsville to search for criminal history tied to Johnson County. Georgia runs statewide search tools that pull from all 159 counties. The Georgia Felon Search checks the GCIC for felony convictions. It costs $15. You enter the person's first name, last name, date of birth, and sex. Results come back right away. The fee applies even if the search turns up nothing.

The GDC offender search is free to use. It shows people in a state prison right now. If someone was convicted in Johnson County and sent to a GDC facility, they would appear there. The tool does not cover the Johnson County jail or people who already served their sentence. For general info about how criminal history works in the state, see the GBI FAQ page.

GCIC and Johnson County Records

The Georgia Crime Information Center is where criminal history data from across the state comes together. Every arrest in Johnson County gets reported to the GCIC. The center builds a master file for each person that ties together arrests, charges, court outcomes, and corrections data from any county in Georgia.

For the most complete check, a fingerprint-based search through the GBI is the way to go. You submit prints and the GBI matches them against the full GCIC database. This catches records from all counties and picks up cases where different names or aliases were used. The cost is $15 under state law. People in Johnson County who need a certified copy of their own criminal history for court or personal use often go this route. You can start the process through the GBI directly or at a local law enforcement office that handles fingerprinting.

How to Search Johnson County Criminal History

There are a few paths to look up criminal history in Johnson County. Which one you choose depends on the type of record and your timeline.

• Visit the Johnson County Superior Court Clerk in Wrightsville for court case records and certified copies
• Call the Johnson County Sheriff at (478) 864-3943 for booking and arrest data
• Run a Georgia Felon Search for statewide felony records covering Johnson County
• Check the GDC offender search for people in state prisons
• Contact the GBI for a fingerprint-based criminal history report

Court records from the clerk offer the best case detail. The sheriff has arrest and jail info. State tools give you a wider view across Georgia. Start with the clerk in Wrightsville and then run a state search to cover the most ground. For your own record, the GBI fingerprint-based check is the most thorough path you can take.

Nearby Counties With Criminal Records

Johnson County borders several other counties in central Georgia. Criminal cases close to the line may fall under a different jurisdiction. If you cannot find what you need in the Johnson County system, check these nearby counties.