Search Murray County Criminal History

Murray County criminal history records are kept by the Superior Court Clerk and the Sheriff's Office, both in Chatsworth. The clerk at 121 North 3rd Avenue holds case files from every criminal matter that goes through Murray County Superior Court. The sheriff at 810 G.I. Maddox Parkway runs the jail and keeps arrest records. If you want to look up a criminal record in Murray County, you can go to these offices in person, call, or use state-level search tools that pull from the Georgia Crime Information Center. Murray County is part of the Conasauga Judicial Circuit, which also covers Whitfield County. All criminal history data from local agencies in the county gets reported to the statewide database run by the GBI.

Murray County Clerk Criminal Case Records

The Murray County Superior Court Clerk is at 121 North 3rd Avenue in Chatsworth, GA 30705. The phone number is (706) 695-2412. This office keeps files on all criminal cases that come through Murray County Superior Court. Felony charges, serious misdemeanor cases that get bound over from State Court or Magistrate Court, and appeals all end up in the clerk's records. Each file shows the charges, plea, court dates, and outcome.

You can go to the clerk's office in person during business hours to search Murray County criminal history records. The staff can pull case files by name or case number. Copies of court documents cost a per-page fee. Certified copies have the court seal and cost more than plain copies. These are what you need if you plan to use the document in a legal proceeding or to prove the result of an old case.

The Murray County Clerk of Courts handles access to criminal case documents and other filings in the county system.

Criminal case outcomes from the Murray County clerk flow into the GCIC database. Under O.C.G.A. Section 35-3-34, local agencies must report criminal history data to the state. That means a conviction in Murray County will show up in state-level searches too. The clerk also files sentencing data and final dispositions with the Georgia Crime Information Center. Records that have been restricted under O.C.G.A. Section 35-3-37 will not appear in a public search at the Murray County clerk's office. Only law enforcement can still view those files.

Murray County Sheriff and Arrest Records

The Murray County Sheriff's Office is at 810 G.I. Maddox Parkway in Chatsworth, GA 30705. Call (706) 695-4592 for questions. The sheriff handles law enforcement across the county and runs the Murray County Jail. When someone gets arrested in Murray County, the booking record has the arrest date, charges at the time of booking, bond amount, and release status. These records are part of the local criminal history system.

The Murray County Sheriff's Office manages arrest records, jail bookings, and law enforcement operations for the county.

Arrest data from the Murray County Sheriff goes straight to the Georgia Crime Information Center. Under O.C.G.A. Section 35-3-34, local law enforcement must send criminal history information to the GCIC. An arrest in Murray County will appear in state-level searches once it gets entered into the system. The sheriff's office also handles fingerprinting for people booked into the jail. Those prints go into the state system and tie the record to a specific person. Name-only matches can be unreliable when common names are involved, so the fingerprint link adds a layer of certainty to each record.

If you need to check whether someone is in the Murray County Jail right now, call the sheriff's office. Jail staff can tell you if a person is in custody and what charges they face. This data gets updated as new bookings come in throughout the day and night.

Criminal Record Restriction in Murray County

Georgia does not use the word expungement. The term here is record restriction. When a Murray County criminal history record is restricted, it gets sealed from public view. The record still exists in the system. Law enforcement can access it. But a standard public search will not turn it up.

Several types of cases can qualify for restriction in Murray County. If you were arrested and the charges were dropped or never prosecuted, you may be able to get the record restricted. People who went through a pretrial diversion program in Murray County and completed it can apply as well. Cases where the offense was never sent to a prosecutor may be restricted automatically after a waiting period. For misdemeanor charges, the wait is two years from the arrest date. Most felony charges need four years. Serious violent felonies and sex offenses have a seven-year timeline under O.C.G.A. Section 35-3-37.

The First Offender Act sits in O.C.G.A. Section 42-8-60. It lets a judge sentence a first-time offender in Murray County without entering a formal conviction. Once the full sentence is done without any issues, the court discharges the person and the criminal history file gets restricted from public view. There is also a retroactive option for people who should have gotten first offender status at the time of sentencing but did not. For Murray County arrests on or after July 1, 2013, the restriction process begins by contacting the Conasauga Judicial Circuit District Attorney. For older arrests, you go through the arresting agency. The GBI restrictions page lays out the full process.

State Tools for Murray County Criminal History

Beyond the offices in Chatsworth, you can search for Murray County criminal history using state-level tools. The Georgia Felon Search costs $15 per search. It checks the GCIC database for felony convictions across all of Georgia, Murray County included. You need a first name, last name, date of birth, and sex to run it. Results come back fast. The $15 fee applies even if the search turns up nothing for the person you looked up. This tool only shows felony convictions. It does not cover misdemeanors, pending charges, or restricted records.

The Georgia Department of Corrections offender search is free to use. It shows people who are currently in a state prison facility. Someone convicted in Murray County and sent to a GDC prison would appear in this search. People held in the Murray County Jail or those who already finished serving their time will not show up. The GDC search is narrow but useful when you know the person went to state prison after a Murray County case.

The GBI FAQ page covers the most common questions about how to get criminal history records in Georgia. It explains what types of searches are available, how to request your own record, and what fees are involved. The GBI runs the Georgia Crime Information Center, which stores data from every county. Murray County arrest data from the sheriff and court outcomes from the clerk both feed into this statewide system.

How to Search Murray County Criminal History

There are a few ways to find criminal history records in Murray County. Which option works best depends on the type of record you need.

• Visit the Murray County Superior Court Clerk at 121 North 3rd Avenue in Chatsworth for court case files and certified copies
• Call the Murray County Sheriff at (706) 695-4592 for arrest records, jail bookings, and current inmate status
• Use the Georgia Felon Search for statewide felony conviction data that covers Murray County
• Check the GDC offender search for people serving time in state prison

Each source covers a different piece of the Murray County criminal history picture. The clerk has court records with charges, pleas, and case results. The sheriff tracks jail bookings, bond amounts, and arrest details. State tools add felony conviction data and corrections info. You might need to check more than one source if you want a full view. A fingerprint-based search through the GBI gives the most complete results when you need an official copy of your own criminal history record.

Criminal History in Murray County Cities

Chatsworth is the county seat of Murray County. None of the cities in the county have a population large enough to have their own dedicated page on this site. That means all criminal history records for the area run through the county-level offices. Chatsworth, Eton, and other small communities in Murray County all fall under the jurisdiction of the Murray County Sheriff and the Superior Court Clerk. Some cities have their own municipal courts that handle minor offenses like traffic violations and local ordinance cases. But felony charges and serious misdemeanors move to the county court system. Every arrest record from within Murray County gets reported to the state criminal history database through the GCIC, no matter which local agency made the arrest.

Nearby Counties With Criminal Records

Murray County is in northwest Georgia and borders several other counties. Cases near a county line may end up in the neighboring jurisdiction. If you cannot find what you need in the Murray County system, try one of these nearby counties.

Whitfield County borders Murray to the west and shares the same Conasauga Judicial Circuit. Gordon County is to the south. Gilmer County sits to the east, and Fannin County is to the northeast along the Tennessee border. Each county runs its own court clerk, sheriff, and criminal record system that operates separately from Murray County.