Putnam County Criminal History Lookup

Putnam County criminal history records are held by the Superior Court Clerk and the Sheriff's Office in Eatonton, the county seat in the lake country of central Georgia. The county has a population near 22,000 and is known for Lake Sinclair and Lake Oconee along its borders. Criminal case files, arrest reports, and jail booking data run through these two offices. The clerk at the courthouse keeps court records, while the sheriff handles arrests and runs the county detention center. State tools from the GBI also include Putnam County data in the statewide GCIC database. This page breaks down each source and how to access criminal records here.

Putnam County Sheriff Criminal Records

The Putnam County Sheriff's Office is in Eatonton, GA 31024. Call (706) 485-8557. The sheriff handles law enforcement for the county and operates the Putnam County Jail. Every person booked into the jail gets a record showing the arrest date, charges, bond amount, and release information. These booking logs are a key part of the criminal history system in Putnam County.

All arrests in Putnam County get reported to the Georgia Crime Information Center. The GCIC is the statewide database run by the GBI. O.C.G.A. Section 35-3-34 makes this reporting mandatory for all law enforcement in Georgia. Fingerprints from booking go to the state and tie each arrest to a specific person. So any arrest in Putnam County enters the state system alongside the local records.

You can call the sheriff's office to ask about someone in the jail. Staff can confirm if a person is in custody and what they were booked on. Arrest reports are available through open records requests. File a written request with the office and expect a small copy fee. Reports connected to active investigations may be held back until the case wraps up.

The Eatonton Police Department also makes arrests in city limits. Those records go through the same GCIC reporting path. Both agencies serve as sources of criminal history data in Putnam County.

Putnam County Superior Court Clerk Records

The Putnam County Superior Court Clerk is in Eatonton, GA 31024. The phone number is (706) 485-4504. The clerk holds all criminal case files from the Putnam County Superior Court. Felony charges make up most of the criminal docket. Misdemeanors bound over from lower courts end up here as well. Each case file tracks the indictment, motions, pleas, hearing dates, and the final judgment entered by the court.

Walk-in requests are taken during business hours at the courthouse. You can look up cases by name or case number. Plain copies cost a per-page fee. Certified copies are more but come with the court seal, which is needed for legal use. The clerk reports criminal case outcomes to the GCIC under Georgia law. A Putnam County conviction should appear in a state-level search once the data flows through the system.

Older records may be in storage. Call the clerk ahead of time if you need a case file from many years back. The staff can also confirm if a specific case has been restricted from public access.

Record Restriction in Putnam County

Georgia uses record restriction, not expungement. A restricted record is sealed from the public. It still exists. Law enforcement keeps access. Everyone else is locked out. This works the same in Putnam County as in every other county in the state.

Under O.C.G.A. Section 35-3-37, several types of cases qualify. Charges never referred to a prosecutor can be restricted after a wait. Misdemeanor arrests need two years from the arrest date. Most felony arrests need four years. Serious violent felonies take seven. Dismissed charges and acquittals can be restricted sooner. The local DA gets ten days to object after an acquittal. If there is no objection, the record gets sealed from public searches.

For Putnam County arrests on or after July 1, 2013, start the restriction process with the District Attorney. Older arrests need contact with the arresting agency first. That is usually the Putnam County Sheriff or the Eatonton Police Department. The process takes time and involves forms and a case review.

First Offender Act in Putnam County

The First Offender Act at O.C.G.A. Section 42-8-60 gives first-time offenders in Putnam County a way to avoid a formal conviction. The judge sentences the person under First Offender status. They serve their sentence, whether that is probation, jail time, or both. When all terms are done, the court enters a discharge. That discharge triggers the restriction of the record from public view.

In Putnam County, First Offender cases go through the Superior Court in Eatonton. After discharge, the case drops from public searches in the county system and the GCIC database. A retroactive option exists too. People who should have been sentenced under the act at the time but were not can petition the court to apply it later. Not all crimes qualify. Serious offenses are excluded. An attorney or the local DA can help determine if a Putnam County case is eligible.

State Tools for Putnam County Criminal History

Georgia runs state-level search tools that cover all 159 counties, including Putnam. The Georgia Felon Search costs $15 per search. It checks the GCIC database for felony convictions statewide. You need a first name, last name, date of birth, and sex. Results come back fast. The fee applies even when no record is found. Only felony convictions appear. Misdemeanors and pending charges from Putnam County will not show up.

The Georgia Department of Corrections offender search is free. It shows people serving time in state prisons right now. Someone convicted in Putnam County and sent to a GDC facility would show up here. People in the Putnam County Jail or those who finished their sentence will not appear. It covers a narrow slice but is useful when you know the person is in state prison.

The GBI FAQ page answers common questions about the criminal history process in Georgia. It covers what records you can get, fees, and how the GCIC system works. Putnam County data feeds into the GCIC through the sheriff's reporting process.

How to Search Putnam County Criminal History

There are several ways to look up criminal records in Putnam County. The best one depends on the type of record you need.

• Visit the Putnam County Superior Court Clerk in Eatonton for court case records and certified copies
• Call the clerk at (706) 485-4504 for case lookups
• Contact the Putnam County Sheriff at (706) 485-8557 for arrest and booking records
• Run a Georgia Felon Search for statewide felony records
• Use the GDC offender search for people in state prison

Court records from the clerk cover charges, pleas, and case outcomes. The sheriff has arrest and booking data. State tools add felony conviction details and prison information. For the full picture, you may need more than one of these sources.

Nearby Counties With Criminal Records

Putnam County borders several other counties in central Georgia. If you cannot find a record in the Putnam County system, try one of these neighboring counties.

Baldwin County sits to the south near Milledgeville. Hancock County borders to the east near Sparta. Greene County is to the northeast. Morgan County lies to the north near Madison. Jasper County is to the northwest, and Jones County is to the southwest. Each has its own clerk and sheriff, and all report data to the same GCIC statewide system.