Search Augusta Background Check

Augusta background check records are managed through the Richmond County sheriff and the Augusta city government. Augusta and Richmond County operate as a consolidated government, which means the city and county share many services. Sheriff Gino Brantley oversees the Richmond County Sheriff's Office at 400 Walton Way. For an Augusta background check, you can go to the sheriff's office or contact the Augusta police records division. With a population over 206,000, Augusta is Georgia's second largest city and processes a large number of criminal record requests each year.

Richmond County Sheriff Background Check

The Richmond County Sheriff's Office is the primary source for an Augusta background check. Sheriff Gino Brantley runs the office at 400 Walton Way, Augusta, GA 30901. Call 706-821-1068 for questions about the background check process. Since Augusta and Richmond County are consolidated, the sheriff's office serves the entire area. You do not need to figure out if an address is "city" or "county" because they are the same government.

To get a background check, visit the sheriff's office with a valid photo ID. Give the staff a full name and date of birth for the person you want to check. They run the name through local records and the state crime database. The process is straightforward. Walk in, pay the fee, provide the details, and wait for results. Processing times vary based on how busy the office is that day. Augusta handles a lot of cases, so expect it to take a few business days during peak times.

Note: Augusta-Richmond County is a consolidated government, so city and county background check records go through the same system.

Augusta Police Records

The Augusta city government runs the police department at 401 Walton Way. The non-emergency line is 706-821-1080. For records specifically, call 706-821-1005. The police department keeps arrest reports, incident logs, and case files for calls that Augusta officers responded to. These records are useful when you need details about a specific incident rather than a broad background check.

The police department and the sheriff's office work closely together in Augusta because of the consolidated government. But they are still separate agencies with their own records. An arrest made by the sheriff's office goes into the sheriff's files. An arrest made by city police goes into police files. Both feed into the state system through the Georgia Crime Information Center, but the local copies sit in different offices. If you want a thorough Augusta background check, reaching out to both is a smart move.

Augusta Background Check Resources

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation maintains the statewide criminal history database that includes all Augusta records. The GBI does not process walk-in requests from the public directly. Instead, you use the tools they provide. The Georgia Felon Search costs $15 and shows felony convictions statewide. Enter a name and get results by email right away. This only covers felony convictions. It does not include arrests, pending cases, or misdemeanors.

For a deeper search, the GAPS fingerprint system through IdentoGO gives the most thorough results. Fingerprint-based checks pull from both GBI and FBI databases. They catch records from other states too. Name-based checks can miss records if someone used a different name or spelling. Fingerprint checks do not have that problem. There are IdentoGO locations in the Augusta area where you can get prints taken and submitted through the GAPS system.

The GBI services page lists all the search options available through state agencies.

Augusta Background Check Image

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation website is the state-level resource for criminal background check information.

The GBI provides statewide search tools and maintains the criminal history database that includes all Augusta and Richmond County records.

Georgia Law and Augusta Records

Georgia law sets the rules for how background checks work in Augusta. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34, the GBI can share criminal history information with authorized parties. The law caps the fee at $20 per record. Most agencies in Augusta charge less than the cap. This statute also spells out who can request records and what kind of information they are allowed to see.

Record restriction under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37 lets people remove certain records from public view. If a case was dismissed, or charges were dropped, the person can petition to have the record restricted. Once restricted, it will not show up on a standard Augusta background check. The First Offender Act under O.C.G.A. § 42-8-60 is another factor. If someone completed their sentence under this act, the conviction does not appear as a conviction in the public record. The record still exists but it is treated differently in background check results.

Augusta Background Check Process

Here is how to get a background check in Augusta step by step. Start by going to the Richmond County Sheriff's Office at 400 Walton Way. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID. Provide the full legal name and date of birth of the person being checked. Pay the fee. Wait for the results. The turnaround time depends on how busy the office is that week. During slower periods, you may get results in a day or two. During busy times, it can take longer.

If you prefer not to go in person, the online option through Georgia Felon Search gives you instant results for felony convictions. The cost is $15. You pay online and get an email with the results. This does not replace a full Augusta background check because it only shows felony convictions. But it is a good starting point if you need quick information.

Note: The GCIC does not process name-based searches for the public; you must use a local agency or the state's online tools.

Augusta Contact Details

• Richmond County Sheriff: 400 Walton Way, Augusta, GA 30901
• Sheriff Phone: 706-821-1068
• Sheriff: Gino Brantley
• Augusta Police: 401 Walton Way, Augusta, GA 30901
• Police Non-Emergency: 706-821-1080
• Police Records: 706-821-1005
• Georgia Sheriffs Directory: georgiasheriffs.org

Augusta is a consolidated city-county, so all of these offices serve the same jurisdiction. Whether you are looking for records from the city side or the county side, it all goes through the same court system. The Augusta Judicial Circuit handles cases for this area. Start with the sheriff's office for a standard background check. Use the police records line for incident-specific reports.

Nearby Cities

These cities are near Augusta. Evans and Martinez are both in Columbia County, just west of the Augusta area.