Find Martinez Background Check

A Martinez background check goes through the Columbia County Sheriff's Office because Martinez is an unincorporated community without its own police force. Columbia County handles all law enforcement for the Martinez area. Sheriff Clay Whittle oversees the office, which is the only local agency for criminal history searches here. Martinez has about 33,000 residents and sits in the western part of Columbia County near Augusta. All arrest records and criminal filings from Martinez feed into the Columbia County system and then into the statewide database managed by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

Columbia County Sheriff Background Check

The Columbia County Sheriff's Office is the only local agency for a Martinez background check. Sheriff Clay Whittle runs the department. The mailing address is PO Box 310 in Appling, GA 30802. Call 706-541-1043 for details about the process. Since Martinez does not have a city police department, the sheriff is your sole local option.

To get a check done, visit the sheriff's office in person. Bring a valid photo ID and the full name and date of birth of the person you want to search. The fee falls under the state cap of $20 set by O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34. Call ahead to confirm the exact fee and payment methods. Staff will search the local Columbia County records and the statewide criminal history system.

Columbia County also covers Evans, the other large community in the county. If someone has lived in both Martinez and Evans, one search at the Columbia County Sheriff's Office covers both areas. There is no need to visit two agencies. One check pulls records from the whole county.

Note: Martinez does not have its own police department, making the Columbia County Sheriff the only local source for a background check.

Martinez Check Process

The process is the same as in other Georgia counties. Go to the sheriff's office. Fill out a form. Show your ID. Pay the fee. The staff runs the name through county and state databases. Results may come back the same day or within a few business days. It depends on how busy the office is. The search pulls up arrests, charges, convictions, and other records linked to that name and date of birth.

Name-based checks have a known weakness. They rely on the name and date of birth being accurate. Common names can pull up results for the wrong person. This happens more than you might think. Fingerprint-based checks are better because they match prints to records without the same risk of confusion. The GAPS system through IdentoGO handles fingerprint checks. You make an appointment at a location near Martinez, get fingerprinted, and the prints are checked against GBI and FBI databases.

Martinez is close to Augusta, which is in Richmond County. If someone has lived in both places, a Columbia County background check will not show Richmond County records automatically. You would need to check both counties separately or use a statewide search tool. The state database should have records from both counties, but a county-level check only looks at that one county's records and the state system.

Martinez Background Check Resources

The Georgia Felon Search FAQ page explains how the state's online criminal history tool works for Martinez residents.

The Georgia Felon Search FAQ covers common questions about the state's online tool, which can be used to check for felony convictions related to Martinez and all other Georgia locations.

State Tools for Martinez

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation runs the statewide criminal history database through the Georgia Crime Information Center. All Martinez arrest records flow from Columbia County into this central system. The GCIC holds records from all 159 Georgia counties. They do not allow the public to run name-based searches directly.

The Georgia Felon Search costs $15 per search. It is an online tool. You type in a name, pay, and get results by email. It only shows felony convictions though. No misdemeanors, no arrests without charges, and no pending cases show up. For a Martinez background check, the Felon Search is the fastest option. But the results are limited to felonies.

If you need a more thorough check, the GAPS fingerprint system through IdentoGO is the best route. It checks both GBI and FBI databases. You schedule an appointment, provide fingerprints, and the results go to the requesting party. This catches records that name-based searches miss entirely. It is the most reliable method for a complete Martinez background check.

Note: The GCIC does not process name-based searches for the general public, so a local agency or the Felon Search tool is needed.

Laws on Martinez Records

Georgia law governs how a Martinez background check works. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34, the GBI shares criminal history data with authorized parties. The fee cap is $20 per record. This applies to what the Columbia County Sheriff can charge for a Martinez check.

Record restriction under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37 allows certain records to be hidden from public view. Dismissed charges and acquittals may qualify. A restricted record still sits in the state system but does not show up on a standard check. This means a Martinez background check may not include every interaction someone has had with law enforcement.

The First Offender Act under O.C.G.A. § 42-8-60 affects results too. Someone who finished a first offender sentence will not show a conviction on a standard check. The case is in the system but appears differently. This happens often in Georgia and is worth keeping in mind when you read the results of any Martinez background check.

Martinez Check Fees

• Columbia County Sheriff: up to $20, call 706-541-1043
• Georgia Felon Search: $15, online, felony convictions only
• GAPS fingerprint check: varies, state and FBI records

The Columbia County Sheriff charges under the $20 state cap. Call to confirm the exact amount. Payment methods differ, so ask about that too. The Felon Search is cheaper at $15 but only covers felony convictions. For a full Martinez background check that includes misdemeanors and arrests, the in-person sheriff visit is the way to go. GAPS fingerprint checks cost more but produce the most complete results available.

Contact for Martinez Check

• Columbia County Sheriff: PO Box 310, Appling, GA 30802
• Sheriff phone: 706-541-1043
• Sheriff: Clay Whittle

The Georgia Sheriffs' Association keeps an updated list of every sheriff in Georgia. For Martinez, the Columbia County Sheriff is the one local option. Call ahead to check hours and confirm what you need to bring. Having your ID and the person's full name and date of birth ready will save time when you arrive.

Nearby Cities

These cities are near Martinez and have their own background check pages.