Bacon County Criminal Background Check

A background check in Bacon County goes through the Sheriff's Office at 307 Dixon Street in Alma. The office keeps local criminal history files and can run name-based searches for individuals who need records. Bacon County background check data includes arrest records, warrant information, and booking logs from the county jail. Court records from the Waycross Judicial Circuit also feed into the criminal history picture. State-level databases managed by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation hold additional Bacon County records. This page covers the main ways to search for background check information in Bacon County, from the sheriff's office to online state portals.

Bacon County Sheriff Background Check Requests

Sheriff Andy Batten oversees background check services at the Bacon County Sheriff's Office. The office sits at 307 Dixon Street in Alma, GA 31510. You can call 912-632-2658 to get current information on what is needed for a background check request. A valid photo ID is the basic requirement. The staff will also need your full legal name and date of birth to run the search. Name-based background checks pull from Bacon County's local arrest files and the Georgia Crime Information Center database.

Walk-in visits are the standard approach for getting a Bacon County background check at the sheriff's office. Results from a local name search can sometimes come back the same day. When the office needs to pull state-level data or verify information through the GBI, it may take a few extra days. The volume of requests at any given time also affects how fast things move.

Jail booking records are another resource at the sheriff's office. These show who has been recently arrested and what charges were filed in Bacon County.

Criminal History Records in Bacon County

Bacon County is part of the Waycross Judicial Circuit. This circuit handles felony and serious misdemeanor cases in the superior court. Criminal cases that go through this court become public records held by the Bacon County Clerk of Superior Court. The clerk's office in Alma stores indictments, plea agreements, trial verdicts, and sentencing documents. You can go to the courthouse and ask to review these files. Some basic case information may be available over the phone, but detailed records usually require an in-person visit to access fully.

Not all criminal records in Bacon County are open to the public. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34, the state sets conditions for when criminal history records can be shared. Sealed cases and juvenile records are off limits. The First Offender Act in Georgia lets eligible individuals keep a conviction from showing on their public record after they complete all terms of their sentence. So a Bacon County background check will not always show every case that the court system handled.

Bacon County Background Check Through State Databases

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation maintains the central database for criminal records across the state. Bacon County arrest and conviction data flows into this system through local reporting. Two main tools let you access these records without going to Alma.

The Georgia Felon Search website charges $15 for a name-based search of felony convictions statewide. Type in a name and the system checks all 159 counties. Results are immediate. This tool covers Bacon County felony convictions but leaves out misdemeanors, pending cases, and arrests that did not lead to a conviction. It is a useful first step when you need a quick answer about someone's felony background in Bacon County.

The GAPS fingerprint system is the most thorough option. Fingerprint-based background checks pull from GBI and FBI databases. This catches records across state lines and avoids false hits from common names. Results come in 24 to 48 hours. The cost is higher, and you have to visit an IdentoGo location to get fingerprinted. For Bacon County residents, the nearest site may be in a neighboring city.

More details about GBI background check services are on the GBI services page.

The GBI portal is the gateway to statewide criminal history records that include data from Bacon County and all other Georgia counties.

Fees for Bacon County Background Checks

A local background check at the Bacon County Sheriff's Office costs between $15 and $25 depending on the type of search. The online felon search through the state is a flat $15. GAPS fingerprint checks carry a higher fee that covers both the state processing and the fingerprinting service. Call the sheriff's office at 912-632-2658 to get the exact current fee before you make the trip.

Payment at the Bacon County Sheriff's Office may be limited to cash or money orders. Not all sheriff's offices in Georgia take credit or debit cards. Confirming the payment options ahead of time saves you from showing up without the right form of payment. If you are mailing in a request, use a money order made out to the Bacon County Sheriff's Office.

Note: Always verify fees directly with the office since amounts may change from year to year.

Requesting Bacon County Records by Mail

You can send a background check request to the Bacon County Sheriff's Office by mail. Address it to 307 Dixon Street, Alma, GA 31510. Your letter should include a written request stating what you need, your full name, date of birth, and a photocopy of your government-issued ID. Include a money order for the fee. The office will process the search and return results to you by mail. This method works for people who live far from Alma or cannot visit during office hours. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, there are limits on how criminal history data from a background check can be used. Your request should state a lawful reason for needing the information.

Contact Bacon County Sheriff's Office

For any questions about running a background check in Bacon County, the sheriff's office is the best point of contact. The Georgia Sheriffs' Association directory also lists current contact details for all 159 county sheriffs.

• Address: 307 Dixon Street, Alma, GA 31510
• Phone: 912-632-2658
• Sheriff: Andy Batten

Bacon County is a rural county in southeast Georgia. The sheriff's office is the primary local source for criminal background check records. Staff there can answer questions about what records are available and how to request them. Getting your Bacon County background check started with a quick phone call helps make the process go smoother.

Nearby Counties

Bacon County sits in southeast Georgia near these neighboring counties. Background check records in adjacent counties can be searched through their own sheriff offices.