Barrow County Background Check Search

A Barrow County background check starts at the Sheriff's Office on East Broad Street in Winder. The county is part of the growing northeast metro Atlanta region, and the sheriff's office processes criminal history requests from the public on a regular basis. Barrow County background check records pull from local arrest logs, jail bookings, and court records filed in the Piedmont Judicial Circuit. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation also holds Barrow County criminal data in its statewide system. Whether you visit the sheriff's office in person or use an online state tool, there are several paths to search Barrow County records. Here is what each one involves.

Barrow County Sheriff Background Check Office

Sheriff Jud Smith leads the Barrow County Sheriff's Office located at 233 East Broad Street, Winder, GA 30680. The phone number is 770-307-3080. The office handles name-based background check searches using local records and the Georgia Crime Information Center database. When you visit to request a Barrow County background check, bring a valid photo ID. You will need your full name and date of birth for the search. The office is busier than many rural Georgia counties because Barrow County has a growing population tied to the Atlanta metro area.

Walk-in visits are standard for local background check requests. The Barrow County Sheriff's Office processes a higher volume of requests than smaller counties. Wait times can vary based on staffing and how many people are ahead of you. A simple name search might come back the same day. Searches that require state-level verification take longer. Calling 770-307-3080 before your visit helps you know what to expect and what to bring.

Booking records from the Barrow County detention center are kept by the sheriff's office too. These show recent arrests and charges.

Criminal History Records in Barrow County

Barrow County falls under the Piedmont Judicial Circuit for superior court cases. The Barrow County Clerk of Superior Court in Winder maintains criminal case files from this circuit. Records include indictments, plea agreements, jury verdicts, and sentencing information. The clerk's office is open to the public for record searches. You can go in and ask to review specific case files. Some information may also be available by contacting the office by phone, though detailed records usually require an in-person visit.

Georgia law puts limits on what criminal records are publicly available. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34, the GBI can share criminal history records with private individuals under set conditions. Sealed records, juvenile cases, and files covered by the First Offender Act may not show in a Barrow County background check. The First Offender Act gives eligible defendants a chance to complete their sentence without a public conviction on their record. This means some cases that went through the Barrow County court system might not appear in your search results.

Statewide Search Tools for Barrow County

You can search Barrow County background check records through statewide tools run by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation without going to Winder. These databases hold criminal history information from every county in Georgia.

The Georgia Felon Search portal costs $15. Enter a name and the system checks for felony convictions across all 159 counties. Barrow County felony records show up here if there is a match. Results come back fast. The tool only covers felony convictions, so misdemeanors, pending charges, and arrests without conviction are left out. It works well for a quick Barrow County background check when you want to know about serious criminal history.

For a full picture, the GAPS fingerprint-based check through IdentoGo is the way to go. Fingerprints get matched against both the GBI and FBI databases. This means a Barrow County background check through GAPS can turn up records from other states as well. Results take 24 to 48 hours. You have to get fingerprinted at an IdentoGo location. Barrow County residents may find a site in Winder or nearby in Gwinnett County.

Check the GBI services page for more on each background check method.

Barrow County records are part of this statewide system maintained by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

Barrow County Background Check Fees

Expect to pay between $15 and $25 for a name-based background check at the Barrow County Sheriff's Office. The Georgia Felon Search online tool is $15 flat. GAPS fingerprint checks have a higher fee that includes state processing and the fingerprinting service. Contact the sheriff's office at 770-307-3080 for the exact current fee.

The Barrow County Sheriff's Office may accept cash, money orders, or cards. Payment options have expanded at many Georgia sheriff offices in recent years, but policies vary. Call ahead to find out what forms of payment are accepted so you are ready when you arrive for your Barrow County background check.

Note: Fees are subject to change, so always verify the current cost before submitting your background check request.

Mail-In Barrow County Background Checks

You can request a Barrow County background check by mail if you cannot visit Winder. Send your request to the Barrow County Sheriff's Office at 233 East Broad Street, Winder, GA 30680. Include a written request with your full legal name, date of birth, and a photocopy of your ID. Add a money order for the processing fee. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, you need a lawful reason to request criminal history records. State your purpose in the letter. Results will be mailed back to you. Plan for one to two weeks for the full round-trip process.

Mail requests work fine but take longer than in-person visits. If you need results fast, going to the office in Winder is the better option for a Barrow County background check.

Contact Barrow County Sheriff

The Barrow County Sheriff's Office handles local background check requests. The Georgia Sheriffs' Association directory is a good resource for verifying current sheriff contact information statewide.

• Address: 233 East Broad Street, Winder, GA 30680
• Phone: 770-307-3080
• Sheriff: Jud Smith

Barrow County borders Gwinnett County and is close to Athens in Clarke County. Residents have access to resources in these larger neighboring areas if they need additional help with a background check. For Barrow County records specifically, the sheriff's office in Winder is the local authority.

Nearby Counties

Barrow County neighbors several counties in the northeast metro Atlanta area. Background check records in these counties can be searched through their own sheriff offices.