Calhoun County Background Check

A Calhoun County background check gives you access to criminal history records kept by local law enforcement and the state of Georgia. The Calhoun County Sheriff's Office in Morgan is the main point of contact for these searches. This small county in southwest Georgia has its own process for handling record requests. You can also search statewide systems like the Georgia Felon Search portal and the GCIC database. Whether you need to check your own record or look up someone else, the steps start with the sheriff's office or the GBI. This guide covers the full process for getting a background check in Calhoun County.

Calhoun County Sheriff Background Check Office

Sheriff Josh Hilton runs the Calhoun County Sheriff's Office. This is where most people in the county go to get a background check done. The office sits in Morgan, which is the county seat. You can reach them by mail at PO Box 211, Morgan, GA 39866. The phone number is 229-849-2555. Call ahead before you visit. Hours can shift, and staff may not always be free to run a check on the spot. Bring a valid photo ID when you go in person. A state driver's license or a passport works fine. Most offices in rural Georgia counties like Calhoun County will not take a Social Security card by itself as ID for a background check.

The process at the Calhoun County Sheriff's Office is fairly standard. You fill out a form with your name, date of birth, and other basic details. The office then runs your info through the state system. Fees in Calhoun County can range from $15 to $20, though you should call to confirm the exact cost. Cash is the safest bet in smaller offices, but ask about other payment methods when you call. Results may not come back the same day in Calhoun County since staff handle many duties beyond just record checks.

Calhoun County Criminal Record Search Options

Beyond the sheriff's office, there are statewide tools that people in Calhoun County can use. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation manages the central criminal history database for every county in the state. All arrest data, court results, and conviction records from Calhoun County flow into the GBI system. You can use the Georgia Felon Search portal to look up felony convictions tied to someone's name. This costs $15 per search and results come to your email in minutes. It only shows felony convictions, not arrests or misdemeanors.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation website has details on all the ways to search criminal records in the state.

From the GBI site you can find links to GCIC, the Felon Search, and the GAPS fingerprint system used across all Georgia counties including Calhoun County.

For a more thorough check, you can use the GAPS fingerprint system. This is the Georgia Applicant Processing Service, run through IdentoGO enrollment centers. You get fingerprinted at a location near Calhoun County, and results come back in 24 to 48 hours. This method is more reliable than a name-based search because it matches prints directly. The closest IdentoGO sites to Calhoun County may be in Albany or other nearby cities.

Calhoun County Background Check Laws

Georgia law controls how background checks work in every county, including Calhoun County. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34, the GBI can release criminal history records to private persons under certain conditions. If you want someone else's record in Calhoun County, you need their written consent on a GCIC form. The form asks for their full name, address, Social Security number, and date of birth. Without consent, you can only get felony conviction data through the Felon Search portal.

No background check fee in Georgia can go above $20 per person. That cap is set by state law.

Record restriction is another part of the law that affects Calhoun County background checks. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, certain records get hidden from standard background checks after a set time. Misdemeanor arrests that were never sent to a prosecutor get restricted after two years. Felony arrests not prosecuted get restricted after four years. Once restricted, these records will not show on a Calhoun County background check run by a private person. Only judges and law enforcement can still see them. You can also petition to restrict certain misdemeanor convictions after finishing your sentence and waiting four years with no new charges.

The First Offender Act under O.C.G.A. § 42-8-60 is another path. First-time offenders in Calhoun County who complete all terms of probation under this act have their case sealed. It will not show on a standard background check.

Note: Restricted records in Calhoun County are still visible to criminal justice agencies and judges even after restriction takes effect.

Georgia Crime Information Center and Calhoun County

The Georgia Crime Information Center stores all criminal history data submitted by agencies in Calhoun County. When the sheriff's office makes an arrest, that data goes into the GCIC system. Court results from the Pataula Judicial Circuit also feed into this database. If you want to check your own record, you can request a criminal history record inspection through GCIC. You must call 404-244-2639 and pick Option 1 to set up an appointment. Walk-ins are not accepted at the GCIC office in Decatur. You can also mail a written request to GCIC at P.O. Box 370808, Decatur, Georgia 30037.

GCIC does not do name-based checks for the public. If you want a name-based background check on someone in Calhoun County, you go through the sheriff's office or use the Felon Search. GCIC handles fingerprint-based checks only, which go through the GAPS system. Agencies that need background checks for workers or volunteers use GCIC through the GAPS process. The results from a fingerprint check are more complete than a name search because they match prints directly to the person's record.

How to Get a Calhoun County Background Check

Start with the Calhoun County Sheriff's Office if you want a local check. Call 229-849-2555 first. Ask about hours, fees, and what to bring. Most people need a valid photo ID and the fee in cash. The sheriff's staff will run your name through the state system and give you a printed result. This works for your own record or for someone who has given written consent.

For a felony-only search, skip the office visit and use the Georgia Felon Search online. You enter the person's name, date of birth, race, and sex. Pay $15 and get results by email. This is the fastest way to check for felony convictions in Calhoun County or anywhere in Georgia. Keep in mind that the $15 fee applies even if the search finds no record at all.

If your Calhoun County background check contains errors, you have the right to challenge the data. Contact the agency that submitted the record and ask them to send a correction to GCIC. Written requests for fixes must go on official letterhead and include your full name, date of birth, Social Security number, race, sex, and arrest date. GCIC has 60 days to respond. If they deny your request, a court can review it.

The Georgia Sheriffs' Association directory lists every sheriff in the state, including Calhoun County, with contact details and office info.

Counties Near Calhoun County

These counties border Calhoun County in southwest Georgia. Each has its own sheriff's office that handles background checks. If you live near a county line, the office in the next county over can also process a background check for you since the data comes from the same statewide system.