Candler County Background Check Records

A Candler County background check can be obtained through the sheriff's office in Metter or through Georgia's statewide criminal history databases. Candler County is a small rural county in southeast Georgia, and the sheriff handles most local record requests. The state also provides several online tools that let you search criminal history data tied to Candler County and every other county in Georgia. This page explains how to request a background check in Candler County, what records are available, what the process looks like, and which laws govern access to criminal history information in this part of the state.

Candler County Sheriff's Office Records

Sheriff John Miles leads the Candler County Sheriff's Office. This is the go-to place for getting a background check done locally. The mailing address is PO Box 693, Metter, GA 30439. You can call them at 912-685-2568. Before visiting, call to ask about their hours for background check processing. Small county offices like Candler County may only handle record requests on certain days or at certain times. When you go in, bring a valid photo ID such as a Georgia driver's license, a US passport, or a military ID card.

At the Candler County Sheriff's Office, you fill out a form with your personal details. Name, date of birth, and other identifying info go on the form. The staff runs your name through the state database and prints your result. Fees are typically between $15 and $20 in Candler County. Cash is usually the safest payment method at smaller offices, though some may take money orders as well. Call ahead to check. Results can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours depending on how busy things are at the Candler County office that day.

Candler County Background Check Online Tools

The Georgia Felon Search is the quickest online option for a background check in Candler County. It costs $15 per search. You enter the person's name, date of birth, race, and sex. Results get sent to your email within minutes. This tool only shows felony convictions. It will not include misdemeanor charges, arrest-only records, or first offender completions. The fee is charged whether a record is found or not. If multiple people match, each record you open costs another $15.

The GBI website is the main hub for statewide background check resources that Candler County residents can use.

All the links to the GCIC, GAPS, and Felon Search tools are on the GBI site for anyone in Candler County.

Fingerprint-based background checks offer more accuracy than name searches in Candler County. The GAPS system through IdentoGO handles these checks. You register online, find a fingerprinting location near Candler County, and get printed. Results come back within 24 to 48 hours. This is the method used when a higher level of certainty is needed because it matches prints directly to the person's record in the GCIC system.

Candler County Background Check Legal Rules

All background checks in Candler County follow Georgia state law. O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34 controls the release of criminal history records. To get someone else's full background check in Candler County, you need their signed consent on a GCIC-prescribed form. Without that consent, only felony conviction data is available to the public. The law also caps the fee at $20 per person for any background check in the state.

When a background check from Candler County leads to a negative decision about someone, the person who made that decision must notify the individual. They have to explain what was found, where it came from, and how it affected the outcome. Failing to give this notice is a misdemeanor under Georgia law. This rule protects people whose records may contain errors or outdated information that should have been restricted.

Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, record restriction applies to certain Candler County criminal records after enough time passes. Misdemeanor arrests not prosecuted get restricted after two years. Felony arrests dropped by prosecutors restrict after four years. Once restricted, these records will not appear on a standard Candler County background check. Only courts and law enforcement retain access.

Note: The maximum fee for any single background check in Candler County or anywhere in Georgia is $20 per person under state law.

GCIC and Candler County Records

The Georgia Crime Information Center is where all Candler County criminal history data ends up. Every arrest by the Candler County Sheriff's Office goes into the GCIC system. Court dispositions from the Middle Judicial Circuit feed in as well. When you get a background check in Candler County, the data comes from GCIC regardless of which method you use. The sheriff's office searches GCIC. The Felon Search taps GCIC. GAPS fingerprint checks go through GCIC. It is all one centralized system.

If you need to fix an error on your Candler County background check, start with the agency that submitted the wrong data. They must send a correction to GCIC. Written requests need to be 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 to correction requests. If they say no, you can take the matter to court for another look.

First Offender Cases in Candler County

The First Offender Act under O.C.G.A. § 42-8-60 affects background checks across Georgia, including Candler County. A first-time offender who finishes all conditions of their sentence under this act gets the case sealed. It will not show on a background check done by a private citizen or business. The judge must approve the first offender status at the time of sentencing. Not every crime qualifies for it.

Candler County cases handled under the First Offender Act follow the same state rules. Once the sentence is complete, the case should vanish from standard background checks. If it still shows up, contact GCIC at 404-244-2639 and select Option 1 for criminal history questions.

The Georgia Sheriffs' Association has a full directory of all county sheriffs in the state. Use it to find contact details for the Candler County Sheriff's Office or any neighboring county.

Counties Near Candler County

Candler County is surrounded by several other counties in southeast Georgia. Each one has a sheriff's office that handles background checks using the same statewide database.