Colquitt County Background Check Search

Colquitt County background check records are maintained by the Sheriff's Office in Moultrie, the county seat. This office processes criminal record requests for the public and keeps local arrest data, warrants, and booking records on file. Colquitt County sits in the Southern Judicial Circuit in south Georgia and has a population around 46,000. Court records from the circuit include felony and misdemeanor case data. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation also stores Colquitt County criminal history in its statewide database. Several paths are available for anyone who needs to run a background check tied to this county.

Colquitt County Sheriff Background Check

Sheriff Rod Howell leads the Colquitt County Sheriff's Office. The mailing address is PO Box 188, Moultrie, GA 31776. You can call 229-616-7430 to ask about background check procedures, fees, and office hours. Most people get their background check by visiting in person. The staff runs a name-based search through local records and the Georgia Crime Information Center database. Results pull up Colquitt County criminal history and may show statewide hits as well. You need to bring a valid photo ID when you visit.

Moultrie is a mid-sized town, so the sheriff's office handles a reasonable volume of background check requests. Wait times tend to be manageable, though they can pick up during busy periods. Some name-based searches come back the same day. Others take a few business days if state-level processing is involved. The office also keeps information on active warrants in Colquitt County and maintains booking records from the county jail. Staff can answer basic questions about what records are available and how to access them.

Criminal Records in Colquitt County

Criminal history records in Colquitt County include arrests, charges, and case outcomes from the Southern Judicial Circuit. The superior court handles felony cases for the county. State court and magistrate court take care of misdemeanor charges and preliminary matters. These records are all part of the public record system in Georgia. The clerk of superior court in Colquitt County maintains case files at the courthouse in Moultrie. You can go in person to review dockets and look through case documents that are open to the public.

Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34, private citizens in Georgia can request criminal history data for approved purposes. Some records may not be available. The First Offender Act allows qualified individuals to restrict their conviction from public view once they finish their sentence. A Colquitt County background check may not capture every case that has gone through the courts because of these restrictions. Felony convictions are much harder to restrict under Georgia law and typically stay on the record.

Note: The clerk of court can tell you if a particular file is sealed or restricted before you spend time searching for it.

State Background Check for Colquitt County

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation operates the statewide criminal history system. All Colquitt County arrest and conviction data feeds into the GBI database through the Georgia Crime Information Center. You do not need to visit Moultrie to search these records.

The Georgia Felon Search is an online tool that costs $15 per search. It pulls up felony convictions from across the state, including those connected to Colquitt County. You enter a name and get instant results when a match is found. This tool only returns felony convictions. Misdemeanor charges, pending cases, and arrests that did not lead to a conviction will not show up. It works well as a quick starting point for a Colquitt County background check.

For more detail, the GAPS fingerprint system through IdentoGo runs a deeper check. A fingerprint-based search pulls from both state and federal databases. Results take one to two business days. The cost is higher, but the search is much more thorough. Colquitt County residents may have to travel to a neighboring city for the nearest fingerprinting location since Moultrie may not have a local IdentoGo site.

Visit gbi.georgia.gov/services for all background check options provided by the GBI.

The GBI portal above is used to access statewide criminal records, including data tied to Colquitt County.

Colquitt County Background Check Fees

Fees for a Colquitt County background check depend on the method. A local name-based check at the sheriff's office generally costs between $15 and $25. Call 229-616-7430 to confirm the exact fee. The GBI's felon search charges $15 per query. Fingerprint-based checks through GAPS are more expensive because they cover both state and FBI databases. An additional fingerprinting fee applies at the IdentoGo site where you get printed.

Payment methods at the sheriff's office may be limited. Cash and money orders are typically accepted. Not every office takes credit or debit cards, so call first. Having the right payment ready before you arrive saves time and prevents a return trip.

Requesting Colquitt County Records by Mail

If you are unable to visit Moultrie, you may be able to request a Colquitt County background check by mail. Write to the Colquitt County Sheriff's Office at PO Box 188, Moultrie, GA 31776. Include your full name, date of birth, and a copy of your photo ID. Enclose a money order for the fee. Do not send cash. The office will process the request and mail results to your return address. Mail-based requests take longer because of transit time going both ways. Allow at least a week or more.

Georgia law under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37 governs who can request criminal history records and what the data can be used for. Your request must fall within the uses allowed by statute. The sheriff's office has the authority to turn down requests that do not comply with the law.

Colquitt County Sheriff Contact

Contact the Colquitt County Sheriff's Office for background check inquiries. You can also check the Georgia Sheriffs' Association directory for verified contact information.

• Mailing Address: PO Box 188, Moultrie, GA 31776
• Phone: 229-616-7430
• Sheriff: Rod Howell
• Hours: Call to confirm current office hours

The sheriff's office in Colquitt County handles a range of law enforcement responsibilities. Background check processing is one piece of what they do. Calling ahead is the simplest way to make sure the office is open and that someone is available to help with your Colquitt County background check when you plan to go in person.

Nearby Counties

Colquitt County is in south Georgia and borders several other counties. These neighboring county pages may help if your search extends beyond Colquitt County.