Dade County Background Check

A background check in Dade County goes through the Sheriff's Office on Case Avenue in Trenton. Dade County sits at the far northwest corner of Georgia, right along the Tennessee and Alabama state lines. The sheriff's office handles criminal history requests for the county and works with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to access statewide records. Because of its location, people looking into Dade County background check records sometimes also need to check databases in neighboring states. Local court records from the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit are another source of case data. The county is small but the process for getting records follows the same state rules as every other Georgia county.

Dade County Sheriff Background Check Process

Sheriff Ray Cross runs the Dade County Sheriff's Office at 75 Case Avenue in Trenton. You can call 706-657-3233 to ask about background check procedures, hours, and what documents you need. The office does name-based searches by pulling local records and checking the Georgia Crime Information Center database. Most people walk in to start a background check. You will need a valid photo ID and basic personal details like your full name and date of birth. The staff runs your name through their system and any matching records from Dade County show up in the results.

Dade County is one of the smaller counties in the state. That usually means less wait time at the sheriff's office. Some checks come back the same day, while others may take a few business days if the search has to go beyond local files. The office also keeps booking records from the county jail and can share information about active warrants.

Call before you visit. Hours can shift based on staffing.

Criminal History Records in Dade County

Criminal records in Dade County come from the local court system and law enforcement agencies. The county is part of the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit, which also covers Chattooga, Walker, and Catoosa counties. Superior court cases filed within this circuit are public record, and the Dade County Clerk of Superior Court keeps files on felony and misdemeanor cases that went through the local courthouse. You can go to the courthouse in Trenton to look at these files. Some information may be available over the phone, but in-person visits give the most complete access to case records and court documents.

Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34, the GBI can share criminal history data with private individuals under certain conditions. Not all records are open. Georgia law protects juvenile cases and sealed records from showing up in a standard background check. The First Offender Act also allows certain people to have their conviction restricted from public view after finishing their sentence. So a Dade County background check may not show every case that has gone through the courts.

State Search Tools for Dade County

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation provides statewide tools that include Dade County records. You do not have to go to Trenton to run a search. The Georgia Felon Search lets you look up convicted felons across all 159 counties. The cost is $15 per search. You type in a name and get results right away if there is a match. This tool only covers felony convictions. Arrests, pending cases, and misdemeanor charges will not show up in these results.

For a more thorough Dade County background check, the GAPS fingerprint system through IdentoGo is the best option. Fingerprint-based searches pull data from both the GBI and FBI databases, which means you can see records from other states too. Results come back in about 24 to 48 hours. The cost is higher than a name search, but the accuracy is much better because fingerprints rule out false matches from common names. People in Dade County can find fingerprinting sites in nearby cities in both Georgia and Tennessee.

More information about GBI services is available at gbi.georgia.gov/services.

The GBI portal connects to statewide databases that hold Dade County criminal history records along with data from every other county in Georgia.

Dade County Background Check Fees

The cost of a background check in Dade County depends on how you run it. A local name-based search at the sheriff's office costs between $15 and $25. Call 706-657-3233 to confirm the current fee. The state felon search tool is a flat $15. Fingerprint-based checks through GAPS cost more and include a service fee from the IdentoGo fingerprinting location. Payment options at the Dade County Sheriff's Office may be limited. Cash and money orders are the most common methods, though some offices now take debit cards.

Fees change from time to time. Always check with the office before you go so you bring the right amount and the right form of payment.

Mail Requests for Dade County Records

If you can not visit Trenton in person, you may be able to send a request by mail to the Dade County Sheriff's Office at 75 Case Avenue, Trenton, GA 30752. Include a written request with your full name, date of birth, and a copy of your photo ID. Add a money order for the fee. Do not send cash. The office will run the search and mail back the results. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, there are rules about how criminal history information can be used once you get it. Make sure your request meets the legal requirements for disclosure.

Mail requests take longer than walk-in visits. Plan for one to two weeks total, including shipping both ways and processing time at the office.

Dade County Contact Information

The Georgia Sheriffs' Association keeps a list of all county sheriff contacts in the state. Here are the details for the Dade County Sheriff's Office.

• Address: 75 Case Avenue, Trenton, GA 30752
• Phone: 706-657-3233
• Sheriff: Ray Cross
• Hours: Call to confirm current office hours

Because Dade County borders both Tennessee and Alabama, people who live near the state line sometimes need to check records in multiple states. The sheriff's office can only access Georgia records, so you would need to contact agencies in those other states for records from their side of the border. For your Dade County background check, though, this office is the right starting point.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Dade County in northwest Georgia. If your search covers a wider area, these pages may be useful.