Decatur County Background Checks

Background check records in Decatur County are processed through the Sheriff's Office on Spring Creek Road in Bainbridge. Sheriff Wiley Griffin leads the office and handles record requests for the county. Decatur County sits in southwest Georgia near the Florida state line, and criminal history searches here draw from local arrest logs, court records from the South Georgia Judicial Circuit, and statewide databases at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The process follows standard Georgia procedures, whether you visit the office in person or use one of the online tools provided by the GBI. Multiple paths exist for anyone who needs to search Decatur County records.

Decatur County Sheriff Record Requests

The Decatur County Sheriff's Office is located at 912 Spring Creek Road in Bainbridge. You can reach them by phone at 229-248-3044. Sheriff Wiley Griffin oversees all record searches handled at this office. When you request a background check, the staff runs a name-based search through local files and the Georgia Crime Information Center database. This turns up any criminal history linked to the name you provide within Decatur County and often statewide. Walk-in requests are standard. Bring a valid photo ID and your full legal name and date of birth so the office can process your search.

The office also handles warrant checks and booking records from the Decatur County jail. If you need to know whether there is an active warrant in the county, the sheriff's staff can look that up during your visit. Turnaround for a basic name search depends on how busy the office is and how complex the results are. Simple checks may come back the same day.

Calling ahead saves time. The staff can tell you exactly what to bring and what the current fee is.

Decatur County Criminal Court Records

Decatur County is part of the South Georgia Judicial Circuit. Criminal cases tried in the superior court here become part of the public record. The Clerk of Superior Court in Bainbridge keeps case files that cover indictments, pleas, trial outcomes, and sentencing details. You can visit the courthouse to review these records. Some basic case information may be available by phone, but detailed document review works best in person. The clerk can help you find specific cases if you have a name or case number.

Georgia statutes set the boundaries for who can see what. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34, criminal history records can be released to private citizens under specific conditions. Certain records are not available through a standard search. Juvenile cases are protected. Sealed records will not appear. People who completed their sentence under the First Offender Act may have their conviction hidden from public criminal history databases. This is important to keep in mind when reviewing results from a Decatur County background check, because not every case that passed through the court system will show up.

State Search Tools for Decatur County

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation runs statewide search systems that pull in Decatur County data. The simplest online option is the Georgia Felon Search tool, which costs $15 per lookup. It searches for felony convictions by name across all 159 Georgia counties. Results show up fast, but the tool only covers felony convictions. Misdemeanor charges, arrests that did not lead to a conviction, and pending cases are not included in these results.

For a deeper search, the GAPS fingerprint system operated by IdentoGo checks both state and federal databases. Fingerprint-based searches are more reliable because they match on prints rather than names, which avoids mix-ups between people with the same or similar names. Results from a GAPS check usually arrive in 24 to 48 hours. The cost is higher than a name search, but the coverage is much broader. Decatur County residents may need to travel to a nearby city for fingerprinting since IdentoGo locations are not in every small town.

The GBI lists all available services at gbi.georgia.gov/services.

This state portal gives access to criminal history databases that include records from Decatur County and all other Georgia counties.

Decatur County Background Check Costs

A name-based check at the Decatur County Sheriff's Office costs between $15 and $25. The fee can vary, so call 229-248-3044 to confirm the exact amount. The online felon search is $15. Fingerprint-based GAPS checks cost more and include a separate service fee at the IdentoGo location. Cash and money orders are the safest payment options at the sheriff's office. Some offices accept cards now, but not all do.

Processing fees are subject to change. Check with the office before submitting a request so there are no surprises.

How to Request Records by Mail

Mail-in requests are available for people who can not travel to Bainbridge. Send your request to the Decatur County Sheriff's Office at 912 Spring Creek Road, Bainbridge, GA 39817. Include your full name, date of birth, a copy of your photo ID, and a money order for the fee. Do not send cash in the mail. The office will process the search and return the results to the address you provide. Georgia law under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37 restricts how criminal history data can be used after it is released. Your request should state the reason for the check and fall within the allowed purposes.

Mail requests add time to the process. Budget at least one to two weeks for the full turnaround.

Decatur County Contact and Resources

The Georgia Sheriffs' Association has a directory with contact details for all 159 Georgia county sheriffs, including Decatur County.

• Address: 912 Spring Creek Road, Bainbridge, GA 39817
• Phone: 229-248-3044
• Sheriff: Wiley Griffin
• Hours: Call to confirm current office hours

Decatur County is near the Florida border, which means some people in the area may need to check records in both states. The sheriff's office can only search Georgia databases, so you would need to contact Florida agencies for records from that state. For anything within Decatur County, this office is where to start your background check.

Nearby Counties

Decatur County borders several other counties in southwest Georgia. You can check background records in these neighboring counties through the links below.