Early County Background Checks

Early County background check records are processed at the Sheriff's Office in Blakely. Sheriff William Price leads the office and handles criminal history requests for the county. Early County is a rural county in southwest Georgia, close to the Alabama border. Criminal record searches here draw from local arrest data, court records from the Pataula Judicial Circuit, and statewide databases through the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The county follows the same background check procedures as the rest of Georgia, and there are several ways to get records depending on whether you visit in person or use the state's online search tools.

Early County Sheriff Record Requests

Sheriff William Price runs the Early County Sheriff's Office at 18610 E South Blvd in Blakely. You can reach the office at 229-723-3484 with questions about background checks. The office handles name-based searches by checking local files and querying the Georgia Crime Information Center database. Walk-in requests are the standard method here. Bring a valid photo ID and your full legal name and date of birth so the staff can process your search. The results will show any criminal history tied to the name you provide from within Early County and potentially from state-level records.

Early County is small and rural, which usually means shorter waits at the sheriff's office. A basic name check can sometimes come back the same day. Searches that need state-level data may take a few business days. The office keeps jail booking records and can also check for active warrants in the county.

Calling before your visit helps you know what to expect.

Criminal Court Records in Early County

Early County is part of the Pataula Judicial Circuit, along with Clay, Quitman, and Randolph counties. Criminal cases tried in superior court are public record. The Early County Clerk of Superior Court in Blakely maintains case files that include charges, plea information, trial outcomes, and sentencing details. You can go to the courthouse in person to review these records. Phone requests for basic information are sometimes possible, but in-person visits give you the most thorough access to the case files and supporting documents.

Georgia statutes govern public access to criminal records. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34, the GBI can release criminal history data to individuals under specific conditions. Certain records are not available through a regular search. Juvenile cases are protected. Sealed records stay out of public view. The First Offender Act gives eligible people a way to restrict their conviction from public criminal history databases after finishing their sentence. A standard Early County background check might not show every case that came through the court for these reasons.

Statewide Tools for Early County

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation provides online search tools that include Early County criminal records. The Georgia Felon Search costs $15 per lookup and checks for felony convictions by name across all 159 counties. You type in a name and get results fast if there is a match. The limitation is that the tool only covers felony convictions. Misdemeanors, arrests that did not lead to a conviction, and pending charges are not part of the results.

The GAPS fingerprint system through IdentoGo gives the most complete results for an Early County background check. Fingerprint searches cover both state and federal databases, which means out-of-state records can appear too. Results are more reliable since fingerprints avoid the problems that come with matching common names. Turnaround is about 24 to 48 hours. Early County residents may need to travel to a larger city like Albany for fingerprinting at an IdentoGo location.

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

This state portal links to databases that hold criminal history data from Early County and every other county in Georgia.

Early County Background Check Fees

A name-based search at the Early County Sheriff's Office costs between $15 and $25. Call 229-723-3484 to verify the exact fee before making the trip. The online felon search is $15. Fingerprint checks through GAPS cost more and include a separate fee at the IdentoGo fingerprinting site. Cash and money orders are the most reliable payment methods at the sheriff's office. Card payment may or may not be available.

Fees change from time to time. Check with the office before you go so you have the right amount and the right form of payment.

Mail Requests for Early County

If you can not travel to Blakely, you can submit a background check request by mail. Write to the Early County Sheriff's Office at 18610 E South Blvd, Blakely, GA 39823. Include a written request with your full name, date of birth, a copy of your photo ID, and a money order for the processing fee. Do not send cash. The office will run the search and mail the results back to you. Georgia law under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37 limits how criminal history information can be used. Your request should clearly state the reason for the check and fall within the allowed purposes.

Budget one to two weeks for a mail request. Shipping time on both ends plus processing at the office adds up.

Early County Contact Details

The Georgia Sheriffs' Association keeps a full list of county sheriff contacts across Georgia.

• Address: 18610 E South Blvd, Blakely, GA 39823
• Phone: 229-723-3484
• Sheriff: William Price
• Hours: Call to confirm current office hours

Early County is near the Alabama state line in southwest Georgia. If your search extends across state borders, the sheriff's office can only access Georgia records. You would need to contact Alabama agencies separately. For anything within Early County, this office is the place to start your background check process.

Nearby Counties

Early County borders several other southwest Georgia counties. These links may help if you need to search records in neighboring areas.