Elbert County Background Check

Background check records in Elbert County are processed by the Sheriff's Office on Forest Avenue in Elberton. Sheriff Jamie Callaway oversees the office and handles criminal history requests. Elbert County is in northeast Georgia, close to the South Carolina border along the Savannah River. A background check here pulls from local arrest records, court files from the Northern Judicial Circuit, and statewide databases at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The county follows the same procedures as every other Georgia county, and there are multiple ways to search for records depending on your needs.

Elbert County Sheriff Background Check

The Elbert County Sheriff's Office is at 47 Forest Avenue in Elberton. Sheriff Jamie Callaway and his staff process background check requests by running name-based searches through local files and the Georgia Crime Information Center database. Call 706-283-2421 for questions about hours, fees, and what documents you need. Walk-in requests are the most common way to get a check done here. You will need a valid photo ID and your full legal name and date of birth. The staff searches their records and provides a report of any criminal history tied to the name you give.

Elbert County is a mid-sized county in northeast Georgia. The office handles a moderate number of requests, so waits are usually short. A simple name search might come back the same day. More involved searches that pull from state databases can take a few business days. Booking records from the county jail and warrant information are also available through the sheriff's office.

A phone call ahead of your visit is always a good idea.

Elbert County Criminal Court Records

Elbert County is part of the Northern Judicial Circuit, along with Hart, Franklin, Madison, and Oglethorpe counties. Criminal cases tried in superior court here become part of the public record. The Clerk of Superior Court in Elberton keeps files that cover indictments, plea agreements, trial outcomes, and sentencing information. Visiting the courthouse gives you the most thorough access to these records. The clerk's staff can help you find cases by name or case number. Phone requests for basic information are sometimes possible, but detailed document review needs to be done in person.

Georgia law controls who can access criminal history records and under what conditions. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34, the GBI can release criminal history information to private citizens when the right conditions are met. Some records stay off limits. Juvenile cases are protected. Sealed records will not appear. The First Offender Act lets eligible individuals restrict their conviction from public view after completing their sentence. A standard Elbert County background check may not capture every case that went through the court because of these protections.

Statewide Search Tools for Elbert County

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation runs online tools that cover all 159 Georgia counties, Elbert County included. The Georgia Felon Search is $15 per search and checks for felony convictions by name. Results are fast. Enter a name and the system checks for any felony conviction matches across the state. The tool only covers felony convictions, though. Arrests that did not result in a conviction, misdemeanor charges, and pending cases will not show up.

The GAPS fingerprint system through IdentoGo provides the most complete Elbert County background check. Fingerprint searches pull data from both GBI and FBI databases, which means out-of-state records may appear as well. Fingerprint checks avoid the false matches that come with name searches, since the match is based on prints rather than a name that might be shared by multiple people. Results take about 24 to 48 hours. Elbert County residents can look for IdentoGo fingerprinting locations in nearby cities like Athens.

See all available GBI services at gbi.georgia.gov/services.

The GBI website connects to databases that hold criminal history data from Elbert County and every other county in the state.

Elbert County Background Check Fees

A local name-based search at the Elbert County Sheriff's Office costs between $15 and $25. Call 706-283-2421 to get the exact fee. The state felon search costs $15 online. Fingerprint checks through GAPS run more and include a service fee at the IdentoGo location. The sheriff's office typically takes cash and money orders. Card payments may or may not be accepted, so check before your visit.

Processing fees are subject to change at any time. Always verify with the office before submitting a request or making the trip to Elberton.

Mail Requests for Elbert County Records

If you can not visit Elberton, you can submit a background check request by mail. Send it to the Elbert County Sheriff's Office at 47 Forest Avenue, Elberton, GA 30635. Your request should include your full name, date of birth, a copy of your photo ID, and a money order for the fee. Do not mail cash. The office processes the search and mails back the results. Georgia law under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37 sets limits on how criminal history information can be used. State the purpose of your request when you submit it.

Mail requests take longer than in-person visits. Expect one to two weeks total, counting mailing time both ways and office processing.

Elbert County Contact and Resources

The Georgia Sheriffs' Association has a full directory of Georgia county sheriff contacts, including Elbert County.

• Address: 47 Forest Avenue, Elberton, GA 30635
• Phone: 706-283-2421
• Sheriff: Jamie Callaway
• Hours: Call to confirm current office hours

Elbert County sits on the South Carolina state line. If your search covers both states, the sheriff's office can only access Georgia records. You would need to go through South Carolina agencies for records from that side of the border. For records within Elbert County, the sheriff's office in Elberton is where to begin your background check.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Elbert County in northeast Georgia. If you need to search background records from a neighboring area, these pages can help.