Evans County Background Checks

Evans County background check requests are processed at the Sheriff's Office in Claxton, the county seat. Sheriff Mac Edwards leads the office and manages criminal record searches for the county. Evans County is a small county in southeast Georgia, not far from the Savannah metro area. Background checks here draw from local arrest data, court records from the Atlantic Judicial Circuit, and statewide databases through the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. There are several paths to search for criminal history in Evans County, whether you go in person or use the state's online tools.

Evans County Sheriff Record Search

The Evans County Sheriff's Office handles background check requests from its location in Claxton. The mailing address is PO Box 425, Claxton, GA 30417. Sheriff Mac Edwards and his staff perform name-based searches using local records and the Georgia Crime Information Center database. Call 912-739-1611 to find out about current hours, what to bring, and the fee. Walk-in visits are how most people get their background check done. You will need a valid photo ID plus your full legal name and date of birth to get started. The staff searches the system and provides a report on any criminal history associated with the name.

Evans County is small enough that the sheriff's office usually has manageable wait times. A straightforward name check can come back the same day in many cases. Searches that need state-level data may take a few business days. The office keeps booking records from the county jail and can check for active warrants in Evans County.

Calling before your visit helps you prepare and saves time.

Evans County Criminal Court Records

Evans County is part of the Atlantic Judicial Circuit, which serves several counties in southeast Georgia including Bryan, Effingham, Liberty, Long, McIntosh, and Tattnall. Criminal cases heard by the superior court here are public record. The Evans County Clerk of Superior Court in Claxton maintains case files that include indictments, plea information, trial outcomes, and sentencing. Visiting the courthouse in person is the best way to review these records. The clerk's staff can help you search by name or case number. Some basic case details might be available by phone, but detailed document review requires a visit.

Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34, the GBI can share criminal history records with private citizens under specific conditions. Some records are not open to the public. Juvenile cases are protected. Sealed files do not appear in standard background check searches. The First Offender Act allows eligible individuals to restrict their conviction from public view after completing their sentence. An Evans County background check might miss cases that were handled under this law, which is something to keep in mind when reviewing results.

State Tools for Evans County Background Checks

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation operates statewide search tools that include Evans County records. The quickest online option is the Georgia Felon Search, which costs $15 per lookup. Enter a name and the system checks for felony convictions across all 159 counties. Results appear right away if there is a match. The downside is that this tool only covers felony convictions. Misdemeanor cases, arrests without a conviction, and pending charges are left out of the results.

For a more thorough Evans County background check, the GAPS fingerprint system through IdentoGo is the better path. Fingerprint searches pull from both GBI and FBI databases, so they can turn up out-of-state records as well. The match is based on fingerprints, not names, which makes the results more accurate and avoids mix-ups between people with similar names. Turnaround is normally 24 to 48 hours. The cost is higher than a name search. Evans County residents may need to go to Statesboro, Savannah, or another nearby city for fingerprinting at an IdentoGo site.

The full list of GBI services is at gbi.georgia.gov/services.

This state portal gives access to criminal history databases that hold records from Evans County alongside data from all other Georgia counties.

Evans County Background Check Fees

A name-based search at the Evans County Sheriff's Office runs between $15 and $25. Call 912-739-1611 to confirm the current fee before you go. The state felon search is a flat $15 online. GAPS fingerprint checks cost more and come with a service fee from the fingerprinting site. Payment at the sheriff's office is usually cash or money order. Not every small county office takes cards, so verify ahead of time.

Fees can change without much notice. Always check with the office before submitting your request.

How to Request Evans County Records by Mail

If you can not make it to Claxton, you can send a background check request by mail. Write to the Evans County Sheriff's Office at PO Box 425, Claxton, GA 30417. Include a written request with your full name, date of birth, a copy of your photo ID, and a money order for the fee. Do not send cash. The office processes the request and mails back the results. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, Georgia law limits how criminal history data can be used once you receive it. State the purpose of your request in your letter.

Budget one to two weeks for a mail request from start to finish, including mailing time and processing at the office.

Evans County Contact Information

The Georgia Sheriffs' Association maintains a directory of all Georgia county sheriff contacts.

• Mailing Address: PO Box 425, Claxton, GA 30417
• Phone: 912-739-1611
• Sheriff: Mac Edwards
• County Seat: Claxton

Evans County is in southeast Georgia, within reach of the Savannah area. If you need records from surrounding counties as well, the GBI statewide tools let you search across all counties at once. For anything specific to Evans County, the sheriff's office in Claxton is the best place to start your background check process.

Nearby Counties

Evans County borders several southeast Georgia counties. These links can help if you need to check records in a neighboring area.