Franklin County Background Check

A Franklin County background check starts at the Sheriff's Office in Carnesville. Sheriff Scott Andrews leads the office, which handles criminal history searches for this rural northeast Georgia county. Franklin County is part of the Northern Judicial Circuit, and local court records come through the superior and magistrate courts in Carnesville. The sheriff's office can pull local arrest data, warrant information, and booking logs from the county jail. State records are also available through the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, which keeps a statewide criminal history database that includes all Franklin County data. Whether you go in person or use an online tool, the process follows the same basic rules set by Georgia law.

Franklin County Sheriff Background Check

The Franklin County Sheriff's Office in Carnesville processes local background check requests. You can reach them at 706-384-2525 to ask about what you need and when to come in. The mailing address is PO Box 310, Carnesville, GA 30521. Sheriff Scott Andrews and his staff run name-based searches through local files and the Georgia Crime Information Center database. Walk-ins are the typical method. Bring a valid photo ID along with your full name and date of birth to get started.

Franklin County is small, so the office may have shorter wait times compared to metro-area counties. Some checks are done the same day. If the search has to reach into state databases, it can take a few business days. The staff can also look up active warrants and share booking information from the county jail. Calling before you visit is always a good practice since hours and staffing can change.

Franklin County Criminal Court Records

Court records in Franklin County come through the Northern Judicial Circuit. The superior court in Carnesville handles felony cases, while the magistrate court takes on misdemeanors and other smaller matters. The Clerk of Superior Court keeps the case files, which are part of the public record. You can go to the courthouse to review charges, plea deals, trial results, and sentencing data for cases that went through the Franklin County court system.

Georgia law places some limits on public access to criminal records. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34, the GBI can share criminal history records with private citizens under specific conditions. Not everything shows up in a public search. Juvenile records stay sealed. The First Offender Act lets certain individuals restrict their conviction after they complete their sentence. A Franklin County background check might miss some cases because of these legal protections. Talk to the clerk if you need details on a specific record.

Restricted records will not appear in standard searches.

State Search Tools for Franklin County

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation maintains a statewide database that holds criminal records from all 159 Georgia counties. Franklin County data feeds into this system through the GCIC. You can access the records from home without driving to Carnesville.

The Georgia Felon Search is the simplest tool. It costs $15 and gives instant results on felony convictions statewide. Enter a name and the system pulls any matches. Keep in mind that this tool only shows felony convictions. Arrests, misdemeanors, and pending cases are not included. For a quick check, it works well. But if you need the full picture, you should look at the fingerprint option too.

The GAPS fingerprint system through IdentoGo offers a thorough search. It draws from GBI and FBI databases and includes records from outside Georgia. Fingerprint searches avoid problems with common names because the match is based on prints, not just a name. Results take about 24 to 48 hours. Franklin County residents can find IdentoGo locations in nearby cities in northeast Georgia.

More details are on the GBI services page.

The GBI portal stores statewide criminal history records that include data from Franklin County and every other Georgia county.

Franklin County Background Check Fees

The cost of a background check in Franklin County depends on how you search. A local name-based check at the sheriff's office typically costs between $15 and $25. The state felon search is $15 online. Fingerprint checks through GAPS are more because they include a fingerprinting fee charged by the IdentoGo location. Call 706-384-2525 to find out the current local fee before you visit.

Cash and money orders are common payment options at the sheriff's office. Card acceptance varies. Always check ahead to bring the right form of payment.

Mail Requests for Franklin County

You can try mailing a request if visiting Carnesville is not an option. Send it to the Franklin County Sheriff's Office at PO Box 310, Carnesville, GA 30521. Include 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 will run the check and return results by mail. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, there are rules governing who can request criminal history data and how it can be used. Make sure your request meets those requirements or it may be denied.

Mail requests add time. Expect a week to two weeks for everything to go through, including postal delivery and office processing.

Franklin County Contact Information

Reach the Franklin County Sheriff's Office for background check questions using the details below. The Georgia Sheriffs' Association also has a full directory of all Georgia sheriff offices.

• Address: PO Box 310, Carnesville, GA 30521
• Phone: 706-384-2525
• Sheriff: Scott Andrews
• Hours: Call to confirm current office hours

Franklin County is in northeast Georgia, not far from Interstate 85. The county is rural and the sheriff's office handles all law enforcement duties for the area. Background check requests are one part of the office workload, so call ahead to find out when staff is available to help with your Franklin County background check.

Nearby Counties

Franklin County shares borders with several counties in northeast Georgia. These pages may be useful if your search covers a wider area.