Heard County Background Check

Heard County background check records come through the Sheriff's Office in Franklin, a small town in western Georgia not far from the Alabama border. The office keeps arrest data, booking logs, and warrant information for the county. Heard County is part of the Coweta Judicial Circuit. Court cases from the area go through the superior court system in Franklin. State-level databases from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation also hold Heard County criminal data for those who want a broader search. There are multiple ways to get records, and each one has its own cost, timeline, and level of detail.

Heard County Sheriff Background Check

Sheriff Ross Henry runs the Heard County Sheriff's Office. The mailing address is PO Box 339, Franklin, GA 30217. Call 706-675-3329 to ask about background check steps, when the office is open, and what documents you need. Most people come in person. You will need a valid photo ID. The staff does a name-based search through local files and the Georgia Crime Information Center database. The results from a Heard County background check can show arrest records, booking data, and criminal history linked to the county. The GCIC search may also pull up records from other parts of the state.

Heard County has a small population and is one of the more rural counties in western Georgia. The sheriff's office does not see the same volume of requests as urban areas, which typically means shorter wait times. Some basic name searches come back the same day. Others take a couple of business days if the search needs to go through state-level processing. The office also keeps records on active warrants and recent bookings at the county jail. Staff can help with questions about specific records or point you in the right direction if the clerk of court holds what you need.

Criminal Records in Heard County

Criminal history records in Heard County come from the Coweta Judicial Circuit, which covers Heard County along with several other western Georgia counties. Superior court handles felony cases. The state court and magistrate court deal with misdemeanors and initial hearings. The clerk of superior court in Heard County holds case files at the courthouse in Franklin. You can visit and look through dockets, filings, and case outcomes. These are public records, but some may be restricted by law.

Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34, criminal history data can be shared with private citizens in Georgia under certain conditions. Not every record is available through a standard search. The First Offender Act gives people a path to restrict a conviction from public view after they complete their sentence. Juvenile cases are also sealed in most situations. A Heard County background check may not capture every case that went through the system because of these protections.

Felonies are harder to seal or restrict. They stay in the system longer than misdemeanors.

State Background Check Options for Heard County

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation runs the main statewide criminal history database. Heard County arrest and conviction data feeds into the GBI's system through the Georgia Crime Information Center. You can use these tools from anywhere without traveling to Franklin.

The Georgia Felon Search is a fast online search that costs $15. It only shows felony convictions from across the state. Misdemeanor charges, arrests without a conviction, and pending cases do not appear. Type in a name and get results right away if there is a match. This is a decent first step for a Heard County background check when felony history is the main thing you care about. All 159 Georgia counties are covered in one search.

For a deeper look, the GAPS fingerprint system through IdentoGo searches both state and federal databases. Fingerprint checks take 24 to 48 hours and cost more than a name search. The results are more thorough and more accurate because fingerprints eliminate false matches. Heard County residents would likely need to travel to a nearby town or city for fingerprinting since Franklin probably does not have a local IdentoGo location.

Check gbi.georgia.gov/services for the full range of background check services the GBI provides.

The GBI website shown above connects to statewide records that include Heard County criminal history alongside data from every other county in Georgia.

Heard County Background Check Fees

What you pay for a Heard County background check depends on which method you use. A local name-based search at the sheriff's office generally costs between $15 and $25. Call 706-675-3329 to confirm the exact fee. The statewide felon search tool is $15 per query. Fingerprint checks through GAPS cost more and also include a service fee at the IdentoGo location where you get printed.

The sheriff's office usually takes cash and money orders. Debit card acceptance varies by location, and smaller offices may not have card readers. Always call ahead to confirm what they accept so you do not show up without the right form of payment. It saves time.

Mail Requests for Heard County Records

If you cannot make it to Franklin in person, you can request a Heard County background check by mail. Send a written request to the Heard County Sheriff's Office at PO Box 339, Franklin, GA 30217. Include your full name, date of birth, and a copy of your photo ID. Enclose a money order for the processing fee. Do not send cash. The office will run the check and mail results to the return address you provide. Plan for one to two weeks total, including transit time in both directions and processing at the office.

Georgia law under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37 sets rules about who can access criminal history records and what the data can be used for. Your request has to meet these legal standards. The sheriff's office can refuse a request that does not fit within the allowed uses defined by state law.

Heard County Sheriff Contact

For questions about your Heard County background check, reach the sheriff's office at the information below. The Georgia Sheriffs' Association keeps a list of all Georgia sheriffs if you need to verify contact details.

• Address: PO Box 339, Franklin, GA 30217
• Phone: 706-675-3329
• Sheriff: Ross Henry
• Hours: Call to confirm current office hours

Heard County is a quiet area in western Georgia between Carroll County and the Alabama state line. The sheriff's office handles many duties beyond background checks, so staffing for records requests may be limited at times. Calling before you head to Franklin is a good practice. The staff can tell you what forms you need, what the current fee is, and when the best time is to come in. That way you get everything done in one trip.

Nearby Counties

Heard County shares borders with several other counties in western Georgia. If you need records from a wider area, check these nearby pages.