Search Johnson County Background Check

A Johnson County background check begins at the Sheriff's Office in Wrightsville. The county is in the central part of the state and has a small population, but criminal records from here still feed into the GBI's statewide database. Sheriff Greg Rowland leads the department and his staff processes requests from the public. Johnson County background check searches can draw from local arrest logs, court files, and state-level criminal history systems. You have a few paths to get the information you need, whether you visit in person or use an online tool.

Johnson County Sheriff Background Check

The Johnson County Sheriff's Office is at 2557 East Elm Street in Wrightsville. Sheriff Greg Rowland and his staff take walk-in requests for background checks. Call 478-864-3934 to check on hours and what you need to bring. The office runs a name-based search through local files and the Georgia Crime Information Center database. This covers criminal history tied to Johnson County and may also pull statewide data. Bring a valid photo ID and be prepared to share your full legal name and date of birth.

Johnson County is one of the smaller counties in the state. The sheriff's office is not as busy as those in larger jurisdictions, so you can usually get through the process fairly quickly. Many checks come back the same day for simple name searches. More detailed searches that reach into state systems could take a few business days. The office also keeps jail booking records and can provide information about active warrants in the area.

Johnson County Criminal Records

Criminal records in Johnson County are generated by the local court system. The county is part of a judicial circuit that handles felony cases in superior court and misdemeanors in state and magistrate courts. The Clerk of Superior Court in Wrightsville keeps case files on record. These documents include charges, plea information, trial outcomes, and sentencing data. You can go to the courthouse to look through the files in person. Most records are open to the public, but some may be limited or sealed.

Georgia law determines what criminal history data the public can see. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34, the GBI can release records to private citizens under certain conditions. Juvenile cases are sealed and will not appear. The First Offender Act allows eligible people to restrict their conviction from the public record after their sentence is done. So a Johnson County background check may not capture every case from the courts. For more detail on a specific matter, contact the clerk's office directly.

State Search Tools for Johnson County

You do not have to go to Wrightsville to search Johnson County records. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation runs databases that cover the entire state. The Georgia Felon Search is the quickest option. It costs $15 per search and shows felony convictions connected to a name across all 159 Georgia counties. Results come back right away. The downside is that it only shows felony convictions. Misdemeanor cases and non-conviction arrests are left out.

If you need more depth, the GAPS fingerprint system through IdentoGo pulls from state and federal databases. Fingerprint searches are more accurate and avoid false matches from common names. The turnaround is 24 to 48 hours and the cost is higher. Johnson County residents may need to travel to a larger city for fingerprinting, as rural counties have limited IdentoGo access points.

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

This GBI portal covers records from Johnson County and every other Georgia county through the statewide criminal history system.

Johnson County Background Check Fees

Fees for a Johnson County background check depend on the method. A local name search at the sheriff's office costs between $15 and $25. Call 478-864-3934 to confirm before visiting. The state felon search is $15 online. GAPS fingerprint checks cost more because they include both state and FBI data, plus a fingerprinting fee at the IdentoGo site.

Cash and money orders are the usual payment options at small-county sheriff's offices. Some have added card readers, but it is not guaranteed. Always check payment methods before you head to the office.

Mail Requests for Johnson County

You can mail a background check request to the Johnson County Sheriff's Office at 2557 East Elm Street, Wrightsville, GA 31096. Include your full legal name, date of birth, a photocopy of your ID, and a money order for the processing fee. Do not send cash. The office will run the search and send results to your return address. Mail takes longer than in-person visits, usually a week or more total with transit time factored in.

Georgia law under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37 restricts who can access criminal history data and how it can be used. Your request must meet the legal requirements for disclosure. The sheriff's office can turn down requests that fall outside the permitted purposes.

Johnson County Sheriff Contact

Get in touch with the Johnson County Sheriff's Office for questions about background checks. The Georgia Sheriffs' Association also keeps a full directory of Georgia sheriffs.

• Address: 2557 East Elm Street, Wrightsville, GA 31096
• Phone: 478-864-3934
• Sheriff: Greg Rowland
• Hours: Call to confirm current office hours

Johnson County is a small community and the sheriff's office handles a wide range of duties. A quick call saves time and makes sure you show up with everything needed for your Johnson County background check.

Nearby Counties

Johnson County shares borders with several central Georgia counties. Use these links if you need background check records from a nearby area.