Search Liberty County Background Check

Liberty County background check records are available through the Sheriff's Office in Hinesville. The county is in southeast Georgia along the coast and is home to Fort Stewart, one of the largest military bases in the country. Sheriff Will Bowman leads the department and his staff handles criminal history requests. A Liberty County background check draws from local arrest data, court records, and the statewide criminal history database run by the GBI. The Hinesville Police Department also holds records for incidents within city limits. Multiple paths exist for searching these records.

Liberty County Sheriff Background Check

The Liberty County Sheriff's Office is at 201 South Main Street, Suite 1300, in Hinesville. Sheriff Will Bowman oversees the department. Call 912-876-2131 to ask about background check hours and what you need. Walk-in requests are the usual way to get a check done. Staff runs a name-based search through local records and the Georgia Crime Information Center database. Results cover criminal history tied to Liberty County and may show statewide data as well.

Bring a valid photo ID and be ready to provide your full legal name and date of birth. Liberty County has a larger population than most rural Georgia counties because of the military base. The sheriff's office can be busier than you might expect, especially during certain times of the year. Plan ahead and try to arrive early. Simple name checks often finish the same day. Searches that reach into state databases could take a few business days.

The office also keeps booking records from the county jail and active warrant information.

Hinesville Police Department Records

The Hinesville Police Department handles incidents that happen within the city limits of Hinesville. Their main office is at 102 South Main Street in Hinesville. You can call 912-368-8211 for general questions or 912-368-8215 for the records division. If the incident you are looking into took place inside the city, the police department may have the records rather than the sheriff's office. Arrests made by Hinesville PD go through the city's system before being reported to the state.

For anything outside the city limits of Hinesville, the Liberty County Sheriff's Office is the right place to look. It is common for people to confuse which agency holds a particular record. If you are not sure where an incident took place, calling both offices is a quick way to figure out which one has what you need. Both agencies feed data into the GBI's statewide system, so a state-level search will pull results regardless of which local office made the arrest.

Liberty County Criminal Records

Criminal records from Liberty County flow through the local court system. The county is part of the Atlantic Judicial Circuit. Felony cases go to superior court, while misdemeanor matters are handled in state and magistrate courts. The Clerk of Superior Court in Hinesville maintains case files containing charges, pleas, trial outcomes, and sentencing information. You can visit the courthouse to review these records. Most are open to the public.

Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34, the GBI can share criminal history information with private citizens under specific conditions. Not every record is available. Juvenile cases are sealed. The First Offender Act gives certain people the option to restrict their conviction from public view after completing their sentence. A Liberty County background check might miss those entries. Contact the clerk's office directly if you need more detail on a case that does not show up in the standard search.

State Search for Liberty County

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation maintains statewide databases that include Liberty County data. The Georgia Felon Search costs $15 and shows felony convictions tied to a name across all 159 Georgia counties. Results come back fast, but the tool only covers felony convictions. Misdemeanors and arrests without convictions are not included.

The GAPS fingerprint system through IdentoGo provides a deeper search that covers state and federal databases. Fingerprint checks are more accurate than name searches. Turnaround is 24 to 48 hours. The cost is higher. Liberty County residents can find IdentoGo locations in the Hinesville area or in nearby Savannah.

Visit gbi.georgia.gov/services for the full list of GBI background check options.

The GBI portal links to statewide criminal records that include data from Liberty County and the rest of the state.

Liberty County Background Check Fees

Fees vary by method. A local name search at the Liberty County Sheriff's Office runs $15 to $25. Call 912-876-2131 to verify. The Hinesville Police Department may charge a separate fee for records requests through their office. The state felon search is $15 online. GAPS fingerprint checks are higher and include a fingerprinting service fee.

Cash and money orders are standard payment methods. Some offices accept cards. Check with the specific office you plan to visit before you go.

Mail Requests for Liberty County

You can request a Liberty County background check by mail. Send a written request to the Liberty County Sheriff's Office at 201 South Main Street Suite 1300, Hinesville, GA 31313. Include your full name, date of birth, a copy of your photo ID, and a money order for the processing fee. Do not mail cash. The office processes the search and mails results back. Expect the process to take at least a week because of shipping time.

Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, Georgia law controls who can access criminal history records and for what purposes. Your request needs to meet the legal requirements for disclosure.

Liberty County Sheriff Contact

Contact the Liberty County Sheriff's Office for background check questions. The Georgia Sheriffs' Association keeps a directory of all Georgia sheriffs.

• Address: 201 South Main Street Suite 1300, Hinesville, GA 31313
• Phone: 912-876-2131
• Sheriff: Will Bowman
• Hours: Call to confirm current office hours

Liberty County is a unique area because of the military presence. The population swings depending on base activity. The sheriff's office and the Hinesville Police Department both play a role in keeping criminal records for this area. Knowing which one to contact first will save you time on your Liberty County background check.

Nearby Counties

Liberty County borders several southeast Georgia counties. If you need records from a nearby area, check these pages.