Murray County Background Check Search

Murray County background check records are processed by the Sheriff's Office in Chatsworth, the county seat in northwest Georgia. The sheriff's department manages local criminal history data and serves as the main point of contact for background check requests. Murray County is part of the Conasauga Judicial Circuit. Records also flow into the Georgia Bureau of Investigation's statewide database. You can search Murray County criminal history through the local sheriff's office, the courthouse, or through state-level online tools that cover all 159 Georgia counties.

Murray County Sheriff Background Check

Sheriff Jimmy Davenport heads the Murray County Sheriff's Office. The address is 810-1/2 GI Maddox Pkwy, Chatsworth, GA 30705. Call 706-695-4592 for background check questions, current fees, and office hours. The office runs name-based criminal history searches that pull from local Murray County arrest records and the Georgia Crime Information Center database. These searches can reveal arrests, charges, and case outcomes. Statewide hits may show up too. You must bring a valid government-issued photo ID.

Murray County is in the mountains of northwest Georgia. The sheriff's office serves a population spread across a largely rural area. Staff balance background check processing with patrol work, court duties, and detention operations. Most name-based searches are done within a few business days. Simpler requests can come back faster. Call ahead so you know what to expect. The staff can walk you through the process and confirm what documents to bring. This helps avoid wasted trips, especially if you are coming from outside the area.

Arrest logs and booking data from the Murray County detention center are on file at the sheriff's office. Warrant information is also maintained there.

Criminal Records in Murray County Courts

Murray County is part of the Conasauga Judicial Circuit. Superior court criminal cases are public records kept by the Clerk of Superior Court at the courthouse in Chatsworth. Files cover indictments, plea deals, trial verdicts, and sentencing orders. Anyone can go to the courthouse and ask to review case records. Sealed files and restricted records are not open to the public.

Georgia law governs access to criminal history information. O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34 allows private citizens to request criminal records for specific lawful purposes. But there are limits. Under the First Offender Act, some defendants can serve their sentence without a formal conviction on the record. After the sentence is complete, the case can be restricted from public access. This means a Murray County background check might not show every past case. It is worth knowing about this when you interpret your results. Magistrate court records for misdemeanors and local violations are kept separately at the courthouse.

State Search Options for Murray County

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation maintains the statewide criminal history database that includes Murray County records. Two search tools are available to the public.

The Georgia Felon Search costs $15 per query. Enter a name and get felony conviction results from across Georgia instantly. Murray County felony convictions are in there. This tool does not show misdemeanors, arrests without a conviction, or pending charges. If you just need felony data, this is a quick and easy way to run a Murray County background check from home.

For a wider search, the GAPS fingerprint check through IdentoGo pulls from GBI and FBI databases. You get state and federal records together. Results take 24 to 48 hours. A trip to an IdentoGo site for fingerprinting is required. Murray County residents may find the nearest location in Dalton, which is in neighboring Whitfield County and just a short drive from Chatsworth. The cost is higher, but you get a much more complete picture of someone's criminal history.

Visit the GBI services page for full details on all options.

The GBI's central database stores criminal history records from Murray County alongside data from every other Georgia county.

Murray County Background Check Fees

Local name-based checks at the Murray County Sheriff's Office typically cost between $15 and $25. Call 706-695-4592 to confirm the current amount. The statewide felon search is $15 per query. Fingerprint-based GAPS checks cost more because they include FBI data and an IdentoGo fingerprinting service fee.

Payment methods at the sheriff's office may vary. Cash and money orders are usually accepted. Card payments are not guaranteed at every office in Georgia. Call ahead to check. If you are mailing in a request, include a money order payable to the Murray County Sheriff's Office. Avoid sending cash through the mail.

Mailing a Murray County Check Request

You can request a Murray County background check by mail if you cannot visit Chatsworth. Send your request to the Murray County Sheriff's Office at 810-1/2 GI Maddox Pkwy, Chatsworth, GA 30705. Include your full name, date of birth, a photocopy of your photo ID, and a money order for the fee. State the purpose of the check. O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37 requires criminal history requests to be for a lawful purpose. The office will process the request and mail results back to you. Allow one to two weeks total including postal delivery time.

Murray County Sheriff Contact Info

The Murray County Sheriff's Office is the local source for background check requests. You can confirm contact details through the Georgia Sheriffs' Association directory.

• Address: 810-1/2 GI Maddox Pkwy, Chatsworth, GA 30705
• Phone: 706-695-4592
• Sheriff: Jimmy Davenport
• Hours: Call to confirm current office hours

Murray County borders Whitfield County, where the city of Dalton offers additional resources and services. For Murray County background check records, the sheriff's office in Chatsworth is the starting point.

Nearby Counties

Murray County borders several counties in northwest Georgia. If your background check search goes beyond Murray County, these pages have more details.