Find Pierce County Background Checks

Pierce County background check records are managed through the Sheriff's Office in Blackshear, Georgia. This southeast Georgia county is part of the Waycross Judicial Circuit and has a smaller population than many counties in the state. Criminal history data for Pierce County comes from local law enforcement records, court filings, and the statewide database run by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The sheriff's office is the main local contact for people who need a background check. State-level tools also provide access to Pierce County records and can be searched online. This page explains how each method works and what you need to get started.

Pierce County Sheriff Background Services

Sheriff Ramsey Bennett leads the Pierce County Sheriff's Office. The address is 300 Pierce Industrial Blvd, Blackshear, GA 31516. You can reach them by phone at 912-449-2101. The office processes name-based criminal history searches using local law enforcement files and the Georgia Crime Information Center system. To get a Pierce County background check done in person, you need to bring a valid photo ID. Give the staff your full legal name and date of birth so they can run an accurate search through both county and state records.

Blackshear is a small town, and the sheriff's office handles a range of duties beyond records. This means the staff who process background checks may also be dealing with other tasks. Calling ahead at 912-449-2101 before you visit is a wise move. The staff can let you know when the best time to come in would be. For basic name searches, results are often ready the same day. More complex requests that need state-level data might take a bit longer.

Pierce County Court Records

Pierce County is part of the Waycross Judicial Circuit. The Clerk of Superior Court in Blackshear maintains criminal court records including felony charges, plea deals, trial results, and sentencing information. These records are open to the public. You can visit the courthouse in Blackshear during regular business hours to review case files. Magistrate court handles minor criminal matters, and those records are kept separately at the county level.

Georgia state law determines how criminal records can be accessed. O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34 permits private individuals to get criminal history data from the GBI when they have a lawful reason. Keep in mind that some Pierce County records will not show in a standard search. Cases that have been sealed by a court order, juvenile records, and cases resolved under the First Offender Act are typically excluded. The First Offender Act allows eligible defendants to finish their sentence without a conviction on their permanent record. When reviewing a Pierce County background check, remember that a clean result does not always mean zero criminal history.

The clerk's office can also help you look up specific cases if you have a name or case number to search.

State Search Tools for Pierce County

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation maintains criminal records from every one of Georgia's 159 counties. Pierce County data is part of this system. Two statewide tools can help you search these records.

The Georgia Felon Search costs $15 per search and returns felony conviction records statewide. Enter a name and get results instantly. Only felony convictions show up. Misdemeanor charges, arrests without convictions, and pending cases do not appear. If your Pierce County background check only needs to cover serious offenses, this is a fast way to get it done without driving to Blackshear.

For a deeper look, the GAPS fingerprint system through IdentoGo runs fingerprint-based checks against GBI and FBI databases. Results include both Georgia and national records. You must go to an IdentoGo location to be fingerprinted. Processing takes one to two business days. This method catches things a name search can miss, making it the best option for a thorough Pierce County background check. Visit the GBI services page for full details on both options.

This statewide portal connects to the databases where Pierce County criminal history is stored and can be searched.

Pierce County Background Check Fees

A background check at the Pierce County Sheriff's Office typically costs between $15 and $25. The Georgia Felon Search is $15. GAPS fingerprint-based checks cost more because they run through both state and federal databases plus the fingerprinting fee. Call 912-449-2101 to find out the exact current fee at the Pierce County Sheriff's Office.

Payment options vary by office. Some Georgia sheriff offices now accept card payments. Others still require cash or money orders. Always ask when you call so you can bring the right form of payment. For background check requests sent by mail, use a money order. Never mail cash to the Pierce County Sheriff's Office.

How to Request Records by Mail

If making the trip to Blackshear is not practical, you can request a Pierce County background check through the mail. Send your request to Pierce County Sheriff's Office, 300 Pierce Industrial Blvd, Blackshear, GA 31516. Your letter should include your full legal name, date of birth, a photocopy of your ID, and a money order for the background check fee. State the reason for your request in the letter. Georgia law under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37 requires a lawful purpose for criminal history requests. Being clear about why you need the check helps the office process it without issues. Plan for one to two weeks for the full mail process to be completed.

Contact Pierce County Sheriff

The Georgia Sheriffs' Association maintains a full directory of county sheriffs across Georgia. Here is the contact information for the Pierce County Sheriff's Office.

• Address: 300 Pierce Industrial Blvd, Blackshear, GA 31516
• Phone: 912-449-2101
• Sheriff: Ramsey Bennett

Blackshear serves as the Pierce County seat. The sheriff's office there is the primary resource for local background check requests. If you are unsure which approach is right for your situation, the staff can help guide you to the best option whether that is a local check or a state-level search.

Nearby Counties

Pierce County borders several southeast Georgia counties. Searching background check records in these neighboring areas may be helpful.