Stewart County Background Check

Stewart County background check requests are processed by the Sheriff's Office in Lumpkin. This rural county in southwest Georgia is one of the least populated in the state. It falls under the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit. Criminal history records here come from local law enforcement, the superior court, and state-level databases managed by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The sheriff's office in Lumpkin is the main local resource for running a background check, though statewide tools let you search Stewart County records online from anywhere.

Stewart County Sheriff Background Check

Sheriff Larry Jones runs the Stewart County Sheriff's Office. The mailing address is PO Box 817, Lumpkin, GA 31815. You can call 229-838-4311 with questions about hours and what you need to bring. The office handles name-based criminal history searches through local files and the Georgia Crime Information Center database. Bring a valid photo ID and the processing fee to get started.

Stewart County has a very small population, so the sheriff's office is a limited operation compared to larger counties. Background check services may only be available during certain hours, and staffing can be thin. Always call first to confirm the office is open and ready to process your request. The lower volume of requests can mean a shorter wait time once you are there. Simple name searches can return results the same day, though some checks take longer when state records need to be pulled.

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

Criminal Records in Stewart County

Stewart County is part of the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit. Criminal cases tried in the superior court are public records stored by the clerk of superior court in Lumpkin. These files include felony charges, plea agreements, trial results, and sentencing. Magistrate court records for minor offenses are also available at the county level. Anyone can visit the courthouse to review these records in person.

Georgia law sets the rules for accessing criminal history. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34, private citizens can get criminal history information from the GBI under certain conditions. Not every record shows up in a background check. The First Offender Act lets qualified defendants keep a conviction off their public record after completing their sentence. Juvenile records and sealed cases are also excluded from standard search results.

State Background Check Tools

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation runs the statewide criminal history system that includes data from Stewart County. You can search these records without traveling to Lumpkin.

The Georgia Felon Search portal costs $15 and shows felony convictions from all 159 Georgia counties. Enter a name and get results right away. Only felony convictions appear in this tool. Misdemeanor cases and arrests that did not lead to a conviction are not included. For a quick felony check tied to Stewart County, this is the easiest option.

A deeper search is available through the GAPS fingerprint system run by IdentoGo. Fingerprint-based checks pull from both GBI and FBI databases, covering state and national records. Results take one to two business days. The cost is higher, but you get more thorough results. Stewart County residents will need to travel to a larger city for fingerprinting since Lumpkin likely does not have an IdentoGo site.

Visit the GBI services page for a full list of available background check methods.

This statewide portal connects to databases that hold Stewart County criminal history records.

Stewart County Check Fees

Fees for a background check at the Stewart County Sheriff's Office generally fall between $15 and $25. Call 229-838-4311 to confirm the current fee. The state felon search is $15 per lookup. Fingerprint-based GAPS checks cost more because they process through both state and federal databases, and the IdentoGo location charges a separate fingerprinting fee.

Small sheriff offices in Georgia often accept cash and money orders. Card payments are less common in rural areas. Check before you go so you have the right form of payment ready.

Mail Requests for Stewart County

If visiting Lumpkin is not possible, send a mail request to the Stewart County Sheriff's Office, PO Box 817, Lumpkin, GA 31815. Include your full name, date of birth, a copy of your photo ID, and a money order for the fee. Never send cash through the mail. The office will process the check and send results back to your address. Allow one to two weeks for the entire process because of mailing time on both ends.

Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, there are rules about who can access criminal records and how the data can be used. Include the purpose of your request in your letter. The office can turn down requests that fall outside the legal requirements.

Contact Stewart County Sheriff

Get in touch with the Stewart County Sheriff's Office for background check questions. The Georgia Sheriffs' Association has a directory of all Georgia county sheriffs for reference.

• Mailing Address: PO Box 817, Lumpkin, GA 31815
• Phone: 229-838-4311
• Sheriff: Larry Jones

Lumpkin is a small town with limited services. The sheriff's office may have reduced hours compared to larger counties. A phone call before your visit saves time and lets you confirm everything you need for a Stewart County background check.

Nearby Counties

Stewart County shares borders with several other southwest Georgia counties. These pages have background check details for surrounding areas.