Search Telfair County Background Check

Telfair County background check services are provided through the Sheriff's Office in McRae-Helena. The county sits in south-central Georgia and belongs to the Oconee Judicial Circuit. Criminal history records come from local arrests, court cases, and the statewide system maintained by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. McRae-Helena is the county seat. The sheriff's office there handles walk-in requests for background checks, while state-level online tools give you another way to access Telfair County criminal records from anywhere.

Telfair County Sheriff Background Check

Sheriff Sim Davidson heads the Telfair County Sheriff's Office at 19 East Oak Street Suite B, McRae, GA 31055. Call 229-868-6621 to ask about the process and what you need to bring. The office does name-based criminal history searches through local files and the Georgia Crime Information Center database. You will need a valid photo ID and the processing fee to get started on a Telfair County background check.

McRae-Helena is a small town in a rural part of the state. The sheriff's office handles a lower volume of background check requests than metro-area counties. This can mean shorter wait times, but it also means the office may have limited hours for this service. Call before your visit to make sure someone is available to help you. Simple name searches can come back the same day. Checks that need to reach state databases may take a few extra business days.

The office also handles warrant checks and booking records for the Telfair County jail.

Criminal History in Telfair County

Telfair County is part of the Oconee Judicial Circuit. Felony cases are tried in the superior court, and the clerk of superior court in McRae-Helena stores those records. This includes indictments, guilty pleas, trial verdicts, and sentencing. Magistrate court handles misdemeanor offenses and preliminary hearings. Both courts produce public records available for review at the courthouse. Telfair County is also home to state prison facilities, but those are managed separately by the Georgia Department of Corrections and do not affect how the sheriff's office processes local background checks.

Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34, private citizens can request criminal history information from the GBI for certain purposes. Not every record appears in a standard background check. The First Offender Act allows qualified defendants to avoid a public conviction after completing their sentence. Sealed cases and juvenile records are also excluded. Felony convictions remain visible longer and are harder to restrict.

State Search Options for Telfair County

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation operates the central criminal history database for all Georgia counties. Telfair County data flows into this system. You can search from anywhere without visiting McRae-Helena.

The Georgia Felon Search is a $15 online tool that shows felony convictions statewide. Enter a name and results appear right away. Only felony convictions show. This is a quick way to check Telfair County felony records without making a trip. Misdemeanor charges and arrests without a conviction do not appear in this database.

For a deeper search, the GAPS fingerprint system through IdentoGo pulls from both state and FBI databases. Fingerprint-based checks give you state and national results. Processing takes one to two business days and the cost is higher. Telfair County residents will likely need to travel to a nearby city like Dublin or Vidalia for an IdentoGo fingerprinting site.

The GBI services page covers all the available background check methods.

Access this statewide portal to search databases that include Telfair County criminal records.

Telfair County Check Fees

Fees at the Telfair County Sheriff's Office typically range from $15 to $25 for a background check. Call 229-868-6621 to verify before your visit. The state felon search is $15. GAPS fingerprint checks cost more because they process through both state and federal databases, and the IdentoGo location charges a separate fee for the fingerprinting service.

Cash and money orders are the most common payment methods at rural Georgia sheriff offices. Card acceptance varies. Check with the Telfair County office before you make the drive.

Mail Requests for Telfair County

You can send a mail-in request to the Telfair County Sheriff's Office, 19 East Oak Street Suite B, McRae, GA 31055. Include your full name, date of birth, a copy of your photo ID, and a money order for the processing fee. Do not send cash. Results will be mailed to you. Allow one to two weeks for the full process.

Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, Georgia law requires a lawful purpose for requesting criminal history records. State your reason in the letter. The sheriff's office can deny requests that fall outside the allowed uses.

Contact Telfair County Sheriff

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

• Address: 19 East Oak Street Suite B, McRae, GA 31055
• Phone: 229-868-6621
• Sheriff: Sim Davidson

McRae-Helena is in a rural area of south-central Georgia. Plan your visit around office hours and call ahead to make sure the staff is ready to process your Telfair County background check.

Nearby Counties

Telfair County borders several south-central Georgia counties. These pages cover background check resources in the surrounding area.