Access Toombs County Background Check
Toombs County background check services are handled at the Sheriff's Office in Lyons. Located in southeast Georgia, Toombs County belongs to the Middle Judicial Circuit. Criminal records here come from local arrests, court filings, and the statewide criminal records system run by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Lyons is the county seat. The sheriff's office processes public requests for background checks, and Georgia's state databases also provide online access to Toombs County criminal data for those who want to search remotely.
Toombs County Quick Facts
Toombs County Sheriff Background Check
Sheriff Jordan Kight heads the Toombs County Sheriff's Office at 357 NW Broad Street Suite 1, Lyons, GA 30436. Call 912-526-6778 with questions about the process. The office runs 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 start a Toombs County background check.
Lyons is a small city that serves as a local center for the surrounding area. The sheriff's office handles a moderate number of background check requests. Walk-in visits are the way most people get checks done here. Call ahead to verify hours and confirm what you need to bring. Some name searches come back the same day, while others take a few business days when state records are involved. The office also maintains records on active warrants and recent jail bookings in Toombs County.
Getting there early helps avoid any wait time at the office.
Toombs County Criminal History
Toombs County is part of the Middle Judicial Circuit. Felony cases go through the superior court, and the clerk of superior court in Lyons stores all case files. Records include indictments, plea bargains, trial results, and sentencing details. Magistrate court handles misdemeanor charges and preliminary hearings. Both courts produce public records available for review at the Toombs County courthouse.
Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34, private citizens can get criminal history data from the GBI for certain purposes. Some records will not appear in a standard Toombs County background check. The First Offender Act allows qualified defendants to serve their sentence without a public conviction on their record. Sealed cases and juvenile records are also excluded. Felony convictions are harder to restrict and typically remain on the public record.
State Background Check Options
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation runs the central criminal history system for all Georgia counties. Toombs County data feeds into this database through the Georgia Crime Information Center. You do not need to visit Lyons to search it.
The Georgia Felon Search costs $15 per search. Type in a name and get instant results showing felony convictions across all 159 counties, including Toombs. Only felony convictions appear in this tool. Misdemeanor charges, pending cases, and arrests without a conviction are not shown. For a quick felony check, this is the fastest option.
The GAPS fingerprint system run by IdentoGo offers a deeper search. Fingerprints are matched against both GBI and FBI databases, covering state and national records. Results take one to two business days and cost more. The coverage is far more complete than a name-only search. Toombs County residents can look for the nearest IdentoGo location in Vidalia or another nearby city.
The GBI services page lists every background check option available.
The GBI website is the statewide hub for records that include Toombs County criminal data.
This portal connects to databases that hold Toombs County criminal history records.
Toombs County Check Fees
Fees at the Toombs County Sheriff's Office range from $15 to $25 for a background check. Call 912-526-6778 to confirm the current amount. The state felon search is $15 per lookup. GAPS fingerprint checks cost more because of dual processing through state and federal databases plus the fingerprinting service fee at the IdentoGo site.
Check with the office about payment methods before you go. Cash and money orders are common at Georgia sheriff offices. Card acceptance varies from county to county.
Mail-In Requests for Toombs County
If you cannot visit Lyons in person, send a mail request to the Toombs County Sheriff's Office, 357 NW Broad Street Suite 1, Lyons, GA 30436. Include your full name, date of birth, a copy of your photo ID, and a money order for the fee. Do not send cash. The office will process your request and mail results back. Allow one to two weeks for the full process.
Georgia law under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37 requires a lawful purpose for requesting criminal records. State your reason in the letter. The sheriff's office can deny requests that fall outside the allowed uses under Georgia law.
Contact Toombs County Sheriff
Get in touch with the Toombs County Sheriff's Office for background check questions. The Georgia Sheriffs' Association has a directory of all county sheriffs in the state.
- Address: 357 NW Broad Street Suite 1, Lyons, GA 30436
- Phone: 912-526-6778
- Sheriff: Jordan Kight
Lyons is in the southeast Georgia area, not far from Vidalia. The sheriff's office is equipped to handle background check requests from the public. Call first so you can plan your visit effectively.
Nearby Counties
Toombs County borders several southeast Georgia counties. These pages have background check resources for the neighboring area.