Walton County Background Check

A Walton County background check can be requested through the Sheriff's Office in Monroe. Walton County is located east of the Atlanta metro area and has seen steady growth in recent years. Sheriff Keith Brooks leads the department and manages public services including criminal record searches. The sheriff's office runs name-based checks using local Walton County records and the statewide database maintained by the Georgia Crime Information Center. State resources from the GBI add another option for anyone needing broader search results or fingerprint-based verification.

Walton County Sheriff Office

The Walton County Sheriff's Office sits at 350 Georgia Avenue, Monroe, GA 30655. Sheriff Keith Brooks oversees the department. The phone number is 770-267-6557. Background checks are done by walk-in. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID like a driver's license or state-issued ID card. Social Security cards are not accepted as the sole form of identification. You will need to give staff your full name, date of birth, sex, race, and Social Security number for the search.

Staff runs the check through Walton County's own records and the Georgia Crime Information Center state database. Name-based results can come back the same day for clean records. If there are multiple records or complications, it could take a few business days. Walton County has grown a lot, and the sheriff's office handles an increasing volume of requests. Arriving early in the day is a solid plan if you want to avoid wait times. Call before going to verify hours and payment options.

Note: The GCIC does not take requests directly from the public, so you must go through the Walton County Sheriff's Office or another local law enforcement agency.

Criminal Records in Walton County

Walton County criminal records originate from cases processed in the Alcovy Judicial Circuit. The superior court in Monroe handles felony prosecutions. State court covers misdemeanor charges. Magistrate court manages preliminary hearings. All these feed into the public record. The clerk of superior court at the Walton County courthouse maintains files open to public review. You can walk in during business hours to search dockets, read case documents, and pull up court records.

Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34, Georgia law gives citizens the right to request criminal history records. The maximum fee is $20 for a name-based check. However, not everything shows up. The First Offender Act (O.C.G.A. § 42-8-60) allows certain offenders to seal their conviction records after finishing their sentences. If a Walton County case went through the First Offender Act, it may be invisible in a standard background check.

Record restriction under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37 is another reason records might be missing from results. This law replaced the old expungement process. Some Walton County records may have been restricted, especially for cases that ended in dismissal or acquittal. Felony convictions are rarely restricted and tend to stay on the record for a long time.

State-Level Check Options

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation operates the statewide criminal history database. All Walton County arrests and convictions feed into this central system. You can access state-level records without visiting Monroe.

The Georgia Felon Search costs $15 per search. It shows felony convictions statewide. Type in a name and get instant results by email. No misdemeanors, no pending charges, no arrests without convictions. It is a fast way to check for felony history linked to Walton County or any Georgia county.

A fingerprint-based check through the GAPS system with IdentoGO pulls from state and federal databases. This is more thorough. Results take one to two business days. The cost is higher, and you have to go to an IdentoGO location to get fingerprinted. Walton County residents can check for nearby sites in Covington, Athens, or the east Atlanta metro area.

The GBI services page lists every type of background check available. The GBI FAQ answers common questions about turnaround times and what each search type covers.

This screenshot shows the Georgia Felon Search portal where you can look up felony convictions connected to Walton County and across the state.

Walton County Check Fees

Walton County Sheriff's Office charges a fee for background checks. The state cap is $20 under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34(d.3). Call 770-267-6557 to get the exact fee and payment method details. The Georgia Felon Search costs $15 online. Fingerprint-based checks through GAPS have their own fee structure that adds the IdentoGO fingerprinting charge on top.

If you need to inspect your own record, the fee is up to $15 per O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37. This is for reviewing your personal criminal history to check for errors. It is a different procedure from running a background check on another person.

Note: Always confirm fees with the sheriff's office before visiting, as costs may have changed since this page was last updated.

How to Request Records

Show up at the Walton County Sheriff's Office at 350 Georgia Avenue in Monroe. Bring your photo ID. Provide the subject's name, date of birth, Social Security number, sex, and race. The staff processes the search and returns results. Simple, clean records tend to come back the same day. More complex cases take longer.

For mail-in requests, call the office first. If they accept them, send your identifying information, a copy of your photo ID, and a money order for the fee. Do not send cash. Processing by mail is always slower. Plan for extra time if you go this route. The Georgia Sheriffs' Association directory has verified contact info for Sheriff Brooks.

Walton County Contact

• Walton County Sheriff's Office: 350 Georgia Avenue, Monroe, GA 30655
• Phone: 770-267-6557
• Sheriff: Keith Brooks
• County Seat: Monroe
• Judicial Circuit: Alcovy

Walton County is growing fast as part of the greater Atlanta region. The sheriff's office manages both public safety and record requests. The courthouse in Monroe is also a resource for court record searches through the clerk of superior court.

Cities in Walton County

Walton County does not have any cities that meet the population threshold for a separate page. Monroe is the county seat and main city. All Walton County background check requests go through the sheriff's office in Monroe.

Nearby Counties

Walton County borders several counties east of Atlanta. If your search covers more than Walton County, these nearby pages may be useful.