Warren County Background Check

A Warren County background check starts at the Sheriff's Office in Warrenton. Warren County is a small, rural county in east-central Georgia with a population under 6,000. Sheriff Joe Peebles leads the department. Despite its small size, the sheriff's office still processes criminal history requests for the public. Staff can search local Warren County records and the statewide criminal database maintained by the Georgia Crime Information Center. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation offers additional search tools that cover Warren County for those who need broader or fingerprint-based results.

Warren County Sheriff Office

The Warren County Sheriff's Office mailing address is PO Box 626, Warrenton, GA 30828. Sheriff Joe Peebles runs the department. The phone number is 706-465-3340. Walk-in requests are the standard approach for a Warren County background check. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID. A driver's license or state-issued ID card is what you need. Social Security cards are not enough on their own. You must provide your full name, date of birth, sex, race, and Social Security number for the check to be processed.

The staff searches Warren County local records and pulls from the Georgia Crime Information Center state database. Because Warren County is small, the volume of local records is relatively low. Name-based checks often come back quickly. If there are records to sort through or if the search pulls statewide results that need verification, it could take longer. Call ahead before visiting. Small-county offices sometimes have limited hours or may close for training or other reasons.

Note: Very small counties may only have one or two staff members handling record requests, so patience is important if the office is busy.

Criminal Records in Warren County

Warren County criminal records come from cases in the Toombs Judicial Circuit. The superior court in Warrenton handles felony cases. State court covers misdemeanors. Magistrate court takes preliminary hearings. These courts all feed records into the public system. The clerk of superior court at the Warren County courthouse keeps case files available for review. You can visit in person during business hours to search dockets and read case records.

Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34, citizens have the right to request criminal history records. The fee for a name-based check is capped at $20. Not every record appears in results. The First Offender Act (O.C.G.A. § 42-8-60) allows certain individuals to seal their conviction after completing their sentence. If a Warren County case went through this act, the record will not show in a standard background check. Felony convictions are much harder to seal.

Georgia's record restriction law under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37 may also hide some Warren County records. Cases that ended in dismissal or acquittal can sometimes be restricted. The same statute allows individuals to inspect their own record for up to $15.

State Search Resources

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation runs the central criminal history database for the state. All Warren County arrests and convictions are part of this system. You do not have to go to Warrenton to use state-level search tools.

The Georgia Felon Search costs $15 per search. It shows felony convictions only. Type a name and get results emailed to you right away. No misdemeanors. No pending charges. No arrest records without convictions. It covers all 159 counties including Warren County. The Georgia Felon Search FAQ explains what the tool does and its limitations.

For more thorough results, the GAPS fingerprint system through IdentoGO searches state and federal databases. Fingerprint checks take one to two business days. They cost more but are far more accurate because they match on biometric data. Warren County residents may need to travel to Augusta or another larger city for a fingerprinting appointment.

This screenshot shows the GCIC portal that processes Warren County criminal records as part of the statewide background check system.

Warren County Background Check Fees

The Warren County Sheriff's Office charges for background checks. Georgia law sets the maximum at $20 for name-based searches under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34(d.3). Call 706-465-3340 to confirm the current fee. Ask about payment methods while you are on the phone. Small offices sometimes only accept cash or money orders. The Georgia Felon Search is $15 online. GAPS fingerprint checks have a separate fee that includes the IdentoGO fingerprinting service charge.

Personal record inspection costs up to $15 under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37. This is for when you want to look at your own criminal history to check for mistakes. It is a different process from a standard background check request.

Getting a Warren County Check

Here is what you need for a Warren County background check at the sheriff's office:

• Valid government-issued photo ID
• Full legal name of the subject
• Date of birth, sex, and race
• Social Security number
• Fee payment (call to confirm accepted methods)

Visit the office in Warrenton during business hours. The staff processes the request and runs the name through local and state databases. Results for clean records can be fast. More involved records take additional time. Mail requests may also be an option if you call to confirm. The Georgia Sheriffs' Association lists Sheriff Peebles and contact details for all Georgia sheriffs.

Warren County Contact

• Warren County Sheriff's Office: PO Box 626, Warrenton, GA 30828
• Phone: 706-465-3340
• Sheriff: Joe Peebles
• County Seat: Warrenton
• Judicial Circuit: Toombs

Warren County is one of the smaller counties in Georgia. The sheriff's office handles law enforcement and record services for the whole county. The courthouse in Warrenton houses the clerk of superior court if you need to search court records directly.

Cities in Warren County

Warren County has no cities with populations large enough for a separate page. Warrenton is the county seat and the primary community. All Warren County background check requests go through the sheriff's office.

Nearby Counties

Warren County neighbors several counties in east-central Georgia. If your search goes beyond Warren County, check these nearby pages.