Wilkes County Criminal Lookup

A Wilkes County background check is available through the Sheriff's Office in Washington, Georgia. Wilkes County is in the eastern part of the state along the South Carolina border. Sheriff Darrell Powers heads the department. The office processes criminal history requests for the public using local records and the state database from the Georgia Crime Information Center. For broader results that go beyond what the local office can search, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation maintains statewide and federal-level tools that also cover Wilkes County criminal records.

Wilkes County Sheriff Office

The Wilkes County Sheriff's Office is located at 225 Alexander Drive, Washington, GA 30673. Sheriff Darrell Powers leads the department. The phone number is 706-678-2224. Walk-in visits are the usual method for requesting a background check. You must bring a valid government-issued photo ID such as a driver's license or state ID. Social Security cards by themselves will not be accepted. You need to provide your full name, date of birth, sex, race, and Social Security number.

The office runs your name through Wilkes County local records and the Georgia Crime Information Center state database. Wilkes County has a modest population, so the local criminal record volume is manageable. Name-based checks tend to process without major delays. If the statewide search pulls up records needing extra review, it can take longer. Calling ahead is always a good move. The staff can tell you the current fee, what payment they accept, and their business hours.

Criminal History in Wilkes County

Wilkes County criminal records come from cases handled in the Northern Judicial Circuit. The superior court in Washington processes felony cases. State court takes misdemeanors. Magistrate court covers preliminary hearings and small claims. All these courts send records into the public system. The clerk of superior court at the Wilkes County courthouse keeps case files available for inspection. You can walk in during business hours to search dockets and read filings.

Georgia law under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34 allows private citizens to request criminal history records. The fee is capped at $20 per name-based search. However, a Wilkes County background check may not reveal everything. The First Offender Act (O.C.G.A. § 42-8-60) allows some offenders to have their conviction sealed after completing their sentence. Sealed records do not appear. Felony convictions are very hard to seal and generally stay on the record.

Record restriction under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37 can also affect what a background check shows. This law replaced expungement in Georgia. Cases ending in dismissal or acquittal may be restricted from public view. The personal record inspection fee under this statute is up to $15.

Note: Wilkes County shares the Northern Judicial Circuit with several nearby counties, so cases from the same circuit may overlap in related searches.

State Background Check Options

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation maintains the statewide criminal history database. All Wilkes County arrests and convictions are included. You can access state tools without being in Washington, Georgia.

The Georgia Felon Search is the simplest state option. Pay $15, enter a name, and get felony conviction results by email right away. Only felonies show up. No misdemeanors, no pending charges, no arrests without convictions. This covers every county in Georgia, including Wilkes County.

For the deepest search, the GAPS fingerprint system through IdentoGO pulls records from state and federal databases. It uses biometric data for matching, making it more reliable than name-based searches. Results take one to two business days. The cost is higher than other options. Wilkes County residents can look for IdentoGO locations in Augusta or Athens, which are the closest larger cities with fingerprinting sites.

The GBI services page explains all search types. The Georgia Felon Search FAQ clarifies what the $15 search includes and its limitations.

This screenshot shows the Georgia Felon Search tool where you can look up felony convictions linked to Wilkes County and all Georgia counties.

Wilkes County Check Fees

The Wilkes County Sheriff's Office charges for background checks. The state cap is $20 under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34(d.3). Call 706-678-2224 to verify the current fee and payment methods. The Georgia Felon Search costs $15 online. GAPS fingerprint checks cost more and include the IdentoGO fingerprinting service.

Record inspection costs up to $15 under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37. Use this if you want to check your own criminal record for errors. It is a separate process from a background check on someone else.

How to Request Records

Go to the Wilkes County Sheriff's Office at 225 Alexander Drive in Washington during business hours. Bring your photo ID and the required personal details. Staff runs the search and provides results. Clean records come back fast. Hits need more review time. Mail-in requests may be available. Call to check. If they accept mail, send your details, a copy of your ID, and a money order. Do not mail cash. The Georgia Sheriffs' Association directory has verified contact information for Sheriff Powers.

If you need your Wilkes County background check done quickly, an in-person visit is the way to go. State tools like the Georgia Felon Search are also fast and do not require you to visit the office at all. Choose the option that best fits your needs and timeline.

Wilkes County Contact

• Wilkes County Sheriff's Office: 225 Alexander Drive, Washington, GA 30673
• Phone: 706-678-2224
• Sheriff: Darrell Powers
• County Seat: Washington
• Judicial Circuit: Northern

Wilkes County is in eastern Georgia near the South Carolina border. The sheriff's office is the primary agency for law enforcement and record services. The courthouse in Washington has the clerk of superior court for direct court record searches.

Cities in Wilkes County

Wilkes County has no cities that meet the population threshold for a separate page. Washington is the county seat and the largest community. All Wilkes County background check requests go through the sheriff's office.

Nearby Counties

Wilkes County borders several eastern Georgia counties. If your search goes past Wilkes County, check these nearby pages.