Policies for Criminal History Search Requests

The Office of the Clerk of the Superior Court and State Court of Liberty Court (Office) provides “criminal history searches” of misdemeanor and felony files on record in the Office under the following circumstances and conditions:

1. The requesting party (petitioner) shall submit the original “Request for Criminal History” form (click here to access form) in advance of any action by this office. The request form must be properly signed, witnessed, and notarized by the petitioner and the subject. Only original, completed request forms will be honored.

2. The fee for conducting a criminal history search, per name searched, is $5.00 (see O.C.G.A. § 50-18 for specific provisions for assessing costs for data retrieval). The fee shall be tendered at the time the request is made by petitioner. The Office accepts only corporate checks, money orders, and cash.

3. Criminal history information may be transmitted by facsimile (fax) machine by the office in response to a request, if the requester pays in advance for facsimile service. The cost for facsimile service is $7.50 for the first five pages transmitted (the cost is the same for one page as it is for five pages) and $1.00 for each additional page. Facsimile transmissions made to the office are $1.00 per page. Please do not submit your requests for searches via facsimiles, since they will not be honored.

4. A pre-paid account may be opened with the office to cover costs for criminal history searches and facsimile transmissions. A company or an individual may open a pre-paid account by depositing with the Office $100.00 in escrow. Assessments against the account will be made as criminal history information is transmitted. Credit and open accounts are not extended to anyone for this purpose. A statement will be provided quarterly indicating the balance of each account and/or when an account balance is $25.00 or less.

5. With approval from the clerk, certain local, state, and federal government agencies may be exempted from payment of the fees enumerated above.