Decatur County Background Information
Decatur County resides in the US state of Georgia. In 2021, a census showed that Decatur County had 29,038 inhabitants. Decatur County's seat is Bainbridge.
The county was founded in 1823.
Decatur County is named for United States Navy Commodore Stephen Decatur, a hero of the War of 1812.
Decatur County comprises the Bainbridge, GA Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Tallahassee-Bainbridge, FL-GA Combined Statistical Area.
Decatur County Arrest Records
Each arrest record is collected and maintained by the Sheriff's Office in Decatur County. All Decatur County arrests are broken into property crime and violent crime. There were 139 violent and 792 property crimes in the year 2021 in Decatur County. Decatur County Sheriff's Office can be contacted at:
Decatur County Sheriff's Office
Sheriff: Wiley Griffin
912 Spring Creek Road
Bainbridge, GA 39817
Phone: (229) 248-3044
Fax: (229) 248-3850
Decatur County Criminal Records
Decatur County records their criminal activity in the form of criminal records. These records cover murders, rapes, burglaries, arson, motor vehicle theft, assaults, and crimes of a sexual nature. Decatur County keeps a variety of criminal records repeatedly updated, including jail and inmate records. Criminal records can be accessed by members of the public using a search tool. Decatur County occupants can use this tool to search for any person in jail or on release.
The Police Department in Decatur County is required to keep an updated list of all sex offenders in the area. These also include any person incarcerated, working, or attending school in the area. The public can view this register in Decatur County. Those living in Decatur County can then search for any offender within a certain radius of their home. The search tool simply asks for a zip code to search from. Within a given radius, the search tool will then reveal each and every offender in the area. A user may also search for known offenders by name. These include non-compliant and incarcerated offenders.
Decatur County Court Records
All family, civil, and criminal cases in Decatur County are overseen by the county courthouse. The court clerk maintains each court record in Decatur County. To purchase court records, requesters must visit the local office at:
Decatur County Courthouse
Clerk of Superior Court: Cecilia Willis
112 West Water Street
Bainbridge, GA 39817
Phone: (229) 248-3025
In Decatur County and across the state of Georgia, the Court of Appeals can review any case in which one party has contested. The courts overseen by the Court of Appeals include the 159 superior and trial courts in the 159 Georgia counties, like Decatur County.
NOTE - Normal records can be sent via email, fax, or mail-in Decatur County. Additionally, any official or certified records in Decatur County can only be delivered via mail.
Decatur County Public Records
Vital records are kept on each and every resident in the state of Georgia. These records include the resident's most important life events. For example, these vital records usually involve births, marriages, deaths, and divorces. The state of Georgia uses counties such as Decatur County to assist with collection. In Georgia, counties such as Decatur County are often in charge of collecting the records and passing them on to the state. Every last marriage record in Georgia is stored by counties like Decatur County. County offices, such as the one in Decatur County, were also in charge of collecting birth and death records through Georgia's history. The records in question include birth certificates, death certificates, divorce decrees, marriage licenses, divorce certificates, marriage certificates, and more. All Decatur County records are stored with all other Georgia records in a state central registry. The vital records can be used further down the line for statistical analysis.
Decatur County residents can access and copy all public records. This is because the state of Georgia passed the Open Records Act back in 1959, giving members of the public the fundamental right to access any and all public records. The most recent changes to the 1959 Open Records Act came in 2012. Residents in Decatur County can obtain public records in-person at:
Decatur County Clerk's Office
Clerk of Superior Court: Cecilia Willis
112 West Water Street
Bainbridge, GA 39817
Phone: (229) 248-3025
There are charges for Decatur County vital records. For example, birth certificates in Decatur County cost $25. Death certificates in Decatur County cost $25 for the first copy. Any marriage record in Decatur County will cost $10.
NOTE - Anyone looking to obtain records in-person should be aware that the office opens between 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. from Monday to Friday. A valid photo ID is needed if a person wishes to obtain records. Acceptable IDs include a driver's license or state ID. Record seekers must also put their request in writing.
