Criminal Statistics
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation maintains crime data in the state. According to data retrieved from the department, for years 2014-2017, Hasbersham county recorded 1,129 arrests. In 2017, the most popular crime in the county according to statistics was larceny/theft which had a total of 123 arrests of the 298 total arrests made in the county in that year. The county recorded 298 arrests with 44 for violent crimes and 254 for property crimes. With this data, it was concluded that the Habersham county arrest rate of 673.51 per 100,000 residents was 8.86% lower than the national average of 739.02 per 100,000 people.
How to Find Habersham County Criminal Records?
The Habersham County Sheriff’s department has a Criminal Records Division that is responsible for collecting and maintaining criminal records in the county. The department also handles copying and distribution of records to the public including conducting local background checks for the public. All open records requests can be sent via email to the department. Criminal records are also maintained by local police departments. Inquirers may obtain copies of records by contacting the local police for criminal records of interest.
Clarkesville Police Department
P.O. Box 21
(706) 754-5390
Cornelia Police Department
163 Larkin Street
(706) 778-4314
How to Find Sex Offender Information
The Georgia Bureau of Investigations (GBI) maintains Georgia's Violent Sexual Offender Registry. This is online sex offender registry where inquirers may search for registered sex offenders by name, address, and gender. The primary purpose of this register is to keep residents informed about sexual offenders and predators in the county and state. For information specific to Habersham county, the inquirer may also check the county’s offender roster or contact the Sheriff’s department.
How to Visit an Offender in Habersham County Jail.
The County Sheriff serves as the official jailer of the county and is responsible for the welfare of all inmates incarcerated in the Habersham county jail located at:
Habersham County Jail
1000 Detention Drive,
Clarkesville GA 30523
Phone: (706) 839-0500
Fax: (706) 754-1932
The Habersham County Detention Center houses inmates awaiting trial or have been convicted of a crime and sentenced to one year or less. Visitation policies for the correctional facility include:
- Visitors must be on the inmate’s visitation list to be granted access to the building. This list has to be approved by the facility staff.
- All visitors must have valid identification before entering the facility lobby.
- Any visitor dressed provocatively will not be allowed to visit.
- Visitors under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
- Inmates are allowed only one 20 minute visit per week.
If these rules are not followed, the visit will be terminated.
Visitation Schedule
Saturday
- Male Visitation, A&B Blocks: 01:00 p.m. to 03:30 p.m.
- Females Visitation, D Block: 03:30 p.m. to 04:00 p.m., 04:00 p.m.. To 04:30 p.m.
Sunday
- Male Visitation, A&B Blocks: 01:00 p.m. to 03:30 p.m.
- Females Visitation, D Block: 03:30 p.m. to 04:00 p.m.
Habersham county jail inmates also have the right to receive mail within the facility. The Mail must be addressed thus:
Inmates Name and ID Number
Habersham County Jail
1000 Detention Drive
Clarkesville, GA 30523
Finally, to send funds to an inmate, the individual may pay into the inmate’s account at the kiosk located at the facility lobby using cash, and debit or credit cards.
Where and How to Get Inmate Information
The Sheriff, the official jailer of the county maintains an inmate roster of all inmates incarcerated in Habersham county. In case certain records are not found in the roster, the inquirer may request for these records from the Sheriff's department. Similarly, the Georgia Department of Corrections offers an online searchable database for statewide prison records. These searches can be performed using the following:
- Department of Corrections number,
- Case number,
- Inmate’s full name,
- Offense,
- Gender,
- Race,
- Location,
- Age
- County name
- Holding facility.
Other holding facilities in the county:
Arrendale State Prison
2023 GAINESVILLE HWY
(706) 776-4700
Arrendale Transitional Center
2023 OLD GAINESVILLE HWY
(706) 776-0845
Habersham County Court Records
Habersham county court records include files and transcripts documenting legal court proceedings. Primarily, these records are generated and maintained by the courts where the cases are heard. According to state laws, these records can be made available to inquirers on request. Generally in Georgia, court records are maintained by the Judicial Council of Georgia. The council uses the Georgia Judicial Gateway website to make it easy for members of the public to access court records. The website allows inquirers to search for specific case files, perform research using their law library. Locally, the County Clerk of Courts maintains court records and they are available on request. For records that cannot be located online, the inquirer may visit the courthouse in person to request them.
Clerk of Court
295 Llewellyn Street, Suite 110
Clarkesville, GA 30523
Phone: (706) 839-0300
Fax: (706) 839-6351
Location of All Courts in Habersham County
Habersham County Superior Court
295 Llewellyn Street, Suite 110,
Clarkesville, GA 30523
Phone: (706) 839-0300
Fax: (706) 839-6351
State Court of Habersham County
295 Llewellyn Street, Suite 110,
Clarkesville, GA 30523
Phone: (706) 839-0300
Fax: (706) 839-6351
Habersham County Juvenile Court
295 Llewellyn Street, Suite 250,
P.O. Box 485, Clarkesville, GA 30523
Phone: (706) 839-0335
Fax: (706) 754-4722
Probate Court of Habersham County
295 Llewellyn Street,
Suite 24, P.O. Box 876,
Clarkesville, GA 30523
Phone: (706) 839-0320
Fax: (706) 754-5093
Habersham County Magistrate Court
295 Llewellyn Street,
Suite 110, Clarkesville,
GA 30523
Phone: (706) 839-0300
Fax: (706) 839-6351
Municipal Court of Alto
162 Grant Street,
P.O. Box 215, Alto,
GA 30510
Phone: (706) 778-8035
Fax: (706) 778-3357
Municipal Court of Clarkesville
210 East Water Street,
P.O. Box 21, Clarkesville, GA 30523
Phone: (706) 754-5390
Municipal Court of Cornelia
163 Larkin Street, P.O. Box 934,
Cornelia, GA 30531
Phone: (706) 778-4314
Fax: (706) 776-9242
Municipal Court of Demorest
125 Ivy Street, P.O. Box 279,
Demorest, GA 30535
Phone: (706) 754-7562
Municipal Court of Mount Airy
P.O. Box 257, Mount Airy, GA 30563
Phone: (706) 894-2986
Habersham County Vital Records
Georgia's Department of Public Health is the government agency charged with the responsibility of preserving and issuing all vital records for the state. The department maintains vital records of births, deaths, marriages and divorces that go back to 1919. These records can be supplied to inquirers on request via mail, in-person, or online.
Where and How to Get Divorce Records in Habersham County
The State Office of Vital Records only provides divorce verifications of divorces that have taken place in the state of Georgia from June 1952 to August 1996. Divorce Verifications prior to 1952 and after 1996 are only available from the Clerk of Superior Court in Habersham county where the divorce was finalized. Divorce verifications are not restricted records, therefore, they are available to members of the public. Inquirers interested in obtaining divorce verifications must complete and sign the appropriate request form and send mailed requests with a valid photo ID to:
State Office of Vital Records
1680 Phoenix Boulevard, Suite 100
Atlanta, GA 30349
Where and How to Get Marriage Records in Habersham Miller County
The Georgia Department of Human Resources Division of Public Health maintains marriage records from June 1952 to August 1996 and marriage verifications for marriages that occurred on or after January 1, 2014. Copies of marriage records prior to this time are available at the County probate court where the marriage occurred. Marriage records are not restricted and are available to members of the public. The department provides certified copies of marriage applications, certificates and verifications. The marriage application and/or certificate is simply an official recording of a couple’s marriage, and a certified copy of the marriage application is only available to the Bride and Groom. To request a copy of any of the available marriage records, the inquirer is expected to fill, complete and sign the appropriate request form.
Where and How to Get Birth Records in Habersham County.
The State Office maintains birth records from January 1919 to the present. Birth records are restricted records and may only be accessible by authorized individuals. These authorized individuals are immediate family members, family legal representatives and individuals with direct and tangible interest with the appropriate documents:
- The individual named on the certificate with a valid photo identification
- The parent(s) named on the birth record with valid picture identification.
- An authorized legal guardian with a certified copy of the court order establishing guardianship and legal custody.
- Grandparents named on the certificate with proof of relationship such as the birth certificate of the registrant’s parent.
- An adult child or sibling of the individual named on the certificate with proof of relationship such as a copy of his or her birth certificate listing one of the same parents, and a valid government issued picture identification which includes signature.
- The spouse of the person named on the certificate with a copy of the marriage certificate, a photocopy of the spouse’s picture identification, that has the spouse’s signature, and a notarized letter from the spouse giving permission.
- Attorney with a notarized letter on letterhead signed by the attorney and bar number indicating reason for the request and whom they represent.
- State or Federal Government Officials
The department mandates that all requests for vital records include the inquirer’s signature, the proper fees and a valid photo ID. The certified copy is $25.00 and additional copies, if requested at the same time, are $5 each.
To request a copy, the inquirer will be required to fill, sign and complete the Birth records request form. Inquirers have the option of requesting these records in person, via mail and even over the phone by calling (404) 679-4701. The customer service representative will require details such as the inquirer's name and phone number and proposed pickup date.
NB: Georgia law requires that all births be recorded in the office of the Probate Judge in the county where the delivery took place, hence, for birth records that prove elusive at the state office, the inquirer may contact the office of Habersham county probate judge.
Probate Judge
295 Llewellyn Street, Suite 24
Clarkesville, GA 30523
Phone: (706) 839-0320
Fax: (706) 754-5093
Where and How to Get Death Records.
The state office maintains death records from January 1919 till date. Certified Death certificates are available to any interested parties, but a certified copy is available only to primary family members, or legal representatives of the family. To request copies of these records, the inquirer will be required to sign, fill and complete a Death records request form with the name of the county where the death occurred.
The following are the acceptable forms of valid photo identification:
- Georgia Driver’s license
- State of Georgia Identification Card
- State of Georgia Weapons Carry License
- Unexpired driver’s license issued by another U.S. State, jurisdiction or territory
- Unexpired official Identification Card issued by another U.S. State, jurisdiction or territory
- Unexpired U.S. Passport
- Unexpired Foreign Passport
- U.S. Military Identification, Military Dependent Identification, Veteran’s Identification
- Unexpired Consulate Card
- Transportation ID
- Debit Card with Picture
- Employer ID Card
- School, University, or College Identification Card
- DMV ID Card
- Department of Corrections Identification Card
Finally, Georgia Archives is responsible for collecting, maintaining and disseminating all historical public records which include old vital records like birth, death, marriage, and divorce records. Inquirers may contact the entity or the county clerk for records prior to the dates maintained by the State Vital records office.
Habersham County
Habersham County Clerk
P.O. Box 227
Clarkesville, GA 30523-0227
(706) 754-2013
