What are Columbus Public Records?
Under the Georgia Open Records Act, public records include all papers, documents, letters, photographs, and tapes preserved or received in the course of a government agency's official duty. Under the law, all persons may access these records, except the desired record contains:
- Documents considered confidential by law
- Records of active law enforcement investigations
- Motor vehicle accident reports
- Real estate appraisals and other related acquisition records
- Jury list data
- Rejected, deferred, pending, or sealed bids and proposals
- Records of historical search value
- Social security numbers
Columbus Crime Statistics
The Columbus Police Department (CPD) provides information on crime statistics in the city. According to the CPD's 2019 report, Columbus recorded 9,198 crimes. This included 5,605 cases of larceny, the most common crime, and 31 murder/manslaughter cases, the least common crime. The rate of larcenies dropped by 7.55% compared to 2018, while murder/manslaughter climbed 10.71%. In the same year, the CPD arrested a total of 10,597 persons, including 7,437 males, and 3,163 females
The annual report also contains traffic incident information, including 49,221 traffic citations, which increased by 9.33%. The city also recorded 2,110 hit-and-run accidents, 2,486 injuries, 1,054 DUI arrests, and 14 fatalities.
Are Columbus Criminal Records Public?
Under Georgia law, a private person may access Columbus criminal records by presenting a signed consent form from the person named on the record. The consent form allows the person named on the record to set an expiry date for their consent. From the available reasons listed on the form, the requestor must also select a reason for the request.
Columbus may also use the Georgia Felon Search provided by the Georgia Technology Authority to find felons in the state. The search platform is powered by records from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation's (GBI) database and is available to all persons. Each record viewed costs $15, payable by credit card. Searching requires the felon's name and date of birth.
How to Obtain Columbus Police Reports and Arrest Records
The Columbus Police Department provides requestors with public Columbus records, including offense or incident reports. Reports are requestable online, in person, and by mail. To order online, fill the request form with important details on the offense or incident. Required information includes the victim's name, incident location and description, incident date, requestor's first and last name, and the requestor's email address. The form allows an optional provision for a report number.
Courtesy copies of incident reports are available for Columbus visitors, residents, and people who live in the surrounding area. To obtain a courtesy copy of an incident report, visit:
Desk Services (Lobby)
Public Safety Building
510 10th Street
Columbus, GA 31902
Persons not in Columbus, or businesses in the city, may send written requests to the CPD with all the required information on the request form. Reports for non-residents or businesses cost $20 each. Send the request to:
Columbus Police Department
Public Safety Building
Attention: Records
510 10th Street
Columbus, GA 31902
How to Find Sex Offender Information in Columbus
The Muscogee County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) provides sex offender information for registered offenders in Columbus. Interested persons may use the MCSO's searchable database to find offenders by area, name, phone number, and email address. Residents may use the city search to specify a list of offenders in Columbus. The database displays each offender's full name, known aliases, registration number, physical description, address, offenses, and photographs.
How to Find Columbus Inmate Records
Inmate records are available online via a database maintained by the Muscogee County Sheriff's Office. Anyone may find Columbus inmate records using the jail search function on the Muscogee County eCourt Portal. Search results display incarceration information on each inmate, including the time and date of booking, booking number, charges, and SO number. The date and time of release are also available for persons no longer incarcerated.
How Do I Visit an inmate in the Muscogee County Jail?
Muscogee County inmates may receive visitors on Saturdays and Sundays only. On each day, visitation begins at 9:00 am and ends at 3:00 pm. Exact visitation time and day may vary depending on the inmate's classification or housing at the facility. Intending visitors are advised to contact the jail facility for more information:
Muscogee County Jail
700 10th Street
Columbus, GA 31901
Phone: (706) 653-4258
Court Records
The Columbus Judicial System operates multiple courts with varying jurisdictions depending on case type. Columbus has Superior, State, Probate, Juvenile, Magistrate, Municipal, and Recorder's Courts. The Superior Court is the city's highest court and has general jurisdiction over all criminal and civil cases, especially matters not under the jurisdiction of other courts. The Superior Court also has a Family Court division for cases related to divorce and child support, care, and custody.
Locations of Court in Columbus
Muscogee County Superior Court
Government Center
100 10th Street
Columbus, GA 31901
Phone: (706) 653-4370
Fax: (706) 653-4359
Muscogee County State Court
Government Center
100 10th Street
Columbus, GA 31901
Phone: (706) 653-4370
Fax: (706) 653-4359
Muscogee County Juvenile Court
Government Center
100 10th Street
East Wing, 1st Floor
Phone: (706) 653-4290
Columbus, GA 31901
Muscogee County Probate Court
Government Center
100 10th Street
6th Floor
Columbus, GA 31901
Phone: (706) 653-4331
Muscogee County Magistrate Court
Government Center
100 10th Street
Tower, 8th Floor
Columbus, GA 31901
Phone: (706) 653-4390
Muscogee County Municipal Court
Government Center
100 10th Street
Tower, 8th Floor
Columbus, GA 31901
Phone: (706) 653-4378
Muscogee County Recorder's Court
702 10th Street
Columbus, GA 31901
Phone: (706) 653-4256
Are Columbus Court Records Public?
Columbus court records are open to the public. Under Georgia law, residents may gain access to court records, including docket information, evidence information, pleadings and motions, decisions and orders, trial transcripts, and general hearing records. However, a court may deny access to certain records for good reason if it presents the requestor with specific findings to support the denial. In addition, juvenile proceedings – except child support and juvenile felony hearings – are not public records.
Can You Look Up a Columbus Court Case Online?
Columbus court records are available via the smart search provided by the Muscogee County eCourt Portal. Residents may find records by record number and the full name of any case litigant. The smart search function provides advanced filtering options to streamline search results. These include location, case number, citation number, attorney name, or attorney bar number. Requestors may further filter results by gender, ethnicity, FBI number, SO number, booking number, file date range, and judgment type.
How to Obtain Columbus Civil Court Case Records
The Muscogee County Clerk of Superior and State Courts provides access to Columbus civil court case records by mail, email, or in person. For a mail request, complete and download a civil court records form. Filling the form requires the plaintiff and defendant's names, year of case, and a case number. The requestor must provide personal contact details and any additional information not required on the form. A certified or exemplified copy costs $10 for the first 25 pages and $1 for each additional page. Enclose the completed form with a cashier's check, money order, or business check made out to the Clerk of Superior Court. Send the documents to:
Clerk of Superior Court
Attention: Customer Service
P.O. Box 2145
Columbus, GA 31902
Email requests require residents to fill the copy request by email and submit online. An email request costs $2.50 for the first page and $1 for each additional page, payable with a Mastercard, Discover, American Express, or Visa card. Card transactions cost an extra 3.5% fee. Note that only standard copies may be requested by email.
To request in person, visit the Clerk of Superior Court's office. In-person requests cost $1 per page for each standard copy. An exemplified or certified copy costs $2.50 for the first page and 50 cents for each extra copy. Visit:
Clerk of Superior Court
Government Center
100 10th Street
Tower, 2nd Floor
Columbus, GA 31902
How to Obtain Columbus Criminal Court Records
Columbus criminal court records are available by mail, email, and in person. To request by mail, send a completed criminal court records request form. The first 25 pages cost $10, and $1 for each extra page.
Send the completed form with payment to:
Clerk of Superior Court
Attention: Customer Service
P.O. Box 2145
Columbus, GA 31902
Residents may fill the criminal record email request form to send email requests or visit the Clerk of Superior Court's office for in-person requests.
What are Columbus Vital Records?
Columbus vital records contain details of important life events that take place in the city. Vital records are official government-generated documents and include records of marriages, deaths, divorces, and births.
Where and How to Obtain Columbus Divorce Records
The Clerk of Superior Court maintains records for divorces finalized anywhere in Muscogee County. Columbus divorce records are available as divorce verifications and divorce decrees. Note that access to copies of Columbus divorce decrees may be restricted to either divorced party, or a person that can prove a direct and tangible relationship with a divorced party. An interested person may also mail a completed domestic court records form indicating a request for "Final Judgment & Decree." To request either document, contact the:
Muscogee County Clerk of Superior Court
Government Center
100 10th Street
Tower, 2nd Floor
Columbus, GA 31902
Where and How to Get Marriage Records in Muscogee County
The Muscogee County Probate Court issues copies of marriage records to all requestors. Residents may request Columbus marriage records by submitting a written request. The request must contain all available information on the marriage, including the following:
- Full names of both persons named on the record
- Date of marriage
- Return address to receive the issued copy
Enclose the written request with a money order for $10 made out to "Probate Court." Send the documents to:
Probate Court
P.O. Box 1340
Columbus, GA 31902
Requests are also possible by calling (706) 225-4750 or sending an email to probatelicense@columbusga.org. Persons who send email requests will receive a web link to further the request. An email request is only payable by credit cards, after which the person will receive the desired record by mail. While all requesters may obtain marriage records, access to certified copies is restricted to married persons.
Where and How to Find Columbus Birth Records
Under Georgia law, Columbus birth records are not open to the general public. The Columbus Health Department, through its Vital Records office, only issues copies of birth records to the following people:
- Person named on the birth certificate
- Parent listed on the certificate
- Grandparent or great-grandparent with certified copies of birth certificates that prove lineage
- Natural sibling with a birth certificate that proves lineage
- Spouse
- Legal guardian with a court order
Each certified copy costs $25, and $5 for each extra copy of the same record if requested simultaneously. Mail request payments are by money order, cashier's check, or debit/credit card. Download and complete a birth certificate application with the full name, date of birth, gender, current age, place of birth, and the full names of the individual's parents. Send the completed form, payment, and a copy of a valid government-issued ID to:
Columbus Health Department
Vital Records
P.O. Box 229
Columbus, GA 31902-2299
Interested persons may also visit the Vital Records office or send a request by fax to (706) 321-6135 Payments for fax requests require debit or credit cards. In-person requestors are advised to visit the office with completed birth certificate application forms, payment, and valid government-issued IDs. Visit:
West Central Health District Administrative Offices
Vital Records
2100 Comer Avenue
2nd Floor
Columbus, GA 31904
Phone: (706) 321-6300
Hours: 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday
Where and How to Find Columbus Death Records
Columbus death records are available to requestors at the West Central Health District's Vital Records Office. The first certified copy of a death certificate costs $25 and each additional copy costs $5. For a mail request, send a completed death certificate application form with a cashier's check or money order, and a copy of a valid government-issued ID. Send the request to:
Columbus Health Department
Vital Records
P.O. Box 229
Columbus, GA 31902-2299
Requestors may also order certificates via fax at (706) 321-6135, or in person. Visit:
West Central Health District Administrative Offices
Vital Records
2100 Comer Avenue
2nd Floor
Columbus, GA 31904
Phone: (706) 321-6300
Hours: 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday
