Washington County Background Information
Washington County can be found in the State of Georgia. Washington County had a population of 19,988 in 2020. Washington County's seat is Sandersville.
The county was founded on February 25, 1784.
It was named for Revolutionary War general (and afterward President of the United States) George Washington.
Washington County Arrest Records
In Washington County, arrest records are also kept on every last crime within the jurisdictional area. Violent crime and property crime represent the two main classes in Washington County. There were 49 violent and 167 property crimes in the year 2021 in Washington County. Washington County Sheriff’s Office can be contacted at:
Washington County Sheriff's Office
1735 Kaolin Road
Sandersville, GA 31082
Phone: (478) 552-4795
Washington County Criminal Records
There are routinely updated criminal records in Washington County, including jail and inmate records. Criminal records can be accessed by members of the public using a search tool. Members of the public in Washington County can use the search tool to find any nearby inmates or those on release.
Just like across the whole of Georgia, the Washington County police are required to keep an up-to-date list of all sex offenders within their jurisdiction. These also include any person incarcerated, working, or attending school in the area. This register is made available to the public, as is the right of those living in Washington County. Those living in Washington County can then search for any offender within a certain radius of their home. Residents can simply enter their zip code, or the zip code of their desired location, to perform the search. The tool will then reveal every last offender in the Washington County area. The search tools are not limited to location-based searches though, as residents can also lookup specific offenders. The search tool is also programmed to provide incarcerated and non-compliant offenders in the results.
Washington County Court Records
In Washington County, the county courthouse oversees all criminal, family, and civil cases. Court records in Washington County are maintained by the court clerk. To obtain court records in Washington County, a person must enquire at:
Washington County Courthouse
132 West Haynes Street
P.O. Box 231
Sandersville, GA 31082
Phone: (478) 552-3186
Fax: (478) 553-9969
In Georgia, including Washington County, the Court of Appeals can oversee any contested lower court case. These lower courts often refer to one of the 159 superior or trial courts found across Georgia’s 159 counties, including Washington County.
NOTE - Regular court records in Washington County can usually be delivered by mail, email, or fax once payment is received. Official records in Washington County can only be sent via mail.
Washington County Public Records
In the state of Georgia, vital records are kept on every last resident. These vital records refer to a person's most important life events. For example, these vital records usually involve births, marriages, deaths, and divorces. Washington County plays a pivotal role in collecting these vital records. Washington County will collect all vital records and then pass them onto the state. In Georgia, marriage records are currently stored by every individual county. Throughout history, counties like Washington County have also been in charge of collecting both birth and death records. Vital records in Washington County include birth certificates, death certificates, divorce decrees, marriage licenses, divorce certificates, marriage certificates, and more. All records, including those from Washington County, are stored in one central registry. These files can later be used for statistical analysis.
Vital records can be accessed and copied by residents in Washington County. Residents are granted this right through the 1959 Open Records Act. The most recent changes to the 1959 Open Records Act came in 2012. Residents in Washington County can obtain public records at:
Washington County Clerk’s Office
132 West Haynes Street
P.O. Box 231
Sandersville, GA 31082
Phone: (478) 552-3186
Fax: (478) 553-9969.
These records are not free in Washington County. The first birth record copy in Washington County is $10. The first death record copy in Washington County is $15.
NOTE - Anyone looking to obtain records in-person should be aware that the office opens between 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. from Monday to Friday. In order to request files, the requester must show valid photo identification. This could include a driver’s license or state ID. When requesting to view or copy public records in Washington County, the requesting party must do so in writing.