Warrants are considered public records in Savannah, Georgia, pursuant to the Georgia Open Records Act (O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 et seq.). This legislation establishes that government documents, including judicial records such as warrants, must be accessible to the public unless specifically exempted by statute. The Georgia Open Records Act serves to promote transparency and accountability within governmental operations, including the judicial system.
Public access to warrant information is maintained through various repositories managed by law enforcement agencies and court systems throughout Chatham County. These records are subject to certain limitations, particularly when disclosure might compromise ongoing investigations or violate privacy protections established under Georgia law. In such instances, portions of warrant information may be redacted or temporarily sealed by judicial order.
The Chatham County Sheriff's Office maintains the primary database of active warrants for the jurisdiction, which includes the City of Savannah. Pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 15-16-10, the Sheriff is responsible for executing warrants issued by judicial authorities and maintaining accurate records of such documents. Members of the public seeking warrant information may access these records through designated channels established by local authorities.
Several official resources are available for individuals seeking to locate warrant information online in Savannah:
Chatham County Sheriff's Office: The Sheriff's Office maintains an online database of active warrants that can be searched by name. The system provides basic information about outstanding warrants, including the type of warrant and issuing authority.
Chatham County Court System: The court system's website provides access to certain court records, which may include information about bench warrants issued for failure to appear in court proceedings.
Recent Booking Information: The Sheriff's Office provides a 72-hour booking report that includes information about recent arrests, which may indicate the execution of active warrants.
For comprehensive warrant searches, individuals may need to contact:
Chatham County Sheriff's Office
1050 Carl Griffin Drive
Savannah, GA 31405
(912) 652-7700
Official Website
Operating hours for public record inquiries: Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, excluding holidays.
Individuals seeking to determine if they have an active warrant in Savannah may utilize several official channels:
Direct Inquiry: Pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34, individuals may request information about their own criminal history records, including active warrants, from the Chatham County Sheriff's Office. This process typically requires proper identification and may involve a nominal fee.
Online Verification: The Chatham County Sheriff's Office maintains an online warrant search function that allows individuals to check for active warrants by entering their name.
Court Records: The Chatham County Court System maintains records of bench warrants issued for failure to appear in court. These records may be accessed through the Clerk of Court's office.
Legal Representation: Attorneys licensed to practice in Georgia can conduct warrant searches on behalf of clients through access to court databases not available to the general public.
Chatham County Clerk of Superior Court
133 Montgomery Street, Room 304
Savannah, GA 31401
(912) 652-7200
Court Records Division
Public access hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, excluding court holidays.
Verification of outstanding warrants in Savannah may be accomplished through several authorized methods:
In-Person Inquiry: Individuals may visit the Chatham County Sheriff's Office Records Division to request a search for outstanding warrants. Proper identification is required, and a fee may be assessed for this service.
Electronic Search: The Chatham County Sheriff's Office provides an online search tool for active warrants. This database is updated regularly but may not include recently issued warrants that have not yet been entered into the system.
Municipal Court Records: For warrants related to municipal ordinance violations, individuals may contact the Savannah Recorder's Court to verify if any warrants have been issued.
State Court Records: The Chatham County State Court maintains records of warrants issued for misdemeanor offenses and certain civil matters.
Savannah Recorder's Court
132 East Oglethorpe Avenue
Savannah, GA 31401
(912) 651-6675
Official Court Website
Public service hours: Monday through Friday, 8:15 AM to 4:30 PM.
Warrant records maintained by Chatham County authorities typically contain the following information, as prescribed by Georgia law:
Subject Identification: Full legal name of the subject, date of birth, physical description, and, when available, other identifying information such as Social Security number or driver's license number.
Warrant Classification: Designation of the warrant type (e.g., arrest warrant, bench warrant, search warrant) and the statutory authority under which it was issued.
Offense Details: Description of the alleged criminal violation, including the Georgia Code section, offense date, and jurisdiction where the offense allegedly occurred.
Judicial Authorization: Name and signature of the issuing judge or magistrate, court of issuance, and date of authorization.
Bond Information: When applicable, the specified bond amount and conditions for release upon apprehension.
Service Status: Indication of whether the warrant remains active or has been executed, recalled, or otherwise disposed of by judicial action.
Pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 17-4-41, all arrest warrants must specify the offense charged with sufficient particularity to apprise the accused of the nature of the accusation against them. This requirement ensures constitutional due process protections are maintained throughout the judicial process.
The Chatham County Sheriff's Office maintains comprehensive records of all warrants issued within its jurisdiction. These records are categorized by warrant type and status, with separate databases for active and executed warrants. Public access to these records is governed by the Georgia Open Records Act and applicable federal privacy laws.
For individuals seeking information about specific warrants, the following resources are available:
Chatham County Police Department
295 Police Memorial Drive
Savannah, GA 31405
(912) 652-6920
Official Department Website
Chatham County Municipal Courts
133 Montgomery Street, 1st Floor
Savannah, GA 31401
(912) 652-7425
Municipal Court Information
Chatham County State Court
400 W. Oglethorpe Avenue, Suite 127
Savannah, GA 31401
(912) 652-7565
State Court Website
Warrant searches may be conducted by authorized personnel during regular business hours. Requestors should be prepared to provide specific identifying information to facilitate accurate record retrieval. Pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72, certain warrant information may be temporarily withheld if disclosure would compromise an ongoing investigation or endanger law enforcement personnel.