Search Henry County Bench Warrants

Bench warrants in Henry County are issued by judges in the Superior Court, State Court, and Magistrate Court when someone misses a court date or violates bond conditions. Henry County is one of the fastest-growing counties in Georgia, with a population over 240,000 and McDonough as the county seat. Sheriff Reginald Scandrett runs the sheriff's office on Henry Parkway, which handles all bench warrant processing and enforcement. The large and growing population means the office deals with a high volume of warrants. You can check on a bench warrant by contacting the sheriff's office directly since there is no public online warrant search for the county.

Henry County Sheriff's Office

Sheriff Reginald Scandrett leads the Henry County Sheriff's Office on Henry Parkway in McDonough. The office handles all bench warrants from Henry County courts. When a judge signs a bench warrant, the sheriff's warrant division processes it immediately. Staff enter the warrant into the county system and send it to the Georgia Crime Information Center. The GCIC connects to the national NCIC database. Any officer in the country can see an active Henry County bench warrant during a traffic stop or other encounter. Given the county's large population, the warrant division has a significant caseload and processes warrants constantly.

Henry County's rapid growth over the past two decades means more court cases and more bench warrants than many Georgia counties of similar size. The sheriff's office has expanded its staff to keep pace. The warrant unit works closely with patrol deputies to serve outstanding bench warrants throughout the county.

Call 770-288-7101 for bench warrant questions. The office is on Henry Parkway in McDonough. Bring a photo ID if you plan to go in person.

How to Search Bench Warrants in Henry County

Henry County does not have a public online bench warrant search tool. Despite being one of Georgia's larger counties, the court system has not rolled out a web portal for the public to look up outstanding warrants. To check on a bench warrant, call the Henry County Sheriff's Office at 770-288-7101 or visit the office in McDonough. The Clerk of Superior Court at the Henry County Courthouse can also check case records and confirm whether a judge has issued a bench warrant in a specific case.

The Georgia.gov warrant search guide walks through the steps for checking on an active warrant in any Georgia county. For Henry County, start with the sheriff's office. Provide your full legal name and date of birth. Be prepared for the possibility that an in-person visit could lead to immediate arrest if a bench warrant is active. Many Henry County residents work with an attorney to arrange a voluntary surrender rather than risk being picked up during a traffic stop or at the sheriff's office.

Note: Henry County is part of the Flint Judicial Circuit, which handles a large volume of cases due to the county's population.

Henry County Bench Warrant Consequences

Georgia law treats failure to appear as a separate crime called bail jumping. O.C.G.A. 16-10-51 sets out the penalties. For misdemeanor cases in Henry County, bail jumping can mean up to 12 months in jail and a $1,000 fine. For felony cases, the penalty jumps to one to five years in prison and a fine of $5,000. These are separate penalties that get added to whatever the original charge was. Henry County judges are strict about court attendance, and the bench warrants they issue do not have an expiration date. They stay in the system until resolved.

Traffic bench warrants are another big issue in Henry County given the volume of traffic cases the courts handle. O.C.G.A. 40-13-63 makes missing a traffic court date its own offense. The fine can reach $200 and you could spend up to three days in jail. On top of that, the court can ask the Georgia Department of Driver Services to suspend your license. Reinstatement costs $100 at a DDS office or $125 by mail. O.C.G.A. 17-6-11 requires the court to send a 30-day notice before the traffic bench warrant becomes fully active.

The GCIC information page shows how Georgia tracks all bench warrants at the state level, including those issued by Henry County courts.

State Agencies and Henry County

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation works with the Henry County Sheriff's Office to keep bench warrant records in the statewide GCIC system. Once entered, any law enforcement officer can access the record. The GBI tip line at 1-800-597-8477 takes calls about fugitives with active warrants. The Georgia Courts sheriff directory provides verified contact info for every county sheriff in Georgia.

Henry County is in the Flint Judicial Circuit. The Superior Court handles felony cases. The State Court handles misdemeanors. The Magistrate Court covers preliminary hearings and minor matters. All three courts can issue bench warrants, and all of those warrants go through the Henry County Sheriff's Office for processing and service.

Public Records in Henry County

Under Georgia's Open Records Act at O.C.G.A. 50-18-70, anyone can request public records from Henry County offices. Bench warrant records are public once issued. File a written request with the Clerk of Superior Court or the sheriff's office. Include as much detail as possible, like the person's name, date of birth, and case number. The law requires a response within three business days. Copying fees may apply.

Some bench warrant details may be restricted before the warrant is served. After the person is arrested or appears in court, the full file becomes available to the public. Juvenile cases and sealed records are exceptions to the open records rules.

Cities in Henry County

Henry County includes several cities, and all bench warrants for cases filed in Henry County courts go through the sheriff's office in McDonough regardless of where in the county you live.

Nearby Counties

Bench warrants are tied to the county court that issued them. Henry County is in the southern metro Atlanta area and borders several other counties. Verify which county has your case before reaching out.