Lamar County Bench Warrants

Bench warrants in Lamar County come from judges in the Superior Court and Magistrate Court when someone skips a court date or breaks the conditions of their release. The county seat is Barnesville, and the Lamar County Sheriff's Office on Roberta Drive handles all active bench warrants for the county. With a population of about 19,000, Lamar County is a smaller county south of Atlanta in central Georgia. If you want to check on a bench warrant in Lamar County, you need to contact the sheriff's office or visit the courthouse. Online search options are limited here, so a phone call or trip to Barnesville is the way to go for anyone trying to find out about an outstanding warrant.

Lamar County Sheriff's Office

Sheriff Brad White runs the Lamar County Sheriff's Office. This is the main agency that processes bench warrants in the county. Once a Lamar County judge signs a bench warrant, the sheriff's office receives it and enters it into the local system. Staff then transmit the data to the Georgia Crime Information Center database. That state system connects to the National Crime Information Center, so a bench warrant from Lamar County is visible to officers across Georgia and throughout the country. The office at 121 Roberta Drive in Barnesville is where all warrant matters are handled.

Call 770-358-5159 to reach the Lamar County Sheriff's Office. Staff may not give out all warrant details over the phone. An in-person visit with a valid photo ID is the best way to get full information. The Georgia Sheriffs' Association directory lists contact details for all Georgia county sheriffs.

Note: Lamar County does not have a public online warrant search tool.

Searching Bench Warrants in Lamar County

There is no online portal for Lamar County bench warrants. This is typical for smaller Georgia counties. Your best options are calling the sheriff or going to the Lamar County Courthouse in Barnesville. The Clerk of Superior Court keeps records of all cases filed in the county. The clerk can confirm if a bench warrant was issued in a specific case when you give them enough identifying details. Bring a photo ID and any case information you have.

The Georgia.gov warrant search guide explains the process for checking on active warrants statewide. Most counties handle warrant inquiries in person. Lamar County is no different. You show up with your ID, give them your name, and staff run it through the records. If a warrant comes up, they walk you through the next steps. Lamar County is part of the Towaliga Judicial Circuit, which also covers Butts and Monroe counties. Bench warrants from any of these counties go through the same circuit court system.

The Georgia Sheriffs' Association website provides contact details for the Lamar County Sheriff's Office and all other county sheriff offices in the state.

Lamar County Warrant Penalties

Skipping court in Lamar County has real consequences. Georgia law treats failure to appear as a standalone crime. Under O.C.G.A. 16-10-51, bail jumping on a misdemeanor carries up to 12 months in jail and a $1,000 fine on top of the original charge. For felony cases, the penalty increases to one to five years in prison and up to $5,000 in fines. Lamar County judges enforce these consistently.

Traffic cases follow different rules. O.C.G.A. 40-13-63 makes missing a traffic hearing punishable by a $200 fine and up to three days in jail. The Lamar County court can also report the failure to the Georgia Department of Driver Services, resulting in a license suspension under O.C.G.A. 40-5-56. Reinstating a suspended license costs $100 at DDS or $125 by mail. Those fees are on top of fines from the original traffic case in Lamar County.

There is a 30-day grace period for traffic bench warrants under O.C.G.A. 17-6-11. The clerk sends a notice before the warrant goes active. Handling things in that window can prevent the warrant from hitting the statewide database.

State Resources for Lamar County

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation works with the Lamar County Sheriff's Office and agencies across the state. The GBI manages the Georgia Crime Information Center where all Lamar County warrants end up after processing. GCIC connects to NCIC, so a bench warrant from Lamar County can show up during any law enforcement check nationwide.

The Georgia Courts sheriff directory lists the Lamar County Sheriff's Office along with other agencies statewide. Lamar County is part of the Towaliga Judicial Circuit. If you need to reach the court about a specific case or bench warrant, contact the Clerk of Superior Court in Barnesville.

Lamar County Open Records

Under O.C.G.A. 50-18-70, Georgia's Open Records Act allows anyone to request public records from government offices. Bench warrant records from the Lamar County Clerk of Court or sheriff's office are covered. You can make a request in person at the courthouse in Barnesville or in writing. The office must respond within three business days.

Bench warrants become public records once a judge issues them. The underlying case file is also typically public. Juvenile cases and sealed records are the main exceptions. A routine bench warrant for a missed court date in Lamar County is available for public review. There is no charge for the request, though copies may cost a small fee.

Note: Open records requests should include enough detail for staff to locate the specific documents you need.

Nearby Counties

Bench warrants are county-specific in Georgia. The county where your case was filed is the one that holds the warrant. If you are not sure which county issued your bench warrant, check the court paperwork or call the Lamar County Sheriff's Office at 770-358-5159. These counties border Lamar County.