Murray County Bench Warrants

Murray County bench warrants get issued by the Superior Court and Magistrate Court in Chatsworth when a person skips a court hearing or breaks the terms of their bond. Sheriff Robert S. Markley's office on G.I. Maddox Parkway is the agency that serves these warrants throughout the county. Searching for a bench warrant in Murray County typically involves contacting the sheriff's office by phone or going to the courthouse in person. Online options are limited here in northwest Georgia. This page covers the process, penalties, and resources you need to know about if you are dealing with a Murray County bench warrant or want to check your status.

Murray County Sheriff's Office

Sheriff Robert S. Markley leads the Murray County Sheriff's Office. This is the primary law enforcement agency that processes and serves bench warrants throughout the county. After a judge in Murray County issues a bench warrant, the sheriff's office takes custody of it. Staff log the warrant into their local records and then enter it into the Georgia Crime Information Center database. Once in GCIC, the warrant is visible to every law enforcement officer in Georgia and across the nation through the NCIC system. The office sits on G.I. Maddox Parkway in Chatsworth, and that is where you go for anything related to warrants.

Call 706-695-4592 to get in touch with the Murray County Sheriff's Office. Keep in mind they may not release full warrant details on the phone. Going in person with a valid photo ID is the most effective way to check your bench warrant status. The office operates during regular weekday hours.

How to Search Murray County Bench Warrants

Murray County does not have an online portal for searching bench warrants. This is not unusual for counties this size in Georgia. The fastest way to find out if you have an active bench warrant is to contact the sheriff's office at the number listed above. You can also go to the Murray County Courthouse in Chatsworth and ask the Clerk of Superior Court. The clerk's office has records for all cases filed in the county and can confirm whether a bench warrant was issued for your case.

The Georgia.gov warrant search guide gives a good overview of how to check for warrants in any Georgia county. The steps are simple for Murray County. Show up at the sheriff's office or courthouse with your photo ID. Give your name and date of birth. Staff run it through their records. If there is an active bench warrant, they tell you what it is about and what to do next. There is no charge for this type of inquiry in Murray County.

The Georgia Sheriffs' Association provides a central place to find contact details for law enforcement offices across the state, including the Murray County Sheriff's Office.

Note: Murray County does not maintain a public-facing online warrant search database.

Penalties for Murray County Bench Warrants

A bench warrant in Murray County means the court considers you in violation. Georgia law under O.C.G.A. 16-10-51 classifies failure to appear as bail jumping. If your original case was a misdemeanor, you face up to 12 months in jail and a $1,000 fine just for not showing up. That is on top of whatever the original charge carries. Felony cases bump the penalties up to one to five years in prison and fines of up to $5,000. Murray County judges do not take missed court dates lightly, and these penalties get enforced.

Traffic-related bench warrants come with a different set of problems. O.C.G.A. 40-13-63 allows up to a $200 fine and three days in jail for failing to show up to a traffic hearing in Murray County. The court can also send your information to the Georgia Department of Driver Services. Under O.C.G.A. 40-5-56, your license can be suspended. Getting it back costs $100 at a DDS office or $125 if you do it by mail. Add those fees to whatever fines the original ticket carried.

State Agencies and Murray County Warrants

Several state agencies play a role in how Murray County bench warrants are tracked and enforced. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation runs the statewide criminal databases. While the GBI does not issue bench warrants, its Georgia Crime Information Center stores them. Every bench warrant that the Murray County Sheriff's Office enters into GCIC becomes accessible to officers across the state. It also feeds into the national NCIC system. A Murray County bench warrant can turn up during a routine traffic stop in another state because of this connection.

The Georgia Courts sheriff directory provides another way to find the Murray County Sheriff's Office contact information. Murray County is part of the Conasauga Judicial Circuit, which also covers Whitfield County. The courts in this circuit handle a range of criminal and civil cases, and bench warrants are a regular part of the docket. Dalton, which is in neighboring Whitfield County, is the largest city near Murray County.

Note: Once a Murray County bench warrant is in the GCIC system, any officer in the state can see it during a records check.

Murray County Open Records

Georgia's Open Records Act, codified at O.C.G.A. 50-18-70, gives the public the right to access government records. This includes bench warrants and related court documents from Murray County. You can make your request in person at the courthouse in Chatsworth or submit it in writing to the appropriate office. The agency has three business days to provide a response or let you know if more time is needed.

Most bench warrants are public once a judge signs them. The case file for the underlying matter is typically public too. Sealed records and cases involving minors are the main exceptions. A standard bench warrant for a missed court appearance in Murray County is available to anyone who asks. The initial request is free, though copies of documents may cost extra.

Nearby Counties

Bench warrants stay with the county where the case was filed. If you are not sure which county issued your warrant, check your court papers or call the Murray County Sheriff's Office at 706-695-4592. These counties share a border with Murray County.