Pulaski County Bench Warrants

Bench warrants in Pulaski County are issued by Superior Court and Magistrate Court judges when a person fails to show for a court hearing or violates the terms of their bond. Pulaski County has about 10,000 residents and the county seat is Hawkinsville. The Pulaski County Sheriff's Office on GA Highway 26 East handles all active warrants in the county. If you need to search for a bench warrant in Pulaski County, you will need to call the sheriff's office or go to the courthouse. There is no public online warrant search available for this county, so direct contact is the only real way to check on your warrant status and figure out what needs to happen next.

Pulaski County Sheriff's Office

Sheriff John Wilcher runs the Pulaski County Sheriff's Office, which is the main law enforcement agency that processes bench warrants in the county. When a Pulaski County judge issues a bench warrant, the sheriff's office receives it and enters it into the local records system. From there, the data gets sent to the Georgia Crime Information Center database. Once in that state system, the warrant is visible to law enforcement across Georgia and nationwide through the National Crime Information Center. The office at 1120 GA Highway 26 East in Hawkinsville handles all warrant matters for Pulaski County.

Call 478-783-6000 to reach the Pulaski County Sheriff's Office. Staff may not share all warrant details over the phone. Going in person with a valid photo ID is the most reliable approach for getting complete information. The Georgia Sheriffs' Association directory lists contact details for all Georgia county sheriffs, including Pulaski County.

Note: Pulaski County does not operate a public online warrant search portal at this time.

Bench Warrant Search in Pulaski County

Pulaski County does not have an online bench warrant search tool. This is common for smaller counties in central Georgia. Your options are calling the sheriff's office or visiting the Pulaski County Courthouse in Hawkinsville. The Clerk of Superior Court holds records for all cases filed in the county and can confirm whether a bench warrant was issued. Bring your photo ID and any case details you have if you go in person.

The Georgia.gov warrant search guide walks through the steps for checking on active warrants in any Georgia county. Most counties handle these requests in person or over the phone. Pulaski County follows that same approach. You provide your name and date of birth, staff check the database, and if a bench warrant exists they explain what it is for and what you need to do. Pulaski County is in the Houston Judicial Circuit, which also covers Houston County next door. Judges in the circuit may issue warrants that affect cases in both counties.

The Georgia Courts website maintains a sheriff directory that includes Pulaski County contact information for warrant inquiries.

Pulaski County Warrant Penalties

Missing court in Pulaski County means additional charges. Georgia law treats failure to appear as a separate 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. Felony cases raise the penalty to one to five years in prison and up to $5,000 in fines. These stack on top of the original charge. Pulaski County judges enforce these penalties.

Traffic bench warrants in Pulaski County have separate consequences. Under O.C.G.A. 40-13-63, missing a traffic hearing can lead to a $200 fine and up to three days in jail. The court may also notify the Georgia Department of Driver Services to suspend your license under O.C.G.A. 40-5-56. Reinstating a suspended license costs $100 in person at DDS or $125 by mail. That is an extra cost beyond any fines from the Pulaski County case.

Under O.C.G.A. 17-6-11, there is a 30-day grace period for traffic bench warrants. The clerk sends a written notice before the warrant goes active, giving you time to resolve the matter before it enters the statewide system.

State Agencies and Pulaski County

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation works with local agencies like the Pulaski County Sheriff's Office. The GBI does not issue bench warrants but maintains the Georgia Crime Information Center where Pulaski County warrants get stored. GCIC connects to the national NCIC database, so a bench warrant from Pulaski County can show up during any law enforcement check in the country.

The Georgia Courts sheriff directory provides contact information for the Pulaski County Sheriff's Office. Pulaski County is in the Houston Judicial Circuit. The circuit court handles felony cases and the more serious bench warrants that come through the system.

Note: Pulaski County bench warrants entered into GCIC are accessible to all law enforcement officers across Georgia.

Pulaski County Open Records

Under O.C.G.A. 50-18-70, Georgia's Open Records Act gives anyone the right to request public records from government agencies. Bench warrant records from the Pulaski County Clerk of Court or sheriff's office are covered. Submit a request in person at the courthouse in Hawkinsville or in writing. The office has three business days to respond.

Bench warrants are public records once issued by a judge. The case file tied to the warrant is also typically public. Juvenile cases and sealed records are exceptions. A standard bench warrant for a missed court date in Pulaski County is available for public review. The request itself is free, though copies of documents may have a small charge.

Nearby Counties

Bench warrants are county-specific in Georgia. The county where your case was filed holds the warrant. If you are unsure which county issued your bench warrant, check the court paperwork or call the Pulaski County Sheriff's Office at 478-783-6000. These counties border Pulaski County.