White County Bench Warrant Search

Bench warrants in White County are issued by judges when someone fails to appear for a court date or violates the terms of their bond. Cleveland is the county seat, and the White County Sheriff's Office on Hulsey Road processes and enforces all bench warrants in the area. White County has roughly 28,000 residents and sits in the north Georgia mountains. Online bench warrant search tools are not available for this county, so the sheriff's office and courthouse in Cleveland are where you go for information. Getting ahead of a bench warrant situation in White County is always better than waiting to be picked up on it later.

White County Sheriff's Office

Sheriff Rick Kelley runs the White County Sheriff's Office, the agency responsible for processing and enforcing bench warrants throughout the county. After a judge signs a bench warrant, the sheriff's office receives the order, logs it into their records, and enters it into the Georgia Crime Information Center database. That system links to the national NCIC network. Once a White County bench warrant is in GCIC, it can be seen by law enforcement anywhere in the country. The office is located at 1210 Hulsey Road in Cleveland and handles warrant inquiries during regular business hours on weekdays.

Call 706-865-5177 for general questions about the warrant process. Staff may not give specific details over the phone. For a full warrant check, visit the office on Hulsey Road with a valid photo ID. The Georgia Sheriffs' Association directory lists all Georgia sheriffs and their contact details, including White County.

Note: White County does not offer a public online bench warrant search tool.

How to Search White County Bench Warrants

White County does not have a web-based search portal for bench warrants. The Clerk of Superior Court in Cleveland keeps records of all cases filed in the county and can sometimes confirm whether a bench warrant exists. You can also go to the sheriff's office for a warrant check. Both offices are in Cleveland, making it possible to visit both in one trip. Bring a photo ID and your case number if you have it. The clerk's office at the White County Courthouse handles records requests during business hours on weekdays.

The Georgia.gov warrant search guide explains the general process for checking on a warrant in any Georgia county. In White County, you go to the sheriff's office on Hulsey Road or the courthouse in Cleveland, show your ID, and staff check the system. If a bench warrant exists in your name, they explain the charge and outline your options. Many people in White County choose to hire a lawyer before dealing with a bench warrant, especially if the original charge was serious. An attorney can help with getting bond set and a new court date scheduled.

The Georgia Courts directory is an official resource for finding the White County Sheriff's Office and other law enforcement contacts across the state.

White County Bench Warrant Penalties

Missing a court date in White County leads to a bench warrant and a new criminal charge. Under O.C.G.A. 16-10-51, bail jumping is treated as its own offense. For misdemeanor cases, the penalty is up to 12 months in jail and a $1,000 fine. Felony bail jumping can bring one to five years in prison and up to $5,000 in fines. These penalties come on top of whatever the original charge was in White County. The courts in this part of north Georgia enforce these provisions consistently.

Traffic bench warrants follow different rules in White County. Under O.C.G.A. 40-13-63, failing to appear for a traffic hearing can result in a $200 fine and up to three days in jail. The court notifies the Georgia Department of Driver Services, which may suspend your license under O.C.G.A. 40-5-56. Reinstating the license costs $100 in person at a DDS office or $125 by mail.

O.C.G.A. 17-6-11 gives a 30-day grace period for traffic bench warrants. The clerk of court sends written notice first. Resolve the matter during that window and the warrant may never become active in the system.

State Resources for White County

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation works with the White County Sheriff's Office and other local agencies statewide. The GBI manages the Georgia Crime Information Center database where White County bench warrants are stored. GCIC connects to the national NCIC system. A bench warrant from White County can be flagged during a traffic stop or arrest anywhere in Georgia or the rest of the country.

The Georgia Courts sheriff directory provides contact details for the White County Sheriff's Office. White County is part of the Enotah Judicial Circuit, a small circuit covering mountain counties in northeast Georgia. Each county in the circuit handles its own bench warrants independently.

Open Records in White County

Georgia's Open Records Act, O.C.G.A. 50-18-70, allows anyone to request public records from government offices. Bench warrants and court files in White County fall under this law. Submit a request at the Clerk of Superior Court in the Cleveland courthouse or mail it in. The office must respond within three business days for most requests.

Bench warrants are public records once a judge issues them. Sealed records and juvenile cases are the exceptions. There is no fee to file the request itself. Copies of documents may cost a small per-page fee. If you need the full case file related to a White County bench warrant, include the case number in your request for faster processing.

Note: White County processes open records requests during regular business hours at the courthouse in Cleveland.

Nearby Counties

Bench warrants are county-specific in Georgia. Only the county where the case was filed holds the warrant. If you are unsure which county issued your bench warrant, check your court paperwork or call the White County Sheriff's Office at 706-865-5177. These counties border White County.