How to Find the Outcome of a Criminal Trial

Are your new neighbors hiding an unsavory past? Are you worried about the new guy in your daughter’s life? Maybe you’re just plain curious because you saw an article in the newspaper about a crime and wonder how it all turned out. With the right information, you can find the outcome of a criminal trial.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Telephone and/or Internet Connection
• Defendant's Name
• Where the Trial Occurred

1. Determine where the trial occurred. If it was a major crime, otherwise known as a felony, you’ll need to know the state and county. If the crime was a so-called minor crime, otherwise known as a misdemeanor, you’ll also need to know the city.
2. Contact the Clerk of Court’s office. Each state has its own names for different levels of court. So-called minor crimes are handled in one court. Major crimes are handled in another. Every court has an office called the Clerk of Courts. The clerk’s office keeps a record of every document and activity in all civil and criminal actions. You can search for records in person, by mail request, and sometimes over the telephone. If the trial you are looking for occurred in the past 10 years or so, you may be able to find the court records online. For example search terms “Georgia Macon County Court Clerk” (without quotation marks).
3. Provide the Clerk of Court's Office with the Defendant’s name and any other information you have, i.e. Defendant's birthdate, date or year of the trial, the Judge’s name.
4. If you physically go to the Clerk of Court's office, tell the person behind the desk what you are looking for. If you’re lucky, one of the clerk’s will help you find the information. If not, then,
5. Give the clerk the Defendant’s name and ask to see the court file. Records in each file are kept chronologically. Depending on the court, the most recent entry will be either at the very front or very back.
6. Look for a document titled Sentencing Entry, Plea Entry, Verdict Form or something similar. This document will tell you the date of the outcome; whether the Defendant was found guilty or not guilty; and, if guilty, what sentence was imposed

Tips & Warnings

• All court proceedings are public records with the exception of juvenile records and records that have been sealed or expunged. Public records mean anyone can have access. If requested, copies must be provided at a nominal charge.
• If you need a copy of the record for official use, you will need to ask for a certified copy.
• It is always a good idea to compare a known birth date with the birth date of the Defendant to make certain you’ve found the right individual. The birth date is almost always on the original indictment.