Search Athens Criminal History

Criminal history records in Athens are handled by the Athens-Clarke County Police Department and the Clarke County court system. Athens merged with Clarke County in 1991, so there is no separate city or county government. The police department takes reports and makes arrests, while the Clarke County Superior Court Clerk keeps case files and court records. If you need to find criminal history tied to Athens, the clerk's office and police records division are the main local sources. State tools from the GBI and the Georgia Department of Corrections also hold data on Athens cases that moved through the state system.

Athens-Clarke County Police Department

The Athens-Clarke County Police Department is at 3035 Lexington Road, Athens, GA 30605. Call them at (706) 613-3330. This is the main law enforcement agency for the whole Athens-Clarke County area. There is no separate sheriff doing patrol work here. The police department handles all arrests, takes incident reports, and runs the records division for the merged government.

When someone gets arrested in Athens, the police create a report. That report goes into the local records system. It shows the charges, the date, the name of the person, and the officer who made the arrest. These records feed into the state criminal history database at the Georgia Crime Information Center. You can ask for a copy of a police report by filing an open records request with the Athens-Clarke County Police Department. Georgia's Open Records Act gives the public a right to get copies of most law enforcement records. The department has three business days to respond to your request.

Visit the Athens-Clarke County Police Department website for more on how to reach the records division and what forms you may need. The site lists contact numbers for each division within the department.

Clarke County Court Records

Criminal cases in Athens go through the Clarke County court system. The Clarke County Superior Court handles felony cases and serious criminal matters. The clerk's office keeps all case files. You can find charges, plea information, court dates, and final case outcomes in those files. The State Court of Clarke County handles misdemeanor cases and some traffic offenses that carry criminal penalties.

The Clarke County Courthouse is at 325 East Washington Street in Athens. Walk in during business hours to ask about criminal case records. Bring the name of the person and any case numbers you have. The clerk charges a per-page fee for copies. Certified copies cost more than plain ones. If you need records for a case that is very old, staff may have to pull from the archive room, and that can take extra time.

Athens is part of the Western Judicial Circuit. This circuit covers Clarke and Oconee counties. A case filed in the Western Circuit could show up under either county, so check both if you are not sure where the arrest took place. The district attorney for this circuit prosecutes criminal cases in Athens.

Open Records Requests in Athens

Georgia's Open Records Act lets you ask for criminal history documents held by the Athens-Clarke County government. Put your request in writing. Include the full name of the person, the date of the incident if you know it, and what type of record you want. Send it to the police records division or the clerk's office, depending on whether you need a police report or a court file.

The agency has three business days to respond. They can charge for the cost of making copies. The first quarter hour of search time is free. After that, a fee for staff time may apply. Some records are exempt from release. Ongoing criminal investigations, for example, may be held back. Juvenile records are also off limits in most cases. If your request gets denied, you can appeal to the Office of the Attorney General or file a court action.

State Criminal History Tools

Two state-level tools can help you find criminal history tied to Athens cases. The Georgia Felon Search costs $15 per search. It checks the GCIC database for felony convictions across Georgia. You need the person's first name, last name, date of birth, and sex. Results come back right away. Even if no record is found, the fee still applies. This tool does not show misdemeanor cases or restricted records.

The Georgia Department of Corrections offender search is free. It shows people who are currently in a GDC facility. If someone was convicted in Clarke County and sent to state prison, they will show up here. The GDC tool does not cover people in the Clarke County jail or those who already finished their sentence.

The GBI FAQ page answers questions about the criminal history process in Georgia. It covers how to get your own record, what shows up on a search, and how to fix errors. You can also request your own criminal history through the GCIC by mail or by visiting their office in Decatur. The fee is up to $15.

Criminal History Restriction in Athens

Georgia uses record restriction instead of expungement. A restricted record gets sealed from public view. Only law enforcement and certain agencies can still see it. Several situations can lead to restriction of an Athens criminal history record.

Charges that were dismissed or dropped may qualify. Cases where the person was found not guilty can also be restricted. If charges were never sent to a prosecutor, the record gets restricted after a set time. That waiting period is two years for misdemeanors, four years for most felonies, and seven years for serious violent felonies. Under O.C.G.A. Section 35-3-37, the process depends on when the arrest took place. For arrests before July 1, 2013, you apply through the arresting agency. For arrests on or after that date, contact the prosecuting attorney directly.

The First Offender Act is another path. Under O.C.G.A. Section 42-8-60, first-time offenders who complete their sentence can have the case discharged without a formal conviction. The criminal history record then gets restricted. Georgia also allows retroactive First Offender status for people who should have gotten it at sentencing but did not. You must have finished your sentence to qualify. Serious violent felonies and sexual offenses are not eligible.

How to Search Athens Criminal History

There are a few ways to look up criminal history in Athens. Your best choice depends on what kind of record you need and how fast you want it.

• Call the Athens-Clarke County Police at (706) 613-3330 for police reports
• Visit the Clarke County Courthouse at 325 East Washington Street for court files
• Use the Georgia Felon Search for statewide felony records ($15)
• Check the GDC offender search for people in state prisons (free)
• File an open records request with Athens-Clarke County government

Each source covers a different piece of the picture. Police records show arrest details. Court files show charges and case outcomes. State tools add felony conviction data and corrections records. You may need to check more than one source to get a full view of someone's criminal history in Athens.

Athens County Resources

Athens and Clarke County share a merged government. All criminal court records for the area are kept by Clarke County offices.

Nearby Cities

Athens sits in northeast Georgia. For criminal history searches that go beyond Athens, use the state tools listed above or check the Georgia counties page to find the right county.