Search Atlanta Criminal History

Criminal history records in Atlanta come from the Atlanta Police Department, the Fulton County court system, and state-level databases run by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Atlanta is the largest city in Georgia, and its criminal records are spread across multiple agencies. The Atlanta PD handles arrest reports and incident data for crimes that happen inside city limits. Court records for criminal cases go through the Fulton County Superior Court Clerk since Atlanta sits in Fulton County. If you need to find criminal history tied to Atlanta, you may have to check more than one office to get the full picture. State tools like the Georgia Felon Search also cover Atlanta cases.

Atlanta Police Department Criminal Records

The Atlanta Police Department is the main law enforcement agency for the city. Their headquarters is at 226 Peachtree Street SW, Atlanta, GA 30303. You can call them at (404) 546-7000. The APD keeps arrest reports, incident reports, and other records for crimes that happen within city limits. These are the first records created when someone gets arrested in Atlanta. They show the date, time, charges, and the arresting officer.

Atlanta PD records feed into the state criminal history system. Under Georgia law, the department sends arrest data to the Georgia Crime Information Center. That means an arrest in Atlanta shows up in GCIC searches as well as local records. If you need a copy of a police report from an Atlanta case, you go through the department's records unit. Walk-in requests are taken at the Peachtree Street location during business hours.

The Atlanta Police Department website has details on how to request police records and criminal history information from the city.

Keep in mind that APD records only cover things that happen inside Atlanta city limits. Parts of the metro area that fall outside city limits are handled by the Fulton County Police Department or other local agencies. If you are not sure where an incident took place, check both the city and county systems.

Open Records Requests in Atlanta

Georgia's Open Records Act gives people the right to request public documents from government agencies, and that includes criminal history records held by the Atlanta Police Department. The city has a dedicated open records portal for police-related requests. You can submit a request online through the city's website. The portal lets you ask for incident reports, arrest reports, and other police records tied to criminal cases in Atlanta.

The Atlanta open records page explains the steps to submit a request and what types of police records are available to the public.

There is a fee for copies. The city can charge for the time it takes to search and the cost of copying the documents. Response times vary. Simple requests might come back in a few days. More involved requests can take longer. The Open Records Act says agencies must respond within three business days, but that first response might just say they got the request and need more time to fill it.

Some records are exempt from disclosure. Ongoing investigations, for example, may be withheld until the case is closed. Records that have been restricted under state law will not be released through an open records request either.

Fulton County Handles Atlanta Court Records

Atlanta sits in Fulton County. All criminal court cases from Atlanta go through the Fulton County court system. The Superior Court Clerk at 136 Pryor Street SW in Atlanta keeps case files for felonies and serious misdemeanors. This office has the charges, plea deals, trial results, and sentencing details for criminal cases. You can search for case information through the Fulton County court services portal online.

The county clerk charges a fee for certified copies. Walk-in requests are handled at the Pryor Street courthouse. Phone inquiries go to (404) 612-0500. For more detail on how the Fulton County system works, the Fulton County criminal history page covers the clerk's office, sheriff, and other local resources.

Atlanta also has a Municipal Court that handles city ordinance violations and some misdemeanor cases. The Municipal Court is at 150 Garnett Street SW. Cases heard in municipal court may not show up in the same system as Superior Court records. If you are looking for a minor offense or city ordinance violation, check the municipal court separately.

State Criminal History Tools

The Georgia Felon Search is a state-run tool that checks the GCIC database for felony convictions. It costs $15 per search. You need a first name, last name, date of birth, and sex. Results come back right away. The fee applies even if the search finds no record. This tool covers all of Georgia, including Atlanta.

The Georgia Department of Corrections offender search is free. It shows people currently in a state prison. Someone convicted in Atlanta who is serving time at a GDC facility will show up here. The GDC search does not cover people in the Fulton County Jail or those who have already finished their sentence.

The GBI FAQ page answers common questions about getting criminal history records in Georgia. It explains the process for both personal record requests and third-party searches. The GBI also offers a fingerprint-based criminal history check. That is the most thorough option if you need an official copy of your own record.

Record Restriction for Atlanta Cases

Georgia does not call it expungement. The state uses the term record restriction. When a criminal record gets restricted, it is sealed from public view. Law enforcement can still see it. But it will not come up in a standard public search.

Several situations can lead to record restriction for Atlanta cases. Charges that were dropped or dismissed may qualify. People who went through a pretrial diversion program and finished it can apply. First Offender cases fall into this category too. The First Offender Act, found in O.C.G.A. Section 42-8-60, lets first-time offenders complete their sentence without a formal conviction on their record. Once the sentence is done, the court discharges them and the record gets restricted.

The full rules for record restriction are in O.C.G.A. Section 35-3-37. For arrests after July 1, 2013, you start the process by contacting the prosecuting attorney. For older arrests, go through the arresting agency. In Atlanta, that means either the Atlanta Police Department or the Fulton County district attorney, depending on the case.

There is also a retroactive First Offender option. If someone should have been sentenced under the First Offender Act but was not, they can petition the court for that status after the fact. This can result in a conviction being removed from public criminal history records.

Finding Criminal History in Atlanta

There are several paths to find criminal history tied to Atlanta. The right choice depends on the type of record you need.

• Call the Atlanta Police Department at (404) 546-7000 or submit an open records request for police reports
• Visit the Fulton County Superior Court Clerk at 136 Pryor Street SW for court case records
• Use the Georgia Felon Search for statewide felony conviction data
• Check the GDC offender search for people in state prisons
• Contact the Fulton County Sheriff at (404) 612-5100 for jail and booking records

Police records show arrest details and incident reports. Court records from Fulton County show charges, pleas, and outcomes. State tools add felony convictions and corrections data. You may need to check more than one source for a full view. The Atlanta Municipal Court at 150 Garnett Street handles city ordinance cases and some misdemeanors, so check there if the case involved a minor offense in the city.

Nearby Cities With Criminal Records

Atlanta borders several smaller cities in the metro area. Each has its own police force and handles local arrests. Those records feed into the state system through the GCIC. If you need criminal history from a nearby city, these pages cover the local resources and how to search.