Canton Criminal History Search

Criminal history records in Canton are maintained by the Canton Police Department and the Cherokee County court system. Canton is the county seat of Cherokee County with about 38,049 residents. It sits in the northern suburbs of metro Atlanta. The Canton PD handles arrest reports and police records for crimes inside city limits, and court records for criminal cases flow through Cherokee County Superior Court. State-level databases from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation also hold criminal data connected to Canton. Because records are split between local police, county courts, and the state, a thorough search may need to pull from more than one place.

Canton Police Department Criminal Records

The Canton Police Department serves as the main law enforcement agency for the city. They are located at 151 Elizabeth Street, Canton, GA 30114. The phone number is (770) 720-4883. Canton PD keeps arrest reports, incident reports, and other records for crimes within city limits. When someone is arrested in Canton, the police create the initial record showing the date, charges, and arresting officer.

All arrest data from Canton PD goes to the Georgia Crime Information Center. State law requires this. So an arrest in Canton will appear in GCIC searches as well as local police files. To get a copy of a police report from a Canton case, contact the department's records division at the Elizabeth Street location during business hours.

Canton PD records cover only what happens inside city limits. The Cherokee County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement for the rest of the county. If you are not sure whether an incident was in the city or in unincorporated Cherokee County, check with both agencies. The sheriff's office also runs the county jail, so booking records go through them rather than the Canton PD.

Cherokee County Court Records for Canton

Canton is the county seat of Cherokee County. Criminal court cases from Canton are handled by Cherokee County Superior Court. The clerk of courts keeps case files for felonies and serious misdemeanor cases. You can find charges, plea information, verdicts, and sentencing details through this office. The Cherokee County Courthouse is located in downtown Canton.

The clerk charges fees for copies of court records. Certified copies cost more than standard ones. Walk-in requests are taken at the courthouse. You can also call to ask about records availability. Cherokee County has seen steady population growth in recent years, so the court system processes a good volume of cases. Response times for records requests may vary depending on how busy the office is at the time.

The Cherokee County criminal history page goes into more detail on the clerk's office, the sheriff's department, and how to search county-level records. Cherokee County Magistrate Court handles warrants, bond hearings, and some lower-level criminal matters, so check there too if the case was a minor charge.

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 to run it. Results come back right away. The fee is charged even if no record is found. This tool covers all of Georgia, including Canton.

The Georgia Department of Corrections offender search is free. It lists people currently in state prisons. Someone convicted through the Cherokee County courts who was sent to a state prison will appear here. It does not cover people held in the Cherokee County Jail or those who have already finished their sentence.

The GBI FAQ page covers common questions about criminal history records in the state. It explains the process for personal requests and third-party searches. Fingerprint-based checks through the GBI are the most thorough option if you need an official criminal history report. These checks pull from the state criminal history database and can include records that name-based searches miss.

Record Restriction for Canton Cases

Georgia uses the term record restriction instead of expungement. A restricted record gets sealed from public searches. Law enforcement can still see it. But it will not show up when the public searches criminal history databases.

A few situations lead to record restriction. Dismissed charges may qualify. People who finish a pretrial diversion program can apply. The First Offender Act, found in O.C.G.A. Section 42-8-60, lets eligible first-time offenders complete their sentence without getting a formal conviction. After the sentence ends, the court discharges the person and the record can be restricted from public view.

The rules are laid out in O.C.G.A. Section 35-3-37. For arrests after July 1, 2013, the process starts with the prosecuting attorney. For older arrests, you go through the arresting agency. In Canton, that means the Canton Police Department or the Cherokee County district attorney, depending on the specifics of the case.

A retroactive First Offender option exists too. If a person should have been sentenced under the First Offender Act but was not at the time, they can petition the court afterward. The Cherokee County Superior Court would handle these petitions for cases that originated in Canton.

How to Find Criminal History in Canton

There are several ways to search for criminal history tied to Canton. The best approach depends on what you are looking for.

• Call the Canton Police Department at (770) 720-4883 for arrest and incident reports
• Visit the Cherokee County Clerk of Courts at the courthouse in Canton 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 Cherokee County Sheriff for jail and booking records

Police records show arrest details. Court records show charges, pleas, and outcomes. State tools add felony convictions and corrections data. You might need to check more than one system to get the full story. Canton Municipal Court handles city ordinance violations and minor offenses, so look there if the case involves a small local charge.

Open Records Requests

Georgia's Open Records Act gives people the right to request public documents from government agencies, including police records. To get criminal records from the Canton Police Department, you can file an open records request with the city. You may ask for police reports, arrest records, and incident data. The city is allowed to charge a fee for the search and for copies of the documents.

Agencies must respond within three business days under the law. The first response may just say the request was received. Actual records can take longer, especially if the request is broad. Some records are exempt from release. Active investigations, for instance, may be withheld until the case wraps up. Records that have been restricted under Georgia law will not be handed over through this process either.

Nearby Cities With Criminal Records

Canton is near other growing cities in the north metro Atlanta area. Each has its own police force and local records. Arrest data from these cities feeds into the state GCIC system. These pages cover criminal history resources in nearby cities.