Search Dunwoody Criminal History

Criminal history records in Dunwoody are handled by the Dunwoody Police Department and the DeKalb County court system. Dunwoody became a city in 2008 and sits in the northern part of DeKalb County, just inside the I-285 Perimeter. The city runs its own police force that handles arrests and incident reports within city limits. Criminal court cases from Dunwoody go through the DeKalb County Superior Court Clerk in Decatur. State-level tools from the GBI and the Department of Corrections also hold criminal history data from the Dunwoody area. If you need to find a criminal record from this city, there are several paths to take.

Dunwoody Police Department Records

The Dunwoody Police Department is at 4800 Ashford Dunwoody Rd, Dunwoody, GA 30338. Call (678) 382-6900 to reach them. The department provides law enforcement for the city. When someone gets arrested in Dunwoody, officers create a report with the charges, date, and the arresting officer's name. This report is the starting point for criminal history from a Dunwoody case.

Arrest data from Dunwoody PD goes to the Georgia Crime Information Center at the GBI. A Dunwoody arrest shows up in the GCIC statewide database as well as local records. To get a police report, you file an open records request with the department. Georgia's Open Records Act gives you the right to ask. The city has three business days to give an initial response.

You can walk into the Ashford Dunwoody Road location or mail a request. Be specific about what you need. Give names, dates, and case numbers if you have them. Fees apply for search time and copying. Active investigations may be held back until the case closes.

Before Dunwoody incorporated in 2008, the DeKalb County Police handled law enforcement in this area. If you need a record from before that year, the county would have it rather than the city. Dunwoody borders Sandy Springs in Fulton County and Brookhaven in DeKalb County. Each has its own police force, so make sure you are checking the right agency for the right area.

DeKalb County Court Records for Dunwoody

Dunwoody is in DeKalb County. Criminal court cases from the city go through the DeKalb County court system. The Superior Court Clerk in Decatur keeps files for felony and serious misdemeanor charges. These records have the charges, pleas, trial results, and sentences.

The DeKalb County criminal history page covers the clerk's office, the sheriff, and other county resources. You can visit the courthouse in Decatur to search for records. The clerk charges for copies. Certified copies cost more than regular ones.

DeKalb County is part of the Stone Mountain Judicial Circuit. The county has one of the busiest court systems in Georgia. Besides Superior Court, there is a State Court for misdemeanors and a Magistrate Court for preliminary hearings. A misdemeanor arrest from Dunwoody could end up in DeKalb State Court rather than Superior Court. Records from each court are kept separately, so check the right one for the type of charge you are looking for.

The DeKalb County Sheriff's Office handles booking and jail records. If someone was booked into the DeKalb County Jail after a Dunwoody arrest, the sheriff has that data. You can check whether a person is currently in custody through the sheriff's office.

State Criminal History Tools

The Georgia Felon Search costs $15 per search. It checks the GCIC database for felony convictions across all of Georgia. That includes DeKalb County and Dunwoody cases. Enter a first name, last name, date of birth, and sex. Results come back right away. The fee applies even if no record is found. Only felony convictions show up. Misdemeanors and restricted records are excluded.

The Georgia Department of Corrections offender search is free. It shows people who are serving time in a GDC state prison right now. Someone convicted from a Dunwoody case and sent to a state facility will appear here. It does not cover the DeKalb County Jail or people who already completed their sentence.

The GBI FAQ page walks through the criminal history process in Georgia. It covers how to request your own record, how to run a third-party search, and how to fix mistakes. The GBI also offers a fingerprint-based check for the most complete version of a person's criminal history.

Record Restriction for Dunwoody Cases

Georgia uses the term record restriction. Not expungement. When a record gets restricted, it is sealed from public searches. Law enforcement retains access. But the general public cannot see it.

Dismissed or dropped charges from Dunwoody may qualify. Completing a pretrial diversion program is another path to restriction. The First Offender Act under O.C.G.A. Section 42-8-60 lets first-time offenders complete their sentence without getting a formal conviction. After the court discharges them, the criminal history record gets restricted from public view.

The rules are in O.C.G.A. Section 35-3-37. For arrests on or after July 1, 2013, contact the prosecuting attorney. For older arrests, go through the arresting agency. Since Dunwoody started in 2008, older arrests would go through the DeKalb County Police. Charges never sent to a prosecutor get restricted after a waiting period. Two years for misdemeanors. Four years for most felonies.

A retroactive First Offender option exists. People who should have gotten First Offender treatment at sentencing but did not can petition the court after completing their sentence. If granted, the conviction comes off the public criminal history.

What Dunwoody Criminal Records Show

Criminal history connected to Dunwoody pulls from local and state data. The record lists the person's name, date of birth, and physical traits. Arrest entries show the agency, date, and charges. Court records add the outcome. That could be a conviction, plea, dismissal, or acquittal. State prison sentences show in the GDC database.

Not all records are public. Restricted records do not appear in standard searches. Juvenile records are sealed under Georgia law in most situations. Federal crimes go through a separate system and do not show in the GCIC data. A full picture may require checking both state and federal databases. And since Dunwoody only incorporated in 2008, records from before that year are tied to DeKalb County, not the city.

Getting Your Own Criminal History in Dunwoody

Under O.C.G.A. Section 35-3-37, any person in Georgia can review their own criminal history. Visit the Dunwoody Police Department or the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office. Get fingerprinted and pay a fee up to $15. The prints go to the GCIC. They send back a copy of your record.

If the record has errors, you can dispute them. File a written request with the GCIC at P.O. Box 370808, Decatur, Georgia 30037-0808. They have 60 days to investigate. Call (404) 244-2639 with questions. You need an appointment to visit the GCIC office in person.

Dunwoody Municipal Court

The Dunwoody Municipal Court handles city ordinance violations, traffic cases, and certain misdemeanor charges. Felonies do not go through this court. They move to DeKalb County Superior Court. If you need a record from a minor matter or traffic offense in Dunwoody, the municipal court is the right place to start.

Contact the municipal court clerk for record requests. Not all records are available online. You may have to visit or call ahead. Ask about fees and what information you need to bring. The court operates out of the Dunwoody city government offices. Response times vary based on how many requests the clerk is handling at any given time.