South Fulton Criminal History Records

Criminal history records for South Fulton are managed by the South Fulton Police Department and the Fulton County court system. South Fulton became a city in 2017 after residents voted to incorporate a large section of south Fulton County. The city has its own police force, but criminal court cases still go through the Fulton County Superior Court in Atlanta. If you want to search for criminal history tied to South Fulton, the police department handles arrest reports while the Fulton County Clerk of Superior Court keeps case files, plea records, and sentencing data. State databases from the GBI and the Georgia Department of Corrections also cover South Fulton cases.

South Fulton Police Department

The South Fulton Police Department is at 5440 Cascade Road, Atlanta, GA 30331. The phone number is (470) 809-7300. This department handles law enforcement for the City of South Fulton. Officers make arrests, respond to calls, and write reports that become part of the criminal history system in Georgia.

When someone is arrested in South Fulton, the police create an arrest report. That report includes the charges, the date, and the name of the person. The data gets sent to the Georgia Crime Information Center, which is run by the GBI. You can ask for a copy of a police report from the South Fulton Police Department by filing an open records request. Georgia law says the agency has three business days to respond. Walk-in requests are taken at the Cascade Road location during normal hours.

Visit the South Fulton Police Department website for contact details and information about how the department handles records requests. The department is still fairly new compared to most Georgia police agencies, but it has built up its records system since the city formed.

Fulton County Court Records for South Fulton

Criminal cases from South Fulton go through the Fulton County court system. The Fulton County Superior Court Clerk's office is at 136 Pryor Street SW in Atlanta, GA 30303. Call (404) 612-0500 for help with records. The clerk keeps all criminal case files for cases that come out of South Fulton.

Fulton County runs an online court services portal that lets you look up case data from home. You can see docket information, case status, and charges for criminal matters filed in the county. There is no fee to search the basic case index. Certified copies do cost money. You have to go to the clerk's office on Pryor Street for those, or mail in a written request.

South Fulton sits in the Atlanta Judicial Circuit. This is the same circuit that covers the city of Atlanta and the rest of Fulton County. All felony cases from South Fulton go to Fulton County Superior Court. Misdemeanors may go to the South Fulton Municipal Court or the Fulton County State Court, depending on the charge and where the arrest took place.

The South Fulton Municipal Court handles city ordinance violations and some misdemeanor cases. If someone is charged with a traffic offense or a minor crime within city limits, the case might start in municipal court. Records from that court are separate from the Fulton County Superior Court system. Call the municipal court directly for those files.

Open Records Requests in South Fulton

You can file an open records request with the South Fulton Police Department or the Fulton County Clerk's office. Put your request in writing. Include the full name of the person, the approximate date of the event, and the type of record you want. The agency must respond within three business days under Georgia law.

Fees may apply for copies. The first quarter hour of search time is free. After that, staff time charges can be added. Some records are exempt. Active investigations and juvenile files are two common reasons an agency may hold back part of a record. If your request is denied, you can challenge the decision through the Office of the Attorney General.

State Tools for South Fulton Criminal History

The Georgia Felon Search costs $15 and checks the GCIC database for felony convictions across Georgia. This includes cases from South Fulton. You need the person's first name, last name, date of birth, and sex. Results are instant. The $15 fee applies even if no record comes back. Misdemeanor cases and restricted records do not show up on this tool.

The Georgia Department of Corrections offender search is free. It covers people who are in a state prison right now. Someone convicted in Fulton County and sent to a GDC facility will show up here. People in the Fulton County Jail or those who have already served their time will not appear. The GBI FAQ page covers more on how the criminal history system works across the state.

Criminal Record Restriction in South Fulton

Georgia calls it record restriction, not expungement. A restricted record is sealed from public searches but still exists for law enforcement to see. If you were arrested in South Fulton and the charges were dismissed, you may be able to get the record restricted. Cases that never went to a prosecutor can also qualify after a waiting period.

Under O.C.G.A. Section 35-3-37, the process depends on when the arrest happened. For arrests on or after July 1, 2013, you contact the prosecuting attorney to start the restriction. For arrests before that date, apply through the arresting agency. The waiting periods are two years for misdemeanors, four years for most felonies, and seven years for serious violent felonies.

The First Offender Act under O.C.G.A. Section 42-8-60 is another option. A first-time offender who finishes their sentence under this act gets discharged without a conviction on their record. That means the criminal history is restricted from public view. Georgia also has a retroactive First Offender path for people who were eligible at the time of sentencing but did not get it. You must have completed your sentence to apply. Serious violent felonies and sex crimes are not eligible for this.

How to Look Up South Fulton Criminal History

Several options exist for finding criminal history records tied to South Fulton. Each source covers a different part of the records system.

• Call the South Fulton Police Department at (470) 809-7300 for police reports
• Visit the Fulton County Clerk at 136 Pryor Street SW in Atlanta for court files
• Search the Georgia Felon Search for felony conviction data ($15)
• Use the GDC offender search for people in state prison (free)
• File an open records request with the city or county

Police reports cover the arrest side. Court files have charges, pleas, and outcomes. State tools fill in felony conviction history and prison data. Checking more than one source gives you a fuller picture of criminal history from South Fulton.

South Fulton County Resources

South Fulton is in Fulton County. Criminal court cases from the city go through the Fulton County court system in Atlanta.

Nearby Cities

South Fulton is in the southwest part of the Atlanta metro area. Several other cities with criminal history pages are nearby.