Find Georgia Criminal Records
Georgia criminal records are kept by state and local law enforcement across all 159 counties. You can search these records through the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, county sheriff offices, and court clerk portals. The GBI runs the Georgia Crime Information Center, which stores criminal history data for the whole state. County courts and sheriff departments also hold arrest reports, case files, and booking records at the local level. This page covers how to find and get criminal records in Georgia, with direct links to search tools and contact info for the agencies that handle these records across the state.
Georgia Criminal Records Quick Facts
Georgia Criminal History Records
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation runs the Georgia Crime Information Center, which is the main state agency for criminal records. GCIC stores criminal history data that comes from arrests, court rulings, and correctional stays across the state. You can get a copy of a Georgia criminal history record from most sheriff offices or police departments in the state. Each local law enforcement agency can pull records from the GCIC system. The GBI has a helpline at (404) 244-2639 where you can call for help with criminal history questions, record updates, or applicant background checks in Georgia.
The GBI posts answers to common questions about criminal records on their FAQ page at gbi.georgia.gov.
A Georgia criminal history record shows a person's identification data such as name, date of birth, social security number, sex, race, height, and weight. It also has arrest data with the arresting agency, date, and charges. Court disposition data shows the final outcome of each case. If the person went to a Georgia correctional facility, that custodial info shows up too. All of this data flows through the GCIC system. The GBI offers a full list of services for criminal records and related needs on their services page at gbi.georgia.gov/services.
Attorneys can request criminal history records under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34. This law lets the GCIC share records of the defendant or witnesses in a criminal case when the defense lawyer sends a written request. The request must have the case style, case number, and full name plus identifying info for each person. Allow 5 to 10 business days for the GBI to process these requests. Email goes to gcic.attorneys@gbi.state.ga.us for attorney criminal record requests in Georgia.
Background Checks in Georgia
Georgia runs the Applicant Processing Service, known as GAPS, for fingerprint-based background checks. This service handles checks for jobs, licenses, visas, travel, and other non-criminal justice uses. GAPS uses fingerprints to match against the GCIC criminal records database. This is more exact than a name-based search since it links to a specific person. You start the GAPS process through IdentoGo, which runs the fingerprint collection sites across Georgia. The GBI explains how GAPS works on their page at gbi.georgia.gov.
The GAPS portal at ga.state.identogo.com lets you schedule a fingerprint appointment, check the status of your background check, and view results.
The Survivors First Act, also known as the Debbie Vance Act under O.C.G.A. § 17-10-21, is another way to get criminal records in Georgia. This law lets the GCIC give a defendant or their lawyer a free copy of a Georgia criminal history record when the defendant was convicted of an offense that came from being a trafficking victim. Private investigators cannot request Georgia criminal history records from the GCIC. That limit is set by state law.
Note: GCIC cannot fix or update criminal history record information without the right documents from the agency that submitted the data.
Georgia Felon Search
Georgia Felon Search is a paid state service that lets you check if someone has been convicted of a felony in Georgia. Results come back right away. The search costs $15 and the fee applies even if no record is found. This tool runs through the Georgia Crime Information Center and only checks for felony convictions in the state. You can start a search at georgia.gov/georgia-felon-search.
To run a Georgia Felon Search, you need the person's first and last name, date of birth, sex, and a valid credit card. The search is name-based only. It does not return sealed or expunged criminal records. It does not return juvenile felony history. It does not return misdemeanor records either. For an exact match, you would need a fingerprint-based check through GAPS instead. The felon search is a quick way to check for felony convictions in Georgia, but it has these limits.
Search Georgia Offender Records
The Georgia Department of Corrections keeps records on all offenders in the state prison system. GDC runs a Find an Offender tool that lets you search by name, description, inmate ID, or case number. This is a free search. You can look up anyone who is or was in a Georgia state correctional facility. The GDC website at gdc.georgia.gov has the search tool along with details on how the system works.
The GDC offender search page gives you direct access to the database where you can look up current and past inmates in Georgia.
The actual search form is at services.gdc.ga.gov. You fill in what you know about the person and submit the query. The GDC warns that the data may not be fully complete or accurate. They say you should verify any info you get through written correspondence with Inmate Records and Information at PO Box 1529, Forsyth, GA 31029 before you rely on it as fact. The GDC main phone number is (478) 992-5240, and you can call (404) 656-4661 for specific inmate questions about Georgia criminal records.
Georgia Inmate and Parole Records
Beyond the main offender search, the GDC has other ways to find criminal records in Georgia. The GDC contact page at gdc.georgia.gov/contact-us lists phone numbers for different departments including inmate concerns, victim services, and the Board of Corrections. The Office of Victim Services can be reached at (404) 651-6668 for those affected by crimes in Georgia.
The Inmate TPM Lookup tool at papapps.pap.state.ga.us lets you check tentative parole month information for inmates in Georgia.
The Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles handles parole decisions and clemency for criminal cases. Their office is at 2 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive SE, Suite 430 in Atlanta. The board's mission is to serve Georgians by making informed decisions on executive clemency while keeping the public safe and protecting victims' rights. You can learn about the board and its work at pap.georgia.gov.
Many records held by the Parole Board are classified as confidential state secrets under O.C.G.A. § 42-9-53 and are exempt from the Open Records Act. But you can still submit an open records request for non-confidential documents. A written request is best so there is no dispute about what was asked or when. Send requests to the Open Records Officer at pap.georgia.gov/open-records-request or email openrecords@pap.ga.gov for criminal records held by the parole board in Georgia.
Criminal Court Records in Georgia
Georgia courts handle criminal cases at several levels. Superior Courts hear felony cases and some misdemeanors. State Courts handle misdemeanor cases and traffic offenses. Magistrate Courts deal with minor offenses and preliminary hearings. The Georgia Courts website at georgiacourts.gov is the hub for court information across the state. It has links to local court portals, forms, and contact details for courts in all 159 counties.
The eAccess to Court Records page at georgiacourts.gov/eaccess-court-records explains how to find and view court records online in Georgia. Many counties now offer electronic access to criminal case files through their own portals or through statewide systems.
The Georgia Supreme Court also has a docket search tool at gasupreme.us where you can look up cases that have reached the highest court in the state. Criminal appeals and major rulings show up in this system. This covers the most serious criminal cases in Georgia.
Note: Each county may use a different system for online court records access, so check with the local Superior Court Clerk for the best search option.
Georgia Court Clerk Records
The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority, called the GSCCCA, connects all 159 county clerk offices into one network. Their main office is at 1875 Century Boulevard, Suite 100 in Atlanta, and you can call them at 1-800-304-5174. The GSCCCA website at gsccca.org is the starting point for searching records filed with Superior Court Clerks across Georgia.
The GSCCCA search login at apps.gsccca.org gives you access to UCC, real estate, lien, and notary indexes. While these are mainly civil records, the same clerk offices also process criminal case filings. The GSCCCA notes that all information in their database can be accessed for free at any Georgia Superior Court Clerk office in person.
The eCertification portal at ecert.gsccca.org lets clerk offices create tamper-proof certified copies of court records and real estate recordings. You can buy electronically certified records from home, a phone, or any device with internet access in Georgia.
The GSCCCA also has a search page at gsccca.org/search that lists all their search tools in one place.
The re:SearchGA tool at researchga.tylerhost.net lets you search case information and court documents across 25 Georgia counties at once. This is one of the more useful multi-county search tools for finding criminal records across a region in Georgia. Not all counties are in this system yet, but it covers a good number of them.
Open Records Law in Georgia
The Georgia Open Records Act, found at O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 through § 50-18-78, gives the public the right to inspect and copy government records. This includes criminal records held by courts, law enforcement, and other state agencies. Under this law, agencies must respond to your request within three business days. The first 15 minutes of search time are free. Copy fees are typically $0.10 per page. The full text of the Georgia Open Records Act is at law.justia.com.
Some criminal records are exempt from public disclosure under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72. Records from pending investigations or prosecutions are generally not available, other than initial police arrest reports and incident reports. Records that would reveal confidential sources, endanger someone's safety, or expose ongoing surveillance are also exempt. Medical records tied to criminal cases may be withheld too. But once a case is closed and not under appeal, most criminal records in Georgia become fully accessible to the public through an open records request.
Record Restriction in Georgia
Georgia allows certain criminal records to be restricted from public view under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37. This is sometimes called expungement, though Georgia uses the term "restriction." When a record is restricted, it no longer shows up in criminal background checks run for non-criminal justice purposes. The GBI has details about this process on their record restrictions page at gbi.georgia.gov.
The rules for record restriction depend on when the arrest took place in Georgia. For arrests after July 1, 2013, there is no application process through the GBI. You contact the prosecuting attorney directly to have your record restricted. For arrests before July 1, 2013, you must apply at the arresting agency. The fee is $25 per arrest and it is not refundable. The prosecuting attorney must approve the restriction in both cases.
Georgia also has the First Offender Act under O.C.G.A. § 42-8-60. A defendant sentenced under this act can be exonerated of guilt and discharged when they complete all terms of their probation. This can lead to the criminal record being restricted so it does not show up in standard background checks. This is a key part of how Georgia handles criminal records for first-time offenders who complete their sentence.
Georgia Criminal Records Legal Help
The Georgia Justice Project at gjp.org is an expert group that helps people deal with criminal records in Georgia. They offer legal help with record restriction, pardons, and civil rights restoration. If you need to clear or restrict a criminal record in Georgia, this is one of the best places to start.
Georgia Legal Aid provides free information about criminal records, what they mean, and what your rights are in Georgia. Their criminal records resource page at georgialegalaid.org covers the basics of criminal history records, how to check your own record, and how to pursue record restriction.
For direct questions about your Georgia criminal history record, you can reach the GBI through their contact page at gbi.georgia.gov/contact-us. The GCIC Helpline at (404) 244-2639 has options for criminal history inquiries, applicant background information, attorney requests, and live scan services. The physical office is at 3121 Panthersville Road in Decatur, GA 30034. You can also email gacriminalhistory@gbi.state.ga.us for criminal history updates or GAApplicant@gbi.ga.gov for applicant-related questions in Georgia.
Georgia Criminal Records by County
Each of Georgia's 159 counties has a sheriff office that handles local criminal records. Pick a county below to find contact details, search tools, and resources for criminal records in that area.
Georgia City Criminal Records
Residents in major Georgia cities get criminal records from their county sheriff or local police department. Pick a city below to learn about criminal records access in that area.