Atlanta Arrest Records

Atlanta arrest records come from the city police department and the Fulton County Sheriff's Office. As the state capital and the largest city in Georgia, Atlanta generates a high volume of arrest data each year. The Atlanta Police Department handles arrests within city limits, while Fulton County manages jail bookings and inmate custody. Some parts of Atlanta extend into DeKalb County, which has its own sheriff. Searching for Atlanta arrest records means checking multiple agencies depending on where the arrest took place. This page covers how to find those records and what to expect from each source.

Atlanta Police Department Arrest Records

The Atlanta Police Department is the main law enforcement agency inside city limits. APD is based at 226 Peachtree St SW, Atlanta, GA 30303. The non-emergency line is 404-614-6544. When officers make an arrest in Atlanta, the booking goes through the Fulton County jail system. The Atlanta Police Department website has contact details and some public safety data, though the arrest records themselves sit with the county.

Atlanta arrest records contain the standard data fields that Georgia law requires. That means the person's name, date of birth, race, sex, height, weight, and other identifying details. The arrest portion shows what charges were filed, who made the arrest, and the date it happened. Court dispositions get added later when a judge rules on the case. If the person went to a state correctional facility, custodial information appears on the record too. APD feeds arrest data into the statewide system run by the Georgia Crime Information Center.

Note: Atlanta spans two counties, so an arrest on the east side of the city may be filed through DeKalb County rather than Fulton.

Fulton County Jail and Atlanta Bookings

Most Atlanta arrests go through the Fulton County Sheriff's Office for booking and custody. The sheriff runs the Fulton County jail, processes intake for new arrests, and maintains booking logs. If someone is arrested by APD within the Fulton County portion of Atlanta, that person goes to the Fulton County jail. You can search for current inmates and recent bookings through the Fulton County inmate search tool. This is a free online database that shows who is currently held at the jail.

For the DeKalb County side of Atlanta, bookings go through the DeKalb County jail instead. The DeKalb County Sheriff handles those arrests. This split is important to keep in mind. If you are looking for an Atlanta arrest record and you don't know which county handled it, you may need to check both. The Fulton County page has more details on how to reach their sheriff's office and file records requests.

How to Get Atlanta Arrest Records

There are several paths to get arrest records from Atlanta. The fastest route depends on how recent the arrest is and what kind of record you need. For current jail bookings, start with the Fulton County inmate search online. For older records, you will likely need to go through the sheriff's office or the state system.

You can file an open records request with the Atlanta Police Department for incident reports and arrest reports. Under Georgia's Open Records Act, initial arrest reports are not exempt from public access. The agency has three business days to respond. Put your request in writing and include the full name of the person, the approximate date of the arrest, and any case numbers you have. The department can charge a reasonable copy fee for the documents. Walk-in requests at APD headquarters on Peachtree Street are also accepted during regular business hours.

For a statewide check, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation runs the central criminal history system. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, you can request to see your own Georgia criminal history for a fee of up to $15. That record would include any arrests made in Atlanta. Contact the GBI at (404) 244-2639 to set up an appointment for a record inspection at their Decatur office. Walk-ins are not accepted there.

State Records for Atlanta Arrests

Several state databases pull in arrest data from Atlanta and the rest of Georgia. The Georgia Crime Information Center connects all 159 counties through the Criminal Justice Information System. This network links police departments, sheriff offices, courts, and jails. Atlanta arrest records flow into this system as soon as a booking happens.

The GBI criminal history FAQ page covers the steps for requesting records from the state level.

The GBI site links to criminal history services, sex offender data, and crime statistics for all of Georgia including Atlanta. For felony conviction checks, the Georgia Felon Search costs $15 per query. It only shows felony convictions. Misdemeanor arrests from Atlanta will not appear. You need the person's name, date of birth, and sex. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-38, requesting criminal history data under false pretenses can lead to a $5,000 fine and up to two years in prison.

The GDC Find Offender tool lets you search for people currently in Georgia state prisons. If an Atlanta arrest led to a prison sentence, that person may show up in the GDC database.

The GDC search shows facility location, photos, and basic case info for Georgia inmates originally arrested in Atlanta or anywhere else in the state.

Atlanta Arrest Record Restriction

Georgia law allows certain arrest records to be restricted from public view. This applies to cases where charges were dismissed, not presented to a grand jury, or placed on a dead docket. Once restricted, an Atlanta arrest record is only visible to law enforcement and courts. The general public will not see it in search results.

For arrests before July 1, 2013, you apply directly to the arresting agency. In Atlanta, that would be APD or the county sheriff. The fee is up to $50. Arrests after that date go through the prosecutor's office. A conviction or guilty plea is never eligible for restriction. Contact the Fulton County Sheriff's Office or the Atlanta Police Department to start the process.

Atlanta County Resources

Atlanta sits in two counties. Most of the city falls within Fulton County. The eastern portion extends into DeKalb County. Both counties maintain their own arrest records and jail systems.

Nearby Cities

These cities are close to Atlanta. Each has its own police department, but arrest records are stored at the county level.