Georgia Arrest Records and Warrant Search
What is an Arrest Record in Georgia?
Georgia’s arrest records are decentralized, with each local law enforcement agency holding the keys to an individual’s past within their jurisdiction. This fragmented system means that if a person has run afoul of the law in multiple counties, their arrest history is scattered across those regions. Each county meticulously records and maintains its own documentation, ensuring that a person’s legal history is tracked, but not unified, across the state. In Georgia, the responsibility of piecing together a full arrest record falls squarely on the shoulders of those who seek it.
There is no master record of all Georgia arrests for people frequently involved in criminal behavior. A person’s criminal history record is composed of disparate records that may be located in various jurisdictions.
Compiling all of this information in one place can be challenging because local agencies keep their records.
What is an Arrest Warrant?
A Georgia arrest warrant a document that authorizes police officers to arrest the person named in the warrant. A police man or woman does not need a warrant to arrest you if they personally witness you do something wrong. However, for incidents that officers do not witness, they must get a warrant from a judge. A judge will issue a warrant if there seems to be probable cause that an individual committed an offense. There must be evidence or witness information sworn under oath. When someone swears under oath that they saw a person commit a crime at a specific time and place, that is called an affidavit. The judge needs an affidavit to be able to create a warrant. Sometimes a police officer will have to submit an affidavit if there is only police-gathered evidence of the crime.
A warrant is called an active warrant in Georgia if it has not yet been delivered to the person who is getting arrested. A Georgia warrant will remain active until the person dies or is arrested. The warrant will become outstanding after a certain amount of time has passed and the person has not been taken into custody. Georgia outstanding warrants are commonly the result of individuals evading arrest and police officers not having adequate time and resources to capture all of the alleged criminals that are wanted. Oftentimes, a combination of these factors will result in GA warrants going undelivered. Georgia law enforcement officers are often forced to prioritize which warrants they will pursue due to the amount of warrants in their database. Felonies take priority over minor traffic offenses. There are also cases where people are unaware that there are warrants out for their arrest, so they are not necessarily evading arrest on purpose. Nevertheless, those GA warrants will remain active until they are served.
How to Search For an Inmate in the Georgia Prison System
To use the Georgia Department of Corrections Offender Search, you must first agree to a disclaimer at this webpage: dcor.state.ga.us/GDC/OffenderQuery/jsp/OffQryForm.jsp. The Georgia Department of Corrections makes available databases for both offenders who are currently serving time and parolees. You may search using a Georgia Department of Corrections number or a case number. If you don’t have this information, you can use the advanced search by selecting the button that says “I do not have a GDC ID or Case Number, use the Advanced Search.” From there, you may use a variety of search parameters. You may choose to see search results with or without photos of the offenders. Photos are not available for all Georgia offenders. You may even search by sentence status, most recent institution, primary offense, and conviction county.
The Georgia Department of Corrections cannot guarantee that all of the information on their website is up to date and accurate. Therefore, if you plan on visiting a GA inmate, you should contact the location where they are currently being held and make sure they are there. If you are a victim of a crime, you can also sign up to get updates on the incarceration status of particular offenders.
The Georgia Department of Corrections database only provides information about individuals being held in state institutions. It will not provide information about people in county jails. To find out about county jail inmates, you must contact the sheriff’s department in that particular county. When looking for a person in a GA county jail, it is helpful to know where the crime was committed because that is where they will be in jail. Individuals are not necessarily in jail in the counties where they reside. Each Georgia county keeps track of its inmates independently from the other counties, so your only option is to give the sheriff a call. You should ask for the records department, which is where they keep track of warrants, police reports, and other police business.
Who Can Search For Arrest Records and Warrants in Georgia?
Anyone can use the Georgia Department of Corrections database to find some information about arrest records. If a person has an active criminal record within the past five years, their information will still be on the database, along with a record of their past criminal activity.
There is no statewide database of active warrants, although some counties, such as Muscogee County, do much such information available online. GA counties are not required to make warrant information public, but some counties choose to do so when they feel it may expedite the law enforcement process.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation makes felony information available to the public without the consent of felons. You can access the felon database here: gta.georgia.gov/00/channel_modifieddate/0,2096,1070969_116860501,00.html. For more information about criminal records checks in Georgia, you can visit this website: gbi.georgia.gov/00/channel_modifieddate/0,2096,67862954_67866875,00.html.
How to Request Records under the Georgia Open Records Act
For a comprehensive source of information about the Georgia Open Records Act, you can visit the Georgia Secretary of State’s website: sos.ga.gov/archives/who_are_we/rims/best_practices_resources/open_records_act.htm. The Georgia Open Records Act provides access to “all documents, papers, letters, maps, books, tapes, photographs, computer based or generated information, or similar material prepared and maintained or received in the course of the operation of a public office or agency.” To access these materials, you must simply make a request verbally or in writing at the agency in charge of the records you seek. The Georgia Secretary of State provides an exhaustive list of records that are exempt from public viewing.
How Long Does An Arrest Record or Warrant Stay On File In Georgia?
Arrest records remain on file indefinitely in the state of Georgia. They are even made available online for the three years following the completion of a Georgia state prison sentence. Warrant remain on file until the person named is the warrant has been arrested or is deceased.
Here’s a list of emergency hotlines related to arrests and police in Georgia:
Emergency Services
-
911 is the primary emergency number for police, fire, and medical emergencies throughout Georgia.
-
112: An alternative emergency number that can be used from mobile phones. It connects to the same emergency services as 911.
Police-Specific Numbers
-
126: General Inspection hotline for the Ministry of Internal Affairs
-
125: Security Police Number of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia
-
123: State Security Service of Georgia
Other Relevant Hotlines
- 144: Government Unified Hotline
- 199: State Inspector Service Number
- 111: LEPL Agency For State Care And Assistance For the (Statutory) Victims of Human Trafficking
Additional Information
- Many local police departments have their own non-emergency numbers. It’s advisable to look up and save the non-emergency number for your local police department.
- The 112 emergency numbers in Georgia unify patrol police, fire/rescue, and medical services.
- For situations that don’t require immediate police response, consider using non-emergency numbers to keep 911 lines open for critical emergencies.
Search Georgia arrest records by county:
Arrest Records Search for the Biggest Cities in Georgia: