Georgia has more counties than any state other than Texas -- 159 of them -- and each county maintains its own law enforcement infrastructure. That matters when you are trying to find someone who was recently arrested, because the right starting point almost always depends on knowing which county the arrest occurred in. Georgia also uses a record-relief system it calls record restriction rather than expungement, and understanding the distinction matters if you are trying to clear your own record. This guide covers how Georgia's arrest record system works, where to search, and what the state's record restriction process actually does.
What Makes Georgia Arrest Records Public
The Georgia Open Records Act establishes the public's right to access government records, including records maintained by law enforcement agencies. Arrest records are documents created by law enforcement and fall within the Open Records Act framework.
The Georgia Crime Information Center, known as GCIC, is operated by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and serves as the central repository for criminal history record information in the state. GCIC has maintained computerized criminal justice data since 1973. Under Official Code of Georgia Annotated Section 35-3-34, individuals can request their own criminal history record from GCIC. Third parties can also request another person's criminal history with the signed consent of the subject and compliance with applicable agency requirements. Employers, landlords, and licensed agencies may access records through authorized channels.
Exemptions include juvenile records, restricted records processed under OCGA 35-3-37, and first offender records that have been sealed. Once a record is restricted in Georgia, it is removed from public view but is not destroyed -- it remains accessible to criminal justice agencies and law enforcement for official purposes.
What a Georgia Arrest Record Contains
An arrest record is a booking document. It reflects the facts of an arrest at the time of booking and carries no presumption of guilt. Georgia maintains a clear distinction between an arrest record -- which is created when someone is taken into custody -- and a criminal record, which is created upon conviction.
A Georgia arrest record as maintained in GCIC includes the person's identification data: name, date of birth, Social Security number, sex, race, height, and weight. It includes arrest data: the arresting agency, the date of arrest, and the charges filed. If the case went to court, final judicial disposition data -- submitted by the court, prosecutor, or other criminal justice agency -- is also part of the GCIC record. If the person served time in a Georgia state prison, that incarceration history appears as well.
Missing disposition data in a GCIC record is a known issue in Georgia, as not all courts submit disposition information promptly or consistently. GCIC cannot update incomplete records without official documentation from the submitting agency.
How to Search Georgia Arrest Records
The GBI and GCIC do not operate a free public online arrest record search in the way Colorado's ICHC or Arkansas's ARCH do. Access to GCIC criminal history records goes through law enforcement agencies, the GBI, and authorized employer channels.
For personal record review -- your own criminal history -- you can request a Purpose Code U report through the GBI. This requires visiting a local law enforcement agency or GBI office with a valid ID. The GBI's main public counter for criminal history is located at 3121 Panthersville Road, Decatur, GA 30034, phone 404-244-2600, open Monday through Friday 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Fees apply; the amount varies by service type.
The most accessible free public tool for case-level research is the Georgia Superior Court clerks' databases and the Georgia courts online access systems, which allow searching by name for criminal case filings and dispositions in the county where the case was filed. The Georgia Courts website at georgiacourts.gov provides links to county-level case search tools.
County sheriff websites are the practical starting point for recent arrests. Georgia's 159 county sheriff offices each maintain booking records, and most publish online inmate rosters updated regularly. For anyone arrested in the past 24 to 72 hours, the county sheriff's website in the county where the arrest occurred is where to look.
For broader multi-source searches that aggregate public record data across Georgia's 159 counties and other jurisdictions, TruthFinder is a practical option that covers arrest, court, and background data without county-by-county searching.
VINELink at vinelink.com provides real-time custody tracking and connects to the Georgia Department of Corrections system and many county facilities. You can register for free notifications when an individual's status changes.
County Jail Records in Georgia
With 159 counties, Georgia's local law enforcement landscape is wide. Each county sheriff manages the local jail and maintains booking records. County jails hold people who have recently been arrested, those awaiting trial, and individuals serving short sentences.
When someone is convicted and sentenced to state prison, they move from county custody into the Georgia Department of Corrections. The GDC maintains an online offender search tool at gdc.ga.gov where you can search by name or GDC ID number. Results show the person's current facility, sentence information, and projected release date. For records and information inquiries, the GDC can be reached by mail at P.O. Box 1529, Forsyth, GA 31029, or by email at open.records@gdc.ga.gov for open records requests.
Federal Arrests in Georgia
Federal arrests in Georgia are made by agencies including the FBI, the DEA, U.S. Marshals, ICE, and the ATF. Georgia has significant federal court activity in its Northern District centered in Atlanta, as well as Middle and Southern Districts.
The BOP Inmate Locator at bop.gov/inmateloc is the official free tool for finding anyone serving a federal sentence. Search by name or BOP register number. Federal court records are available through the PACER system at pacer.gov with a registered account.
Federal arrests and convictions are not part of the GCIC database. GCIC holds only Georgia state arrest and conviction data. A GCIC check will not surface federal charges or federal incarceration.
Arrest Records Versus Conviction Records
Georgia law draws a clear distinction between an arrest record and a criminal record. An arrest record is created when a person is taken into custody. A criminal record -- as Georgia specifically defines it -- is created upon conviction. Being arrested does not create a criminal record in Georgia's framework, though the arrest data is stored in GCIC and will appear on background checks.
Charges can be dropped, cases dismissed, and juries acquit. In all of those situations the arrest entry remains in GCIC unless the person pursues record restriction. The arrest will continue to surface on background checks conducted through GCIC until restricted.
Georgia Record Restriction -- What It Is and What It Is Not
Georgia uses the term record restriction rather than expungement. The distinction is important. Under OCGA Section 35-3-37, record restriction does not delete or destroy the arrest record -- it removes the record from public view and prevents it from appearing on GCIC background checks conducted by employers, landlords, and the public. Law enforcement and criminal justice agencies retain full access to restricted records. A person whose record has been restricted can state that the arrest or charge does not exist for most purposes.
Record restriction applies charge by charge, not to an entire criminal history. Each individual arrest or charge requires a separate application.
For non-conviction outcomes -- dismissed charges, nolle prosequi dispositions, acquittals -- restriction is generally available. The process for arrests after July 1, 2013 goes through the prosecuting attorney. For arrests before that date, the application goes to the arresting agency. A processing fee not exceeding $50 may be required.
Felony convictions are not eligible for restriction under the standard OCGA 35-3-37 process. There are narrow exceptions: convictions that were sentenced under the First Offender Act, convictions for which a pardon was granted, and convictions vacated under the Survivors First Act may be eligible for restriction and sealing through separate petition processes. Retroactive First Offender status under OCGA 42-8-66 is also available for those who were eligible at sentencing but did not receive it.
InmateAid's guides on record restriction and expungement cover Georgia's framework in more detail. Mugshot removal from third-party sites after restriction is a separate process covered in InmateAid's resources on that topic.
Frequently asked questions
Are Georgia arrest records public?
Yes, under the Georgia Open Records Act. Arrest records are public documents. GCIC criminal history records are accessible to the public through authorized channels, including personal requests with valid ID and third-party requests with the subject's signed consent under OCGA 35-3-34. Restricted records and juvenile records are exempt from public access.
How do I search Georgia arrest records?
For personal criminal history, request a Purpose Code U report through the GBI or a local law enforcement agency with valid ID. For county-level case filings and dispositions, search the Georgia Courts system at georgiacourts.gov or the individual county superior court clerk's database. For recent arrests, check the relevant county sheriff's website. For multi-source results, TruthFinder aggregates public record data. For real-time custody status, VINELink at vinelink.com provides free notifications. For GDC state prison inmates, search at gdc.ga.gov.
What does a Georgia arrest record contain?
A Georgia arrest record in GCIC includes identification data (name, date of birth, Social Security number, sex, race, physical description), arrest data (arresting agency, date, charges), and -- if the case proceeded -- final judicial disposition data submitted by the court or prosecutor. If the person was incarcerated in state prison, that history appears as well. Missing dispositions are a known gap in GCIC records for older cases.
Is an arrest the same as a conviction in Georgia?
No, and Georgia law draws a sharper distinction here than most states. Georgia specifically defines a criminal record as being created upon conviction -- not upon arrest. An arrest creates an arrest record that is stored in GCIC and appears on background checks, but it is not a criminal record until there is a conviction. Charges that are dismissed, nolled, or result in acquittal leave no criminal record, though the arrest entry remains in GCIC until restricted.
How do I find someone in a Georgia county jail?
Check the sheriff's office website for the county where the arrest occurred. Georgia's 159 county sheriffs each maintain booking records, and most publish free online inmate rosters. VINELink at vinelink.com also connects to many county facilities statewide and allows free notification registration. For someone transferred to state prison, use the GDC offender search at gdc.ga.gov.
Can I search federal arrest records in Georgia?
Federal court records are available through PACER at pacer.gov. For someone serving a federal sentence, the BOP Inmate Locator at bop.gov/inmateloc is the free official tool. Federal arrests and convictions are not part of GCIC -- a GCIC check will not surface federal charges.
How long does an arrest stay on record in Georgia?
Georgia arrest records remain in GCIC indefinitely unless restricted under OCGA 35-3-37. There is no automatic expiration. Record restriction must be applied for individually, charge by charge, and requires approval from the prosecuting attorney. Non-conviction arrests generally qualify for restriction; most felony convictions do not.
What is Georgia record restriction?
Record restriction under OCGA 35-3-37 is Georgia's term for what most states call expungement. It removes an eligible arrest record or charge from public GCIC background checks, preventing employers, landlords, and the general public from seeing it. The record is not destroyed -- law enforcement and criminal justice agencies retain access. Restriction applies to individual charges, not to an entire criminal history. People with restricted records can generally state the arrest or charge does not exist.
Are felony convictions eligible for restriction in Georgia?
Generally no. Felony convictions are not eligible for record restriction under the standard OCGA 35-3-37 process. Narrow exceptions exist: convictions sentenced under the First Offender Act, convictions for which a Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles pardon was granted, and convictions vacated under the Survivors First Act. Retroactive First Offender status under OCGA 42-8-66 may also create a path for those who were eligible at sentencing but did not receive it.
Why does my record show an arrest but no conviction?
An arrest entry is created in GCIC at the time of booking and reflects the charges filed. If the case was later dismissed, nolled, or resulted in acquittal, the arrest entry still exists in GCIC and will appear on background checks until record restriction is applied for and approved. Additionally, GCIC records may show an arrest without a disposition entry if the court or prosecutor never submitted the outcome -- which is a known gap in the system for older cases. Checking the county superior court clerk's records can clarify what actually happened in court. ---
Discovery Offer - Silos 1-2
Search arrest records and find out where they are
If you're trying to locate someone who was arrested or find out where they are being held, TruthFinder searches arrest records, court records, and custody status across all 50 states.