Access Stonecrest Criminal Court Records

Criminal court records in Stonecrest are handled a bit differently than in most Georgia cities. Stonecrest was incorporated in 2017, making it one of the newest cities in the state. Because of that, the city's municipal court system is still developing, and many court functions run through DeKalb County. Felony criminal cases from Stonecrest go to the DeKalb County Superior Court in the Stone Mountain Judicial Circuit. For city-level offenses, Stonecrest has worked with DeKalb County on contracted court services. All court records are open to the public under Georgia law, and you can access them in person, by mail, or through online search tools.

Stonecrest Municipal Court Records

Stonecrest incorporated in 2017 and has been building its city services since then. The municipal court handles traffic tickets, code violations, and local misdemeanors. Since the city is still relatively new, some court services have been contracted through DeKalb County. This means that certain city-level cases may appear in the DeKalb County court system rather than a standalone Stonecrest database.

The City of Stonecrest main office is at 3120 Stonecrest Boulevard, Stonecrest, GA 30038. Call (770) 224-0200 for general city info and to ask about municipal court cases. Staff can direct you to the right office for your records request. The city website has details on court dates and case info.

Note: Because Stonecrest is a newer city, some older records from the area may be filed under unincorporated DeKalb County rather than under the Stonecrest name.

DeKalb County Criminal Records

Felony cases from Stonecrest go through the DeKalb County Superior Court. This includes drug offenses, violent crimes, burglary, and other serious charges. The Stone Mountain Judicial Circuit covers all of DeKalb County. The DeKalb County Clerk of Superior Court keeps these records at the courthouse in Decatur, the county seat.

DeKalb County runs an online case search tool through the clerk's office. You can look up criminal cases by defendant name, case number, or attorney. The results show charges, hearing dates, case status, and filing history. The search is free. Copies of documents cost the standard state rate.

The E-Access to Court Records portal also covers DeKalb County. You can search for Stonecrest-area criminal cases through this free statewide tool. Make a free account to start. The system shows case data from courts all across Georgia, so you can search multiple counties at once if needed.

Before Stonecrest existed as a city, all criminal cases in this area went through DeKalb County courts. That means records from before 2017 are filed under DeKalb County and unincorporated DeKalb, not under Stonecrest. Keep that in mind when searching for older cases. The county clerk can help you track down records from that time period.

Stonecrest Police Records

The Stonecrest Police Department handles law enforcement in the city. Arrest records, incident reports, and other police files are available through open records requests. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, the Georgia Open Records Act, all public agencies must release records unless a specific exemption applies. The police department must respond within three business days.

Before Stonecrest had its own police force, DeKalb County Police served the area. Older law enforcement records from the Stonecrest area may still sit with DeKalb County. If you need records from before the city incorporated, contact DeKalb County Police instead. The date of the incident will tell you which department has the file.

Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71, copy fees are $0.10 per page. The first 15 minutes of search time are free. After that, the agency can charge a reasonable hourly fee for staff time spent finding records. Put your request in writing to avoid confusion about what you need.

How to Search Stonecrest Criminal Records

Here are the main ways to find criminal court records connected to Stonecrest.

The GSCCCA indexes court filings from all 159 Georgia counties. DeKalb County records, including those from the Stonecrest area, are in this system. A regular account costs $14.95 per month. The GSCCCA also runs FANS, a free filing alert system. Set it to track a name, and you get notified when new court documents are filed in any county.

For in-person searches, visit the DeKalb County Courthouse in Decatur for felony records. For city-level cases, contact Stonecrest City Hall and ask to be directed to the municipal court office. Bring the defendant's full name and date of birth. A case number helps the clerk find records faster.

To get your own criminal history, ask the Stonecrest Police Department or the DeKalb County Sheriff for a Purpose Code U report. This pulls statewide data from the Georgia Crime Information Center. You need fingerprints and a valid photo ID. The GBI handles the central database that feeds these reports.

Restricting Criminal Records

Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, Georgia lets people restrict certain criminal records from public view. You can petition to restrict arrests that did not lead to a conviction. Some misdemeanor convictions qualify after four years. Dead docket cases become eligible after 12 months. The lifetime cap is two misdemeanor restrictions.

For Stonecrest arrests on or after July 1, 2013, start the process with the DeKalb County District Attorney. For older arrests, contact the arresting agency (likely DeKalb County Police for pre-2017 incidents). Processing fees go up to $50. Once the court grants the petition, those records are sealed from public access under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70.

State Resources for Stonecrest

The GBI runs the state criminal history database. Call (404) 244-2639 for help with criminal history questions. The GBI Open Records portal takes requests online only.

Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34, defense attorneys can request criminal history data from the GCIC by sending a written request with the case number and defendant info. This is commonly used by lawyers in the Stone Mountain Judicial Circuit. Fees may be waived for defendants who cannot afford them.

Local legal help for Stonecrest residents is available through the Atlanta Legal Aid Society, which covers DeKalb County. They can assist with record restriction petitions and court procedures for qualifying residents. The DeKalb County law library is another resource for people doing their own legal research.

Nearby Cities

These cities near Stonecrest also have criminal court records resources. Each city has its own municipal court for local offenses, while felony cases go to the county where the crime took place.