Access Tucker Criminal Court Records

Criminal court records in Tucker are managed by the city's Municipal Court and the DeKalb County Superior Court. The Tucker Municipal Court handles traffic tickets, city code violations, and misdemeanor cases that take place within city limits. Felony charges and more serious criminal matters go through DeKalb County. Tucker sits in the northern part of DeKalb County and falls under the Stone Mountain Judicial Circuit. The Municipal Court operates from 1975 Lakeside Parkway. Tucker became a city in 2016, so the municipal court system is newer than what you find in most Georgia cities. Both courts make records available to the public under state open records law.

Tucker Municipal Court Records

The Tucker Municipal Court handles cases for offenses that happen in the city. This includes traffic tickets, local code violations, and misdemeanor crimes. The court does not hear felony cases. Those go up to DeKalb County. If you were cited or arrested for a low-level offense in Tucker, this court has your case file.

Tucker incorporated as a city in 2016. Before that, all cases went through DeKalb County courts. The municipal court took over jurisdiction for city-level offenses after incorporation. If you need records for something that happened before 2016, you will need to check with DeKalb County instead. That is an important detail people often miss.

You can visit the court in person to request records during business hours. The clerk can search by name or case number. Bring a valid photo ID. Under Georgia law, copies cost $0.10 per page and the first 15 minutes of search time are free. Staff can usually pull a file while you wait.

Note: For cases before Tucker's 2016 incorporation, check with the DeKalb County Clerk of Court for older records.

DeKalb County Criminal Court

Felony criminal cases from Tucker are filed in the DeKalb County Superior Court. Drug charges, violent crimes, burglary, and other serious offenses all go through this court. The Stone Mountain Judicial Circuit covers all of DeKalb County. The Clerk of Superior Court keeps these records at the DeKalb County Courthouse in Decatur.

DeKalb County also runs a State Court for misdemeanor cases and DUIs. This court works alongside the Tucker Municipal Court but handles state-level misdemeanor charges rather than city ordinance violations. If a case was filed under state law instead of a city ordinance, it may be in the State Court system rather than the Municipal Court. Call the DeKalb County Clerk at (404) 371-2836 if you need help finding a specific case.

The GSCCCA indexes court filings from all 159 Georgia counties. You can search DeKalb County records through this tool. A standard account costs $14.95 per month. Premium runs $29.95 per month. The GSCCCA also runs the free FANS alert system. You can set up alerts to get notified when new filings show up by name in any county.

The statewide E-Access to Court Records portal covers Tucker cases through the DeKalb County court system. You need a free account to search. The tool shows case status, charges, hearing dates, and judge assignments for cases across the state.

How to Search Tucker Records

There are multiple ways to find criminal court records in Tucker. The best choice depends on what you need and how far back you need to search.

Online tools are the fastest way to start. The GSCCCA and E-Access portals both pull from DeKalb County court data. The GSCCCA is paid but covers property records and liens too. E-Access is free with a sign-up. Both let you search by name, case number, or date range. Keep in mind that Tucker Municipal Court records may not show up in these county-level systems since the city is newer.

To search in person, go to the Tucker Municipal Court at 1975 Lakeside Parkway or the DeKalb County Courthouse in Decatur. Bring the full name and date of birth for the person you need records on. A case number makes things go much faster. Clerk staff at both spots can pull records while you wait.

For your own criminal history, you can get a Purpose Code U report through the Tucker Police Department or the DeKalb County Sheriff. This pulls data from the Georgia Crime Information Center and shows arrest records, charges, and court outcomes from across the state. You need to provide your name, date of birth, and fingerprints.

Note: Copy fees under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71 are $0.10 per page, and the first 15 minutes of search time are free at any Georgia public office.

Tucker Criminal Record Restrictions

Georgia lets certain criminal records be restricted from public view. This process used to be called expungement but is now known as record restriction. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, you may qualify if:

• The arrest did not lead to a conviction
• Charges were dismissed or not prosecuted
• A misdemeanor conviction is over four years old
• The case was on a dead docket for 12 months or more

The lifetime cap is two misdemeanor restrictions. Felony restrictions have tighter rules. For arrests in Tucker on or after July 1, 2013, contact the Stone Mountain Judicial Circuit District Attorney to begin. For older arrests, the DeKalb County Police Department handles the request since Tucker was not yet a city. Agencies can charge up to $50 to process it.

Trafficking victims may qualify for free record restriction under the Survivors First Act. There is no fee for this type. Call the GBI at (404) 244-2639 for details or talk to a local attorney about your options.

Georgia Open Records Act

Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, all public agencies in Georgia must release records unless an exemption applies. The Tucker Municipal Court and the DeKalb County Clerk must respond to your request within three business days. If the request is large, they can ask for more time, but they must put that in writing.

You do not need to explain why you want the records. Anyone can ask for them. You do not have to be a Georgia resident. Just put your request in writing and send it to the correct office. Most agencies accept email requests. Some also have online portals you can use.

The GBI runs the state criminal history database and accepts open records requests through their online portal only. They no longer take email requests. If you need records from beyond what DeKalb County has, the GBI is the place to go for statewide data.

Nearby Cities

These cities near Tucker also have criminal court records resources. Each city has its own municipal court, but felony cases go through the county where the offense happened.