Access Union City Criminal Court Records

Criminal court records in Union City are handled by the city's municipal court and by the Fulton County Superior Court. The Union City Municipal Court takes care of traffic cases, city code violations, and misdemeanor offenses that happen within city limits. Felony charges get filed in Fulton County Superior Court, which is part of the Atlanta Judicial Circuit. Union City sits in the south part of Fulton County, about 15 miles southwest of downtown Atlanta. The municipal court runs from the city government complex on Union Street. Public access to court records is a right under the Georgia Open Records Act, codified at O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70.

Union City Municipal Court

The Union City Municipal Court handles local criminal cases. This includes traffic violations, DUI charges, disorderly conduct, shoplifting, and other misdemeanor offenses under city ordinances and state law. The court also processes city code violations like noise and property issues.

The court office is at 5060 Union Street, Union City, GA 30291. Call (770) 515-0356 for case info. Staff take walk-in requests during business hours. You can ask the clerk to look up a case by name or citation number. Bring a photo ID. If you need copies of court documents, the state rate of $0.10 per page applies under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71.

Union City has grown a lot in recent years. The population increase has meant a bigger caseload for the municipal court. Traffic cases and misdemeanor charges make up most of the docket. The court holds regular sessions to keep up with the volume.

Note: Union City Municipal Court does not handle felony cases or cases from outside the city limits.

Fulton County Criminal Records

Felony criminal cases from Union City are filed with the Fulton County Superior Court. The Atlanta Judicial Circuit covers all of Fulton County, from Atlanta in the north down to Palmetto in the south. Drug charges, violent crimes, burglary, and other serious offenses all go through superior court. The Fulton County Clerk of Superior Court maintains the criminal case files.

Fulton County is the most populous county in Georgia. The court system handles a huge number of criminal filings each year. The main courthouse sits in downtown Atlanta on Pryor Street. You can search criminal records in person at the clerk's office. Staff can pull up files by defendant name, case number, or date. The Fulton County Clerk also runs an eServices portal for online case searches.

The Fulton County Magistrate Court processes warrant applications and bond hearings. If someone was arrested in Union City, the magistrate court likely handled the first appearance and bond. From there, the case moves to superior court for indictment and trial. Both courts keep records that the public can request.

Because Union City is in south Fulton County, some residents may also deal with the City of South Fulton municipal court for cases near the border. Check the location of the alleged offense to make sure you are looking at the right court.

How to Look Up Union City Records

There are multiple ways to search for criminal court records tied to Union City. Here is a rundown of the main options.

The GSCCCA indexes court filings from every county in Georgia. You can search Fulton County records through the site. A standard subscription is $14.95 per month. The premium tier costs $29.95 and adds extra search tools. The database covers years of filings.

The free FANS system sends alerts when new filings appear under a name you choose. It works across all 159 Georgia counties. Set up an account, add names, and the system does the rest. You get email notices when something new hits the record.

For statewide searches, use the E-Access to Court Records portal. This tool pulls case data from courts around the state. You need a free account. The search results show case details, party names, and court dates for Fulton County and beyond.

To get your own criminal history report, visit any law enforcement office in Fulton County and ask for fingerprinting. The prints are sent to the GBI, which pulls a Purpose Code U report from the Georgia Crime Information Center. This shows your full arrest and court history in the state. Call the GBI at (404) 244-2639 with questions.

• Visit Union City Municipal Court for local cases
• Go to the Fulton County Courthouse for felony files
• Search GSCCCA for indexed Fulton County filings
• Use FANS for free alerts on new court filings
• Check E-Access for records across the state
• Request a GBI background check for your own history

Georgia Record Restriction Rules

Georgia allows people to restrict some criminal records from public view. The process is laid out in O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37. You can apply if your arrest did not lead to a conviction. Misdemeanor convictions may qualify after four years. Dead docket cases that have been inactive for more than 12 months can also be restricted.

The lifetime cap is two misdemeanor restrictions. Agencies charge up to $50 per request. For Union City arrests, start with the Fulton County District Attorney. The Union City Police Department may need to sign off too. The process can take several weeks. Once the court grants the petition, the record drops out of public view.

Restricted records still exist in law enforcement systems. Some state agencies can still see them. But they will not show up in public record searches at the courthouse or through online tools. It is not the same as having the record deleted. Think of it more like a seal placed over the file.

Note: Victims of trafficking may qualify for free record restriction under the Survivors First Act with no filing fee.

State Resources for Union City

The GBI maintains the state criminal history database. The Criminal History Records Helpline is (404) 244-2639 option 3. The GBI Open Records Unit only takes requests through their online portal. No phone or email requests are accepted.

Union City is part of the Atlanta Judicial Circuit. Appeals from this circuit go to the Georgia Court of Appeals and then the Georgia Supreme Court if needed. If a criminal case from Union City was appealed, the appellate court docket search can help you find the records. Check the state judiciary website for those tools.

Legal aid options are available for Union City residents. Atlanta Legal Aid covers Fulton County and offers help with criminal record restriction petitions and other legal matters. The Fulton County Public Defender handles cases for qualifying defendants. Both are free for people who meet the income guidelines.

Nearby Cities

These cities near Union City have their own municipal courts and criminal records resources. Felony cases from each area go through the county court system where the crime occurred.