Find Criminal Records in Fulton County

Fulton County criminal court records are kept by the Clerk of Superior Court at the downtown Atlanta courthouse and two branch service centers. This is the most populous county in Georgia, and the court system handles a large volume of felony and misdemeanor cases each year. You can search Fulton County criminal records online through the clerk's eServices portal or visit in person at the Criminal Division on Pryor Street. The Fulton County Clerk also runs a North Service Center on Roswell Road and a South Service Center on Stonewall Tell Road for residents who live far from downtown. Criminal case data, court dates, and docket info are all available through these offices.

Fulton County Criminal Court Clerk Office

The Clerk of Superior Court manages all criminal court records in Fulton County. The Criminal Division sits at 136 Pryor Street in downtown Atlanta. This is where felony cases are processed and stored. Staff at this office can pull case files, look up court dates, and provide copies of criminal records. The main phone line for the Fulton County Criminal Division is (404) 613-5313. You can also call (404) 612-5248 or (404) 612-5250 to check on a criminal court date. Walk-ins are welcome at the downtown location during business hours, which run from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM on weekdays.

The Fulton County Clerk of Superior Court website is the main hub for criminal court records and case info in the county.

From the clerk site, you can find forms, staff contacts, and links to the eServices portal for Fulton County criminal records.

Note: The North and South Service Centers are by appointment only, while the downtown Fulton County location accepts walk-ins.

How to Search Fulton County Criminal Records

There are a few ways to search for criminal court records in Fulton County. Online access is the fastest. The clerk office runs an eServices portal where you can look up case data from home. You can also go to the courthouse in person. Staff at the Criminal Division can search by name or case number and make copies for you. Bring a valid ID when you visit. For docket requests, call (404) 612-8418 or (404) 612-6872 to get criminal and civil docket info from the Fulton County Clerk.

The Fulton County eServices portal gives you direct access to search criminal court records and other case types online.

Through eServices, you can check case status, view filed documents, and look up criminal court dates in Fulton County. The Criminal Division calendar is also available through the clerk website. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, criminal court records in Georgia are public. Anyone can ask to see them. You do not need to give a reason for your request. The agency must respond within three business days. Copy fees are $0.10 per page for standard copies, and the first 15 minutes of search time are free under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71.

To search criminal records in Fulton County, you will need:

• Full name of the person you are searching for
• Date of birth or approximate age if known
• Case number if you have one
• Type of case (felony or misdemeanor)

Fulton County Criminal Matters and Case Types

Fulton County handles a wide range of criminal cases. The Superior Court takes felony cases. These include violent crimes, drug charges, theft over a certain dollar amount, and white collar offenses. The State Court handles misdemeanor cases. It sits at 185 Shirley C Franklin Blvd in Atlanta. You can reach the State Court Criminal Division at (404) 613-5085. Magistrate Court deals with preliminary hearings and bond matters. That court is at 185 Central Ave in Atlanta, also reachable at (404) 613-5085. Each of these courts creates criminal court records that are kept by the Fulton County Clerk.

The Fulton County Criminal Matters page on the clerk site has details on how criminal cases move through the court system in Fulton County.

This page covers how to file motions, check your criminal court date, and get copies of case documents from the Fulton County Clerk. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, some criminal records in Georgia can be restricted from public view. This process used to be called expungement. It applies to arrests that did not lead to a conviction, certain misdemeanor convictions after a four-year wait, and cases placed on a dead docket for more than 12 months. Fulton County residents can start this process through the District Attorney's office for arrests that took place on or after July 1, 2013.

Note: Agencies in Georgia may charge up to $50 to process a criminal record restriction request.

Fulton County Criminal Case Resources

Several offices work with criminal court records in Fulton County beyond the clerk. The District Attorney handles all felony prosecutions. That office is at 160 Pryor St in Atlanta. Call (404) 612-4800 for the Fulton County DA. The Solicitor General also uses this number and handles misdemeanor cases in State Court. These offices decide which cases go to trial and which get plea deals. Their work creates the criminal records that end up in the Fulton County Clerk files.

The Fulton County Sheriff's Department is at 185 Central Ave in Atlanta. You can reach them at (404) 612-5101. The sheriff handles warrants, court security, and inmate transport in Fulton County. For background checks through the sheriff, call (404) 612-5126. This is a way to get your own criminal history or check on someone else, though some limits apply. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34, the Georgia Crime Information Center can share criminal history data with attorneys who submit a written request with case details and subject info. Defense lawyers in Fulton County use this path often when they prep for trial.

The Fulton County government page for the Clerk of Superior Court has links to departments and services tied to criminal court records.

This page connects you to the full range of clerk services in Fulton County, from criminal case searches to filing and document requests.

Contacting the Fulton County Clerk Staff

The Fulton County Clerk's office has a staff directory you can use to reach the right person for your criminal records request. Different divisions handle different case types. If you need help with a criminal court file, call the Criminal Division at (404) 613-5313. For civil and criminal records requests, the same number works. The clerk staff can look up your case and tell you what is in the file. They can also give you copies or point you to the right online tool.

The Fulton County Clerk staff directory lists contact info for each division and office location.

Use the directory to find the exact person or division you need for criminal records in Fulton County. eFiling is also an option through the Odyssey eFileGA system. Attorneys and parties to a case can file motions and documents online rather than going to the courthouse. This system creates a digital trail that becomes part of the criminal court record in Fulton County. Under O.C.G.A. § 15-6-11, Superior Court Clerks in Georgia may offer public access to view cases and eFiled documents through their websites.

Fulton County Criminal Records Online Tools

The Fulton County government website is another starting point for people who need criminal court records or other public data in the county.

The county site has links to courts, the sheriff, the DA, and other offices that deal with criminal cases. You can find department hours, phone numbers, and service details all in one place. Fulton County also posts meeting agendas, budgets, and policy updates on this site.

The statewide E-Access to Court Records portal is another way to search criminal court records in Fulton County. This system connects you to case data from counties across Georgia. You need an account to search. The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority also indexes filings from all 159 counties. While GSCCCA focuses on real estate and lien records, it can point you to the right clerk for criminal case files in Fulton County. A regular GSCCCA account costs $14.95 per month, and premium access runs $29.95 per month.

For your own criminal history, visit a local sheriff's office or police department. Ask for a "Purpose Code U" report. This is the standard way to get your Georgia criminal history for personal use. The GBI Criminal History Records Helpline at (404) 244-2639 option 3 can answer questions about your record statewide, including cases that started in Fulton County.

Note: The GBI Open Records Unit no longer accepts record requests by email as of December 2023, so use their online portal or mail your request.

Cities in Fulton County

Fulton County stretches from the north side of metro Atlanta down to the south. All criminal cases filed in these cities go through the Fulton County Superior Court or State Court system. The courthouse in downtown Atlanta is the main location for felony cases, while the service centers on Roswell Road and Stonewall Tell Road handle some services closer to where residents live.

Other cities and towns in Fulton County include College Park, Hapeville, Fairburn, Palmetto, and Chattahoochee Hills. Criminal cases from these areas are handled by the Fulton County court system as well.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Fulton County. If you are not sure which county handles a criminal case, check the address where the arrest took place. Criminal cases must be filed in the county where the alleged crime occurred.