Find Georgia Felony Records Online
Georgia felony records are kept by county courts, the Department of Corrections, and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. There are 159 counties in Georgia. Each one stores criminal case files at the Clerk of Superior Court. GDC tracks all state prison inmates across 35 facilities. At the state level, the Georgia Crime Information Center serves as the central hub for criminal history data. You can search Georgia felony records online through several free and paid databases. In-person requests work too. Visit a local sheriff or police department to look up offender data, case filings, and felony conviction history across the state.
Georgia Felony Records Quick Facts
Georgia Felony Records Through GDC
The Georgia Department of Corrections runs a free offender search tool. It covers all state prison inmates. GDC manages about 51,000 people across 35 correctional facilities in Georgia. You can search by name, GDC ID, or case number. The system lets you filter by active or inactive offenders. Results show names, years of birth, known aliases, and physical details like height, weight, and tattoos. Charges, sentence length, and possible release dates are all part of the Georgia felony record. Booking photos show up when on file. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34, criminal history record data can be shared with the public in Georgia, though some limits apply to how that data gets used.
The GDC Offender Query portal gives direct access to this Georgia felony records search tool.
You can search by description too. The GDC tool lets you look for offenders using aliases, middle names, scars, and eye or hair color. This helps when you have limited details on a Georgia felony case. GDC notes that the data may not be complete. They suggest you verify any info through written mail to Inmate Records at P.O. Box 1529, Forsyth, GA 31029. You can also call (404) 656-4661 with questions about Georgia felony records held by GDC.
The GDC contact page lists all phone numbers and mailing addresses for the department.
Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
GBI Criminal History in Georgia
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation handles criminal history records through the Georgia Crime Information Center. GCIC is the central repository for all criminal history in the state. It holds arrest data, judicial disposition data, and custodial info for Georgia felony records. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-33, the center must collect and maintain complete criminal history records. This includes identification data like name, date of birth, and social security number. It also covers arrest details, court outcomes, and prison info if the person went to a Georgia correctional facility.
The GBI homepage is the starting point for criminal history requests in Georgia.
Most people get Georgia felony records from their local sheriff or police department. Fees vary by agency but cannot exceed $20 per person under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34. You can also go through the GCIC directly. The GCIC information page explains the full list of services.
The GCIC lobby is open by appointment only. Call 404-244-2639, option 1 to schedule. For criminal history questions, use option 3 on that same number or email gacriminalhistory@gbi.state.ga.us. Allow 5 to 10 business days for the GBI to process requests for Georgia felony records.
The GBI criminal history FAQ page answers common questions about getting Georgia felony records.
Without written consent, only felony conviction data gets released to the public. That is the rule under Georgia law. With consent, the full criminal history is available. Attorneys can request records for active cases by mailing the GCIC with the case style, case number, and identifying info for the person.
Georgia Felon Search Online
Georgia Felon Search is an online tool run by the Georgia Technology Authority. It lets you verify whether someone has been convicted of a felony in Georgia. The search costs $15. Results are instant. You need a valid credit card to use it. To run the search, you must provide the person's first and last name, date of birth, and sex. The system returns a list of possible matches. O.C.G.A. § 35-3-35 allows this felony conviction data to be released without fingerprint comparison or consent from the person whose record you are checking in Georgia.
The Georgia Felon Search information page explains how the tool works and what you can expect.
This Georgia felony records tool has limits. It does not return sealed or expunged records. Juvenile felony history does not show up. Misdemeanor records are not part of the results. Each search costs $15 even if no record is found. If multiple possible matches come back, you pay $15 for each record you choose to view. The tool is self-service, so it is your job to decide if the result matches the person you are looking for in the Georgia felony records system.
You can start a search at the Georgia Felon Search portal.
An exact match can only be confirmed through fingerprint comparison. Name-based results may include people with similar names. Review all identifying info carefully before making any conclusions about a Georgia felony record.
The Georgia Felon Search FAQ page covers pricing, interpreting results, and how to contact GCIC for help at 404-244-2639, option 5.
Hours for that help line are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday.
How to Search Georgia Felony Records
There are several ways to look up felony records in Georgia. Online searches are the fastest option for most people. The GDC offender search is free and open to all. Georgia Felon Search costs $15 per lookup but gives instant results from the GCIC database. You can also request records in person at your local sheriff or police department. Under the Georgia Open Records Act, O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, agencies must produce records within three business days. Copy fees are $0.10 per page for most requests. Search and retrieval fees only apply when a request creates an unusual burden for the agency.
To get Georgia felony records, you will need some of the following:
- Full name of the person
- Date of birth or approximate age
- GDC ID or case number if known
- County where the arrest or case took place
The GBI also accepts open records requests through its online portal. On December 11, 2023, the GBI moved to a web-based system for these requests. You can submit a request for GBI investigative reports, crime lab reports, and other Georgia felony records through the GBI Open Records Request portal.
Criminal penalties exist for agencies that willfully violate the Open Records Act. Fines can reach $1,000 for a first offense and $2,500 for repeat violations within 12 months. This law protects your right to access Georgia felony records from public agencies. If you have questions about contacting the GBI directly, the GBI contact page lists all department numbers and email addresses.
The GBI tip line is (800) 597-8477. Use it to report fugitives or suspicious activity in Georgia.
Georgia Record Restrictions
Georgia allows certain felony records to be restricted under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37. A restricted record does not show up in public background searches. It stays available to law enforcement. The process depends on when the arrest happened. For arrests after July 1, 2013, there is no application. You must contact the prosecuting attorney directly to have the record restricted. For arrests before that date, you apply at the arresting agency. Processing fees can reach $50 for a Georgia felony record restriction.
Time-expired restrictions happen automatically after set periods if the GCIC does not receive notice that the case was referred to a prosecutor. The waiting periods for Georgia felony records are:
- Misdemeanor charges: 2 years from arrest date
- Non-serious violent felonies: 4 years from arrest date
- Serious violent felonies or sexual offenses: 7 years from arrest date
O.C.G.A. § 17-3-2.1 defines which offenses count as serious violent felonies in Georgia. These carry the longest restriction waiting periods. The GBI record restrictions page explains the full process for getting Georgia felony records restricted.
Mail completed applications to Georgia Crime Information Center, CCH/Identification, P.O. Box 370808, Decatur, Georgia 30037. Georgia also has the First Offender Act under O.C.G.A. § 42-8-62.1. This lets certain first-time offenders complete probation without a felony conviction on their record. If they finish probation, the court discharges them without a conviction. These Georgia felony records may then be sealed from most public searches.
The O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34 statute page covers what criminal history data can be released and to whom.
Note: Restricted records are still accessible to courts and law enforcement agencies in Georgia.
Georgia Courts and Felony Cases
Every felony case in Georgia goes through the Superior Court. Each of the 159 counties has a Clerk of Superior Court who keeps case files. Under O.C.G.A. § 42-4-7, sheriffs must also maintain records of all persons committed to county jails. Those jail records include the person's name, age, sex, race, charges, dates of commitment and discharge, and the court that issued the process. Anyone can inspect these Georgia felony records under the Open Records Act. The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority connects all county clerks through shared systems for e-filing and case management.
Many counties now have online case search portals. Cherokee County, Douglas County, and DeKalb County are among those with digital tools for looking up Georgia felony records. Contact your local Clerk of Superior Court to ask about online access in your county. The Georgia Sheriffs' Association also provides a directory of all sheriffs across the state.
Each sheriff handles arrest records and jail bookings for their county. Call the local sheriff for recent booking data on Georgia felony cases.
Georgia Pardons and Parole
The State Board of Pardons and Paroles handles pardon and parole decisions in Georgia. Their office is at 2 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive SE, Suite 636, East Tower Balcony Level, Atlanta, GA 30334. Call (404) 656-4661 for questions about parole status or clemency applications. The board also runs a parolee search tool where you can check parole status for people with Georgia felony records. The State Board of Pardons and Paroles website has details on all their services.
Pardons do not erase a Georgia felony record. They restore certain civil rights. A pardon may help with voting rights, holding public office, or serving on a jury after a felony conviction in Georgia.
Browse Georgia Felony Records by County
Each county in Georgia has a Clerk of Superior Court and Sheriff who maintain felony records. Pick a county below to find local contact info and resources for felony records in that area.
Felony Records in Major Georgia Cities
City police departments make felony arrests, but cases go to the county Superior Court for prosecution. Pick a city below to find local felony record resources.