DeKalb County Felony Records

DeKalb County felony records are managed by the Clerk of Superior Court, the Sheriff's Office, and the county jail system in Decatur. With about 770,000 residents, DeKalb is one of the most populated counties in Georgia and part of the Atlanta metro area. You can search for felony case filings, arrest data, and offender records through multiple local offices or statewide databases. The county runs an online inmate portal that lets you check jail records from home. DeKalb County handles a large volume of felony cases each year, so there are several ways to access these records depending on what you need.

DeKalb County Clerk of Superior Court

The Clerk of Superior Court holds all felony case records for DeKalb County. Every criminal filing in the Superior Court goes through this office. Indictments, plea deals, sentencing orders, and dispositions are all kept here. With the volume of cases DeKalb handles, the clerk's office uses digital systems to manage and track felony filings. You can request records by name or case number.

Visit the clerk's office in person for the most complete access to felony records. Bring a photo ID and the name of the person you want to search. A date of birth or case number speeds things up. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, the Georgia Open Records Act gives you the right to these records. Standard copies cost $0.10 per page. Certified copies are more. The office handles a lot of traffic, so plan for some wait time.

The DeKalb County Clerk of Court is at 556 N. McDonough Street, Decatur, GA 30030. Call (404) 371-2261 for questions about felony records.

DeKalb County Sheriff and Jail Records

The DeKalb County Sheriff's Office manages arrest records, jail operations, and court services. Under O.C.G.A. § 42-4-7, the sheriff keeps records for every person booked into the DeKalb County Jail. These records show names, charges, booking dates, and which court issued the warrant.

The sheriff's main office is at 4415 Memorial Drive, Decatur, GA 30032. Call (404) 298-8111 for general questions. For open records requests, call (404) 298-8171. The jail is at 4425 Memorial Drive, and the jail hotline is (404) 298-8145. DeKalb County also has a court services division at the courthouse at 556 N. McDonough Street, Room B110, which you can reach at (404) 371-2570.

The sheriff's office also runs specialized units. The Warrants Unit handles active felony warrants at (404) 298-8200. The Fugitive Unit can be reached at (404) 298-8402. These units deal directly with felony cases and can provide info about active warrants in DeKalb County.

Note: DeKalb County processes a high volume of felony cases, so response times for records requests may vary.

DeKalb County Inmate Search Portal

DeKalb County runs an online inmate information portal where you can search for current and recent inmates. This is one of the fastest ways to check felony booking records in the county. The portal lets you search by name and view booking details, charges, and bond information.

The portal is free to use. It pulls data from the jail management system. Keep in mind that it mainly shows current and recent bookings. For older felony records or case dispositions, you still need to go through the Clerk of Superior Court. The inmate portal is a good starting point, though, if you want to check whether someone was recently arrested on felony charges in DeKalb County.

Searching DeKalb County Felony Records

Beyond local resources, state databases also cover DeKalb County felony records. The GDC Offender Query is free and lists all state prison inmates. If someone from DeKalb County was sentenced to a GDC facility, their record will show up. Search by name, GDC ID, or physical description. Results include charges, sentence length, and possible release dates.

The Georgia Felon Search is $15 per lookup. It checks the GCIC database for felony convictions across the state. You need the person's name, date of birth, and sex. Results come back right away. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-35, this information is released without fingerprint verification. The fee applies even if no record is returned.

The Georgia Crime Information Center maintains the statewide criminal history database. GCIC collects arrest records, court outcomes, and prison data from every county. O.C.G.A. § 35-3-33 requires complete and accurate records. You can request a check through GCIC directly or through a local law enforcement agency in DeKalb County.

DeKalb County Record Restrictions

Most felony records in DeKalb County are public. Anyone can request them. Court files, arrest records, and booking data are open under the Georgia Open Records Act. The clerk and sheriff must respond within three business days.

Restrictions apply in some cases. O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37 lets certain arrest records be restricted when charges are dropped or not prosecuted. For post-2013 arrests, the prosecutor handles restriction requests. Older arrests require an application at the arresting agency. Under O.C.G.A. § 42-8-62.1, the First Offender Act allows first-time offenders to seal their records after probation. Serious violent felonies as defined in O.C.G.A. § 17-3-2.1 must wait seven years before automatic restriction. Convicted felony records in DeKalb County remain public in almost all cases. O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34 governs how criminal history info can be released.

Cities in DeKalb County

DeKalb County includes several cities that each rely on the county court system for felony cases. The following cities have their own pages with more details.

Nearby Counties

These counties border DeKalb County. Each keeps its own felony records through their Clerk of Superior Court.