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Obtaining Criminal History Record Information

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How can I obtain a copy of my Georgia criminal history record?
Georgia criminal history records can be obtained from local Sheriff's or Police Departments. Please contact a local Georgia agency about specific requirements for obtaining a copy of your Georgia criminal history record.

What information is contained in a Georgia criminal history record?
The criminal history record includes the subject's identification data (name, date of birth, social security number, sex, race, height, weight, etc.), arrest data (including arresting agency, date of arrest, and charges), final judicial disposition data submitted by a court, prosecutor or other criminal justice agency and custodial information if the offender was incarcerated in a Georgia correctional facility.

Can I obtain a Georgia criminal history record of another person?
O.C.G.A. §35-3-34 (d.2) provides public access to felony conviction records without consent of the person whose record is being checked. Local law enforcement agencies may provide this information for a fee not to exceed $20.00. The subject's full name, race, sex, and date of birth must be provided at the time of the request.

A complete Georgia record may be obtained with the individual's consent. A signed consent form from the individual whose record is being sought must be provided to the local agency. Fees vary.

How do I obtain a Georgia criminal history record check from GCIC for employment, licensing, or visa (travel) purposes?

• Agencies/businesses that wish to conduct background checks for employment or licensing must obtain a unique agency number from GCIC and sign a Service Agreement. Please contact GCIC's Criminal History and identification Services at 404-244-2639, Option 2, for further information.
• Each request must contain two completed applicant fingerprint cards with all of the applicant's personal information (name, date of birth, place of birth, etc.) and a current set of 10 rolled fingerprints and eight flat finger impressions. Fingerprints and impressions must be taken by a local law enforcement agency.
• A $15.00 fee payable by certified check or money order to the Georgia Crime Information Center is required for each request.
• Individuals requiring fingerprint checks on themselves for employment, licensing or visa purposes, must also submit fingerprint cards and a $15.00 fee.

Information should be mailed to the address listed in the contact information.

How do I request a correction or update of my Georgia criminal history record?
If your criminal history record has incorrect or missing information, GCIC cannot correct or update your criminal history record without appropriate documentation and/or authorization of the submitting agency. To correct or update information, the appropriate law enforcement or criminal justice agency must submit a written request to GCIC, on official letterhead, with the following information: full name of subject, date of birth, social security number, race, sex, and date of arrest; or State Identification Number (SID) and date of arrest or Offender Tracking Number (OTN) for that date of arrest; and the requested changes. If the above information is not included in the document, the request cannot be processed. Georgia criminal justice agencies that submit automated judicial disposition data directly to GCIC may submit missing disposition data electronically and reduce the time to complete the record update.

How do I contest the information contained in my Georgia criminal history record if it is inaccurate or if my identity has been used in another individual's criminal history record?
To contest the accuracy of information in your criminal history record, or if your identification data was used in another individual's criminal history record, you must submit the following information to GCIC.

• A signed written request with a brief explanation for the request to include the specific data that is being challenged and a complete return mailing address.
• Each request must contain two completed applicant fingerprint cards with all of the applicant's personal information (name, date of birth, place of birth, etc.) and a current set of 10 rolled fingerprints and eight flat finger impressions. Fingerprints and impressions must be taken by a local law enforcement agency.
• A $3.00 fee payable by certified check or money order to the Georgia Crime Information Center.
  Information should be mailed to the address listed in the contact information. Your request will be processed and a certificate (letter) with the results will be mailed back to you.

How do I obtain a copy of a criminal history record from a State other than Georgia?
Contact the State's criminal justice agency (Bureau of Investigation, State Police, etc.) to obtain information on requirements and fees.

How do I obtain a copy of my national criminal history record?
Individuals can obtain a copy of their national criminal history record from the FBI by submitting a request to the below address. In order to receive a copy of your FBI record for personal, employment, or international work requirements the FBI requires the following: 1) A signed written request with a brief explanation for the request and your complete return mailing address. 2) Each request must contain two completed applicant fingerprint cards with all of the applicant's personal information (name, date of birth, place of birth, etc.) and a current set of 10 rolled fingerprints and eight flat finger impressions. Fingerprints and impressions must be taken by a local law enforcement agency. 3) An $18.00 fee in U.S. currency by certified check or money order payable to the United States Treasury. This information is provided in compliance with the U.S. Freedom of Information Act.

FBI
CJIS Division
ATTN: SCU, MOD.D-2
1000 Custer Hollow Road
Clarksburg , West Virginia 26303

For more information, the FBI's web site on this issue is http://www.fbi.gov/hq/cjisd/fprequest.htm . You also can contact the FBI at 304-625-5590.

What is Georgia 's First Offender Act (FOA)?
Upon a verdict or plea of guilty or nolo contendere, but before an adjudication of guilt, the court may, in the case of a defendant who has not been previously convicted of a felony, without entering a judgment of guilt and with the consent of the defendant, defer further proceeding and place the defendant on probation as a first offender.

If the terms of the first offender sentence are successfully completed, and the probationer discharged, the arrest record is sealed. GCIC must receive official notification that the subject has successfully completed the FOA requirements. The record is not automatically sealed based on the elapse of the probation sentence.

Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 42-8-65(b)) requires GCIC to change the first offender sentence to a conviction if, prior to successful discharge, the subject is arrested and convicted of another offense while still on first offender probation. Courts may also revoke a first offender sentence, indicate unsatisfactory completion of the first offender sentence or change to an adjudication of guilt.

What is a Local Record Expungement?
O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37(d) (1) allows for the expungement of arrest charges by a local law enforcement agency when certain conditions are met (as outlined in this statute). If approved by the local arresting agency, and the appropriate prosecutor, the arrest cycle is sealed on the Georgia criminal history report by GCIC. Access to that arrest information is restricted to criminal justice agencies only. The arrest is expunged in its entirety from the FBI criminal history record.

The following are examples of final court dispositions that may qualify: Dismissed: Not Presented to Grand Jury: No Further Action Anticipated; Nolle Prossed/Prosequi; Dead Docket; or No Record on File. All applications must be approved or denied by the appropriate prosecutor.

To apply for the local record expungement, contact the arresting law enforcement agency to obtain an application for Local Record Expungement. The request for expungement form is a three-part form:

• Section One - You will complete Section One and return to the arresting agency.
• Section Two - Completed by the arresting agency that forwards the request to the appropriate prosecutor (District Attorney or Solicitor).
• Section Three - Completed by the prosecutor who will approve or deny the request.
• Once the prosecutor completes their portion, they will forward the complete form to GCIC.

What is the process for an attorney to request a client's criminal history record?
O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34 (a) (2) provides for an attorney to obtain criminal history records of a client, other defendant, or witness in a criminal action. The request must be submitted in writing to include the style of the case, full name, date of birth, race, sex, and social security number (if available) for each person. Mail the request to the attention of "attorney requests" at the address listed in the contact information. A $15.00 fee payable to GCIC by business check or money order is required for each record requested.

Disclosure of criminal history information to the defendant's counsel shall be solely in such counsel's capacity as an officer of the court.

In civil actions, only felony conviction criminal history information is disseminated in compliance with public information law. This information may also be obtained from local law enforcement agencies; fees vary.

Attorneys may submit requests via fax at (404) 270-8386. Questions may be directed to (404) 244-2639, Option 3.

Someone has been using my identity for financial (material) gain. What should I do?
Effective July 1, 1998 , it is a felony in Georgia to use someone else's identity to obtain something of value (O.C.G.A. §16-9-120).

• Contact your local police department or sheriff's department to report the theft of your identity.
• Contact the Federal Trade Commission and the Georgia Office of Consumer Affairs (OCA) in order to report the theft of your identity.
  • a) Contact OCA at (404) 651-8600 or at consumer.georgia.gov.
  • b) Contact FTC at (877) 438-4338 or at www.consumer.gov/idtheft.
• Contact the major credit reporting bureaus and have a fraud alert placed on your credit report.
  • Equifax, P.O. Box 740250 , Atlanta , Georgia 30374-0250 (800) 525-6285
  • Experian, P.O. Box 1017 , Allen , Texas 75013 , (888) 397-3742
  • Trans Union , P.O. Box 6790 , Fullerton , California 92634 , (800) 680-7289
• Contact the company(ies) that has/have provided credit or other intangible or tangible property to the person who stole your identity.

Contact Information
Georgia Crime Information Center
CCH/Identification Services, Supervisor
P.O. Box 370748
Decatur , Georgia 30037-0748

Fax: Criminal History/Identification Services, 404-270-8417
Email: gacriminalhistory@gbi.state.ga.us
Telephone Helpline: 404-244-2639

Option 1 . Criminal History Inquiries regarding Expungement or Updates
Option 2 . Applicant Background Information
Option 3 . Attorney or Public Defender
Option 4 . Livescan or Identification Inquiries