Arrest records are public documents in College Park, Georgia, pursuant to the Georgia Open Records Act (O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 et seq.). This state legislation establishes that official government records, including those pertaining to arrests, shall be accessible to members of the public upon request. The statute serves to maintain transparency in governmental operations and upholds citizens' right to information regarding law enforcement activities within their communities.
The Georgia Open Records Act specifically designates arrest records as public information, with certain limited exceptions for ongoing investigations, juvenile records, and cases where disclosure might compromise public safety. Individuals seeking access to arrest records in College Park may submit formal requests to the appropriate custodial agency, which is legally obligated to respond within three business days as stipulated in O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71(b)(1)(A).
Multiple official channels exist through which members of the public may access arrest records in College Park, Georgia:
In-person requests may be submitted at the College Park Police Department, located at 3717 College Street, College Park, GA 30337. The Records Division operates Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and can be reached at (404) 761-3131.
The Fulton County Clerk of Superior Court maintains judicial records related to arrests processed through the county court system. These records may be accessed at the Fulton County Courthouse, 136 Pryor Street SW, Atlanta, GA 30303, during regular business hours (Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM).
The Clayton County Clerk of Superior Court also maintains arrest records for incidents occurring in portions of College Park that fall within Clayton County jurisdiction. Their office is located at 9151 Tara Boulevard, Jonesboro, GA 30236, and operates Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Electronic access to certain arrest record information is available through the College Park Municipal Court online portal. Users must register for an account and may be subject to verification procedures to ensure appropriate access to public records.
Pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71, agencies may assess reasonable fees for search, retrieval, and reproduction of records. Current fee schedules are posted at each agency location and on their respective websites.
Standard arrest records maintained by the College Park Police Department and associated judicial agencies contain comprehensive documentation of the arrest event and subsequent processing. These records typically include:
Biographical information of the arrested individual:
Biometric data collected during booking:
Arrest event details:
Case disposition information:
The Georgia Crime Information Center (GCIC) maintains a centralized database of arrest records from all jurisdictions within the state, including College Park. This information is accessible to authorized criminal justice agencies and, with appropriate restrictions, to members of the public through established request procedures.
The State of Georgia provides a legal mechanism for the restriction and sealing of certain arrest records through a process formerly known as expungement, now officially termed "record restriction" under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37. This procedure allows for the limitation of public access to arrest records under specific qualifying circumstances.
Eligibility criteria for record restriction in College Park include:
Cases resulting in non-conviction outcomes, such as:
First-offender dispositions after successful completion of sentence terms, pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 42-8-60
Certain misdemeanor convictions for offenses committed by individuals under 21 years of age, subject to waiting periods and eligibility requirements
Pardoned offenses, with exceptions for serious violent felonies as defined in O.C.G.A. § 17-10-6.1
The record restriction process requires submission of a formal application to the arresting agency, which in College Park is typically the College Park Police Department. Applications must be accompanied by certified court dispositions and applicable processing fees. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) serves as the final reviewing authority for record restriction requests and implements approved restrictions within the state's criminal history database.
Individuals seeking record restriction in College Park may obtain application materials from:
College Park Police Department - Records Division
3717 College Street
College Park, GA 30337
(404) 761-3131
College Park Police Department
Applicants should note that record restriction does not physically destroy arrest documentation but rather limits its disclosure to the general public. Certain governmental agencies, including law enforcement and judicial authorities, retain access to restricted records for official purposes as permitted by Georgia law.