Arrest records are public in Hapeville, Georgia, pursuant to the Georgia Open Records Act (O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 et seq.). This legislation establishes that all public records, including arrest records, shall be available for inspection by any member of the public. The Georgia Open Records Act serves to promote transparency and accountability in governmental operations by ensuring citizens have access to records maintained by public agencies. Under this statute, law enforcement agencies in Hapeville are required to make arrest records accessible to the public, with certain statutory exceptions for ongoing investigations, juvenile records, and other protected information as specified in O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72.
Multiple official channels exist for members of the public seeking to obtain arrest records in Hapeville. The following methods are available pursuant to Georgia law:
Hapeville Police Department
700 Doug Davis Drive
Hapeville, GA 30354
(404) 768-7171
Hapeville Police Department Official Website
Fulton County Courthouse
136 Pryor Street SW
Atlanta, GA 30303
(404) 612-4402
Hapeville Municipal Court
700 Doug Davis Drive
Hapeville, GA 30354
(404) 669-2126
Hapeville Municipal Court Official Website
Georgia Bureau of Investigation
3121 Panthersville Road
Decatur, GA 30034
(404) 244-2600
Arrest records maintained by the Hapeville Police Department and associated agencies typically contain the following information as mandated by Georgia Code § 35-3-33:
Pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34, certain sensitive information may be redacted from public versions of arrest records, including Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, and medical information.
The management and dissemination of arrest records in Hapeville operates within a comprehensive legal framework established by state law. The following statutes govern these processes:
Georgia's Open Records Act (O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 through § 50-18-77) establishes the fundamental right of public access to governmental records, including those pertaining to arrests. Under this legislation, law enforcement agencies must respond to record requests within three business days, though actual production may take longer depending on the scope of the request.
The Georgia Crime Information Center (GCIC) operates under authority granted by O.C.G.A. § 35-3-30 et seq., which establishes protocols for the collection, storage, and dissemination of criminal justice information throughout the state. This system integrates arrest data from Hapeville with the statewide criminal justice information network.
Federal regulations, including 28 CFR Part 20, establish additional parameters for the interstate exchange of criminal history information and impose certain privacy protections that may affect the availability of complete arrest records.
The First Offender Act (O.C.G.A. § 42-8-60) and conditional discharge provisions (O.C.G.A. § 16-13-2) create mechanisms through which certain arrest records may be sealed from public view upon successful completion of court-ordered requirements.
While arrest records are generally public in Hapeville, several statutory exceptions limit access to certain information:
Records pertaining to ongoing investigations may be temporarily withheld from public disclosure pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72(a)(4) until such time as the investigation is concluded or formally abandoned.
Juvenile arrest records are subject to heightened confidentiality protections under O.C.G.A. § 15-11-703, with limited exceptions for serious offenses as enumerated in the statute.
Records that have been sealed or expunged by court order are not available for public inspection, though they may remain accessible to law enforcement agencies for official purposes.
Personal identifying information including Social Security numbers, home addresses, and medical information is typically redacted from public versions of arrest records in accordance with O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72(a)(20).
Georgia law provides mechanisms for the restriction and sealing of certain arrest records under specific circumstances. The process, formerly known as expungement, is now referred to as "record restriction" under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37.
Eligibility criteria for record restriction in Hapeville include:
The restriction process requires submission of an application to the arresting agency, which then forwards the request to the Georgia Crime Information Center for processing. A filing fee of $25 applies to most restriction requests, though fee waivers are available for indigent applicants.
Upon successful restriction, the arrest record becomes sealed from public view but remains accessible to law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and certain employers in sensitive positions as specified by statute.
Pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71, governmental agencies may assess reasonable charges for the search, retrieval, and reproduction of arrest records. The current fee schedule for Hapeville arrest record requests is as follows:
Payment may be made by cash, money order, or cashier's check at the Hapeville Police Department. Personal checks are not accepted. Online payment options may be available through the Hapeville Online Bill Pay system for certain types of requests.
Fee waivers or reductions may be available for indigent requestors upon submission of a sworn affidavit of indigency as prescribed by O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71(d).