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Hapeville Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in Hapeville, Georgia?

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.

How to Look Up Hapeville Arrest Records in 2025

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:

  • In-Person Requests at the Hapeville Police Department: Citizens may submit requests for arrest records directly at the Hapeville Police Department headquarters. The department maintains records of arrests conducted within city limits.

Hapeville Police Department
700 Doug Davis Drive
Hapeville, GA 30354
(404) 768-7171
Hapeville Police Department Official Website

  • Fulton County Courthouse Records Division: As Hapeville is situated within Fulton County, comprehensive arrest records may be accessed through the county's judicial system.

Fulton County Courthouse
136 Pryor Street SW
Atlanta, GA 30303
(404) 612-4402

  • Hapeville Municipal Court: For cases processed through the municipal court system, records may be requested from the court clerk.

Hapeville Municipal Court
700 Doug Davis Drive
Hapeville, GA 30354
(404) 669-2126
Hapeville Municipal Court Official Website

  • Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI): The state maintains a centralized repository of criminal history information, including arrest records from Hapeville and other municipalities.

Georgia Bureau of Investigation
3121 Panthersville Road
Decatur, GA 30034
(404) 244-2600

  • Online Access: The Georgia Crime Information Center (GCIC) provides limited online access to criminal history records through its official portal. Requestors must provide proper identification and pay applicable fees as established by state law.

Contents of a Hapeville Arrest Record

Arrest records maintained by the Hapeville Police Department and associated agencies typically contain the following information as mandated by Georgia Code § 35-3-33:

  • Full legal name of the arrested individual and any documented aliases
  • Demographic information including date of birth, gender, race, and physical descriptors
  • Residential address at time of arrest (may be redacted in public versions)
  • Photographic identification (mugshot) taken during booking procedures
  • Fingerprint impressions collected during processing
  • Date, time, and specific location of the arrest
  • Enumeration of all charges filed, including Georgia Code citations
  • Name and badge number of the arresting officer(s)
  • Booking information including case numbers and processing details
  • Disposition information detailing the outcome of each charge
  • Court proceedings information including hearing dates, judge assignments, and case status
  • Bail or bond information where applicable

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.

Legal Framework for Arrest Records in Georgia

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.

Restrictions on Access to Arrest Records

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).

Expungement of Arrest Records in Hapeville

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:

  • Cases resulting in non-conviction outcomes (dismissals, nolle prosequi, acquittals)
  • First offender dispositions after successful completion of sentence (pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 42-8-60)
  • Certain misdemeanor convictions for offenders under 21 years of age at the time of arrest
  • Pardoned offenses (excluding serious violent felonies)

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.

Fees for Obtaining Arrest Records

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:

  • Standard arrest record search: $15.00 per name
  • Certified copies of arrest records: $25.00 per record
  • Fingerprint-based criminal history check: $30.00
  • Expedited processing (when available): Additional $10.00 per request

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).

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