Arrest records in Lawrenceville, Georgia are classified as public documents under Georgia's Open Records Act (O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 et seq.). This legislation establishes the public's legal right to access government records, including those pertaining to arrests made by law enforcement agencies within Gwinnett County jurisdiction. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) maintains the state's central repository of criminal history record information, while local records are maintained by the Lawrenceville Police Department and the Gwinnett County Sheriff's Office.
Pursuant to Georgia law, these records are made available to promote transparency in the criminal justice system and to ensure accountability of public officials. Members of the public may access these records with certain limitations established to protect ongoing investigations and personal privacy in specific circumstances as outlined in O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34.
The Georgia Crime Information Center (GCIC) serves as the central repository for criminal history record information in the state and operates under the direction of the GBI. Law enforcement agencies in Lawrenceville are required to submit arrest information to this database within 24 hours of booking procedures.
Multiple methods exist for members of the public to obtain arrest records in Lawrenceville, Georgia. The following official channels have been established for record retrieval:
• In-person requests may be submitted at the Lawrenceville Police Department Records Division, located at 300 Jackson Street, Lawrenceville, GA 30046. Operating hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, excluding holidays.
• The Gwinnett County Sheriff's Office maintains booking records and provides public access at 2900 University Parkway, Lawrenceville, GA 30043. Records may be requested Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
• Electronic requests can be submitted through the Gwinnett County Justice Information System (JIS), which provides 24-hour access to arrest information, court dates, and case status.
• Written requests may be mailed to either agency with a completed Open Records Request Form and appropriate identification. Processing fees apply in accordance with O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71, which permits reasonable charges for search, retrieval, and copying of records.
• The Georgia Bureau of Investigation offers statewide criminal history record checks through their GCIC division for a fee of $25.00 per request. These requests require fingerprint submission or proper identifying information.
Requestors must provide sufficient identifying information about the subject of the inquiry, including full name, date of birth, and, if available, case numbers or dates of arrest. Government-issued photo identification is required for all in-person requests to verify the identity of the requestor.
Standard arrest records maintained by Lawrenceville law enforcement agencies contain specific categories of information as mandated by Georgia Code § 17-4-29. These records typically include:
• Biographical data of the arrested individual, including full legal name, known aliases, date of birth, gender, race, height, weight, eye and hair color, and any distinguishing physical characteristics or identifying marks.
• Arrest details documenting the date, time, and specific location of the arrest, the name and badge number of the arresting officer(s), and the law enforcement agency responsible for the arrest.
• Criminal charges filed at the time of booking, including the Georgia Code section(s) allegedly violated, the classification of each offense (misdemeanor or felony), and any special circumstances noted.
• Booking information such as the unique booking number assigned, date and time of processing, and the detention facility where the individual was initially held.
• Photographic documentation, commonly referred to as "mugshots," taken during the booking process showing front and profile views of the arrested individual.
• Fingerprint impressions collected during processing, which are subsequently submitted to state and federal databases for identification verification and criminal history checks.
• Custody status indicating whether the individual was released on bond, the bond amount if applicable, or if the person remains in custody pending court proceedings.
• Court information including scheduled appearance dates, assigned courtroom, and presiding judge for initial hearings.
It should be noted that pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37(a)(1), certain sensitive information may be redacted from public arrest records, including Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, financial account information, and medical information.
The State of Georgia provides a legal mechanism for the restriction and sealing of arrest records through a process formerly known as expungement, now officially termed "record restriction" under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37. This statute establishes the procedures and eligibility criteria for removing arrest records from public access in Lawrenceville and throughout Georgia.
Individuals may qualify for record restriction in the following circumstances:
• Cases resulting in non-conviction dispositions, including dismissals, nolle prosequi filings, or acquittals by a judge or jury.
• Arrests where no formal charges were filed within the applicable statute of limitations.
• Completed first offender or conditional discharge sentences under O.C.G.A. § 42-8-60 or § 16-13-2, provided the individual successfully completed all terms and was discharged without adjudication of guilt.
• Certain misdemeanor convictions for offenses committed by individuals under 21 years of age, subject to specific waiting periods and eligibility requirements.
• Cases where the individual was the victim of identity theft and another person was arrested using their identifying information.
The record restriction process requires submission of an application to the arresting agency, typically the Lawrenceville Police Department or Gwinnett County Sheriff's Office. If the arrest occurred before July 1, 2013, applicants must file a motion with the Superior Court of Gwinnett County, located at 75 Langley Drive, Lawrenceville, GA 30046.
Processing fees apply to record restriction requests as established by the Georgia Crime Information Center. Current fees are $25 per request, though fee waivers may be available for indigent applicants upon submission of an affidavit of indigence.
It should be noted that certain categories of offenses are statutorily ineligible for record restriction, including serious violent felonies as defined in O.C.G.A. § 17-10-6.1, sexual offenses, crimes against children, and certain other offenses specified in O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37(j).
Upon approval of a record restriction request, the arrest record will be sealed from public view but remains accessible to law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and certain employers in sensitive positions as authorized by state law.