Search Georgia Background Check Records

Georgia background check records are kept by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and local law enforcement agencies across the state. The GBI runs the Georgia Crime Information Center, which stores criminal history data for all 159 counties. You can search these records through county sheriff offices or use the Georgia Felon Search portal for online results. A background check in Georgia can show arrest data, felony convictions, and court dispositions. Name-based checks go through local agencies. Fingerprint checks use the statewide GAPS system and give faster results. This page covers how to run a background check in Georgia, which agencies handle requests, and what steps are involved.

Search Georgia Background Checks at the GBI

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is the main state agency for background checks in Georgia. The GBI is an independent agency that supports criminal justice across the state. Its main office sits at 3121 Panthersville Road in Decatur. The agency handles criminal history record storage, forensic lab work, and the statewide criminal justice information system. All Georgia background check data flows through the GBI at some level. The agency stores arrest records, court data, and conviction details from every county in Georgia. You can reach them at (404) 244-2600 for questions about background checks. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34, the GBI can release criminal history records to private persons and businesses under certain conditions.

The GBI website is the starting point for most background check searches in Georgia.

From there you can find links to the Crime Information Center, GAPS fingerprint service, and other background check tools run by the GBI.

Several background check services fall under the GBI in Georgia. These include criminal history record inspections, fingerprint processing through GAPS, and the Georgia Felon Search portal. Each one works in a different way. Record inspections let you view your own criminal history. GAPS handles fingerprint-based checks for agencies. The Felon Search gives online access to felony conviction data.

The full list of services is on the GBI services page.

That page breaks down each type of background check the GBI offers and how to use them.

Access Georgia Crime Information Center

The Georgia Crime Information Center is the division of the GBI that stores and manages all criminal history records in the state. GCIC is the hub for background check data in Georgia. Every arrest, court ruling, and conviction from any county goes into the GCIC system. When a sheriff or police department runs a background check, the data comes from GCIC. The center also processes record inspections, handles corrections, and manages the record restriction process in Georgia. Their mailing address is P.O. Box 370808, Decatur, Georgia 30037.

The GCIC website has details on how to request background check records in Georgia.

You can find forms, contact details, and instructions for criminal history requests on the GCIC site.

GCIC has a dedicated phone line for background check questions. Call 404-244-2639 and pick from several options. Option 1 handles criminal history and record restriction questions. Option 2 covers applicant background information through GAPS. Option 3 is for attorney and public defender requests. Option 4 is for live scan and fingerprint services. You can also email them at gacriminalhistory@gbi.state.ga.us for questions about your own criminal history in Georgia. Response times vary based on the type of request you make.

Full contact details are on the GCIC contact page.

Each service area has its own email and phone option for faster routing of your background check request.

GCIC lobby visits are by appointment only. You must call ahead to schedule a time for record inspections or fingerprint services. Same-day walk-ins are not available. This applies to anyone who wants to view their own criminal history record at the GCIC office in Georgia.

Check the GCIC lobby hours page for current scheduling info.

Call (404) 244-2639 and select Option 1 to book an appointment for a background check inspection.

Note: GCIC does not conduct name-based criminal history checks directly. You must go through local law enforcement for those.

Georgia Felon Search Background Check

Georgia Felon Search is a fast online tool for running a background check on felony convictions in Georgia. The service launched in July 2009 and is run by the Georgia Technology Authority. It pulls data straight from the GBI. You enter a person's name, date of birth, race, and sex. The system searches the database and sends results to your email in minutes. The cost is $15 per search. You pay even if the search comes back with no record found. If multiple people match your search, each record you open costs another $15. This is a name-based check with no fingerprint comparison, so accuracy depends on the quality of the details you give.

Start a search at the Georgia Felon Search portal.

Results come by email within minutes after you submit your search and pay the fee.

There are some limits to know about. Georgia Felon Search only shows felony convictions. Misdemeanors and arrest-only records will not show up. Records sealed under the First Offender Act will not appear either. The service is based on O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34, which allows felony conviction data to be released without fingerprints or consent when you provide enough identifying details. Businesses can set up an account to run multiple searches and pay at the end of each month.

Common questions about the service are on the Georgia Felon Search FAQ page.

The FAQ covers topics like how to read your results and who to call if you have questions about the data.

Note: Without a fingerprint check, it is not possible to confirm that the record belongs to the exact person you searched for in Georgia.

Fingerprint Background Check in Georgia

The Georgia Applicant Processing Service, or GAPS, is the state system for fingerprint-based background checks. GAPS gives more accurate results than name-based searches because it matches fingerprints directly. As of February 2025, IDEMIA is the vendor that runs GAPS through its IdentoGO enrollment centers across Georgia. Fixed fingerprinting sites are located all over the state. After you get fingerprinted, results are usually ready within 24 to 48 hours. Agencies retrieve the results from the GAPS website. You need a valid photo ID to get fingerprinted, and the agency requesting the check must have a GAPS account number.

Details on the GAPS program are on the GBI GAPS information page.

That page explains how agencies can sign up for GAPS and how the fingerprint submission process works.

To get fingerprinted for a Georgia background check, you go to an IdentoGO location. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID. Accepted IDs include a state driver's license, US passport, military ID, permanent resident card, or foreign passport. A Social Security card alone is not enough. The agency requesting your background check will give you a service code to use when you register.

Register and find locations at the GAPS IdentoGO enrollment portal.

You can book an appointment online or walk in at most IdentoGO sites in Georgia.

Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34.2, certain agencies can request national background checks through GCIC and the FBI for people who work with children, the elderly, or persons with disabilities. These checks go through GAPS and include both state and federal criminal history data.

How to Get a Georgia Background Check

You can get a copy of your own Georgia criminal history record from most sheriff offices or police departments across the state. Contact your local law enforcement agency for their specific process. A Georgia background check record includes your identification data like name, date of birth, and physical description. It also includes arrest data with the arresting agency, date, and charges. Court dispositions and any time spent in a Georgia correctional facility will show as well. Restricted records, sealed records, and juvenile records are not released for standard background check requests in Georgia.

The GBI has a full list of common questions on the criminal history FAQ page.

This page explains what shows up on a Georgia background check and what types of records are left out.

You can also get a background check on someone else in Georgia. With their written consent on a form from GCIC that includes their full name, address, Social Security number, and date of birth, you can request their Georgia criminal history through local law enforcement. Without consent, you can only access felony conviction records through the Georgia Felon Search. No fee for a Georgia background check may exceed $20 per person under the law. When a background check leads to a negative decision about someone, the person making that decision must tell the individual what was found, where the data came from, and how it affected the outcome. Failure to give this notice is a misdemeanor in Georgia.

Georgia Background Check Record Restriction

Record restriction in Georgia means that certain criminal history data is hidden from standard background checks. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, restricted records are only available to judges, criminal justice agencies, and law enforcement. They do not show up on background checks run by private persons or businesses. Some restrictions happen on their own. If a misdemeanor arrest was never sent to a prosecutor, it gets restricted after two years. Felony arrests that were not prosecuted get restricted after four years. Serious violent felony arrests take seven years.

The details of how record restriction works are in O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37.

This statute spells out which records can be restricted and how the process works in Georgia.

You can also petition to restrict certain misdemeanor convictions from your Georgia background check. You must have finished your sentence and had no new convictions for at least four years. There are no pending charges allowed. Only two misdemeanor restriction requests are permitted per lifetime in Georgia. Some offenses cannot be restricted at all. These include family violence charges, sexual offenses, and certain theft crimes. The fee for the restriction process is up to $50 total. You apply through the arresting agency for arrests before July 1, 2013.

Georgia also has the First Offender Act under O.C.G.A. § 42-8-60. This law lets certain first-time offenders complete probation without a formal conviction on their record. If you finish all terms of your sentence under this act, the case is sealed from background checks in Georgia.

The full text of the First Offender Act is available at this statute page.

Completed first offender sentences will not appear on a standard Georgia background check.

Georgia Background Check Disclosure Rules

Georgia law sets clear rules about what criminal history can be shared on a background check. The full provisions are in O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34. To get someone else's Georgia background check, you need either their fingerprints or signed written consent on a GCIC form. The form must include their full name, address, Social Security number, and date of birth. Felony conviction data can be released without consent or fingerprints when enough identifying details are provided. No single background check fee in Georgia can exceed $20 per person under this statute.

The statute text is available at this O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34 page.

This statute governs how the GBI can share criminal history records with private parties in Georgia.

National background checks for people who care for children, the elderly, or individuals with disabilities follow a separate process. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34.2, authorized agencies can request both state and FBI background checks through GCIC. These checks use fingerprints and search both Georgia and national criminal history files. The authorized agency reviews the results and determines whether the person can serve in that role.

The national background check statute is at this O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34.2 page.

This covers fingerprint-based checks that search both state and federal records in Georgia.

Note: Georgia also has a ban-the-box law for public agencies that limits when criminal history questions can be asked during the application process.

Fix Errors on a Georgia Background Check

If your Georgia background check has wrong information, you have the right to contest it. GCIC cannot fix records on its own. The agency that submitted the data must send a correction. You can start by contacting the arresting agency or the court that handled your case. Written requests for corrections must go on official agency letterhead and include your full name, date of birth, Social Security number, race, sex, and date of arrest. You can also provide your State Identification Number or Offender Tracking Number. GCIC must respond within 60 days. If they deny your request, you can appeal to the court for a new review of your Georgia background check.

If someone stole your identity and it shows on your background check, take these steps. First, report the theft to your local police department or sheriff in Georgia. Then contact the FTC.

The Federal Trade Commission has resources at identitytheft.gov.

You can also reach the Georgia Attorney General's Office at (404) 651-8600 or call GCIC directly at 404-244-2639 about identity theft on your record.

Find a County Background Check in Georgia

Most people in Georgia get their background check through a local sheriff's office or police department. Each of the 159 counties has a sheriff who can process criminal history requests. The process and fees vary by county. Some charge $15 while others charge up to $25. Most require you to appear in person with a valid government-issued photo ID. A Social Security card alone is not accepted at most offices. Some counties like Gwinnett no longer accept mail-in requests. You must go in person. Always call ahead to check the hours, fees, and what you need to bring for a background check in your county.

The Georgia Sheriffs' Association maintains a directory at georgiasheriffs.org.

Use this directory to find the sheriff's office in your county and get their contact details for background check requests.

Some counties have their own online portals or specific forms. Cobb County charges $25 at the sheriff's office and does not accept cash. Gwinnett County Police charges $20 and requires a notarized waiver. Fulton County charges $15 and only takes cash or postal money orders. Each county sets its own rules, so check with them before you visit for a background check in Georgia.

Georgia Background Check by County

Each of the 159 counties in Georgia has a sheriff's office that handles background checks. Pick a county below to find local contact info, fees, and resources for running a background check in that area.

View All 159 Counties

Look Up Background Checks in Georgia Cities

Residents of major Georgia cities can get background checks through their county sheriff or city police department. Pick a city below to find local resources.

Georgia has 49 cities with populations over 25,000. You can find details for each on the Georgia demographics page.

Each qualifying city has its own page with local background check details and contact information.

View Major Georgia Cities