Dalton Background Check

A Dalton background check can go through two local agencies. The Dalton Police Department handles requests at the city level, and the Whitfield County Sheriff's Office processes them at the county level. Dalton is the county seat of Whitfield County in northwest Georgia, with a population near 35,000. Having both a city police department and a county sheriff gives Dalton residents two local options for criminal history searches. All arrest records from Dalton flow into both the county system and the state database run by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The Dalton Police records unit can be reached at extension 224.

Dalton Police Department Records

The Dalton Police Department is a city-level option for a Dalton background check. The department is at 301 W. Crawford Street, Dalton, GA 30720. Call 706-278-9085 and ask for extension 224 to reach the records division. The records unit handles criminal history requests for incidents within Dalton city limits.

You need to visit in person. Bring a valid photo ID and the full name and date of birth of the person you want checked. The fee is capped at $20 under state law. Call ahead to confirm what they currently charge and which forms of payment work. The records staff will search the city's arrest records and the statewide criminal history system.

Having a city police department that processes background checks is a nice option for Dalton residents. Not every city in Georgia has its own police force. Many rely only on the county sheriff. In Dalton, you can choose between the city police and the county sheriff based on which is more convenient for you. Both pull from the same state system.

Whitfield County Sheriff Check

The Whitfield County Sheriff's Office is the other local option. Sheriff Darren Pierce runs the department. The mailing address is PO Box 652, Dalton, GA 30722. Call 706-278-1233 for questions. The sheriff handles requests for all of Whitfield County, not just Dalton proper.

The process is similar to the police department. Go in person, bring your ID, fill out a form, and pay the fee. The sheriff's staff searches both local Whitfield County records and the state criminal history database. If someone has lived in areas of Whitfield County outside Dalton city limits, the sheriff's records may catch things that the city police records would miss. The sheriff covers the whole county while city police only cover incidents within city lines.

Note: The Dalton Police handles records within city limits, while the Whitfield County Sheriff covers the entire county including areas outside of Dalton.

Dalton Background Check Screenshot

The Dalton Police Department website provides information about city services including records requests.

The Dalton Police Department processes background check requests at its Crawford Street location and can be reached through the records division at extension 224.

State Tools for Dalton Checks

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation maintains the statewide criminal history database through the Georgia Crime Information Center. All Dalton arrest records flow from both the city police and the county sheriff into this central system. The GCIC holds records from every county in Georgia. But they do not allow the public to run name-based searches directly.

The Georgia Felon Search is an online tool that costs $15. Enter a name, pay, and get results by email. It only shows felony convictions. No misdemeanors, no arrests without charges, and no pending cases. For a Dalton background check, this is the fastest way to check for felony records. But it does not give you the full picture.

The GAPS fingerprint system through IdentoGO is the most complete option. It uses fingerprints to search both GBI and FBI databases. Results include records from other states, which the Felon Search skips. Dalton is in northwest Georgia near the Tennessee border. If someone has lived on both sides of the state line, a fingerprint check through GAPS is the only way to catch records from both states in one search.

Note: Dalton sits near the Tennessee border, so out-of-state records may be relevant for people who have lived in both states.

Laws Affecting Dalton Records

Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34, the GBI shares criminal history data with authorized parties. The fee cap is $20 per record. This applies to both the Dalton Police Department and the Whitfield County Sheriff. Neither can charge more than that limit.

Record restriction under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37 can hide certain records from view. Dismissed charges, acquittals, and qualifying cases may be restricted. A restricted record still exists in the state system but does not appear on a standard Dalton background check. What you see in the results may not tell the whole story.

The First Offender Act under O.C.G.A. § 42-8-60 also plays a role. A person who finished a sentence under this act will not show a conviction on a standard check. The record is still in the system but it looks different in results. This comes up often in Georgia courts and is something to keep in mind when reading any Dalton background check results.

Dalton Check Fees

• Dalton Police Department: up to $20, call 706-278-9085 ext. 224
• Whitfield County Sheriff: up to $20, call 706-278-1233
• Georgia Felon Search: $15, online, felony convictions only
• GAPS fingerprint check: varies, state and FBI records

Both local agencies charge under the state cap of $20. The Dalton Police and the Whitfield County Sheriff may have slightly different fees, so call each to confirm. The Felon Search at $15 is the cheapest route, but it only pulls felony convictions. For a thorough Dalton background check with misdemeanors and arrest records, the in-person visit to either local agency gives you more. GAPS fingerprint checks cost more but deliver the most complete results.

Contact Info for Dalton

• Dalton Police: 301 W. Crawford Street, Dalton, GA 30720
• Police phone: 706-278-9085 (records ext. 224)
• Whitfield County Sheriff: PO Box 652, Dalton, GA 30722
• Sheriff phone: 706-278-1233
• Sheriff: Darren Pierce

The Georgia Sheriffs' Association keeps an updated directory of every sheriff in the state. For Dalton, you have two local agencies to pick from. Both are located in Dalton itself since it is the county seat. Call ahead to confirm hours and what payment methods they accept before you visit either office.

Nearby Cities

These cities are near Dalton and have their own background check pages.