Dunwoody Background Check Lookup

A Dunwoody background check can be done through two local agencies. The DeKalb County Sheriff's Office runs criminal history searches at the county level, while the DeKalb County Police Department also handles background check requests for Dunwoody residents. Dunwoody sits in DeKalb County with a population just over 51,000. Both agencies pull records from the same state system run by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The DeKalb County Police background check line is a direct way to start the process if you want to avoid the sheriff's office. Most people pick whichever office is closer to them or has shorter wait times.

DeKalb County Sheriff Background Check

The DeKalb County Sheriff's Office is the primary agency for a Dunwoody background check at the county level. Sheriff Melody Maddox runs the office. The main location is at 4415 Memorial Drive in Decatur, GA 30032. You can call 404-298-8111 for details on the process. The sheriff's office processes criminal history requests for all of DeKalb County, which includes Dunwoody. You will need to bring a valid photo ID and provide the full name and date of birth of the person you want to check.

The fee is capped at $20 by state law. Call ahead to confirm what they charge and which payment methods they take. Some offices accept cash while others want money orders. The sheriff's staff searches both local DeKalb County records and the statewide criminal history system. Results can sometimes come back the same day, but busy periods may push that out to a few business days.

Note: DeKalb County is one of the larger counties in Georgia, so the sheriff's office can get busy during peak hours.

DeKalb County Police Option

Dunwoody residents have a second local option. The DeKalb County Police Department processes background checks too. Their office is at 1960 West Exchange Place in Tucker, GA 30084. The general number is 404-294-2911, but for background check questions call 770-724-7445 directly. This line goes to the unit that handles criminal history requests.

The process works the same way. You go in person, show your ID, fill out a request form, and pay the fee. The police department searches the same databases the sheriff does. Choosing between the two often comes down to which office is more convenient. The Tucker location may be easier to reach for some Dunwoody residents while others might prefer the Decatur office. Both pull from the state crime information system, so the results should be the same.

Having two agencies that handle these requests is not common in every Georgia city. Some places only have the county sheriff. Dunwoody benefits from being in DeKalb County, which has both a sheriff's office and a county police department. This gives residents more flexibility when they need a check done quickly.

Dunwoody Background Check Screenshot

The DeKalb County Sheriff's website has information about services available to Dunwoody residents.

The DeKalb County Sheriff handles background check requests for all communities in the county, including Dunwoody.

State Resources for Dunwoody

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation maintains the statewide criminal history database through the Georgia Crime Information Center. All Dunwoody arrest records flow from DeKalb County into this central system. The GCIC holds records from every county in Georgia. They do not offer name-based searches to the public though. You have to go through a local agency or use an online state tool.

The Georgia Felon Search costs $15 and gives results by email. It only shows felony convictions. You type in a name, pay online, and get results sent to you. For a Dunwoody background check, this will show any felony convictions on file in Georgia. It will not show misdemeanors, arrests without convictions, or pending cases. It also skips out-of-state records. If you want a broader search, the GAPS fingerprint system through IdentoGO is the way to go because it checks both state and FBI databases.

Note: The GCIC does not do name-based searches for the public, so you need to use either a local agency or the Felon Search tool.

Georgia Laws on Dunwoody Records

Georgia law sets the rules for how a Dunwoody background check works. 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 limit applies to what DeKalb County can charge. The law spells out who can see what level of detail and what rules apply when handling the data.

Record restriction is another piece of this. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, certain records can be hidden from public view. Dismissed charges, acquittals, and cases that meet specific criteria may not show up on a standard background check. A restricted record still exists in the state system. It just does not appear in typical search results. This means a Dunwoody background check may not show every interaction someone has had with law enforcement.

The First Offender Act under O.C.G.A. § 42-8-60 also affects what you see. Someone who completed a sentence under this act will not show a conviction on a standard check. The record is still there but it looks different. This comes up fairly often in Georgia courts. Knowing about these laws helps you read the results of any background check more clearly.

Dunwoody Background Check Fees

• DeKalb County Sheriff: up to $20, call 404-298-8111 to confirm
• DeKalb County Police: up to $20, call 770-724-7445 for details
• Georgia Felon Search: $15 per search, online, felony convictions only
• GAPS fingerprint check: varies by location, covers state and FBI records

The DeKalb County Sheriff's Office and the DeKalb County Police Department both charge under the state cap of $20. Call each to confirm their current fee. Payment methods can vary between the two offices. The Felon Search is the cheapest option at $15, but it only pulls felony convictions. For a full Dunwoody background check that includes misdemeanors and arrest records, the in-person visit to either agency is better. GAPS fingerprint checks cost more but give the most thorough results.

Contact Info for Dunwoody Check

Two agencies handle Dunwoody background check requests. Here is the contact information for both. Call before you visit to confirm hours and payment methods.

• DeKalb County Sheriff: 4415 Memorial Drive, Decatur, GA 30032
• Sheriff phone: 404-298-8111
• Sheriff: Melody Maddox
• DeKalb County Police: 1960 West Exchange Place, Tucker, GA 30084
• Police background line: 770-724-7445

The Georgia Sheriffs' Association keeps an updated list of every sheriff in Georgia. This is useful if you need to run checks in other counties beyond DeKalb. For Dunwoody, both the sheriff and the county police can help you. Pick the office that works best for your schedule and location.

Nearby Cities

These cities are near Dunwoody and have their own background check pages with local details.