South Fulton Background Check

South Fulton background check records go through the Fulton County sheriff and court system. South Fulton is one of Georgia's newer cities, incorporated in 2017, but criminal records are still managed at the county level by the Fulton County Sheriff's Office. Sheriff Patrick "Pat" Labat runs the office at 185 Central Ave SW in Atlanta. The South Fulton Police Department handles local law enforcement and keeps its own arrest and incident records. With over 112,000 residents, South Fulton is a large city in the southern part of Fulton County, just south of Atlanta.

Fulton County Sheriff Background Check

The Fulton County Sheriff's Office processes South Fulton background check requests. Sheriff Patrick "Pat" Labat runs the office at 185 Central Ave SW in Atlanta, GA 30303. Call 404-612-5100 with questions. A background check at the Fulton County Sheriff's Office costs $15. You must pay with cash or a U.S. postal money order. No credit cards, debit cards, or personal checks are accepted. This is a firm policy with no exceptions.

To get a South Fulton background check through the county, visit the sheriff's office in person. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID. Provide the full name and date of birth of the person being checked. The staff runs a name-based search through local Fulton County files and the statewide database. Because Fulton County is the most populated county in Georgia, the office handles a very high volume of requests. Plan for some wait time at the counter and a few business days for results to come back.

South Fulton residents go through the same Fulton County process as Atlanta, Sandy Springs, Roswell, and every other city in the county. The county sheriff is the central point for background checks regardless of which city you live in within Fulton County.

South Fulton Police Department

The South Fulton Police Department is the city's own law enforcement agency. South Fulton has its own police force that handles patrols, responds to calls, and makes arrests within city limits. The department keeps records of its own cases, including arrest reports, incident logs, and investigation files. These records are separate from what the Fulton County Sheriff holds.

If you are doing a thorough South Fulton background check, the police department is worth contacting for city-level records. The sheriff's office has county-wide data, and the state system has statewide data. But the South Fulton Police Department has the most detailed records for incidents that happened within the city limits and were handled by city officers. Both the police department and the sheriff report their data to the Georgia Crime Information Center at the state level.

Note: South Fulton has its own police department, but background check records are processed at the Fulton County level.

South Fulton Background Check Image

The South Fulton Police Department website has information about city law enforcement services.

The South Fulton Police Department handles local law enforcement while the Fulton County Sheriff's Office processes background check requests.

State Resources for South Fulton

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation runs the state criminal history database that includes all South Fulton records. The Georgia Felon Search costs $15 and shows felony convictions statewide. Enter a name and get email results right away. This is a quick way to check for felony convictions without visiting an office. The search only covers felony convictions. It does not show arrests, misdemeanors, or pending cases.

For a more thorough South Fulton background check, the GAPS fingerprint system through IdentoGO searches both GBI and FBI databases. Fingerprint checks are more accurate and cover more ground than name-based searches. They pick up out-of-state records and avoid problems with common names. There are many IdentoGO locations in the metro Atlanta area, including sites near South Fulton. The GBI services page breaks down all the different search options available.

South Fulton Background Check Laws

Georgia law sets the framework for how background checks work in South Fulton. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34, the GBI shares criminal history information with authorized parties. The law caps the fee at $20 per record. The Fulton County Sheriff charges $15, which is under the cap. This statute also defines who can request records and what type of information is available.

Record restriction under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37 lets people petition to have certain records removed from public results. Dismissed charges and dropped cases may qualify. Once restricted, the record does not show up on a standard South Fulton background check. The First Offender Act under O.C.G.A. § 42-8-60 also affects what you see. If someone completed their sentence under the First Offender Act, the conviction does not appear as a conviction on public background checks. It is still in the system, but flagged so it reads differently.

South Fulton Background Check Fees

• Fulton County Sheriff background check: $15 (cash or U.S. postal money order only)
• Georgia Felon Search: $15 per search (online, felony convictions only)
• GAPS fingerprint check: varies by IdentoGO location
• Record restriction in Fulton County: $25 per arrest
• State fee cap: $20 per O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34(d.3)

The Fulton County Sheriff's Office is strict about payment. Cash or U.S. postal money order only. If you show up without the right payment, you will be turned away. Get a money order before your visit if you do not have cash. The $15 fee is per background check request. Record restriction costs extra at $25 per arrest if you need that service.

South Fulton Contact Details

• Fulton County Sheriff: 185 Central Ave SW, Atlanta, GA 30303
• Sheriff Phone: 404-612-5100
• Sheriff: Patrick "Pat" Labat
• Background Check Fee: $15 (cash or U.S. postal money order)
• South Fulton Police: cityofsouthfultonga.gov
• Georgia Sheriffs Directory: georgiasheriffs.org

For a South Fulton background check, head to the Fulton County Sheriff's Office in downtown Atlanta. Contact the South Fulton Police Department for city-specific incident reports. Both agencies serve the South Fulton area and can help you find the records you need.

Nearby Cities

South Fulton is near several other cities in the metro Atlanta area. These cities have their own background check pages.