Georgia Public Records

In Georgia, background checks are governed by the Georgia Open Records Act (ORA) (Georgia Code § 50-18-70 through § 50-18-77). They may include criminal history, sex offender status, court filings, arrest records, and vital statistics. Agencies must respond within 3 business days to provide records or written notice of when records will be ava. The law is administered by Georgia Attorney General's Office, Open Government Hotline: (404) 656-3300.

Police reports in Georgia are public records under the Georgia Open Records Act (ORA). Submit your request to the agency that generated the report. Who may request: Any person - no residency requirement. Response deadline: 3 business days to provide records or written notice of when records will be ava. If access is denied, you may appeal to district or circuit court.

Vital records (birth, death, marriage, divorce) in Georgia are maintained by the state Department of Health or Vital Statistics. Standard fees: Actual costs of search, retrieval, and production; no charge for first 15 minute. Certified copies carry separate fee schedules. Fee waivers may be available for journalists, nonprofits, and public-interest requesters - always ask.

The Georgia Department of Education provides school district and performance data for all public schools in the state. This data includes information on student enrollment, test scores, graduation rates, and other measures of school performance. The data can be accessed through the Georgia Department of Education's website. Georgia Department of Education (www.gadoe.org) publishes annual school and district performance reports covering graduation rates, standardized test scores, chronic absenteeism, and college/career readiness. Reports are available on the agency's official website and are updated each fall following the close of the academic year. Parents and researchers can compare district performance across Georgia using the state's school accountability portal.

Georgia crime statistics are compiled by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) and published in the annual Crime in Georgia report at gbi.georgia.gov. The FBI UCR program also covers Georgia. In 2022, Georgia reported a violent crime rate of approximately 340 per 100,000 residents. The GBI Crime Statistics portal provides county-level data. Atlanta, Savannah, and Augusta publish city-specific crime reports through their respective police departments.

If arrested in Georgia, you would be taken to the local county jail. Court appearances are scheduled in the county where the arrest occurred. Under the Georgia Open Records Act (ORA), arrest records and booking information are generally public. Oversight: Georgia Attorney General's Office, Open Government Hotline: (404) 656-3300. Appeals go to district or circuit court.

Yes. Georgia state and public libraries provide access to public records databases. The Georgia Open Records Act (ORA) (Georgia Code § 50-18-70 through § 50-18-77) guarantees public access to government documents. Many libraries offer free access to LexisNexis, court records portals, and vital record indexes. The Georgia Archives, 5800 Jonesboro Rd, Morrow, GA 30260 provides free public access to government records, genealogy databases (Ancestry.com, HeritageQuest), legal research tools (LexisNexis, Westlaw), and historical newspaper archives. Under the Georgia Open Records Act (O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70), library patrons can request government documents through the library's inter-agency loan and records request services at no charge. Many local public libraries throughout Georgia also offer digital access to court records and vital statistics indexes.

The Georgia Public Library Service is located in Atlanta, Georgia. The address is 1800 Century Place NE, Suite 150, Atlanta, GA 30345. It serves as the state library agency and supports public libraries across all 159 counties in Georgia. The library maintains public access to government records, historical archives, genealogy databases, and legal research tools. Under the Georgia Open Records Act (O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70), Georgia residents may request government documents through the state library's reference services. Collections include census records, land patents, vital statistics indexes, and digitized newspapers. Most state library services are free to Georgia residents. Contact the library by phone or visit the official GA state library website for research guides and online catalog access.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) provides fingerprinting services at its headquarters in Decatur, Georgia. The GBI also has regional offices in Atlanta, Augusta, Macon, and Savannah that provide fingerprinting services. Residents can also be fingerprinted at local sheriff offices, police departments, and approved private LiveScan vendors throughout Georgia. Prints are submitted electronically to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) and to the FBI for national background checks. Common purposes include employment, professional licensing, adoption, volunteer work, and immigration. Standard fee: $5-$25 for ink cards; $20-$50 for electronic LiveScan. Allow 3-7 business days for results to be returned to the requesting agency.