Coweta County Arrest Records

In Coweta County, law officers can carry out arrests with or without warrants if sufficient proof exists that the individual committed a crime. Coweta County arrest records are originally created by the arresting agent as a report of circumstances surrounding the arrest and secondarily by the housing facility during booking into the Coweta County Jail when the arrest, arrestee, and crime details are collected. Therefore, Coweta arrest records are related to inmate records and may be contained in other records like the Coweta County court and criminal records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Coweta County?

Under Georgia’s Open Records Act, arrest records in Coweta County are subject to public disclosure. However, if the record falls under the umbrella of exempted information, there are two likely scenarios:

1. The private sections shall be redacted from copies issued to the public
2. The entire record shall be unavailable to the public.

Examples of exempted information include:

• Personal information in emergency 911 systems
• Identity of confidential sources and investigation material
• Motor Vehicle Accident Reports
• Pending investigation or prosecution materials
• Juvenile records
• Social security numbers, financial data, and other sensitive personal data which disclosure would constitute an invasion of personal privacy
• Other records expressly deemed confidential by federal statute

Accessing the restricted data may, however, be possible in some cases where the specific requester is specifically granted access by consent or law, such as accident reports being accessible to injured parties or 911 records being available to an accused person in the case. Otherwise, requesters may have to petition the Superior Court for access.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Coweta County public arrest records typically cover details of the alleged offense, the suspect, and the arrest itself. These include:

• Arrest date and location
• Arresting officer
• Offense, offense classification, and statute description
• Charges
• Warrant and release conditions
• Detention details

Depending on the case and record custodian, further court information like court location, hearing dates, and final charges may also be available.

Coweta County Crime Rate

In 2019, Coweta County reported 1,007 property crimes and 596 violent crimes to the FBI. According to the FBI Crime Statistics for Georgia, property crimes in the county comprised three arsons, 98 motor vehicle thefts, 179 burglaries, and 730 larceny-theft cases. Meanwhile, violent crimes included five murders/non-negligent manslaughters, ten robberies, 53 rape cases, and 528 aggravated assaults.

Coweta County Arrest Statistics

According to the FBI Crime Data Explorer, Coweta County Sheriff’s Office reported 1,705 arrests in 2022. Drug abuse violations were the most recorded crimes, with 593 arrests, followed by DUI (230), aggravated assault (203), and simple assaults (85).

Compared with the arrests reported in 5 years (2018-2022), the 2022 report is similar to the crime trend in Coweta County. The five most reported offense categories (in descending order) during these years included drug abuse violations, DUI, aggravated assaults, larceny thefts, and simple assaults.

Find Coweta County Arrest Records

Georgia law requires local law enforcement agencies and criminal justice agencies to report data on crimes and criminals (including arrestee fingerprints, charges, and final dispositions) to a central, statewide depository. As a result, individuals may find Coweta County arrest records contained within the crime history records provided by the Georgia Crime Information Center (GCIC).

Additionally, Georgia’s Department of Correction (DOC) has an online database that provides information on inmates currently or previously incarcerated in state prisons. Individuals can find offenders - and relevant crime data - by searching the site by name, description, offender ID, or case number. Interested persons should use the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator tool to find information on current or released federal inmates.

Free Arrest Record Search in Coweta County

Coweta County Sheriff’s Office, which oversees the county jail, provides an online lookup tool on their website, which persons may use to access inmate records and related arrest information for free. Record seekers may also directly request the specific arresting agency to inspect Coweta County arrest records in person for free. Alternatively, third-party sites may also provide free access to public records. Users may use the search tools provided by these sites to locate and obtain Coweta arrest records.

Get Coweta County Criminal Records

Coweta County criminal records are formal documents detailing a convicted individual's interactions with local and state law enforcement agencies. A Coweta criminal history record contains the following information:

• The subject’s personal identifying information (name, date of birth, sex, race, height, weight, etc.)
• Arrest information (arresting agency, date of arrest, charges)
• Court decision on the case
• Incarceration information (if applicable).

Criminal records in Coweta County are not considered public documents. Therefore, only the record subject and those with their consent can access them. However, if the requested material is a felony conviction record, state law authorizes law enforcement personnel to offer public access to it without the subject's consent.

Eligible persons may obtain copies of criminal records from Coweta County local police departments or sheriff's offices through mail or in-person requests. Requestors can send a completed general open request form to the Sheriff's Office at:

Records Custodian
Coweta County Sheriff's Office
560 Greison Trail
Newnan, GA 30263

Requesters may also send the form via email to ccsoopenrecords@coweta.ga.us.

Alternatively, official Coweta County criminal records are maintained and distributed by the Georgia Crime Information Center (GCIC) of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI). To obtain criminal records from this agency, interested persons must call (404) 244-2639 to schedule an appointment. Then, they can visit the GCIC Lobby on the specified date.

Coweta County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Arrest records in Coweta County contain information on the subject's arrests or detention, regardless of whether the case was later dismissed or the suspect was found guilty or not. They simply indicate that a crime was suspected at some point but did not prove that someone broke the law.

Conversely, a Coweta County criminal record will document any interactions with law enforcement and any convictions if the subject has gone through the legal system. It outlines their arrest, charges, trial, and case resolution. Even a caution, fine, or other penalties will count as convictions and may appear on a criminal record because a caution or fine is a punishment (albeit a minor one) imposed on someone who was found guilty of an offense.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Arrest records remain on a person's record indefinitely unless cleared or sealed. Georgia Code § 35-3-37 allows for automatic expungement of arrest records (of incidents after July 1, 2013) in certain instances, such as when a prosecutor decides not to pursue charges following an arrest. In that case, the record will be hidden from the public eye, as if the incident never happened.

However, expungement does not mean that the record will be destroyed or deleted. Instead, this process is equivalent to restricting the record from public access.

Expunge Coweta County Arrest Records

As of July 1, 2013, expunging records in Georgia is referred to as record restriction. This process involves removing records from public access and making them strictly available to law enforcement agencies for official purposes.

Arrest cases that were dismissed without prosecution are eligible for expungement and might be restricted automatically. In this case, if the record holder was not prosecuted and a specified amount of time has passed since the charge, the record may be automatically restricted. The relevant waiting periods include:

• Two years for misdemeanors and aggravated misdemeanors
• Four years for nonserious and nonviolent felonies
• Seven years for major violent and sexual felonies.

For arrest records that do not fit within this category, the subject must apply for a record restriction by contacting the arresting law enforcement agency and obtaining an application for a Request to Restrict Arrest Record.

The process for completing this form is determined by the date of the applicant's arrest and the agency or prosecuting attorney that handled the case. If the arrest occurred before July 1, 2013, the applicant must fill out the first section of the form and send it to the arresting agency, which will complete the second section before submitting it to the district attorney's office.

If the arrest occurred on or after July 1, 2013, the applicant must contact the district attorney's office directly. In this instance, the arresting agency does not need to process the application first.

After receiving the forms, the district attorney will review them and approve or deny the request within 90 days. Approved applications for record restrictions must be submitted to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation's Georgia Crime Information Center (GCIC) with the appropriate processing fee.

Finally, the arrest is expunged, and access to arrest information is limited exclusively to criminal justice authorities. If the district attorney declines the request, the petitioners have 30 days to file an appeal with the Coweta County Superior Court.

Coweta County Arrest Warrants

Coweta County arrest warrants are legal documents issued by a judge to authorize law enforcement authorities to make an arrest and detain a person in compliance with state laws. Most arrest warrants are requested by law enforcement officials. However, in Coweta County, Georgia, residents can obtain a warrant if they believe they have been the victim of a crime and the culprit has not been apprehended.

However, to issue this warrant, law enforcement officials and other applicants must first prove probable cause, which involves providing evidence and essentially showing the judge that they have more than a suspicion of guilt. When the warrant is issued, a law enforcement officer may serve it anywhere, including the suspect's home, workplace, and public areas.

A Coweta County arrest warrant normally includes the following information:

• Offense details
• Suspect information
• Warrant issuing date
• Bail and bond conditions
• Judge’s name and title

Coweta County Arrest Warrant Search

In Coweta County, the Sheriff's Department is in charge of executing and tracking active arrest warrants. To learn about active arrest warrants in the county, inquirers can visit the Sheriff's Office in person or contact the non-emergency number at (770) 253-1502. Over the phone, requestors must provide the sheriff's office with accurate identifying information, such as the individual's birth date and first and last name. The Sheriff's Office will then offer information on any active warrants against the person in question.

In-person visits to the Sheriff's Office require a government-issued ID. It is important to be aware that if a person comes to the office to obtain warrant information and has a warrant against them, they may be detained immediately.

Coweta County Sheriff's Office
560 Greison Trail,
Newnan, GA 30263
Phone: (770) 253-1502
(770) 254-3911.
Email: info@cowetaso.us.

Additionally, local police departments in Coweta County may also provide information on active warrants upon request. Interested persons may call these agencies’ non-emergency numbers or visit these departments at:

Newnan Police Department
1 Joseph-Hannah Boulevard,
Newnan, GA 30263
Phone: (770) 254-2355

Senoia Police Department
505 Howard Road,
Senoia, GA 30276
Phone: (770) 599-3256

Grantville Police Department
123 Lagrange Street,
Grantville, GA 30220
Phone: (770) 583-2286

Palmetto Police Department
509 Toombs Street,
Palmetto, GA 30268
Phone: (770) 463-9068

Do Coweta County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Coweta County arrest warrants do not expire. These documents are valid indefinitely unless the named individual is arrested or the warrant is recalled and quashed by the issuing judge. As a result, a subject may have a warrant issued for their arrest for as long as it takes to serve.

In general, a warrant for a person's arrest means that a court has heard police evidence and determined that there is a reasonable suspicion that the specified person committed a crime. Hence, depending on the severity of the act, police officers may actively pursue and detain the individual.