Hall County Arrest Records

Hall County arrest records document when citizens are taken into custody and the offense that resulted in the arrest. In Hall County, arrests typically occur when law enforcement officers have probable cause to believe an individual has committed a crime. After an arrest, law enforcement agents usually take the arrestee to the Hall County Jail, where they are detained during the booking process until they are either released on bail or have the charges against them dropped.

The Hall County Sheriff’s Office is the primary agency responsible for generating arrest records in the county. These records are part of the more extensive categorization of Hall County Court Records, encompassing various public records, including criminal and civil court cases and other legal documents. Arrest records detail a person’s detainment and any charges that may have been filed due to the arrest.

These arrest records are a subdivision of public records under the Georgia Open Records Act and are generally available to the public unless subject to public disclosure exemptions.

Are Arrest Records Public in Hall County?

Yes, they are. Under the Georgia Open Records Act, Hall County records generated and maintained by a government agency while doing public business are public records. Such records include documents and other materials prepared, maintained, or received by a private company representing a public agency.

Consequently, interested persons can inspect and copy all Hall County arrest records, except those expressly exempted by state and federal laws or a court order. These exemptions typically seek to protect ongoing investigations/prosecutions or information that may endanger the lives of individuals collaborating with law enforcement agencies.

Hall County arrest records exempted from public disclosure under § 50-18-72 include:

• Birth records
• Confidential source, surveillance, or investigation law enforcement records
• Child abuse reports (where confidential)
• Credit reports
• Federal records exempted by law
• Juvenile records
• Name/ID of rape victims
• Social security number
• Bank account details
• Confidential tax information
• Wiretapping records

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Within the purview of the public arrest records, the Act permits Hall County requesters to access the following:

• Suspect’s name, birth date, ethnicity, and sex.
• Booking and Detention Information
• Arrest Details (arrest date, arresting agency, and the bond amount)
• Description of the accusations brought against the arrestee.

Hall County Crime Rate

According to 2022 crime statistics from the Hall County Sheriff's Office, the County witnessed a 10.59% increase in violent crimes and a 13.17% increase in property crimes between 2021 and 2022. In 2022, there were 282 violent crimes in Hall County. Aggravated and rapes were the most prevalent violent crimes, accounting for 69.50% and 19.50%, respectively. Others include robbery, which made up 8.16% (23 cases), and homicides, with 2.84% (8 cases).

There were 1,468 property crimes recorded in 2022. Larceny theft incidents were the most common, with 70.79% (174 cases). Other property crimes were burglaries and motor vehicle thefts, with 17.02% (250 cases) and 11.85% (174 cases).

Hall County Arrest Statistics

The Inmates Statistical Report from the Georgia Department of Corrections put the total number of inmates in Hall County at 127 in 2023. This figure comprises 104 (81.89%) males and 23 (1.31%) females. Similarly, data from the previous year showed the county jail housed 134 inmates in 2022. Of this number, 117 (87.31%) and 17 (12.69%) were female.

A comparison of the 2022 and 2023 figures revealed that the male inmate population fell by 5.22% while the female inmate population increased slightly. The overall inmate population declined during this period.

Find Hall County Arrest Records

Residents may obtain copies of an arrest record by submitting an open records request form online or browsing the Inmates Catalog on the Sheriff's Office site. The database provides information such as the date of arrest, charges against the suspect, booking agency, holding facility, and bail amount, as well as the suspect's physical descriptors (age, sex, height, weight, and race). Clicking on the "see more details" tab on an inmate page offers more information, such as a description of the charges, arrest status, bond type, and bond status. Visitors looking for arrest records on the Office’s website can also search the Sex Offenders Lookup. The page offers arrest details similar to that of inmates.

Alternatively, interested parties can use the Department of Corrections (DOC) Offender Search tool to search by name, description, ID, or case number. Additionally, they can call the Inmates Concern Section at (404) 656-4661 or mail a letter to 300 Patrol Road, Forsyth, GA 31029.

The Federal Inmate Locator may be of interest to requesters seeking the location of a federal offender. The person conducting the inquiry can search by the inmate's name or number.

Free Arrest Record Search in Hall County

Arresting and booking processes are predominantly a local affair. Typically, law enforcement officers take a suspect to the closest police department for booking or “processing”. Therefore, requesters seeking free Hall County arrest records may wish to visit the Hall County Sheriff's Office, comprising the Headquarters and the North and South Precincts. They can submit open records requests that specify the nature and type of records desired at 2859 Brown Bridge Road, Gainesville, Georgia 30504, or call (770) 531-6900.

For requesters who prefer to search online, the Inmate Jail List is the best source for free arrest records. The list is automatically updated every 15 minutes and should include any recent alterations in detainee status. Requesters with further inquiries not addressed by the inmate population list can contact the Detention Centre staff at (770) 531-6904. Although non-exempted arrest records are available to browse online or inspect in person, making copies of such records attracts fees.

Get Hall County Criminal Records

A criminal history record in Hall County is a detailed legal record that provides an in-depth description of an individual's criminal offenses. The report typically includes the categories of crimes, the dates of arrest, the charges, and the outcome of the cases, including verdicts and dismissals.

Requesters of Hall County criminal history records can obtain reports from the Records Division in the front lobby of the Sheriff's Office. However, they must present an authentic government-issued photo ID when requesting the records.

Georgia Criminal history reports are available for employment background checks; firearms permit applications, guardianship cases, and immigration cases.

The report costs $20, whether someone requests their criminal history or another person's. Please note that the applicant must only pay in cash or by money order.

The Records Unit requires one business day for criminal history record requests. Upon completion of the reports, requesters may visit the Records Unit at their office to pick up their reports between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

At the state level, the Georgia Crime Information Center (GCIC) Office also assists with criminal history inquiries, criminal record restrictions, and criminal record inspections. Nonetheless, visitors to the GCIC Office must have an appointment for records examination and fingerprint services.

To submit applications for criminal history updates, interested parties can send their forms to:

Georgia Crime Information Center
CCH/Identification
P.O. Box 370808
Decatur, Georgia 30037

Hall County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Arrest Records:

Hall County arrest records are legal records that law enforcement agencies generate after an individual is detained for committing a crime. Arrest records are official documents law enforcement agencies create after detaining a person suspected of committing a crime. These documents usually include the arrestee's personal information, the arrest date and location, the arresting officer's name, and the charges brought against the offender.

Furthermore, they may contain information about the warrant issuer and the jail or prison address if the individual is held in custody. An arrest record's main essence is compiling the circumstances around a person's arrest and laying the foundation for potential criminal charges.

Criminal Records:

Conversely, Hall County criminal records are extensive documents that account for a person's interactions with the court system. Such interactions may include arrests, charges, court cases, and convictions. Criminal records include personal details, booking photographs, fingerprints, charges, pleas, indictment, and conviction information. In Georgia, the Georgia Information Center (GCIC) manages criminal records. The data input for the GCIC database comes from the municipal, county, and state levels. Although criminal records are public under the Georgia Open Records Act, the judiciary may seal or delete them.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Arrest records can stay on record indefinitely. However, depending on the nature of the offense, a person may have their arrest records sealed or expunged for the following:

• Arrests that do not result in prosecution: This includes cases where the suspect was not accused or indicted by prosecutors. Automatic restrictions are available for arrest before and after July 1, 2013.
• Misdemeanors: For misdemeanors, requesters who wish to seal or expunge their records must wait four years from the date of conviction to have eligible misdemeanor convictions restricted and sealed per law. Nevertheless, requesters must not amass fresh convictions or charges during the waiting stage and the entirety of the process.
• Felonies: The waiting period for felonies is four years, but violent, severe felonies and sex crimes attract a waiting period of 7 years.

Expunge Hall County Arrest Records

An individual can request that specific criminal history records be concealed or sealed from the public, subject to the prosecuting attorney's approval. After such approval, a person with a records restriction can apply for housing, licenses, or jobs without their criminal record history being discovered in a background check. Nevertheless, the criminal history will not be permanently erased or eliminated due to the restriction on approved records. The courts and criminal justice agencies will continue to have access to the record.

Automatic Record Restriction:

• Arrests without a conviction qualify for automatic restriction after a specified term. The time frame varies depending on the type of offense.
• To be automatically restricted, misdemeanors take two years, felonies four years, and severe or sex-related offenses seven years.
• However, if a prosecutor reopens a criminal investigation, the record becomes unrestricted until the case is completed.

Process:

• For arrests before July 1, 2013, the arresting agency must process the request for record restriction.
• For arrests occurring after July 1, 2013, individuals should contact the prosecutor to request record restriction. In this instance, the requester does not need to apply.

Interested individuals can download and begin the process of requesting records restriction or expungement by visiting the Georgia Bureau of Investigation's Georgia Criminal History Records Restriction page.

Assuming an applicant meets all eligibility requirements and has the request approved, they must send the approved records restriction to the Georgia Crime Information Centre to remove the arrest from their record.

Hall County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant is typically issued to arrest a person alleged to have committed an offense. The three most common types of warrants associated with criminal cases in Hall County are search warrants, arrest warrants, and bench warrants.

Typically, law enforcement issues the majority of warrants in Hall County. However, Georgia legislation does allow individuals to seek a warrant if they believe they have been the victim of a crime and the culprit has not been apprehended.

For information on obtaining an arrest warrant for a person, please call the Hall County Magistrate Court at (770) 531-6912.

Hall County Arrest Warrant Search

Inquirers seeking information on active arrest warrants in Hall County may contact the Sheriff's Office Warrant Unit. They can find the Unit at 1700 Barber Road, Gainesville, A 30507, or call (770) 531-6907. The Unit's mission is to locate and apprehend individuals sought on arrest warrants, arrest orders, probation or parole warrants, and bench warrants.

Do Hall County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. There is no statute of limitations on Hall County arrest warrants. Arrest warrants in the county will remain effective until law enforcement officials arrest the subject of the warrant, the person appears in court, or dies.