Paulding County Arrest Records

In Paulding County, law enforcement officers are permitted to arrest an individual suspected of committing a crime, with or without a warrant (Georgia Code § 17-4-20). However, there are certain criteria by which an officer may arrest a suspect without a warrant, such as:

• If the crime is committed in the officer's presence or within the officer's immediate knowledge;
• The officer has possible cause to believe that an act of domestic violence, as outlined in Code Section 19-13-1, has been committed;
• The suspect is attempting to escape;
• The officer has probable cause to believe that the suspect has violated a criminal domestic violence order, as stated in Code Section 16-5-95. However, such officer shall not have any existing or prior familial relationship with the alleged offender or victim;

After an arrest, the offender is taken to the nearest police jail or precinct, where they are detained for court arraignment. During this time, the officers will book the suspect by creating a record and collecting their personal details (full name, date of birth, address, occupation, race, etc.), details regarding the charges that resulted in the arrest, and information about the arrest incident (time, location, and date). Notably, this record is called the offender's arrest record and is categorized under the Paulding County Court Records or Criminal Records.

Typically, these records are mainly held by the law enforcement bodies that create them. They are essential for accessing an individual's criminal history or commencing a criminal proceeding.

Are Arrest Records Public in Paulding County?

Yes. In Paulding County, arrest records are classified as public records under the Georgia Open Records Act (O.C.G.A.). The O.C.G.A. requires that public records be accessible to members of the public for inspection and duplication upon request. Moreover, certain types of records are exempted from disclosure by Georgia law or by court order. These records include:

• Records that are specifically kept confidential by federal regulation or statute
• Veterinary or medical records and similar files, of which disclosure would expose personal privacy.
• Except as otherwise stated by law, records collated for prosecution or law enforcement reasons to the extent that provision of such records would likely result in the exposure of the identity of a confidential source, reveal prosecution or confidential investigative material which would endanger physical safety or life of any individual(s), or reveal the existence of confidential investigation or surveillance.
• Records of prosecution, regulatory, or law enforcement agencies in any pending investigation or prosecution of unlawful or criminal activity, other than initial incident reports or initial police arrest reports; provided, however, that prosecution or investigation shall no longer be considered pending when all direct legal proceedings regarding such prosecution and investigation have been finalized or otherwise canceled; and provided, further, that this paragraph shall not apply to records held by an agency that is the subject of the pending prosecution or investigation; and provided, further that the disclosure of booking photographs shall only be allowed in accordance to O.C.G.A. Section 35-1-18.
• Individual Georgia Uniform Motor Vehicle Accident Reports, except upon submitting a written application by the requester to be offered to the custodian of records and to set forth the need for the report according to this Code section.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Generally, Paulding County Arrest Records include:

• Arrestee's personal details (full name, date of birth, gender, and other essential bio data)
• Arrest time, date, and location;
• Information regarding the presiding court that issued the arrest warrant and any subsequent proceedings, if available.
• Details of the incident, comprising records of the incidents that resulted in the arrest, such as calls for service, court order to appear, and other related statistics.
• Information about the arresting agency.
• The charges against the offender.
• Information about bond or bail established for the offender, if available.
• Disposition (including acquittal, dismissal, or conviction).

Paulding County Crime Rate

The most recent crime statistics published by the Paulding County Sheriff's Department revealed that the overall number of crimes committed in the county in 2024 was 1,427 incidents. As per the report, Theft by Taking was the most reported offense, accounting for 668, or 46.81% of those incidents. Following that were Suicide Threats and Assault, accounting for 196 and 194, or 13.7% and 13.5% of those reports. Other notable crime incidents include Entering Auto (82), Burglary (62), Mentally ill-related crimes (56), Suicide attempt (53), and D.U.I. (41), among others.

Compared to the report published for 2023 from the same Sheriff's Office, when the total crime index was 2,441 reported cases, 2024 has reported 1,014 fewer cases. However, for both years, Theft by Taking was the most frequent in 2023 (1,070) and 2024 so far (668). In 2023, the suicide threat cases were 270, against 2024's 196. Similarly, the 2022 report found that there were 2,368 crime cases reported to the Paulding Sheriff's Department, with Theft by Taking (951), Assault (472), and Suicide Threats (311) being the most prevalent.

Find Paulding County Arrest Records

The Paulding County Sheriff's Office maintains records of all arrests made within the county and provides an Online Offender Lookup System for requesters to access arrest records using their mobile devices. To do so, the requester should do the following:

• Visit the Paulding Sheriff's Department website
• Select the Inmate Lookup link
• Provide the name of the arrestee in the required field, and provide the subject number, booking number, and housing facility, if available.
• Choose the given record from the list of search results.

However, this online search portal does not allow individuals to obtain copies of the records. Anyone seeking copies of the records can do so by mailing the Sheriff's Department at:

#180 Constitution Boulevard,
Dallas, Georgia 30132.
Phone: (770) 443-3010

Alternatively, researchers may visit the Paulding County Records Division at the same address during work hours to obtain the records in person.

Also, Paulding County citizens arrested by the F.B.I. are usually held at the county jail before being transferred to the Federal Bureau of Prisons (B.O.P.). Requesters may utilize the F.B.I.'s Federal Inmate Locator to find records of arrestees by name or number (register number, D.C.D.C. number, F.B.I. number, or I.N.S. number).

Free Arrest Record Search in Paulding County

In Paulding County, Georgia, interested persons may visit the local police department to access arrest records if they know the police department responsible for arresting the suspect. Usually, the police department does not charge any fees for accessing arrest records; however, requesters will be required to pay minimal fees for copies of the records, depending on the number of copies requested.

The local Sheriff's Department also provides a free online database for requesters to obtain arrest records within the county. Individuals may choose to use this online method to acquire the records for free or apply in person at the Sheriff's Department's address stated above.

Alternatively, third-party online search portals maintained by private information firms may provide free access to arrest records.

Get Paulding County Criminal Records

A criminal record is an official document comprising information about a person's interaction with the criminal justice system. This includes arrests, charges, convictions, sentencing details, and outcomes of the legal proceeding, if any. There are three kinds of crimes—infractions, misdemeanors, and felonies. Infractions are minor offenses. Usually, violations are penalized by fines without jail tenure. Misdemeanors are less severe criminal activities penalized by fines up to $1,000 and/or up to one year jail time. These include D.U.I. or petty theft. Felonies are the most severe crimes punishable by jail time for more than one year, heavy fines, or death penalty.

Inquirers may obtain criminal records at the Georgia Felon Search, an online search repository operated by the Georgia Department of Corrections for all statewide records searches in Georgia. Requesters should do the following to acquire criminal records:

• Visit the Georgia Department of Corrections website
• Click on the "Find an Offender" link.
• Go through the terms and conditions of use and click on agree to use the online search portal.
• Search for the Criminal record by providing the details of the subject (full name, gender, race, and age range).
• Choose the given record.

Requesters will need to pay a nominal $15 fee per search to access these criminal records.

Alternatively, visit the office of the Paulding County Sheriff's Department to conduct a criminal record search in person. Requesters should be sure to contact the office prior to booking an appointment and then carry along valid means of identification. Requesters should also ensure to visit the office during business hours (8. a.m. to 5. p.m., Monday through Friday). One may also submit an Open Records Request to the Sheriff's Records Division by email at: sheriff-openrecords@paulding.gov, Fax: (770) 505-5524, or mail at:

#180 Constitution Boulevard,
Dallas, Georgia 30132.

Paulding County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Paulding County arrest records and criminal records are often used synonymously during legal proceedings to access an individual's criminal history. However, there are some distinctions between the two.

An arrest record is an official document that reveals that an individual has been taken into custody by the local police. It does not imply that the person has been convicted of a crime. These records contain charges, dates, arrestee information, and other related information about the arrest. They do not include the court disposition or more comprehensive criminal details.

A criminal record is an official record of an individual's criminal history, comprising the person's interaction with the criminal justice system. These details include arrests, convictions, sentencing details, the presiding local and state law enforcement agencies, prosecutor's office, probation departments, and correctional facilities. The Georgia Department of Correction is responsible for holding these records.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Indefinitely. In Paulding County, these records remain on a record until they are restricted or expunged. The O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37 enables individuals to expunge or restrict arrest records under certain conditions, such as non-conviction, or when the subject of the record completes a pretrial diversion program.

Expunge Paulding County Arrest Records

Most Paulding County arrest records can be restricted or expunged if the crime committed is categorized for expungement or the arrestee satisfies the demanded criteria. Most infractions and misdemeanor cases that were terminated without a conviction can be expunged. People apply for expungement, as it may negatively impact their job, license, or housing applications during background checks.

Also, the date of the arrest and the agency or prosecuting attorney processing the case may affect the process to expunge the record. For records before July 1, 2013, expungements are handled by the arresting agency, while for records from July 1, 2013, to date, expungements will be handled by the prosecuting attorney's office directly.

Eligible applicants must submit requests to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation's Georgia Crime Information Center (G.C.I.C.) to expunge arrests from records.

The process of expungement commences when an arrestee or their lawyer submits a petition to a court (usually a superior court). After this, the court reviews the application and schedules a petition hearing; there, it may grant or decline the petition. If the court approves the expungement petition, the petitioner (arrestee or attorney) must then apply to the arresting agency or district attorney via the Request to Restrict Arrest Record Form and a processing fee ranging between $25 and $50 (payable check or money order).

One may mail these applications to the G.C.I.C. Records Restrictions at:

P.O. Box 370808 Decatur,
Georgia 30037-0808.

Paulding County Arrest Warrants

A Paulding County magistrate or judge may issue an arrest warrant if any peace officer provides enough probable cause stating the possibility that a suspected individual committed a crime. Other reasons for the issuance of a warrant include when an individual fails to appear in court, existing criminal investigations, or new criminal charges.

To obtain an arrest warrant, a law enforcement officer must present probable cause to the court that an individual has committed a crime. The judge or magistrate then reviews the request and decides whether to grant or decline it. If granted, the warrant enables law enforcement officers to arrest and detain the suspect at any day or time.

Typically, a warrant comprises the following details:

• The suspect's name or personal description.
• The crime they are alleged of.
• The place and date of issuance.
• The presiding magistrate or judge's signature.
• The issuing agency or court
• The bail amount, if any.

Paulding County Arrest Warrant Search

Requesters can visit the local police department or the County Sheriff's office to look up active arrest warrants in Paulding County, Georgia. They will need to carry along a valid government ID. Statewide arrest warrant searches at the county sheriff's department do not require a fee for access. Researchers must provide the arrestee's full name and date of birth.

Also, researchers who suspect that a warrant for their arrest exists should consult their attorneys and have them conduct the search on their behalf. If an actual warrant against them exists, appearing at the Sheriff's office may lead to their immediate arrest.

Do Paulding County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. Paulding County arrest warrants are not subject to state laws or statutes' expiration dates. Thus, they remain valid until the suspect named on the warrant is either dead or arrested. The arrest warrant may only be considered expired if the issuing agency quashes or recalls it.