Rockdale County Arrest Records

In Rockdale County, arrest records refer to documents created by the Rockdale County Sheriff's Office, Georgia State Patrol, Conyers Police Department, and other local and federal law enforcement agencies when they take individuals into custody within Rockdale County, GA. These documents may become part of Rockdale County court records if they lead to criminal convictions.

Under Georgia statutes, law officers can effect arrests with or without arrest warrants if they witness criminal activities or have probable cause to believe a crime has been committed. Also, arrest becomes necessary in circumstances where public safety is at immediate risk or if there is a warrant from a court of competent jurisdiction.

In Rockdale County, law enforcement agencies incarcerate arrestees and convicts at the Rockdale County Jail (the primary jail facility within the county). They may also transfer convicts of serious crimes or individuals serving long-term sentences to regional or state prisons and federal offenders to federal correctional facilities.

Are Arrest Records Public in Rockdale County?

Yes, arrest records are public in Rockdale County. Per the Georgia Open Records Act (GORA), all government records are open to public inspection and copying unless the court states otherwise. However, not all Rockdale County arrest records are open to public disclosure. The public cannot access Rockdale County arrest information that relates to:

• Juvenile arrests
• Active law enforcement or judicial investigations
• Sealed or expunged records
• National security and public safety
• Victim, witness, or law enforcement informant information.

Unless a requester is the subject of a record, authorized by law, or has judicial orders, they cannot access restricted Rockdale County arrest records.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Generally, public arrest records information about the arrest of individuals. This information includes:

• The name, date of birth, gender, ethnicity, and physical description of the record owner
• Date, time, and location of the arrest
• Name and badge number of the arresting officer
• Charges against the record owner
• Booking number and mugshots
• Bail/Bond information
• Court information (if applicable).

Rockdale County Arrest Statistics

According to the FBI UCR arrest statistics, the Rockdale County Sheriff's Office and the Conyers Police Department reported 2,106 arrest Incidents within Rockdale County between 2021 and 2023. This figure is spread unevenly across the period in focus. In 2023, the Rockdale County Sheriff's Office and the Conyers Police Department reported 761 arrest incidents to the Uniform Crime Reporting program. The same agencies reported 1,311 and 34 arrest incidents in 2022 and 2021.

Between 2021 and 2023, DUI, simple assault, and drug/narcotics violations incidents were the most common incidents within Rockdale County. They accounted for over 38% of arrests within the county. The below shows the number of reported arrests within Rockdale County between 2021 and 2023.

Find Rockdale County Arrest Records

Individuals seeking information about Rockdale County arrest should log into the Rockdale County Sheriff's Office Inmate Lookup and search for arrest records by defendant names or booking numbers. Alternatively, log in to the Georgia Felon Search portal, provide the necessary information, make payments, and request Rockdale County arrest records.

Also, records seekers can make GORA requests to access Rockdale County arrest records to local law enforcement agencies or the Rockdale County Sheriff's Office at

911 Chambers Drive,
Conyers,
GA 30012.

Free Arrest Record Search in Rockdale County

The Georgia Open Records Act empowers custodians of Georgia public records to charge reasonable fees to make them publicly available. However, records seekers can access publicly available Rockdale County arrest information for free through the Rockdale County Sheriff's Office Inmate Lookup Portal.

Requesters can also visit the Rockdale County Sheriff's Office, local police departments, or the Rockdale County Clerk of Superior and State Courts and request free access to arrest records if it does not involve a long search process and making copies. Additionally, Rockdale County arrest records may be available for free online through private databases. Some third-party websites may provide access to Georgia law enforcement documents at no charge.

Rockdale County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Several distinctions exist between Rockdale County arrests and criminal records. These differences arise from their creation method, contents, and legal implications.

Rockdale County arrest records

Rockdale County arrest records are law enforcement documents created by local law enforcement agencies when they take individuals into custody for various offenses. These documents contain the personal details of the arrestees, the reasons for their arrests, and the conditions they must fulfill before their release. Having an arrest record is not a confirmation of guilt or innocence. An arrestee is assumed innocent until the court states otherwise. An arrest record may not significantly impact its owner if it does not lead to a criminal conviction.

Rockdale County criminal records

Rockdale Criminal records are court-generated documents. These documents contain the criminal history of individuals prosecuted under the Rockdale County criminal justice system. Rockdale County criminal records encompass Rockdale County arrest records and files on prosecutions, convictions, and incarceration of criminal offenders with Rockdale County courts.

Unlike arrest records, criminal records are legal confirmation of guilt for specific crimes. A Rockdale County criminal record may negatively impact social status, employment, and housing opportunities.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Arrest information may remain on a record indefinitely if the court does not seal or remove it. The Georgia Criminal Record Expungement Law grants individuals the right to restrict public access to arrest records if they fulfill the qualifying criteria.

Expunge Rockdale County Arrest Records

Section 35-3-37 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, under the Georgia Crime Information Center (GCIC) Act, stipulates the requirements for restricting arrest records within the state. Per Georgia laws, to qualify for public access restriction, an arrest record must result from non-violent misdemeanor, felony, or juvenile crimes. A Rockdale County arrest record owner may petition the court to remove the information if:

• The public prosecutor or victim does not file charges
• The court dismissed the case
• There was an acquittal or dismissal
• The record owner receives a pardon from the State Board of Pardons and Paroles.

Also, individuals can apply for restriction of access to arrest information under the Youthful Offender Act or after completing a Pretrial Diversion Program.

In Rockdale County, arrest records may be automatically restricted if the incident occurred after July 1, 2013. Otherwise, eligible individuals must submit formal requests to restrict access to their arrest records.

The following steps may be helpful to eligible individuals seeking to restrict public access to records of Rockdale County arrests that occurred before July 1, 2013:

• Request and obtain personal criminal history records from the Georgia Crime Information Center (GCIC)
• Download a Request to Restrict Arrest Record Instructions and Request Form:
  • Go through the instructions and complete the request form
  • Attach the criminal history records to the request form and submit them to the Rockdale County law enforcement agency responsible for the arrest to forward it to the Rockdale County District Attorney's Office.
• Wait for the Rockdale County District Attorney's Office to review the request and decide if the record is eligible for restriction.
• If the arrest record qualifies for restriction, the Rockdale County District Attorney will restrict access to it and notify the relevant agencies to update the databases.
• Perform a background check through the Georgia Crime Information Center to confirm that the record is no longer publicly accessible.

Rockdale County Arrest Warrants

Arrest warrants are court documents authorizing law enforcement to take individuals into custody for various reasons. In Rockdale County, a judge/magistrate of the Superior Court, State Court, Magistrate Court, or Municipal Court of Conyers can issue arrest warrants if law enforcement provides evidence of probable cause. Also, the following circumstances may necessitate the issuance of arrest warrants in Rockdale County:

• A person flouts court orders
• An individual intends to flee Rockdale County to avoid trial for a crime
• There is substantial evidence that a person is a public risk.

Generally, a valid arrest warrant must contain the following information:

• Name of the subject/defendant
• Description of the offense and sections of the laws allegedly violated
• Affidavit or statement of probable cause statement
• The name of the issuing court and judge or magistrate’s signature
• Date of issuance of the warrant
• The geographical area where the warrant is valid
• Explicit instructions to law enforcement to arrest and bring the individual before the court
• Bail information (if applicable).

Do Rockdale County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No, arrest warrants do not have expiration dates in Rockdale County or any part of the United States. These documents will remain active until law enforcement apprehends the subjects of the warrants. Nonetheless, arrest warrants become inactive at the demise of their subjects or if the courts cancel them.