Fulton County Police Blotter Search
Fulton County police blotter records cover the most populous county in Georgia, home to over one million residents including the city of Atlanta. The Fulton County Sheriff's Office and numerous city police departments throughout the county generate a large volume of police blotter data every day. Whether you need to search arrest logs, find an incident report, or look up recent crime activity, this page explains how to access police blotter records in Fulton County. Georgia's open records law protects public access to these files. With so many agencies operating within its borders, knowing where to start your search in Fulton County is the first step.
Fulton County Quick Facts
Fulton County Police Blotter Office
Sheriff Pat Labat leads the Fulton County Sheriff's Office, which operates out of 185 Shirley C Franklin Blvd SW, Floor 9, Atlanta, GA 30303. The main phone number is (404) 612-3280. This office is responsible for court security, jail operations, and civil process across Fulton County. The sheriff's office runs the Fulton County Jail, one of the largest jail facilities in Georgia. Booking records from that facility make up a large part of the Fulton County police blotter.
The sheriff's office handles records requests for booking data, arrest logs, and other documents they produce. Due to the volume of cases in Fulton County, wait times may be longer than in smaller counties. Staff process requests in the order they come in. You can visit in person during business hours or submit a written request by mail. Phone inquiries work for simple questions, but copies of records usually require a formal written request or walk-in visit. The Fulton County Sheriff's Office follows the same three-business-day response rule that applies to every government agency in Georgia under the Open Records Act.
| Sheriff | Pat Labat |
|---|---|
| Address | 185 Shirley C Franklin Blvd SW, Floor 9, Atlanta, GA 30303 |
| Phone | (404) 612-3280 |
| County Seat | Atlanta |
Police Blotter Agencies in Fulton County
Fulton County is unique in Georgia because of how many different law enforcement agencies operate within its borders. The sheriff's office is just one piece of the picture. The Atlanta Police Department is the largest agency in Fulton County. Several other city police departments also generate their own police blotter records. Understanding which agency handled your incident is key to finding the right record.
The Atlanta Police Department handles all calls inside the Atlanta city limits. South Fulton, Sandy Springs, Roswell, Johns Creek, Alpharetta, Milton, East Point, and Union City all have their own police departments too. Each of these agencies keeps its own police blotter. If you are not sure which agency to contact, think about where the incident took place. If it was on a state highway, the Georgia State Patrol may have the report. For incidents in unincorporated Fulton County, the sheriff or Fulton County Police may have responded. Getting the right agency from the start will save you time when searching for police blotter records in Fulton County.
Note: Fulton County stretches from the north side near Alpharetta all the way south past Union City, covering a large and diverse geographic area.
Fulton County Blotter and Georgia Law
All police blotter records in Fulton County fall under the Georgia Open Records Act. O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 defines public records to include any document a government agency makes or keeps. This covers arrest logs, incident reports, booking sheets, and call-for-service records. Every agency in Fulton County must respond to records requests within three business days.
O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72 spells out exemptions. Pending investigation files from Fulton County law enforcement can be held back if their release would compromise the case. Confidential informant details are always protected. Records that could put someone in danger stay sealed. But initial incident reports and arrest records are available to the public in almost all cases, even during active investigations. Once a Fulton County case wraps up, the full file is generally open for review. You do not need to give a reason when you ask for police blotter records in Georgia.
Fees follow state rules. Up to 10 cents per page for copies. The first quarter hour of search time is free per O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71. After that, the agency may charge the hourly rate of its lowest paid qualified worker. Given the size of Fulton County and the volume of records, large requests can get expensive. Ask for an estimate before staff begin pulling files.
State Police Blotter Databases
Georgia runs several state-level databases that include records from Fulton County agencies. The EPORTS system from the Department of Public Safety lets you request incident reports, crash reports, and citations from the Georgia State Patrol. If a trooper handled a call on an interstate or state highway in Fulton County, the report goes through EPORTS. Incident reports cost $2.00 each. Crash reports are $5.00 for an uncertified electronic copy.
The EPORTS homepage is the starting point for requesting any state trooper report from Fulton County. The system handles incident reports, crash reports, and traffic citations.
The GBI records request portal takes open records requests for GBI case files. The bureau handles many high-profile investigations in Fulton County, and their records can be requested online. For criminal history information, O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34 limits access. Georgia felony convictions are public, but other criminal history data needs the subject's consent.
The Georgia Department of Corrections offender search covers all current and former state prison inmates. It is free to use and shows photos when available. This tool is helpful for tracking what happened after a Fulton County arrest led to a state prison sentence. The Georgia Sheriffs' Association directory lists contact info for every sheriff in the state.
Requesting Fulton County Police Records
Start by figuring out which agency has the record you need. For the sheriff's office, visit 185 Shirley C Franklin Blvd SW in Atlanta or call (404) 612-3280. For Atlanta Police Department records, contact their records unit directly. For records from Sandy Springs, Roswell, Johns Creek, or any other city police department in Fulton County, reach out to that specific agency.
When making a request, include the date of the incident, names of anyone involved, and the location. If you have a report number or case number, provide it. Written requests are preferred by most Fulton County agencies for anything beyond a simple records check. Some agencies in Fulton County accept email requests. Check the specific department's website for their process. Given the high volume of police blotter activity in Fulton County, be prepared to wait the full three business days for a response on larger requests. Simple single-record requests at smaller departments may be faster.
The GBI online tip form is available if you need to report serious crime. Tips may lead to new police blotter entries in Fulton County. Call (800) 597-8477 for the phone tip line.
Georgia DPS posts its full fee schedule online. This applies to state patrol reports from incidents on highways and interstates in Fulton County.
Cities in Fulton County
Fulton County contains more cities with populations over 25,000 than any other county in Georgia. Each city listed below has its own police department that keeps separate police blotter records from the Fulton County Sheriff's Office.
Other communities in Fulton County include College Park, Hapeville, Fairburn, and Palmetto. Police blotter records for these areas may come from either the local police department or the Fulton County Sheriff's Office depending on who responded to the call.
Nearby Counties
Fulton County borders several other Georgia counties. Police blotter records from incidents near the county line may be held by one of these neighboring agencies.