Atlanta Busted Mugshots and Arrest Records

Atlanta busted mugshots and arrest records are processed through the Fulton County Sheriff's Office, which books most defendants arrested by Atlanta Police Department into the Fulton County Jail on Rice Street. With a city population of over 520,000, Atlanta generates more bookings than any other city in Georgia, and the county inmate search tool at fcsoga.org is the main public resource for finding arrest data, charges, custody status, and booking numbers tied to Atlanta arrests.

Atlanta Arrest Booking Process and County Jail

When Atlanta Police Department officers make an arrest, most defendants go to the Fulton County Jail at 901 Rice Street NW, Atlanta, GA 30318. That facility is the primary booking site for Atlanta arrests and holds close to 1,900 people at capacity. The booking process includes fingerprinting, photographing, and entering charges into the county jail system. Once booking is complete, the defendant's record becomes searchable in the public inmate database.

Atlanta also operates a City Detention Center at 254 Peachtree Street SW, Atlanta GA 30303, reachable at 404-865-8001. Some defendants pass through this facility before transfer to the county jail. If you are searching for someone arrested in Atlanta and can't find them at the county jail, check whether they may still be at the City Detention Center. Most people do end up at the Fulton County Jail within 24 to 48 hours of arrest. Bail bondsmen and attorneys often recommend waiting until the full booking is complete before searching the online database, since records sometimes take a few hours to appear.

The Fulton County jail also has two satellite locations. The North Annex sits at 2565 Old Milton Parkway in Alpharetta. The South Annex is at 6500 Watson Street in Union City. Overflow from Atlanta arrests can land at either of these sites. The main inmate search tool covers all three facilities.

Atlanta Police Department Information

The Atlanta Police Department headquarters is at 249 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta GA 30303. For non-emergency calls, the number is 404-614-6544. APD handles arrests across dozens of neighborhoods and zones throughout the city. The department processes a large number of bookings each year given Atlanta's size and role as the state capital and a major metro hub.

APD publishes some crime data through the city's public safety reporting systems. For individual arrest records and booking photos, though, the Fulton County Sheriff is the right starting point since APD does not maintain its own public inmate database. Arrest records generated by APD officers flow into the county system after booking at the Fulton County Jail. If you want to file a formal records request directly with APD, the Atlanta City Clerk's office handles open records requests under the Georgia Open Records Act.

Atlanta Busted Mugshots - Fulton County Inmate Search

The Fulton County Sheriff's Office inmate search at fcsoga.org/inmate-search is free and open to the public. No account is needed. You can search by first name, last name, or booking number. Results include the defendant's full name, booking number, arresting agency, charges, warrant number, court disposition, and release date where applicable. This is the most direct way to find Atlanta busted mugshots and arrest data in the county system.

The inmate search covers current and recently released inmates. Older records may not appear in the live search. For historical Atlanta arrest records, you may need to submit a formal open records request to the Fulton County Sheriff's Office at orr@fultoncountyga.gov. Under the Georgia Open Records Act at O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, the agency must respond within three business days. The first 15 minutes of staff time and the first 20 pages are provided at no charge.

The screenshot below shows the Georgia Department of Corrections offender search, one of several statewide tools useful when looking for Atlanta arrest and conviction records.

The GDC database covers state prison inmates. Someone convicted in Atlanta and sent to state prison will appear here, though local jail bookings show up in the Fulton County inmate search instead.

Georgia Law on Atlanta Booking Photos and Mugshot Sites

Georgia law shapes how Atlanta busted mugshots are handled. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-1-19, law enforcement agencies in Georgia are not allowed to post booking photos online. That is why the Fulton County Sheriff's inmate search shows arrest data but not photos. The law was passed to limit the spread of mugshots through official government channels, though third-party sites still collect and publish this material from other sources.

If an Atlanta booking photo ends up on a third-party mugshot website, a separate Georgia law applies. Under O.C.G.A. § 10-1-393.5, mugshot removal companies cannot charge for removal. The site must take down the photo within 30 days of a valid request sent by certified mail. The Georgia Consumer Protection Division explains which types of arrests qualify and how to format the removal letter. Not every arrest qualifies, so it is worth reading the guidance before sending a request.

The Georgia Open Records Act at O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 governs all public records access in the state. Arrest records and booking data held by the Fulton County Sheriff or Atlanta Police Department are subject to these rules. Journalists and attorneys often use formal open records requests to get booking photos that are not available through the public inmate search portal.

The screenshot below shows the Georgia Consumer Protection Division page on mugshot website removal, which is relevant for anyone with an Atlanta arrest record on a third-party site.

Georgia law requires mugshot sites to remove photos free of charge within 30 days when the arrest qualifies for restriction under state law.

Statewide Resources for Atlanta Arrest Records

Beyond the Fulton County inmate search, several statewide tools are useful for Atlanta arrest records. The Georgia Crime Information Center (GCIC), operated by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, maintains criminal history records statewide. You can request a criminal history check through GCIC for anyone with a Georgia arrest or conviction history, including those from Atlanta. The GBI also processes formal open records requests through its online portal.

The Georgia Felon Search at georgia.gov costs $15 and provides instant results on felony conviction records across the entire state. This is a fast way to check whether someone has a felony conviction tied to an Atlanta arrest. The Georgia Department of Corrections offender query is free and displays photos for state prison inmates, though it does not cover people held in local county jails. The Georgia Sex Offender Registry, maintained by the GBI, is searchable by name and includes photos and addresses for registered offenders in Atlanta and across the state.

Nearby Cities

Other cities near Atlanta with their own arrest record and inmate search information are listed below.

Fulton County Resources

Atlanta is part of Fulton County. The county page has additional information on the jail, inmate search, and arrest record resources.