Search Gwinnett County Police Records
Gwinnett County is one of the most populated counties in Georgia, and its law enforcement agencies handle a high volume of police records each year. The county seat is Lawrenceville, where the sheriff's office is based. Between the sheriff's office, the Gwinnett County Police Department, and several municipal departments, there are multiple places where records might be held. Getting the right record means knowing which agency responded to the call. Most requests start with either the sheriff's office or the county police department, depending on where the incident took place and who was dispatched.
Gwinnett County Police Records Facts
Gwinnett County Sheriff's Office
Sheriff Keybo Taylor leads the Gwinnett County Sheriff's Office. The main office is at 2900 University Parkway, Lawrenceville, GA 30043. The phone number is (770) 822-3140. The sheriff's office is responsible for running the county jail, serving warrants, and providing courthouse security. They also maintain records related to bookings, warrants, and inmate processing. If the person you are looking for was booked into the Gwinnett County jail, the sheriff's office is where those records live.
Gwinnett County is different from many Georgia counties because it has a separate county police department. The Gwinnett County Police Department handles most patrol and investigative work in unincorporated areas. So if you need an incident report or a crime report, you may need to contact the police department rather than the sheriff's office. This catches some people off guard. The two agencies serve different roles, even though they both operate under county authority.
The sheriff's office does accept open records requests. Walk in during business hours, call ahead, or send a written request. They will tell you if they have what you are looking for or if you need to try the police department instead.
Police Records and Open Records Law
Georgia's open records law gives the public a right to access most government documents. Under O.C.G.A. 50-18-70, any person can submit a records request to a public agency. You do not need to explain why you want the records. The law covers a wide range of documents, from incident reports and arrest records to internal memos and correspondence. It applies to every law enforcement agency in Gwinnett County, including the sheriff's office, the county police, and city departments.
When you submit a request, the agency has three business days to respond under O.C.G.A. 50-18-71. That response might be the records themselves, or it might be an estimate of how long it will take and how much it will cost. Large requests take longer. Copies cost ten cents per page for standard documents. If the request involves a lot of searching, the agency can charge for the time it takes an employee to locate and pull the files.
Some records are exempt from release. Active investigation files can be held back. Juvenile records are protected. Sealed court records stay sealed. If your request is denied, the agency has to cite the specific legal exemption. You can challenge a denial under O.C.G.A. 50-18-72 by taking the matter to court. Most routine requests, though, go through without any issues at all.
Note: Gwinnett County agencies may have their own request forms, so check the specific department's website before submitting.
How to Request Records in Gwinnett
The process depends on which agency you need records from. For the sheriff's office, you can visit 2900 University Parkway in Lawrenceville. Bring a valid ID and be ready to fill out a request form. Give them as much detail as you can. A case number is ideal. Without one, provide the date of the incident, location, and names of those involved. The staff will search their system and let you know what they can release.
For incident reports and crime reports from the Gwinnett County Police Department, there is an online option. The county police have a records unit that handles public requests. You can visit their office or submit a request through the county website. Online requests are convenient, especially for straightforward items like accident reports or case report copies. The police department is one of the larger agencies in the state, so they have systems in place to handle a high volume of requests.
City police departments in Gwinnett also maintain their own records. If the incident happened in Lawrenceville, Duluth, Peachtree Corners, or Sugar Hill, you may need to contact that city's police department directly. Each city keeps its own files. The county agencies do not hold copies of municipal police records.
Online Tools and State Resources
Gwinnett County has some online tools that make searching easier than in many other parts of the state. The county maintains a jail inmate search on the sheriff's website, which lets you look up current inmates by name. This is a free tool and it updates regularly. It shows the person's name, booking date, charges, and bond information. For people trying to find out if someone is currently in custody, this is the fastest option.
The Georgia DPS eReports system is another useful resource. If you need a traffic accident report, the eReports portal lets you search and download crash reports from across the state. You pay a small fee per report, but you can do it from your computer without visiting an office. The screenshot below shows what the eReports portal looks like.
Reports generally show up in the system within a few days of the crash. For major accidents, it can take a bit longer because the investigating officer has more to document. But the system is reliable and covers every county in the state.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation also offers criminal history checks. This is a statewide search that pulls records from all counties. There is a fee involved, and it takes a few days to process. It is a good choice if you want records from more than just Gwinnett County.
Gwinnett County Arrest and Booking Records
Arrest records are public in Georgia. When someone is arrested and booked into the Gwinnett County jail, a record is created that includes the person's name, date of birth, charges, and booking details. These records are maintained by the sheriff's office. You can request them through a standard open records request, or you can check the online inmate search for current detainees.
Booking photos are generally considered public records as well. However, the availability of mugshots can vary. Some agencies post them online and others do not. Gwinnett's inmate search does include photos in some cases. If you need a booking photo for someone who has already been released, you would need to submit a formal request to the sheriff's records division.
Past arrest records, for people who are no longer in custody, require a written request. The sheriff's office can search their records by name or by case number. Keep in mind that Gwinnett processes thousands of bookings each year, so having specific information helps narrow the search significantly.
Note: Records for cases that have been expunged or restricted by court order will not be released, even through an open records request.
Cities in Gwinnett County
Gwinnett County has a number of cities with their own police departments. For records from these cities, contact the city police directly:
- Lawrenceville (county seat)
- Peachtree Corners
- Duluth
- Sugar Hill
Each city maintains its own police records. The county sheriff and county police do not hold records for incidents that city officers handled. Make sure you contact the right agency before submitting your request.
Nearby Counties
These counties share borders with Gwinnett County. If you need records from a neighboring jurisdiction, select the county below: