Access Chamblee Bench Warrants

Chamblee bench warrants are issued when a person misses a court date at the Chamblee Municipal Court or in DeKalb County courts. The city has about 32,000 residents and sits inside the Atlanta metro area in DeKalb County. The DeKalb County Sheriff's Office handles warrant processing for Chamblee and all other cities in the county. DeKalb is one of the few Georgia counties that offers an online warrant search tool. The Chamblee Police Department can answer general questions about local cases, but the sheriff's office manages the official warrant database for all Chamblee bench warrants.

Chamblee Municipal Court Bench Warrants

The Chamblee Municipal Court handles city ordinance violations and certain misdemeanor cases within city limits. When someone fails to appear for a scheduled hearing, the judge can issue a bench warrant that same day. These warrants get forwarded to the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office for processing and database entry. Staff enter each one into the Georgia Crime Information Center database and the NCIC system. After that, any law enforcement officer in the state or country can see the active Chamblee bench warrant when they run a name check.

The municipal court is on Broad Street in Chamblee. You can call the court for basic questions about your case. Court staff cannot clear or recall a bench warrant over the phone though. Only the judge who issued the warrant has the authority to recall it. For cases filed through DeKalb County Superior Court or Magistrate Court rather than the city court, the DeKalb County Clerk of Court handles those records instead.

DeKalb County Sheriff and Chamblee Warrants

Sheriff Melody Maddox leads the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office. This office processes all bench warrants for cases filed in DeKalb County courts, and that includes Chamblee. The Warrant Unit handles intake, logging, and database entry for every warrant in the county. Each bench warrant goes through a set process where staff check the person's history and enter the record into GCIC and NCIC databases so it is visible to law enforcement everywhere.

DeKalb County is one of the few counties in Georgia that provides an online warrant search tool. This tool lets you search by name to see if there are active warrants in the DeKalb system. It covers warrants from all DeKalb County courts, including those that come from Chamblee cases. The tool is free to use and available around the clock. Keep in mind that not every warrant may show up in the online system right away. There can be a delay between when the judge signs the warrant and when it appears in the database.

You can also visit the DeKalb County Sheriff's Warrant Unit in person or call 404-298-8200. Staff can look up your name and give you information about any active bench warrants tied to a Chamblee case. If you go in person and have an active warrant, you could be taken into custody. Many people hire a lawyer to check on their behalf.

The Georgia.gov warrant search guide explains the general process for checking warrants at any sheriff's office in the state. The steps apply to the DeKalb County office that serves Chamblee as well.

The Georgia Sheriffs' Association directory lists every sheriff in the state and can help you find the right office if you have a bench warrant question beyond DeKalb County.

How to Search Chamblee Bench Warrants

The fastest option for Chamblee residents is the DeKalb County online warrant search. Go to the DeKalb County warrant lookup page and enter the person's name. Results will show any active warrants in the county system. This covers warrants from Chamblee Municipal Court and all DeKalb County courts.

For an in-person check, visit the DeKalb County Sheriff's Warrant Unit with a valid photo ID. Staff will run your name and date of birth. If a bench warrant comes up, they can tell you the charge, the court, and the case number. You can also call the Chamblee Police Department at 770-986-5005 for general questions. The Georgia Crime Information Center maintains the statewide warrant database that law enforcement uses during stops and other contacts. The Georgia Sheriffs' Association directory is helpful if you need to check warrants in a different county.

Note: The online warrant search for DeKalb County may not show warrants that were just issued within the past few hours.

Bench Warrant Penalties in Chamblee

Missing a court date in Chamblee leads to real consequences. Under O.C.G.A. 16-10-51, bail jumping on a misdemeanor charge carries up to 12 months in jail and a $1,000 fine. For felony cases, the penalty goes up to one to five years and a $5,000 fine. These are on top of the original charge.

Traffic bench warrants in Chamblee follow their own rules. Under O.C.G.A. 40-13-63, missing a traffic court date can mean a $200 fine and up to three days in jail. The court may notify the Georgia Department of Driver Services to suspend your license under O.C.G.A. 40-5-56. Reinstating it costs $100 at a DDS office or $125 by mail. That fee is separate from any fines tied to the Chamblee case. Under O.C.G.A. 17-6-11, there is a 30-day grace period for traffic warrants. The clerk must send a notice before the warrant goes active. Handle the case in that window and you may avoid the warrant.

Chamblee Warrants and Public Records

Georgia's Open Records Act under O.C.G.A. 50-18-70 gives anyone the right to request public records from government agencies. Bench warrant records are part of the court system and are generally public. You can file a request with the DeKalb County Clerk of Superior Court or use the online warrant tool for quick checks.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation runs the Georgia Crime Information Center, the central database for warrant records statewide. When a bench warrant is issued in Chamblee, it enters this system. The GBI does not handle individual inquiries from the public, but their database is what law enforcement everywhere uses to find people with active warrants. Every bench warrant from Chamblee feeds into this statewide system through the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office.

Resolving a Chamblee Bench Warrant

Address a Chamblee bench warrant before you get pulled over or picked up. The most direct way is to go to court and turn yourself in. The judge will set a new hearing date. You may be able to post bond again. Some courts in the DeKalb County area hold special sessions where people can come in and deal with old warrants without going straight to custody.

Hiring a lawyer is another common option. An attorney can go to the court for you and ask the judge to recall the bench warrant. This works well if you are worried about being arrested at the courthouse. The lawyer can also talk to the prosecutor and get a new date set. The Georgia Courts sheriff directory can help you find the right office to call if you are not sure which court in DeKalb County issued your warrant. Do not wait. The longer a bench warrant sits, the more problems it creates.

DeKalb County Bench Warrants

Chamblee sits in DeKalb County, and all bench warrants from DeKalb County courts go through the sheriff's office. DeKalb is one of the most populated counties in Georgia. For a full breakdown of the DeKalb County warrant process, sheriff contact details, and online search tools, visit the county page.

View DeKalb County Bench Warrants

Nearby Cities

Several cities near Chamblee are in DeKalb County or neighboring counties. If you are not sure where a bench warrant was filed, check the court listed on any paperwork you have. Each city below has its own page with local contacts and warrant details.