East Point Bench Warrants
Bench warrants in East Point are processed through the Fulton County court system and the Fulton County Sheriff's Office. East Point sits in Fulton County just south of Atlanta, and all county-level bench warrants from this area go through the same sheriff's office that handles the rest of Fulton County. The city has about 38,300 residents. There is no online portal to search outstanding warrants in East Point. You need to contact the Fulton County Sheriff's Office or go to the courthouse in Atlanta to check on an active bench warrant that may have been issued for a missed court date or a bond violation.
East Point Quick Facts
Fulton County Sheriff and East Point Warrants
The Fulton County Sheriff's Office handles all bench warrants that come out of courts covering East Point. The Warrant Unit processes thousands of warrants each year across Fulton County. When a judge in the Fulton County courts signs a bench warrant for someone in East Point, staff enter it into the Georgia Crime Information Center database. From there it moves into the NCIC system. Any police officer in the country can see that warrant when they run a name check. An East Point bench warrant follows you no matter where you go.
The East Point Police Department is at 2727 East Point Street. You can call them at 404-559-6226. Officers encounter bench warrants when they stop someone or respond to calls in the city. But the East Point PD does not do walk-in warrant checks for the public. That falls to the Fulton County Sheriff's Office. The sheriff's main office is at the Fulton County Courthouse, 141 Pryor Street NW in Atlanta.
| County Sheriff | Fulton County Sheriff's Office 141 Pryor Street NW Atlanta, GA 30303 Phone: 404-612-5129 |
|---|---|
| Police Department | 2727 E. Point Street East Point, GA 30344 Phone: 404-559-6226 |
The Georgia Sheriffs' Association directory lists the Fulton County Sheriff's Office with full contact details, which is the office responsible for all East Point bench warrants.
Note: East Point residents must go to the Fulton County Courthouse in Atlanta for most bench warrant inquiries since the sheriff's main office is there.
Searching East Point Bench Warrants
Fulton County does not have a public online search tool for outstanding bench warrants. The sheriff's office runs an inmate search on its website, but that only shows people who are currently in the jail. It will not tell you about active warrants for people who have not been picked up yet. To check on an East Point bench warrant, you need to visit the Fulton County Courthouse at 141 Pryor Street NW in Atlanta or the Fulton County Jail at 901 Rice Street NW. Bring a government photo ID. Staff will run your name and let you know if there is an active bench warrant.
Keep in mind that if you do have a warrant, showing up to check could mean you get taken into custody on the spot. That risk leads many East Point residents to hire a lawyer first. An attorney can check on your behalf and work on getting the warrant recalled before you go in. The Georgia.gov warrant search guide explains the steps for checking on a warrant in any Georgia county.
The Georgia Courts website includes a sheriffs directory that covers every county in the state. Fulton County's entry has the right contact for bench warrant questions involving East Point.
Bench Warrant Consequences in East Point
The penalties for a bench warrant in East Point match the rest of Georgia. Under O.C.G.A. 16-10-51, bail jumping on a misdemeanor charge can mean up to 12 months in jail and a $1,000 fine. For felony cases, the penalty jumps to one to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine. These sit on top of whatever the original charge was. Missing a court date in East Point creates a second case with its own set of penalties.
Traffic bench warrants have separate rules. Under O.C.G.A. 40-13-63, a failure to appear for a traffic case carries a $200 fine and up to three days in jail. The Fulton County court can also ask the Georgia Department of Driver Services to suspend your license under O.C.G.A. 40-5-56. Reinstatement costs $100 at a DDS office or $125 by mail. That fee does not include court fines you still owe in the East Point case.
Under O.C.G.A. 17-6-11, the clerk sends a notice letter and gives you 30 days before a traffic bench warrant goes active. Take care of the case in that window, and the judge may cancel the warrant. After 30 days pass with no action, the warrant enters the system. Bench warrants in Georgia do not expire.
Resolving East Point Bench Warrants
The best way to handle an East Point bench warrant is to address it before law enforcement comes to you. You can turn yourself in at the Fulton County Sheriff's Office or at the courthouse. The judge will likely set a new court date and may let you post bond again. Going on your own terms is better than getting arrested during a traffic stop near East Point or anywhere else.
Hiring a lawyer gives you more options. An attorney can file a motion to recall the bench warrant with the Fulton County court. If the judge approves, you get a new date without being taken into custody. This works for people who missed court due to illness, work, or confusion about the schedule. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation runs the state database where East Point bench warrants are stored. Once a warrant is recalled, the sheriff updates both the GCIC and NCIC records.
Under O.C.G.A. 50-18-70, the Open Records Act lets you request your case file from the Fulton County Clerk. Having those documents helps your attorney prepare for the hearing.
Note: The Fulton County Sheriff processes over 21,000 warrants each year, so be prepared for possible wait times when handling your East Point bench warrant in person.
Fulton County Bench Warrants
East Point is part of Fulton County. All bench warrants from courts covering this city go through the Fulton County Sheriff's Office in Atlanta. For the full county process, more contact information, and other resources, visit the Fulton County page.
Nearby Cities
These cities are close to East Point in the metro Atlanta area. Atlanta, South Fulton, and Union City all fall within Fulton County as well, so they use the same sheriff for bench warrant processing.