Find Fulton County Bench Warrants

Fulton County bench warrants come from judges in the Superior Court and Magistrate Court when a person skips a court date or breaks the terms of a bond. The county is the most populated in Georgia, with more than one million people and a large share of the state's court cases. The Fulton County Sheriff's Office processes over 21,000 criminal warrants each year through its Warrant Unit. There is no online search tool for outstanding warrants in Fulton County. You must go in person to check your status. The sheriff's office and the court clerk are the two main places to get bench warrant details in Fulton County.

Fulton County Sheriff Warrant Unit

Sheriff Patrick "Pat" Labat runs the Fulton County Sheriff's Office, which is the main agency that serves bench warrants in the county. The Warrant Unit handles all new warrants as soon as they come in from the courts. Each one goes through a set process. Staff log the warrant in the sheriff's computer system, pull up the criminal history of the person named, and then add the case to the National Crime Information Center database. This means law enforcement across the country can see an active Fulton County bench warrant. The unit works out of the Fulton County Courthouse in downtown Atlanta.

You can reach the Fulton County Sheriff's Office for questions about the warrant process, but staff will not share warrant status over the phone. That is a firm rule. Only the person named on the warrant can get status info, and they must show up in person with a valid photo ID. The sheriff's office does not make exceptions to this policy.

The Fulton County government sheriff page also lists contact details and links to law enforcement services for the county.

The Fulton County Sheriff's Office homepage has general info on the sheriff's departments and divisions.

This page is the starting point for anyone who needs to reach the sheriff's office about a bench warrant or other law enforcement matter in Fulton County.

Searching for Bench Warrants in Fulton County

Fulton County does not have a special online tool for searching outstanding bench warrants. The sheriff's office runs an inmate search on its website, but that system only shows people who are currently in custody. It will not tell you if someone has an active warrant. The sheriff's law enforcement division page states this clearly. Outstanding warrants are left out of the online inmate database on purpose.

The law enforcement page spells out the rules for getting warrant info in Fulton County.

The only way to check on a Fulton County bench warrant is to go in person. You have two choices. You can visit the Fulton County Courthouse at 141 Pryor Street NW in Atlanta. Or you can go to the Fulton County Jail at 901 Rice Street NW in Atlanta. Bring a government photo ID. Staff will look up your name and tell you if there is an active bench warrant. Keep in mind that if you do have a warrant, they can take you into custody right then and there. Many people in Fulton County hire a lawyer to check on their behalf to avoid that risk.

The Fulton County Magistrate Court at 185 Central Avenue SW in Atlanta also plays a role in bench warrants. You can call the Magistrate Court at (404) 613-5360 for general questions about how warrants are issued, though they may not give out specific status info by phone. The Georgia.gov warrant search guide has a step-by-step breakdown of the process that applies across all counties including Fulton.

Note: Warrant status in Fulton County is only shared with the person named on the warrant, and a valid photo ID is always required.

Fulton County Warrant Search Info

The Fulton County court system website has a page that explains how warrant searches work in the county. A standard warrant lists the full legal name of the person, a physical description, the offense charged, the date and place it happened, and a short statement about the alleged act. Bench warrants follow the same format but are tied to a missed court date or a bond violation rather than a new crime.

According to the Fulton County warrant search page, the sheriff's office and the Clerk of the Fulton County Superior and Magistrate Courts are the official custodians of warrants. The sheriff's office processes more than 21,000 criminal warrants in an average year. That is a large volume, and it makes the Warrant Unit one of the busiest in Georgia. Because of the sheer number, some bench warrants take time to fully enter into all the databases.

This page gives a clear look at the official process for searching warrants in Fulton County.

Bench Warrant Penalties in Fulton County

Missing a court date in Fulton County is serious. Under Georgia law, a judge can issue a bench warrant the same day you fail to appear. The consequences depend on the type of case. For a misdemeanor charge, bail jumping under O.C.G.A. 16-10-51 carries up to 12 months in jail and a $1,000 fine. If the original charge was a felony, the penalty goes up to one to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine. These penalties come on top of whatever the original case was about.

Traffic bench warrants have their own rules. Under O.C.G.A. 40-13-63, failing to appear for a traffic case in Fulton County can mean a $200 fine and up to three days in jail. The court can also ask the Georgia Department of Driver Services to suspend your license under O.C.G.A. 40-5-56. Getting the license back costs $100 at a DDS office or $125 by mail. That fee is separate from any fines or court costs you still owe in Fulton County.

Georgia law does give a small window before some bench warrants take effect. Under O.C.G.A. 17-6-11, the clerk of court must send a notice letter to the person who missed court and wait 30 days before the warrant goes active in traffic cases. If the person takes care of the case within that window, the court may not issue the bench warrant at all. But once those 30 days pass and no action is taken, the Fulton County bench warrant goes into full effect.

Note: Bench warrants in Fulton County do not expire, so a warrant from years ago can still lead to an arrest at any time.

Fulton County Warrant Fugitive List

The Fulton County Sheriff's Office publishes a most wanted list on the Fulton County government website. This list features people with active warrants who law enforcement is actively trying to find. Some of these cases involve bench warrants from serious felony charges. The page is updated regularly and includes photos, names, and the charges for each person.

Checking the most wanted page is one of the few public ways to see active warrant information from Fulton County without going to the courthouse.

If you have information about anyone on the Fulton County most wanted list, call the sheriff's office at 404-612-5129. Tips can also go to Crime Stoppers. The Fulton County Sheriff's Office works with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Georgia Crime Information Center to track fugitives across state lines. Bench warrants entered into the GCIC and NCIC systems are visible to any law enforcement officer in the country.

Fulton County Bench Warrant Records Access

Georgia's Open Records Act under O.C.G.A. 50-18-70 gives any person the right to request public records from government offices in Fulton County. Bench warrant records are part of the court system and are generally open to the public. You can ask the Clerk of Superior Court for case file info. The Magistrate Court also keeps warrant records. Requests can be made in person or in writing.

The Fulton County government sheriff page can point you to the right department if you need records beyond what the clerk handles.

This page links to each division of the sheriff's office, which is useful if your request does not fit the standard warrant inquiry process.

The Georgia Sheriffs' Association county directory lists every sheriff in the state and their contact details, including Fulton County.

Cities in Fulton County

Fulton County stretches from the north side of metro Atlanta all the way down to the south side. All bench warrants for cases filed in Fulton County courts go through the sheriff's office in Atlanta, no matter which city the person lives in. Several large cities fall within Fulton County borders.

Other towns in Fulton County include College Park, Hapeville, and Fairburn. These areas also file through the Fulton County court system for bench warrant matters.

Nearby Counties

If you are not sure which county handles your case, check the court that issued the bench warrant. The county where the case was filed is the one that holds the warrant. These counties share borders with Fulton County.