How it works in Georgia
These steps cover the court-petition process — the path that applies if you don't qualify for automatic restriction.
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Get Fingerprinted
Use the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to set up an appointment to have your fingerprints taken.
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Request your Record
Complete and submit your application to request an official copy of your criminal history record from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
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Review your Record
Confirm there is no disqualifying information in your history. If there is something incorrect, follow the process to challenge the issue. If everything is accurate, make a copy for your file and keep the original somewhere safe.
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Request Certified Documents
Collect certified copies of relevant documents. These include a copy of the disposition of the case from the clerk of court that handled the original case and the arrest record from the arresting agency. If you had probation or parole, had to take classes, had to pay fees, or had any other obligations, you also need certified proof that you completed those requirements.
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Verify the Final Documents
Review each document for accuracy. Confirm each one is certified and clearly shows you completed your obligations. Make copies of every original.
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Prepare your Petition
Complete the petition based on the year of the arrest. For arrests before July 1, 2013, prepare the GBI petition and send it to the arresting agency. For arrests on or after July 1, 2013, request the application form from the prosecuting attorney's office that handled the case. There are no timing restrictions to note.
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Finalize your Petition
Take the completed petition from Step 6, the documents collected in Step 4, and the background check from Step 2, and put them together in a complete package. Double-check every file in the package is the original and ensure you have a copy of the complete package for your personal file.
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File your Expeal Request
File the petition with the prosecuting attorney's office that handled the case.
Cost: $25.00 — GCIC-published baseline; actual filing fee varies by prosecuting-attorney office
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Work with the Prosecuting Attorney
After the prosecuting attorney's office confirms it has received your filing, watch for the next instructions — typically a request for additional documentation or a notice of the office's decision. Respond promptly to anything the office asks for.
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Receive the Decision on Restriction
Once the prosecuting attorney's office rules on your application, it issues a written decision either granting or denying the request to restrict the record. Review the decision's terms carefully — they spell out which records are covered. Keep a certified copy for your own files.
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Verify the Record is Restricted
Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, the Georgia Crime Information Center and the original arresting agency update or restrict access to the records covered by the order. If a background-check provider later produces an outdated report, your certified copy of the decision is your authoritative reference. Once the restriction takes effect, you can lawfully decline to disclose the restricted records in most non-government contexts.
If you have to mail anything, remember to keep a copy of whatever you send and to use a method with a tracking number like the USPS Flat Rate Envelope.
Official agencies
Court forms
Last reviewed