How it works in Georgia

The steps

1. Get fingerprinted

   For the state's fingerprint-based check, Georgia residents visit the Georgia Applicant Processing Service (GAPS) website, ga.state.identogo.com/ata, enter the service code and click GET STARTED. Bring a valid photo ID to the fingerprint location.

   Fingerprint fee: $9.99 — GAPS's fee over the state's fee for a Georgia check ($39.99 in all)

2. Request your record

   You can get a copy of your Georgia criminal history record from most Sheriff's Offices or Police Departments; contact your local law enforcement agency for its requirements. Or use the fingerprint-based check through GAPS (step 1). The Georgia Crime Information Center does not run name-based checks.

   Record request fee: $30.00 — the state's fee for a Georgia check through GAPS; a Sheriff's Office or Police Department has its own requirements

3. 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.

4. 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.

   Certified copy fee: $2.50 — the superior court clerk's fee to certify a record, for the first page, plus $0.50 for each page after; the GSCCCA's eCertification portal adds a 3.5% card fee

5. 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.

6. Prepare your request

   Complete the request based on the year of the arrest. For arrests before July 1, 2013, prepare the GBI's Request to Restrict Arrest Record form 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. The prosecuting attorney may be an Attorney General, a district attorney, or the solicitor-general.

7. Finalize your request

   Take the completed request 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.

8. File your restriction request

   Where you file depends on the year of the arrest. For arrests before July 1, 2013, file the request with the arresting agency, which forwards it to the prosecuting attorney for approval or denial. For arrests on or after July 1, 2013, file it with the prosecuting attorney's office that handled the case.

9. 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.

10. Receive the decision on restriction

    The prosecuting attorney's office will either approve or deny your request within 90 days. Once a decision is made, the office will notify you and the arresting agency. Keep a copy of the completed application for your records. If the prosecutor denies your request, you can appeal the decision to the Superior Court of that county within 30 days.

11. Verify the record is restricted

    Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, the Georgia Crime Information Center restricts access to the arrest once the prosecuting attorney approves it. If your request is approved, the prosecuting attorney submits the complete application to the Center's database. If the prosecutor does not have access to that database, you send the approved application and the processing fee to the Center yourself, by money order or certified check payable to "Georgia Bureau of Investigation". Mail them to Georgia Crime Information Center, Record Restrictions, P.O. Box 370808, Decatur, Georgia 30037-0808. The Center usually processes a complete application within 2–3 weeks, and you will receive a letter of completion in the mail; keep a copy. If you don't receive one, call the Center for an update. If a background-check provider later produces an outdated report, your copy of the letter of completion is your authoritative reference.

    Cost: $25.00 — GCIC's processing fee, paid only when the prosecutor cannot enter the restriction directly; the arresting agency or prosecuting attorney's office may charge up to $50

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.