The Criminal Investigation Section conducts follow-up investigations into specific crimes reported to the Sheriff’s Office and Jail.

The Family Violence Unit:

• Interviews, researches, and documents case file data and information regarding Temporary Protective Orders (TPOs) for family violence and stalking victims
• Provides assistance to the public, court personnel, and law enforcement agencies regarding requests for information and information discrepancies
• Counsels each victim with safety plans before each service
• Conducts research on warrants, criminal histories, and other related information
• Serves TPO’s, subpoenas, child custody, divorce papers, and warrants
• Anything ordered by a judge, vehicle and weapons seizures within residential and business evictions
• Transporting victims of domestic violence to various shelters
• Assist respondents at a scheduled time to retrieve personal items and/or remaining property at their residence

What is a Protective Order/TPO (also known as Restraining Order)?

Under Georgia law, the Court can issue a Temporary Protective Order if the Court finds that an act of family violence or stalking has occurred between the parties and there is a likelihood that acts of family violence or stalking will continue to occur.  Georgia law defines acts of family violence as: Battery, simple battery, assault, simple assault, stalking, criminal trespass, criminal damage to property, unlawful restraint and any felony.

Legal Requirements for Applying for a Family Violence TPO:

• A person must be at least 18 years old to apply for a TPO
• The defendant lives in Gwinnett Count; or the defendant lives out of state and the plaintiff lives in Gwinnett County; or the act of family violence occurred in Gwinnett County
• The plaintiff must have an accurate address for the defendant
• The plaintiff and defendant must have a qualifying family relationship: 
  • Past or present spouses
  • Parents of the same children
  • Parents and children
  • Step-parents and step-children
  • Foster parent and foster children
  • Other persons living or formerly living in the same household

If the parties do not have a qualifying family relationship, then the plaintiff may only seek a TPO under the stalking portion of the Family Violence Act

Stalking is defined under Georgia law when he or she follows, places under surveillance, or contacts another person without the consent of the other person for the purpose of harassing and intimidating the other person.

Harassing and intimidating is defined in the law as a knowing and willful course of conduct directed at a specific person which causes emotional distress by placing such person in reasonable fear for such person’s safety or the safety of a member of his or her immediate family, by establishing a pattern of harassing and intimidating behavior, which serves no legitimate purpose.

How does a TPO get issued?

The person requesting the TPO is called the “plaintiff” or “petitioner” and the person against whom the TPO is sought is referred to as the “defendant” or “respondent.”  The TPO process begins with the petitioner filing a verified (sworn) “Petition for Relief under the Family Violence Act” with the Magistrate Court.  Immediately after the petition is filed, the court has an “ex parte” hearing.  At the “ex parte” hearing, the court reviews the petition and takes sworn testimony from just the petitioner. The law gives the court the authority to grant the TPO on an emergency basis without hearing from the respondent if the court finds sufficient evidence to believe that an act of family violence or an act of stalking has occurred.

**On average, 70 to 80 percent of new TPO’s are served on the same day they are issued.

The Family Violence Unit is located at:
Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office
2900 University Parkway, 2^nd Floor
Lawrenceville, GA  30043
770.822.3150
gcsofamilyviolence@gwinnettcounty.com

Clerk’s Office Magistrate Court: 770.619.6723
24 Hour Crisis Hotline:  404.873.1766
The Partnership against Domestic Violence provides shelter, assistance in securing temporary restraining orders, counseling, and relocation assistance.

Zero Tolerance for Sexual Abuse and Sexual Harassment

The Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office has a zero-tolerance policy towards ALL forms of sexual harassment, sexual assault, and sexual abuse of inmates as defined under PREA at our facility. This includes inmate on inmate sexual abuse or harassment, as well as employee on inmate sexual abuse or harassment. In order to uphold the safety and security of the detention facility, inmates, and staff, the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office has established guidelines and procedures in accordance with requirements contained in the Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003(PREA).

If you were the victim of a sexual assault while in the custody of any law enforcement agency or correctional facility – or if you know of an incident of sexual assault of a person in the custody of any law enforcement agency or correctional facility – we urge you to report the incident. Your identification will remain anonymous.

Anyone can report an allegation or suspected incident of sexual abuse, rape or sexual harassment; including inmates, staff, or third parties. At the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office, there are several options available to report the abuse:

• Contact the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office – PREA Compliance Unit at 770-619-6655
  
  

• Submit a confidential written complaint by mail to:
  • Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office
  • Attn.:  PREA Compliance Unit
  • 2900 University Parkway
  • Lawrenceville, GA 30043
    
    

• Please provide the following information to initiate an investigation:
  • Citizen’s contact information (you will be contacted, but you may still remain anonymous)
  • Victim’s contact information
  • Suspect’s contact information
  • Date, time, and location of the incident
  • Describe the incident
    
    

• Contact the National Sexual Assault hotline at 1.800.656.4673
  
  

All reported incidents will be investigated by the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office Investigation Unit. The Gwinnett County Sheriff Office’s Investigation Unit shall follow a uniform evidence protocol that maximizes the potential for obtaining usable physical evidence for administrative proceedings and criminal prosecutions. If the assault or rape happened in another jurisdiction we will forward the information to the jurisdiction where the assault occurred.

Statistics for 2020 Extraditions:

A total of 245* fugitives were extradited TO and FROM Gwinnett County.

Gwinnett County Deputy Sheriffs traveled to AND assisted 28 states in 2020 in order to return the 245* fugitives.

The 245* fugitives were charged with felony offenses including: Murder, Assault, Burglary, Escape, Forgery, Rape, Robbery, and Possession of a Handgun by a Convicted Felon, Theft of Deception and numerous other offenses.

*Due to COVID-19