Georgia Police Records
Georgia police records include incident reports, arrest records, accident reports, and other law enforcement documents kept by sheriff offices and police departments across the state. All 159 counties in Georgia have a sheriff's office that handles open records requests. You can search for police records by contacting the local agency where the incident took place, or by using the state EPORTS system for crash reports filed by the Georgia State Patrol. Many of these records are public under the Georgia Open Records Act. Getting police records in Georgia starts with knowing which office holds the file you need and what steps the law asks you to follow.
Georgia Police Records Quick Facts
Where to Find Police Records in Georgia
Georgia police records are spread across many agencies. The state has 159 county sheriff offices and hundreds of city police departments. Where you look depends on which agency responded to the incident. If a county deputy took the report, the sheriff's office has the file. If a city officer handled the call, that city police department keeps it. Georgia State Patrol crash reports go through a different system run by the Department of Public Safety.
The Georgia Sheriffs' Association keeps a full directory of all 159 county sheriffs with phone numbers and office locations. This is a good place to start if you are not sure which sheriff's office to call for police records in Georgia. Each county sheriff has its own way of handling requests. Some accept email, some have online forms, and some only take requests in person or by mail. Fees also vary from one county to the next across Georgia.
The Georgia Sheriffs' Association directory lists every sheriff's office in the state and can help you find the right contact for your police records request.
Most police records in Georgia fall under O.C.G.A. 50-18-70, which is the state Open Records Act. This law says that public records must be open for inspection and copying. Initial incident reports and initial arrest reports are always public in Georgia, even when the case is still open. That is a key point since many states block access to reports while cases are still active.
Georgia Police Records Through EPORTS
The Georgia Department of Public Safety runs the EPORTS system at eports.gamccd.net for requesting police records from the Georgia State Patrol. EPORTS handles crash reports, incident reports, and citations. This is the main online tool for police records tied to the State Patrol in Georgia.
Using EPORTS takes three steps. First, you click the orange button to submit your request with details like the date of the incident, the county where it took place, and the names of the people involved. Georgia DPS processes most requests within three business days. Second, you get an email when the records are ready. The email has a request number that starts with "CRAS" for crash reports, "INCI" for incident reports, or "CITA" for citations. Third, you click the blue "Search by Request #" button, enter your number, and pay to download the police report. Crash reports from the Georgia State Patrol cost $5 each through EPORTS.
The EPORTS online portal is the fastest way to get Georgia State Patrol crash reports, incident reports, and citation records.
For records that are not in the EPORTS system, you can email the Georgia DPS Open Records Unit at openrecords@gsp.net. The unit is at 959 United Avenue S.E., Atlanta, GA 30316. Their phone number is (404) 624-7591. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time. You can also mail your request to P.O. Box 1456, Attention: Open Records Unit, Atlanta, GA 30371. Include your name, mailing address, phone number, the names of subjects or victims, the type of record you need, and the Georgia county where the incident took place.
Georgia Accident Reports and Crash Records
Accident reports are one of the most common types of police records people search for in Georgia. If the Georgia State Patrol responded, use EPORTS. If a county deputy or city officer took the report, contact that local agency. Many sheriff offices in Georgia charge $5 for accident reports. Some counties also use BuyCrash.com by LexisNexis as an online option for getting crash records.
BuyCrash lets you search by last name, date of the accident, and a report number, VIN, or driver's license number. You pick Georgia, find the report, pay the fee, and download it right away. Several Georgia counties point people to BuyCrash for fast access to police accident reports. Douglas County and Douglasville are two examples that use the BuyCrash system for crash records.
BuyCrash by LexisNexis gives Georgia residents another way to pull accident reports filed by local law enforcement online.
Under O.C.G.A. 50-18-72, Georgia Uniform Motor Vehicle Accident Reports may need a written statement of need before the agency releases them. Parties to the accident can get their own reports without this extra step. Accident reports in Georgia cannot be released in bulk unless the person shows a need for each report.
Georgia Open Records Act and Police Reports
The Georgia Open Records Act gives the public a right to inspect and copy police records. Under O.C.G.A. 50-18-70, public records include documents, papers, photographs, and computer data kept by any agency. This covers police departments and sheriff offices throughout Georgia. You can make a request orally or in writing, though written requests are better if you ever need to enforce your rights later.
Agencies in Georgia must respond to open records requests within three business days. That is the law under O.C.G.A. 50-18-71. If the records are not ready, the agency must tell you what they have and when the rest will be available. Fees for police records in Georgia typically include a search and retrieval charge based on the hourly rate of the lowest paid employee who can do the work. The first 15 minutes of search time are free. After that, copy fees are usually $0.10 per page. If the cost goes over $25, the agency must let you know before doing the work.
Some police records in Georgia are exempt from the Open Records Act. Pending investigation records can be withheld under O.C.G.A. 50-18-72, paragraph 4. But this has an important exception. Initial police arrest reports and initial incident reports are always public, even during an active investigation. Once all direct litigation tied to a case is final or terminated, the full investigation file becomes open. Records that would reveal a confidential source or put someone in danger can also be withheld by law enforcement in Georgia.
Georgia police records that are generally public include initial incident reports, initial arrest reports, booking records and mug shots, 911 materials and CAD records, jail commitment records, citations, crime lab reports from closed cases, and in-car camera footage from closed cases. Internal affairs records become public 10 days after they are submitted to the agency. If an agency denies your request, O.C.G.A. 50-18-73 allows you to file a civil action, and the court may award attorney fees if you win.
How to Request Police Records in Georgia
Getting police records in Georgia starts with a request to the right agency. You need to know some details about the incident. Most agencies ask for the date, location, names involved, and the type of report you want. A case number helps if you have one. Without these details, the search may take more time or cost more money.
You can request police records in Georgia by email, mail, in person, or through an online form, depending on the agency. Many county sheriff offices in Georgia accept email requests for open records. For example, Barrow County accepts requests at records@barrowsheriff.com. Bacon County takes requests at sheriff@baconcounty.org. Columbia County uses orr@columbiacountyso.org. Each office sets its own process, so check with the agency before you submit your request for police records in Georgia.
Costs for police records vary across Georgia. Many agencies charge $0.10 per page for copies. Research fees depend on the hourly rate of the employee doing the search, and the first 15 minutes are free under state law. Accident reports typically cost $5. Some counties charge more for specialized services. Echols County, for instance, charges $19.55 per hour for search and retrieval of police records after the free 15 minutes. Douglas County charges $17.39 per hour. Credit and debit cards are accepted at some locations, though Barrow County adds a 5% convenience fee for card payments.
Georgia Bureau of Investigation Records
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation handles criminal history record information and other specialized police records in Georgia. The GBI runs the Georgia Crime Information Center, which stores criminal records from across the state. The GCIC lobby office can help with criminal history inquiries, criminal record restrictions, and record inspections.
GBI open records requests are subject to the same Georgia Open Records Act rules. The agency may charge fees for producing the records. Forensic laboratory reports from closed cases, investigation records where the GBI had jurisdiction, and GCIC records are all available through the open records process. Contact the GBI at gbi.georgia.gov/open-records to start your request for police records.
Note: All GBI records requests may result in the requestor being billed before the police records are released.
What Georgia Law Allows Agencies to Redact
Georgia law lets agencies black out certain details from police records before releasing them. Social Security numbers are always removed. The day and month of a person's birth can be taken out. Financial information, insurance details, and medical information may be redacted from police records in Georgia.
Law enforcement officers and other public employees get extra protections. Their home address and home phone number can be kept out of police records. The names of an officer's immediate family or dependents can also be withheld under Georgia law. These rules exist to protect the safety of officers and their families while still keeping police records open to the public in Georgia.
Browse Georgia Police Records by County
Each of the 159 counties in Georgia has a sheriff's office that keeps police records. Pick a county below to find contact info, open records details, and local resources for police records in that area.
Police Records in Major Georgia Cities
Residents of large cities in Georgia can get police records from their city police department or the county sheriff's office. Pick a city to learn about local police records access.