Canton Police Records

Canton police records are kept by the Canton Police Department in Cherokee County, Georgia. If you need an incident report, an arrest record, or an accident report from within Canton city limits, the police department handles those records. Canton is the county seat of Cherokee County with a population of about 38,000. It sits north of metro Atlanta along I-575. Police records from Canton are public under the Georgia Open Records Act, and you can request copies from the department in person, by mail, or through email. Cherokee County agencies handle incidents outside the city.

Canton Police Department

The Canton Police Department is the main law enforcement agency in Canton. Officers take incident reports, handle arrests, investigate crimes, and respond to calls within city limits. The records division stores every police report filed by Canton officers. If a Canton officer wrote it, the report is here. You can reach the department by phone, go in person, or send a written request to get a copy of any police record on file.

The department is on East Marietta Street in downtown Canton. Records staff keep weekday business hours. Walk-in requests for police reports are common and usually quick when you have the right details. Have the date, location, names involved, and the case number if you know it. Staff can search faster when you give them something specific to look for rather than a broad ask.

How to Get Canton Police Records

Getting police records in Canton starts with an open records request. Georgia's Open Records Act at O.C.G.A. 50-18-70 gives every person the right to inspect and copy records from government agencies, including the Canton Police Department. You can file your request in person, by mail, or by email. In-person visits work best for single reports. Written requests are better for larger or more complex asks since you have a clear paper trail of what you need.

O.C.G.A. 50-18-71 requires the Canton Police Department to respond within three business days. They will either hand over the records, provide a cost estimate, or issue a denial with the legal basis cited. The first 15 minutes of staff search time are free. Copies are $0.10 per page after that. If the total cost will exceed $25, the department must tell you before they start the work so you can decide how to proceed.

Your request should include your full name, phone number or email, and a precise description of the records you need. For example: "I need the arrest record for case number 25-0987 from May 3, 2025." That kind of detail gets results fast. A vague request slows everything down and costs more in staff search time.

Note: You do not have to explain why you want the records. Georgia law does not require a reason for an open records request.

Canton Accident Reports

Accident reports are among the most common police records people request in Canton. Major roads like I-575, GA-20, and GA-140 carry heavy traffic through and around the city. When a Canton police officer handles a crash, the accident report stays with the Canton Police Department. You request a copy through the records division using the standard open records process.

If a crash on a state highway was handled by the Georgia State Patrol, that report goes through a separate system. State Patrol crash reports are available online through the EPORTS portal for $5 each, delivered by email. The DPS Open Records Unit is another option. Email them at openrecords@gsp.net or call (404) 624-7591. The key is knowing which agency responded to the crash before you start looking for the report.

Some local agencies post their crash reports on BuyCrash. It can save you a trip to the Canton Police Department for accident reports.

Georgia Open Records Act and Canton

Every request for Canton police records is governed by the Georgia Open Records Act. The law covers a wide range of records: incident reports, arrest records, accident reports, dispatch logs, and most other documents the police department creates. Public agencies make public records. You have the right to see them.

O.C.G.A. 50-18-72 lists the exceptions. Active investigation files are the most common one. If releasing a record could compromise an ongoing case, the department can withhold it. But initial incident reports and initial arrest reports are always public. This is a critical point. Even during an open investigation, you can access the basic facts of what took place. Once the case closes, the full file typically becomes available for public review.

If you believe a denial was improper, you can appeal. The Georgia Attorney General's office provides guidance on the open records process and can help you understand your options when a request is turned down.

Criminal Records in Canton

Police reports capture single incidents. Criminal records go wider. They cover arrests, charges, court proceedings, and sentencing across agencies and over time. For statewide criminal history information, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation operates the Georgia Crime Information Center. Requests go through the GBI open records portal. This is a completely different system from what the Canton Police Department uses.

Court records for cases originating in Canton are handled by Cherokee County. The Cherokee County Clerk of Superior Court maintains criminal case files, from initial charges through plea agreements, verdicts, and sentencing. The police report from Canton and the court file from Cherokee County together give you the complete picture of a criminal case from start to finish.

Note: Juvenile records and sealed records are not available to the public under Georgia law. This applies to all agencies, not just the Canton Police Department.

Cherokee County Sheriff and Other Agencies

Canton shares Cherokee County with other cities and unincorporated areas. The Cherokee County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement outside city limits and operates the county jail. If an incident happened in unincorporated Cherokee County, the sheriff's office likely has the report. Woodstock, another city in Cherokee County, has its own police department and its own records.

Knowing which agency responded is always the first step. Canton police handle incidents inside Canton. The sheriff covers the rest of Cherokee County. State agencies like the Georgia State Patrol and GBI may be involved in some cases too. Each keeps separate records and processes open records requests on its own.

Use this directory when you need contact details for the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office or any other Georgia sheriff's office.

Requesting Canton Police Records by Mail

Mail requests are an option if you cannot visit in person. Address your open records request to the Canton Police Department, 221 E Marietta St, Canton, GA 30114. Include your name, mailing address, phone number, and a clear description of what you need. A case number helps speed things up.

If you know the cost, include payment with your letter. Otherwise, the department will contact you with the total before they start. Mail requests take longer than in-person visits. Plan on at least two weeks for the full turnaround, counting postal transit both ways. Keep a copy of your request for your own files.

Cherokee County Police Records

Canton is in Cherokee County. For county-level records or incidents outside city limits, the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office is the agency to contact. Our county page has more details about police records available through Cherokee County.

View Cherokee County Police Records

Nearby Cities

These cities near Canton also have police records available through their local departments or county agencies.