Redan Police Records
Redan police records are handled by the DeKalb County Police Department, since Redan is a census-designated place rather than an incorporated city. With a population over 30,000, Redan is a sizable community in eastern DeKalb County, but it does not have its own municipal police force. All incident reports, arrest records, and accident reports for the Redan area are filed by DeKalb County officers. Georgia's open records laws make these police records available to anyone who submits a proper request, and the process runs through the DeKalb County Police Department's records division.
Redan Police Records Facts
DeKalb County Police Department and Redan
Because Redan is a census-designated place and not an incorporated city, it does not operate its own police department. Law enforcement in Redan is provided by the DeKalb County Police Department. This is the agency that patrols the area, responds to calls, and files police reports for incidents that occur within the Redan community. Every incident report, arrest record, and accident report generated in Redan belongs to the DeKalb County Police Department.
The DeKalb County Police Department is a large agency covering all unincorporated parts of the county. Redan falls within their jurisdiction along with many other communities. To get police records for an incident in Redan, you go through the DeKalb County Police Department's records request process. There is no separate Redan office to visit. All requests are processed through the county department.
The DeKalb County Sheriff's Office is a separate agency. The sheriff runs the county jail and handles court security. For patrol-related police reports in Redan, the DeKalb County Police Department is the correct contact. The sheriff's office handles its own set of records for jail bookings and similar matters.
Note: Redan residents sometimes assume there is a local police department. There is not. DeKalb County Police is the sole law enforcement provider for the Redan area. Direct all police records requests to the county department.
How to Get Police Records for Redan
Getting police records for Redan incidents follows the Georgia Open Records Act at O.C.G.A. 50-18-70. This law gives the public the right to inspect and copy records held by any government agency in Georgia. The DeKalb County Police Department falls under this law. You can request incident reports, arrest records, accident reports, and other police files without needing to explain why you want them. Just submit a request with enough details to identify the records.
The DeKalb County Police Department must respond within three business days under O.C.G.A. 50-18-71. That response will be the records themselves, a written cost estimate, or a written denial citing the specific legal basis. The first 15 minutes of staff time to search for and retrieve records are free. Copies cost $0.10 per page. If the estimated total goes above $25, the department has to tell you before proceeding. Most individual police reports for Redan incidents cost just a few dollars.
Write your request down. Include your name, contact information, the date of the incident, the location within Redan (street address or intersection helps), any case or report numbers you have, and a description of the records you need. You can submit in person at the DeKalb County Police headquarters, by mail, or by email if the department accepts electronic submissions.
Redan Accident Reports
Accident reports for crashes in the Redan area are filed by DeKalb County Police officers. When an officer responds to a traffic accident in Redan, the report goes into the DeKalb County system. You request copies through the same open records process at the DeKalb County Police Department. Provide the date, location, and names of people involved to help staff locate the right crash report.
Georgia State Patrol troopers sometimes respond to accidents on major roads and highways near Redan. If a trooper handled the crash, the report goes through the state system. The EPORTS portal is where you buy State Patrol crash reports online. Each report costs $5 and is emailed to you. The DPS Open Records Unit at openrecords@gsp.net or (404) 624-7591 can also assist with locating State Patrol reports.
BuyCrash from LexisNexis offers online access to local agency crash reports from DeKalb County and other Georgia agencies.
Check BuyCrash to see if the DeKalb County Police Department uploads crash reports to this platform for online retrieval.
Note: Since Redan does not have its own police force, all accident reports for the area go through DeKalb County. There is no separate Redan department to contact for crash reports.
Open Records Law and Redan Police Records
Georgia's Open Records Act is the legal basis for getting police records from the Redan area. The law applies to all public records held by government agencies, including the DeKalb County Police Department. Incident reports, arrest records, accident reports, and most other law enforcement files are public records. The department must provide them when a valid request is made.
Exemptions exist under O.C.G.A. 50-18-72. Records related to active investigations can be withheld. But initial incident reports and initial arrest reports are always public, even when an investigation is ongoing. The basic facts of what happened and who was involved are available at any time. The deeper investigative materials may be held back until the case wraps up. A denial must be in writing and must cite the specific statute that allows the withholding.
If you think a denial is improper, the Georgia Attorney General's office can review the situation and provide guidance. You also have the right to take the matter to court. Most routine police records requests for Redan incidents go through the DeKalb County system without problems.
Criminal Records Searches
For a criminal history search beyond a single police report, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation maintains the statewide criminal records database. The GBI's Georgia Crime Information Center holds criminal records from every law enforcement agency in the state. A search here returns arrest records and criminal history from all of Georgia, not just DeKalb County or the Redan area.
Court records for cases originating in Redan are processed through the DeKalb County court system. The Clerk of Superior Court handles felony cases. State Court and Magistrate Court handle misdemeanors and other matters. Police records from DeKalb County Police show the initial incident in Redan. Court records show what happened legally after that. Both are public records and can be requested separately to build a complete picture of any case.
DeKalb County Police Records
Redan is in DeKalb County, and all police records for the area are maintained by the DeKalb County Police Department. The Georgia Sheriffs' Association directory can help you locate specific DeKalb County offices. Our DeKalb County page covers the full range of county police records resources, contacts, and the request process.
Nearby Cities
These nearby cities and communities in the DeKalb County and east metro Atlanta area also have police records available through their local departments or county agencies.