Access Candler County Police Records

Candler County police records are kept by the Candler County Sheriff's Office in Metter. The sheriff's office is the county's primary law enforcement agency and holds incident reports, arrest records, crash reports, and jail booking data. Candler County is a small county in southeast Georgia with a rural character. The sheriff's office handles all records requests under the Georgia Open Records Act. Because the county is compact and the office staff is familiar with local files, requests tend to move through the system without long delays.

Candler County Sheriff's Office

Sheriff John Miles heads the Candler County Sheriff's Office. The office is based in Metter and covers patrol, investigations, jail operations, and court security for the county. The mailing address is PO Box 693, Metter, GA 30439. Call (912) 685-2568 to reach them during business hours. The staff at the front desk can help with records requests and give you information about fees and wait times.

The Metter Police Department has its own records for incidents that happen inside the Metter city limits. If you are unsure whether the sheriff or city police handled your case, call both offices. It takes just a minute and saves you from going to the wrong place. In Candler County, there are really just two law enforcement agencies to check, which keeps things simple compared to bigger counties with multiple city departments.

The Candler County Sheriff's Office is a small agency. That can work in your favor when requesting records. The staff knows the files well and can usually locate what you need without a long search. Walk-in requests during business hours are the most direct way to get your records.

How to Get Police Records in Candler County

The Georgia Open Records Act under O.C.G.A. 50-18-70 gives you the right to inspect and copy police records from the Candler County Sheriff's Office. Start by deciding what record you need. Incident reports, arrest records, and crash reports are the most common types. Have a case number ready if you can. If not, provide a date and the names of people involved. A clear description of the incident also helps staff pull the right file.

Submit your request in person, by phone, or by mail. Written requests are the best option. They give both sides a clear record of what was asked. The sheriff's office must respond within three business days under O.C.G.A. 50-18-71. In Candler County, most simple requests are filled quickly because the office handles a relatively low volume of records compared to urban counties. You might get your report the same day if you walk in and the file is easy to find.

Copies are $0.10 per page. The first 15 minutes of search time are free. After that, the office can charge based on the hourly pay of the lowest-paid worker who is able to do the search. If the bill will go past $25, staff has to tell you first. You get to decide whether to proceed or trim your request. You can also inspect records in person at no charge during business hours if you only need to look at them rather than take copies home.

Note: Walk-in requests at the Metter office are often the fastest way to get Candler County police records.

Candler County Police Report Types

The Candler County Sheriff's Office keeps several types of police records on file. Incident reports cover calls for service. These range from thefts and burglaries to assaults, domestic calls, and other criminal matters. Each report has a case number, a date and time, the location of the incident, and a narrative from the responding deputy. Arrest records document bookings at the Candler County jail, listing the charges, the arresting officer, bond amounts, and court dates.

Georgia law under O.C.G.A. 50-18-72 makes initial incident reports and initial arrest reports public. This applies even when a case is still being investigated. The sheriff's office may withhold parts of an active investigation file, but the initial report is always available to anyone who asks. Sensitive personal information such as Social Security numbers is removed before any records are released. The goal is to balance public access with personal privacy, and the law spells out exactly which details can be held back.

Vehicle crash reports filed by Candler County deputies are stored at the sheriff's office. Crash reports from Georgia State Patrol troopers go into the state EPORTS system instead. If you are not sure who responded to a wreck in Candler County, checking both sources covers your bases.

State Resources for Candler County

The Georgia DPS EPORTS system at eports.gamccd.net handles crash reports filed by the State Patrol in Candler County.

Reports through the EPORTS system cost $5 each. You can search by the date and location of the crash to find the right file.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation maintains its own records for cases where the GBI provided assistance to local agencies. If the GBI was called to Candler County, their records are handled through a separate open records process at the GBI office. The Georgia Sheriffs' Association has a directory of all county sheriffs in Georgia, including Candler County, with current contact info and office details.

The BuyCrash portal by LexisNexis offers another way to find crash reports from agencies across Georgia. Participation varies, so not every Candler County report may be available, but it is another tool to try if your search through other channels comes up short.

Candler County Records Fees and Timeline

The cost for police records in Candler County follows Georgia's statewide fee schedule. Every page costs $0.10 to copy. Staff search time is free for the first 15 minutes. Past that, the agency bills at the hourly rate of the lowest-paid person who can handle the search. This keeps the cost from getting too high. If the estimate crosses $25, the office gives you a heads-up so you can approve the cost or scale back what you asked for.

The response timeline is three business days. That is the law under O.C.G.A. 50-18-71. The office might provide the records sooner, but they have to at least acknowledge your request within that window. A response could be the records themselves, a cost estimate, or a letter telling you when they will be ready. For a small county like Candler, the turnaround is often faster than the legal maximum because the filing system is manageable in size and the staff can access records without extensive searching.

Note: Inspecting records in person at the Candler County Sheriff's Office is free under Georgia law.

Nearby County Police Records

Candler County shares borders with several counties in southeast Georgia. If an incident happened near the edge of the county, the report could be filed in a neighboring jurisdiction. Check the right sheriff's office to find the record you need.