Dooly County Police Records

Dooly County police records are held by the sheriff's office in Vienna, which serves as the county seat. Sheriff Craig Peavy leads the department and oversees all law enforcement for the county, including the storage and release of police reports. The Open Records Act in Georgia gives the public a right to request copies of these files. Dooly County is a rural area in south-central Georgia, and the sheriff's office is the main agency that handles incident reports, arrest records, and crash documentation for the whole county. Requests can be made in person, by phone, or through the mail.

Dooly County Sheriff's Office

Sheriff Craig Peavy runs the Dooly County Sheriff's Office, which is the primary law enforcement agency for the county. The office handles patrol, investigations, jail operations, and records management. The mailing address is PO Box 96, Pinehurst, GA 31070. You can reach the office by phone at (229) 645-0920 during normal business hours. Walk-in visitors can ask for records at the front desk, and staff will help you figure out what forms to fill out and what to expect in terms of cost and wait time.

Dooly County has a small population, which means the sheriff's office handles fewer cases than larger departments. That often makes finding a specific record quicker. The staff knows the case files well, and a basic request can sometimes be filled the same day if the report is already closed. For walk-in requests, calling ahead is still a good idea. Small offices may have limited hours on certain days, and you want to make sure someone who handles records is on duty when you arrive.

The sheriff's office is the sole county law enforcement agency for unincorporated Dooly County. The city of Vienna has its own police force that handles incidents inside city limits. If you are not sure which agency took the report for an incident, call both. Knowing the right agency saves time and avoids delays.

How to Get Police Records in Dooly County

Georgia's Open Records Act under O.C.G.A. 50-18-70 gives any person the right to inspect and copy records from state and local agencies. That includes the Dooly County Sheriff's Office. You do not need to explain why you want a record. Just provide enough detail for staff to locate it. A case number is best. If you do not have one, a name and a date will usually do. The more specific your request, the faster the turnaround.

Written requests are the way to go. They create a paper trail that protects both sides. You can drop off a written request in person at the sheriff's office in Pinehurst, or you can mail it. When writing your request, include your full name, your phone number or email, and a clear description of the records you want. Keep it tight. Broad requests like "all reports from last year" take much longer and cost more because staff has to pull and review each file. Narrow it down to a date range, a specific incident, or a person's name.

The sheriff's office must respond within three business days under O.C.G.A. 50-18-71. They might hand over the records right away, or they might give you a timeline for when they will be ready. If the estimated cost goes past $25, staff has to notify you and get your approval before doing the work. You can then decide to proceed, adjust the scope, or cancel the request.

Note: Always keep a copy of your written request along with the date you sent it, in case you need to follow up later.

Police Report Types in Dooly County

The Dooly County Sheriff's Office keeps several kinds of reports on file. Incident reports document calls for service like thefts, assaults, property damage, and domestic disputes. Each report includes a case number, the date and time, the location, names of people involved, and a narrative from the deputy who responded. These reports are the most common type that people request.

Arrest records are also on file. They show who was booked, the charges, the arresting deputy, and bond details. Under O.C.G.A. 50-18-72, initial arrest reports and initial incident reports are public records even when the investigation is still open. The sheriff's office may withhold parts of a deeper investigation file, but that first report is always available to the public. Juvenile records are sealed under state law and are not released through a standard open records request.

Crash reports round out the main record types. If a Dooly County deputy responded to a vehicle accident, the report is on file at the sheriff's office. If a Georgia State Patrol trooper handled the crash instead, the report goes through the state system. Ask which agency responded before you submit a request so you are looking in the right place.

Online Resources for Dooly County Records

The Georgia DPS runs a system called EPORTS for crash reports filed by the State Patrol. If a trooper handled a wreck in Dooly County, you can look it up through the EPORTS online portal.

The EPORTS system covers all State Patrol crash reports across Georgia. Reports cost a flat fee and are available once the trooper finishes the file. Search by date, name, or location to find what you need.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation handles records for major cases where the GBI assisted local agencies. If a serious crime in Dooly County brought in state investigators, the GBI may hold separate files. Their open records process runs through their website. The Georgia Sheriffs' Association website has a directory with up-to-date contact info for all Georgia sheriff offices, including Dooly County. The BuyCrash portal is another option for accident reports. It pulls from multiple agencies and can sometimes be the fastest way to get a crash report without calling around.

Dooly County Records Fees

Fees for police records in Dooly County follow state law. Paper copies cost $0.10 per page. The first 15 minutes of staff time to search for and retrieve your records are free. After that, the agency can charge based on the hourly rate of the lowest-paid worker who is qualified to do the search. This is standard across Georgia and keeps costs predictable.

If a request is going to cost more than $25, the sheriff's office must let you know before they begin. You then get to decide whether to go ahead, trim the request, or cancel. You also have the option of inspecting records in person at no charge. Under Georgia law, anyone can walk into the sheriff's office during business hours and look at a file without paying for copies. You just cannot take the document out of the building. If you only need a few details from a report, inspection can save you money compared to ordering copies of the whole file.

Note: Bring exact change or a check when picking up copies. Some smaller offices do not have the ability to make change on hand.

Nearby County Police Records

Dooly County borders several counties in south-central Georgia. If an incident happened close to a county line, the report might be on file with a neighboring sheriff's office instead. The responding agency depends on where the call came in.