Search Dougherty County Police Records

Dougherty County police records are managed by the sheriff's office and the Albany Police Department, which together cover law enforcement for this southwest Georgia county. Sheriff Terron K. Hayes leads the county sheriff's office, based on Pine Avenue in Albany. Police records here include incident reports, arrest records, crash reports, and booking data. The public can request copies through Georgia's Open Records Act. With Albany as the county seat and the largest city, Dougherty County has one of the busier records systems in this part of the state.

Dougherty County Sheriff's Office

Sheriff Terron K. Hayes runs the Dougherty County Sheriff's Office at 225 Pine Avenue in Albany. The office handles patrol, criminal investigations, civil process, warrants, and records for the county. Multiple divisions within the sheriff's office deal with different aspects of law enforcement. The warrants and civil division can be reached at (229) 302-3605. The investigations unit is at (229) 302-3613. For criminal records specifically, call (229) 430-6516. The AFIS (fingerprint) division is at (229) 430-6653. The main line for the sheriff's office is (229) 302-3600.

Dougherty County is one of the more populated counties in southwest Georgia. The sheriff's office fields a high volume of calls and generates a steady stream of reports. That means the records division stays busy. Walk-in requests are handled during business hours at the Pine Avenue location. If you know which division has the record you need, call that division directly. It can save you time compared to going through the main line. The Dougherty County Sheriff's Office website has information on the department's services and divisions.

Note: For warrant-related questions, contact the warrants division at (229) 302-3605 rather than the main office number.

Albany Police Department Records

The Albany Police Department handles law enforcement inside the city limits. Their office is at 2106 Habersham Road, Albany, GA 31701. You can reach them at (229) 430-6600. If an incident took place within the city of Albany, the police department likely has the report rather than the sheriff's office. This is an important distinction for Dougherty County. The sheriff covers unincorporated areas and county-wide duties, while Albany PD covers the city.

Albany is home to roughly 66,700 people, so the police department handles the bulk of calls within the county. When you are not sure which agency responded to an incident, call both offices. One of them will have the record or can point you in the right direction. Albany PD processes its own open records requests separate from the sheriff's office, so make sure you are submitting your request to the right agency.

Open Records Request Process

Georgia law under O.C.G.A. 50-18-70 gives anyone the right to inspect and copy records from government agencies. That includes both the Dougherty County Sheriff's Office and the Albany Police Department. You do not need to state a reason for your request. All you have to do is describe the records you want clearly enough for staff to find them. A case number is the fastest route. Without one, provide a date, a name, and a location to narrow things down.

You can make your request in person, by phone, by mail, or by email. The sheriff's office and Albany PD each have their own process, so direct your request to the right agency. Written requests are the best approach because they give you proof of when you asked and what you asked for. Under O.C.G.A. 50-18-71, the agency must respond within three business days. That response may be the records themselves, or it may be a timeline and a cost estimate. If costs are expected to go past $25, they must tell you before starting the work.

Fees in Dougherty County follow state guidelines. Copies cost $0.10 per page. The first 15 minutes of staff time are free. After that, the charge is based on the hourly wage of the lowest-paid employee who can do the search. For large requests, expect a written estimate before work begins. You can always adjust the scope to keep costs down.

Inmate Search and Booking Records

The Dougherty County Sheriff's Office runs an online inmate search tool. You can look up current inmates and recent bookings through the Dougherty County inmate search portal.

This tool shows who is currently in the Dougherty County jail along with booking details and charges. It is free to use and does not require an account. Search by name or booking number. The portal updates regularly so the data stays current.

Booking records show the date and time of arrest, the charges filed, bond amounts, and the arresting agency. Under O.C.G.A. 50-18-72, initial arrest records are public from the moment of booking. That applies even when the case is still under investigation. The investigation file itself may be restricted, but the booking information and initial arrest report are always available. This makes the online portal a good first step before requesting a full paper copy of a report.

State Resources for Dougherty County

Several state-level tools can help you find police records connected to Dougherty County. The Georgia DPS EPORTS system holds crash reports filed by the Georgia State Patrol. If a trooper handled an accident on a highway in the county, the report is in EPORTS rather than at the sheriff's office. Reports cost a flat fee and you can search by date, name, or location.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation may hold records tied to major cases in Dougherty County if the GBI was called in to assist local law enforcement. Their open records process is separate and runs through the GBI website. The Georgia Sheriffs' Association keeps a statewide directory with current contact details for every sheriff's office, including Dougherty County. For vehicle crash reports, the BuyCrash portal is another option that pulls from agencies across Georgia.

Note: Crash reports from state troopers go through EPORTS, not the county sheriff's office or Albany PD.

Types of Records Available

Police records in Dougherty County cover a wide range. Incident reports document calls for service like thefts, assaults, burglaries, and domestic disturbances. Each report has a case number, the responding officer, the date and location, and a narrative of what happened. Arrest records include booking details, the charges, and bond information. Crash reports document vehicle accidents that happen on county roads and city streets.

Some records have restrictions. Juvenile records are sealed under Georgia law and not available through a standard request. Active investigation files can be partially withheld until the case closes. Medical details and Social Security numbers get redacted before copies are released. But initial incident reports and initial arrest reports are always public, even during an active investigation. If you ask for something that is restricted, the agency must tell you why in writing and cite the specific code section that applies.

Nearby County Police Records

Dougherty County shares borders with several counties in southwest Georgia. If you are looking for a report from near a county line, the neighboring sheriff's office might have the file. Check with the right agency to make sure you are looking in the right place.