Franklin County Police Records

Franklin County police records are maintained by the Franklin County Sheriff's Office in Carnesville, Georgia. Sheriff Scott Andrews leads the department, which handles incident reports, arrest records, and accident reports for the county. The sheriff's office is the main law enforcement agency for Franklin County and serves as the starting point for most records requests. A few small town departments also operate in the county, but the sheriff's office covers the largest area and holds the bulk of police records generated here.

Franklin County Sheriff's Office

The Franklin County Sheriff's Office is the primary source for police records in the county. Sheriff Scott Andrews oversees the operation from PO Box 310, Carnesville, GA 30521. The phone number is (706) 384-2525. The office handles all types of law enforcement records, from incident reports and arrest records to accident reports and booking logs. Staff process open records requests during normal business hours.

Getting a police record from the Franklin County Sheriff's Office starts with a request. Include the date of the incident, any names involved, and the type of report you need. A case number helps if you have one. You can make the request in person, by phone, by mail, or in writing. Written requests are generally the best option since they give everyone a clear record of what was asked for. The office staff can help walk you through the process if it is your first time making a request. They deal with these regularly and know what information they need to pull the right file.

Franklin County is a rural county in northeast Georgia. The sheriff's office covers a wide area with a small staff. That means response times on records requests can sometimes vary depending on how busy things are. But the state law still applies, and the office has to respond within three business days of receiving your request.

Note: Mail sent to the PO Box address may take an extra day or two to reach the office, so factor that into your timeline if you are sending a request by mail.

Georgia Open Records in Franklin County

The Georgia Open Records Act is the law that gives you the right to get police records from Franklin County. O.C.G.A. 50-18-70 says that public records must be open for inspection and copying. Police records are public records under this law. Incident reports, arrest records, and booking data are all covered. You do not have to state a reason for wanting the records. The law protects your right to access them regardless of why.

Franklin County agencies must respond to open records requests within three business days. That is the requirement under O.C.G.A. 50-18-71. The response can be the records, a fee estimate, or a written denial with the specific legal citation for the denial. The first 15 minutes of search time are free. After that, the charge is based on the hourly pay of the lowest-paid employee who can do the work. Copies cost $0.10 per page. If the estimated cost will go over $25, the agency has to tell you before starting the work. This gives you a chance to adjust the scope of your request if needed.

Some records have restrictions. O.C.G.A. 50-18-72 lists the exemptions that apply. Active investigation files can be withheld. Initial incident and arrest reports are always public though, even when a case is still open. Records that could put someone at risk or expose a confidential source are also protected. Once a case is fully closed and all litigation ends, the complete file becomes available to the public.

Franklin County Accident Reports

Crash reports are a common type of police record people look for in Franklin County. The county sits along Interstate 85 and several state highways, which means traffic accidents happen with some regularity. If a Franklin County deputy responded to the crash, the sheriff's office has the report. Small town police departments may have reports for accidents within their city limits. Contact the agency that responded to get the report.

For state patrol accident reports in Franklin County, the BuyCrash website is one way to search. Some agencies upload crash reports there for online access.

BuyCrash is run by LexisNexis and lets you search for crash reports from participating law enforcement agencies across Georgia, including those that serve Franklin County.

The Georgia EPORTS system is another option for state patrol crash reports. Reports cost $5 and you submit the request online. You will get an email when the report is ready to download. The turnaround is usually a few business days. If a Georgia State Patrol trooper handled the accident on I-85 or a state highway in Franklin County, EPORTS is where the report will be.

Other Agencies in Franklin County

The sheriff's office is the largest law enforcement agency in Franklin County, but a handful of small town police departments also operate here. Carnesville has a police department. Lavonia Police Department is another one. Canon and Royston also have their own police. Each department keeps its own reports. If a city officer took the report, you have to go to that city department. The sheriff's office only has records for calls their deputies handled.

These town departments follow the same Georgia Open Records Act rules as the sheriff's office. Fees are the same. The three-business-day response time applies. The main difference is that some of these smaller departments have limited office hours, so you may need to call ahead to make sure someone is there to handle your request. Not every small town office is staffed all day, every day.

If you are not sure which agency handled a particular incident in Franklin County, call the sheriff's office first at (706) 384-2525. They cover the largest portion of the county and can help direct you to the right agency. The 911 dispatch center can also check which agency was sent to a given call.

Criminal History in Franklin County

Criminal history is different from a single police report. A police report covers one event. A criminal history shows arrests and convictions over time. The Franklin County Sheriff's Office can share what they have locally, but a statewide criminal history search goes through the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The GBI manages the Georgia Crime Information Center, which collects criminal records from law enforcement agencies across the state.

The Franklin County Clerk of Superior Court keeps court records as well. These show how criminal cases were resolved in the local court system. Charges, pleas, verdicts, and sentences are all part of the court record. If you need to know the outcome of a case that went through Franklin County courts, the clerk's office at the courthouse in Carnesville is the place to check. Court records fill in the gaps that police reports leave open.

Note: The GBI charges a fee for statewide criminal history checks and may require fingerprint submission for official results.

Requesting Records from Franklin County

There are a few ways to get police records from Franklin County agencies. Walking in to the sheriff's office during business hours is the most direct method. Bring your ID and be ready to describe what you need. Simple requests may be handled quickly. If the records require a longer search, the staff will let you know the estimated cost and timeframe before they start.

Mailing a request works if you cannot visit in person. Send it to PO Box 310, Carnesville, GA 30521. Include all the details about the record you need, plus your name, phone number, and return address. Give them enough information to find the right file. Phone calls are also accepted at (706) 384-2525. The staff can tell you what is available and explain the process. Georgia law allows oral requests, but written ones create a better trail if any questions come up later about what was requested or when.

The Georgia Sheriffs' Association maintains a directory of sheriff's offices statewide. That can be handy if you need to track down records from other Georgia counties in addition to Franklin County.

Nearby Counties

If you need police records from areas near Franklin County, these neighboring counties may have what you need.