Henry County Police Records Lookup
Police records in Henry County are managed by multiple law enforcement agencies, with the Henry County Police Department and the Sheriff's Office both playing major roles. The county seat is McDonough, and the area has grown rapidly over the past two decades as part of the greater Atlanta metro region. Because of this growth, the volume of police records generated each year is substantial. If you need an incident report, arrest record, or crash report from Henry County, knowing which agency to contact is the key first step. Georgia's open records law gives the public access to most of these files.
Henry County Police Records Facts
Henry County Sheriff's Office
Sheriff Reginald Scandrett leads the Henry County Sheriff's Office, located at 120 Henry Parkway, McDonough, GA 30253. The phone number is (770) 288-7101. The sheriff's office is responsible for operating the county jail, serving warrants and civil papers, providing courtroom security, and maintaining records related to those functions. Booking records, warrant information, and inmate data all come through the sheriff's office.
Henry County also has a separate county police department that handles most patrol and criminal investigation duties in the unincorporated parts of the county. This setup is similar to what you find in other large suburban counties around Atlanta. The police department and the sheriff's office are two different agencies with different responsibilities. If you need an incident report from a call in the unincorporated area, the county police department is usually the right contact. If you need booking or jail records, the sheriff's office is where to go.
Understanding which agency has the record you want saves time. A quick phone call to either office can sort things out if you are not sure who responded to a particular incident.
Records Requests Under Georgia Law
Georgia's open records act controls how public agencies handle records requests. O.C.G.A. 50-18-70 establishes that all public records are open for inspection and copying. The law applies to every government agency in the state, including the Henry County Sheriff's Office, the Henry County Police Department, and any city police departments within the county. You do not have to be a resident, and you do not need a reason to request records.
After a request is received, the agency has three business days to respond. O.C.G.A. 50-18-71 sets that deadline. The response might be the records, a cost estimate, or a notice that the records are being gathered. For a busy agency like Henry County's, the three-day window sometimes runs close on complex requests. Simple requests for a single report usually get handled faster.
Certain records are exempt from disclosure. Active investigation files may be withheld. Juvenile records are protected by state law. Records sealed by court order cannot be released. If your request is denied, the agency must tell you which exemption applies. You can challenge a denial under O.C.G.A. 50-18-72 through the superior court system.
Note: Henry County agencies may have their own specific request forms available on their websites or at their offices.
How to Get Police Records
For records from the sheriff's office, visit 120 Henry Parkway in McDonough. Bring identification and have details about the record you need. A case number, if you have one, will speed up the search. Without a case number, provide dates, names, and locations related to the incident. The staff will check their system and let you know what they can release and what it will cost.
You can also submit your request in writing. Mail it to the Henry County Sheriff's Office at 120 Henry Parkway, McDonough, GA 30253. Include your name, contact information, and a clear description of the records you want. Written requests are especially useful for complex or multi-record requests because they create a clear paper trail. The office can contact you with questions or cost estimates before pulling the files.
For the Henry County Police Department, you would need to go through their records unit. They have their own process and may accept requests online, in person, or by mail. Check the county website for the police department's records contact information. Each agency maintains its own files, so make sure you direct your request to the right place from the start.
Traffic Accident Reports
Crash reports from Henry County are accessible through the Georgia DPS eReports online portal. This state system collects traffic accident reports from agencies across Georgia and makes them available for download. You can search by the date of the crash, the names of the people involved, or the report number. Each report costs a small fee to download, but the convenience of getting it online is worth it for most people. The screenshot below shows the eReports search page.
Henry County has significant traffic volume because of its location along Interstate 75 south of Atlanta. The Georgia State Patrol handles many crashes on the interstate, while the county police and city departments cover crashes on local roads. Regardless of which agency investigated, the report should appear in eReports once it is filed. Allow about a week after the crash for the report to show up. Serious accidents may take longer due to the complexity of the investigation.
The BuyCrash portal is an alternative for finding and purchasing crash reports. Some agencies file their reports through this system as well. Check both eReports and BuyCrash to maximize your chances of finding the report quickly.
Booking and Jail Records
The Henry County jail is run by the sheriff's office. Booking records are created for every person processed into the facility. These records include the inmate's name, charges, booking date, and bond information. Booking records are public. You can request them from the sheriff's office through a standard open records request.
Henry County may also offer an online inmate lookup tool through the sheriff's office website. This lets you search for current detainees by name and see their charges and bond status. It is a fast, free way to check if someone is in custody without making a phone call. For past bookings, a written request to the sheriff's office is needed. Provide the person's name and approximate date of arrest to help the staff locate the record.
Booking photos are sometimes available as part of the public record. Policies on releasing mugshots can change, so ask the sheriff's office if you need one. They will let you know if photos are available for the record you are requesting.
State and Regional Resources
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation offers a criminal history background check service that covers the entire state. Submit a request with identifying information and a fee, and the GBI will search their statewide database. The results show criminal history from all Georgia counties, not just Henry. This is the best option if you need a comprehensive view of someone's record across the state.
The Georgia Sheriffs' Association maintains a directory of all Georgia sheriffs' offices. It is a good starting point for finding contact information, especially for the counties that neighbor Henry. Since Henry County sits close to several other metro Atlanta counties, incidents near the borders can sometimes fall under another county's jurisdiction. The association's directory helps you find the right office to call.
Henry County is surrounded by a number of other busy counties, and people who live in the area often cross county lines for work, school, and daily activities. Having access to statewide search tools is particularly useful here because records may be spread across multiple jurisdictions.
Cities in Henry County
Henry County has several cities with their own police departments. For incidents within city limits, you need to contact that city's police department for records. These cities have their own pages with more details:
- McDonough (county seat)
- Stockbridge
Each city's police department maintains its own records separately from the county. If you are not sure whether a city officer or a county officer responded to your incident, call either agency and they can direct you to the right place.
Nearby Counties
Henry County is surrounded by several counties in the southern Atlanta metro area. For police records in neighboring counties: