Houston County Police Records

Houston County police records are kept by the Houston County Sheriff's Office in Perry, Georgia. Sheriff Matt Moulton leads the office, which manages incident reports, arrest records, accident reports, and booking data for the county. Warner Robins, the largest city in Houston County, has its own police department that handles records for calls within city limits. The sheriff's office covers the rest of the county and processes open records requests from its main office on Carl Vinson Parkway. Houston County sits in central Georgia and is one of the more populated counties in the middle part of the state, so the volume of police records here is higher than in many surrounding areas.

Houston County Sheriff's Office Records

The Houston County Sheriff's Office is the main source for police records in the county. Sheriff Matt Moulton runs the department from 202 Carl Vinson Pkwy, Warner Robins, GA 31088. The phone number is (478) 542-2125. Office hours are Monday through Friday. The records section handles all open records requests and can tell you what is on file for a given case or date range.

To get a police record from the Houston County Sheriff's Office, you need to give them enough details to find the file. A case number is the fastest way. If you don't have one, provide the date of the incident, the names of people involved, and what type of report you need. The staff will search their system and let you know what they find. Written requests are best since they give both you and the office a clear record of what was asked for. You can submit requests in person, by mail, or by phone.

The Houston County Sheriff's Office also runs the county jail. Booking records and inmate data are separate from incident reports but still fall under open records rules. If you need booking information, the jail staff can help with that. The sheriff's office website sometimes posts current inmate lists and recent arrest data for Houston County.

Open Records Law in Houston County

Georgia's Open Records Act is the law that gives you the right to get police records from Houston County agencies. Under O.C.G.A. 50-18-70, public records must be open for inspection and copying by any person. This covers the Houston County Sheriff's Office, the Warner Robins Police Department, the Perry Police Department, and any other law enforcement agency in the county. The law is broad. It does not just apply to police reports. It covers all records held by government agencies. But police records are what most people ask about.

The law works the same here as in the rest of Georgia. You make a request. The agency has three business days to respond under O.C.G.A. 50-18-71. That response could be the records you asked for or it could be a notice telling you when the records will be ready and what the cost will be. The agency has to move on your request without unreasonable delay. Houston County agencies generally follow this timeline, though large or complex requests can take a bit longer.

Some records have limits. O.C.G.A. 50-18-72 lists the exemptions. Active investigation files can be held back in part. But initial incident reports and initial arrest reports are always public in Houston County. Even if a case is still open, you can get those basic reports. Records that could put someone in danger or reveal a confidential informant may also be withheld. Once the case is closed and any litigation wraps up, the full file opens to the public.

Police Records Fees in Houston County

Copies of police records from Houston County cost $0.10 per page. This is the standard rate set by Georgia law. The first 15 minutes of search time are free. After that, the agency can charge based on the hourly pay of the lowest-paid employee who can handle the search. If the total cost will go over $25, the office has to let you know before they finish the work. You then decide if you want to go ahead.

Accident reports have their own fee. Crash reports usually cost around $5 for people who were involved in the wreck. The cost can vary a bit depending on the agency. The Houston County Sheriff's Office and the Warner Robins Police Department may each have slightly different processes for crash report fees. Ask when you call so you know what to expect before you make the trip.

Note: You can inspect Houston County police records in person at no charge during regular office hours instead of paying for copies.

Warner Robins Police Department

Warner Robins is the biggest city in Houston County with a population of about 86,199. The Warner Robins Police Department handles all police records for incidents within the city. If something happened inside Warner Robins city limits, the sheriff's office won't have that report. You need to contact the city police instead. The same open records rules apply since Georgia law covers all government agencies the same way.

The Warner Robins Police Department has its own records division. You can visit their office during business hours to make a request. Phone and mail requests are accepted too. For more details on the specific process, contact the department directly. Because Warner Robins is a mid-size city, their records volume is significant. They deal with a high number of incident reports, arrest records, and crash reports each year.

Perry also has its own police department. Perry is the county seat and handles calls within its city limits. The Perry Police Department keeps its own set of records, separate from both the sheriff's office and Warner Robins PD. Centerville and Bonaire are other communities in Houston County, and their law enforcement coverage varies. Check with the sheriff's office if you are unsure which agency handled your incident.

Note: For incidents inside Warner Robins city limits, contact the Warner Robins Police Department directly since the sheriff's office will not have those records.

Houston County Accident Reports

Crash reports are one of the most common police records people request in Houston County. If a sheriff's deputy responded to the crash, the report is at the sheriff's office. If a Warner Robins officer handled it, the city police have the file. For accidents on Interstate 75 or Highway 41, the Georgia State Patrol often responds, and those reports go through the state system.

The Georgia DPS EPORTS system is the place to look for State Patrol crash reports from Houston County.

Reports through EPORTS cost $5 and are usually ready within a few business days. You get an email when the file is available to download.

The BuyCrash portal is another way to find crash reports. Some Houston County agencies upload reports to this system. It is worth checking if you cannot find what you need at the sheriff's office or through EPORTS. Having the exact date and location of the crash makes the search faster no matter which system you use.

Criminal History Checks in Houston County

Criminal history checks are not the same as police reports. A police report covers one incident. A criminal history check pulls a person's full record of arrests and court outcomes. The Houston County Clerk of Superior Court keeps court records that show charges, pleas, verdicts, and sentences for criminal cases in the county. These are public records and can be accessed at the courthouse in Perry.

For a statewide criminal history, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation runs the Georgia Crime Information Center. The GBI stores criminal records from agencies across the state. You can submit an open records request to the GBI for information about a specific person. The process takes longer than a local check since it covers the whole state. The Georgia Sheriffs' Association website is useful for finding contact details for other county sheriff offices if you need records from more than one place.

How to Request Houston County Records

Start by figuring out which agency has the record you need. If it happened outside city limits in Houston County, the sheriff's office is your source. Inside Warner Robins, contact the city police. Inside Perry, contact the Perry PD. For state highway crashes, use EPORTS. This step saves you time and prevents you from going to the wrong office.

Once you know the right agency, put your request together. Include the date, location, names of people involved, and what type of report you want. A case number helps a lot if you have one. Send your request in writing. You can drop it off, mail it, or in some cases email it. The agency must respond within three business days under Georgia law. Simple requests for a single incident report often get filled the same day or the next. Large requests that need more search time take longer, and the agency will tell you what to expect.

If you get turned down, ask for the reason in writing. Georgia law requires agencies to explain any denial. You can challenge a denial in superior court if you believe it was wrong. Most Houston County police records are straightforward to obtain. The process is simple. Ask, pay the fee, and get your records.

Nearby Counties

If you need police records from areas around Houston County, these neighboring counties may have what you are looking for.