Access Lamar County Police Records

Lamar County police records are managed by the Lamar County Sheriff's Office in Barnesville, Georgia. Sheriff Brad White leads the department, which maintains incident reports, arrest records, crash reports, and booking data for the county. Lamar County is a small county in west-central Georgia, located south of Atlanta along Interstate 75. The sheriff's office serves as the main law enforcement agency and handles open records requests through its office on Roberta Drive. Barnesville is the county seat and the hub for all records business in Lamar County.

Lamar County Sheriff's Office Information

Sheriff Brad White heads the Lamar County Sheriff's Office. The office is at 121 Roberta Drive, Barnesville, GA 30204. The phone number is (770) 358-5159. The office is open Monday through Friday during regular business hours. The department handles patrol, criminal investigations, the county jail, and all records management. Staff at the main office process open records requests and can help you find any report in their system.

To request police records from Lamar County, contact the sheriff's office with details about what you need. A case number makes the search fast. If you do not have one, give them the date of the incident, the names of the people involved, and the type of report you are looking for. Written requests are preferred. They create a clear paper trail that helps both you and the office. You can make your request in person at 121 Roberta Drive, by phone, or by sending a letter through the mail.

The Barnesville Police Department also operates in Lamar County. They handle calls within Barnesville city limits and keep their own set of records. If the incident you are asking about happened inside the city, you may need to contact the city police instead of the sheriff's office. Both agencies follow the same Georgia open records rules.

Georgia Open Records Act in Lamar County

The Georgia Open Records Act gives you the right to get police records from Lamar County agencies. Under O.C.G.A. 50-18-70, public records must be open for inspection and copying by any person. This law covers the Lamar County Sheriff's Office, the Barnesville Police Department, and all other government agencies in the county. The act applies to police reports, arrest data, jail records, crash files, and dispatch logs.

Under O.C.G.A. 50-18-71, Lamar County agencies must respond to your request within three business days. That response could be the actual records or a notice about when they will be ready and the cost. Simple requests for a single report are usually handled quickly. More complex requests that involve searching through multiple files take more time, but the agency has to keep you in the loop about what is happening with your request.

The Georgia Sheriffs' Association maintains a directory of all county sheriff offices in Georgia, including Lamar County.

You can use this resource to verify contact details for the Lamar County Sheriff's Office or look up neighboring county offices.

Lamar County Police Records Fees

Copies of police records from Lamar County cost $0.10 per page. That is the standard rate set by Georgia law. The first 15 minutes of search time are free. After that, the fee is based on the hourly pay of the lowest-paid employee who can handle the search. If the total cost will go over $25, the agency must tell you before they finish the work. You then decide whether to proceed with the full request or narrow it down.

Crash reports generally cost around $5 for people who were involved in the accident. The fee can vary slightly depending on the agency. Ask when you call so you know what to expect. You have the right to inspect records at the office in person during business hours without paying for copies. Georgia law allows this. If you want to review a file before deciding to get copies, an in-person visit saves you money.

Note: If you request records by mail from Lamar County, include a check or money order made out to the Lamar County Sheriff's Office to cover the copy fees.

Types of Lamar County Police Records

The Lamar County Sheriff's Office stores several types of police records. Incident reports are the most common. These document calls for service like thefts, assaults, break-ins, disturbances, and property damage. Each report includes the date, time, location, officer narrative, and names of the people involved. Arrest records document who was taken into custody, the charges filed, and bond information.

Under O.C.G.A. 50-18-72, initial incident reports and initial arrest reports are always public in Lamar County. Even during active investigations, these basic records must be released to anyone who asks. The agency may hold back parts of an investigation file that could compromise the case or endanger a person. But the initial reports remain available. Once the case closes and court proceedings finish, the full file becomes open to the public.

Crash reports are handled based on which agency was on scene. If a Lamar County deputy responded, the sheriff's office has the file. If the Georgia State Patrol took the call, the report goes through the state system. Since I-75 runs through the county, the State Patrol handles a good number of crashes in this area. Knowing which agency responded is the key to getting the right report.

Lamar County Accident Reports

Crash reports are one of the most common types of police records people request in Lamar County. Interstate 75 runs through the county, which means a significant number of accidents happen on the interstate. The Georgia State Patrol usually handles those crashes, and their reports go through the state EPORTS system rather than the local sheriff's office.

Use the Georgia DPS EPORTS system to request State Patrol crash reports from Lamar County. Reports cost $5 and are typically available within a few business days. You get an email when the file is ready. For crashes handled by the sheriff's office on county roads, make your request at 121 Roberta Drive in Barnesville. The BuyCrash portal is another option to check for crash reports from Georgia agencies.

Parties involved in the wreck can get their report without extra requirements. People who were not in the crash may need to provide a written statement of need under Georgia law before the agency releases the file. Keep the date, location, and any case numbers handy when you make your request.

How to Request Lamar County Records

Getting police records from Lamar County is a simple process. Figure out which agency handled the incident. Contact them with the specifics. Wait for the response. Pay the fees and get your records. The whole thing usually goes smoothly for basic requests. The staff at the Lamar County Sheriff's Office deals with records requests regularly.

In-person visits to the office at 121 Roberta Drive in Barnesville are the fastest way to get basic records. Walk in with your details, and you may leave with a copy that same day. Mail requests work if you cannot come in person. Send a written request with your name, contact information, and all the details about the report you need. Phone requests at (770) 358-5159 are also accepted. Writing things down is always the better approach for keeping track of your request.

If the Lamar County Sheriff's Office denies any part of your request, they must explain why in writing. Common reasons include active investigation exemptions or records containing protected personal data. Even when parts of a file are exempt, the office should black out the protected sections and give you the rest. You can challenge a denial in superior court if you believe it was wrong. Georgia law puts the burden on the agency to justify withholding records.

Lamar County Criminal Records

Criminal history checks are different from police reports. A police report covers one event. A criminal history check shows a person's full record of arrests and court outcomes. The Lamar County Clerk of Superior Court maintains court records showing charges, pleas, verdicts, and sentences for criminal cases in the county. You can access these at the courthouse in Barnesville during regular business hours.

For records that go beyond Lamar County, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation runs the Georgia Crime Information Center. The GBI stores criminal records from agencies statewide. You submit an open records request for information on a specific person. The process covers all of Georgia but takes more time than a local check. Between the Lamar County courthouse and the GBI, you can build a thorough picture of someone's criminal record in the state.

Note: Court records at the Lamar County courthouse in Barnesville are public and available for review during normal business hours at no cost.

Nearby Counties

If you need police records from areas around Lamar County, these neighboring counties may have the report you need.