Find Lumpkin County Police Records

Lumpkin County police records are held by the Lumpkin County Sheriff's Office in Dahlonega, Georgia. Sheriff Stacy Jarrard runs the department and oversees all record keeping for the county. The records division maintains incident reports, arrest records, accident reports, and other law enforcement documents. Lumpkin County is a mountain county in north Georgia known for gold mining history, and the sheriff's office on East Main Street handles all open records requests for police documents in the area.

Lumpkin County Sheriff's Office

The Lumpkin County Sheriff's Office is at 385 East Main Street, Dahlonega, GA 30533. The phone number is (706) 864-0414. Sheriff Stacy Jarrard leads the department. The office is open Monday through Friday during regular business hours, and walk-in requests are accepted.

Lumpkin County has a mix of year-round residents and visitors. Dahlonega draws tourists, especially in the fall, and the University of North Georgia adds a student population. The sheriff's office handles police records for all of these situations. Incidents in the unincorporated parts of the county are covered by the sheriff's department. The Dahlonega Police Department handles calls within the city.

When you need a police report, start by contacting the sheriff's office. Provide the date, location, and names of the people involved. If you have a case number, share that too. The records staff will search their system and let you know what is available. Written requests are always a good idea for your own records.

Requesting Records from Lumpkin County

The Georgia Open Records Act under O.C.G.A. 50-18-70 gives you the right to access police records from any government agency in the state. The Lumpkin County Sheriff's Office follows this law. You do not need to give a reason for wanting the records. Just describe what you need clearly enough for the staff to find it.

You have several ways to make your request. Visit the office at 385 East Main Street. Call (706) 864-0414. Send a letter by mail. Each method works. Written requests create a trail that protects you if there are any questions later about what you asked for and when. Be as specific as you can about dates, names, and report types.

The office must respond within three business days. For simple requests, you may get the records right away. For more complex ones, the staff will give you a timeline and a cost estimate. If fees will exceed $25, they have to notify you before doing the work.

Records Fees in Lumpkin County

Copy fees for Lumpkin County police records are $0.10 per page under O.C.G.A. 50-18-71. This is the standard rate across Georgia. The first 15 minutes of staff search time are free. After that, the hourly rate of the employee doing the research applies. Simple requests usually cost just the per-page fee.

Accident reports cost $5 for parties involved in the crash. Payment options vary, so ask when you submit your request. Cash and checks work everywhere. Some offices have added card payment but may charge a convenience fee for it.

Note: The mountain roads in Lumpkin County can make accurate crash location descriptions important when requesting an accident report. Be as precise as you can about where the incident took place.

Lumpkin County Accident Reports

Accident reports from Lumpkin County come from the responding agency. Sheriff's deputies handle most crashes in the unincorporated areas. The Dahlonega Police Department covers crashes in the city. The Georgia State Patrol responds to crashes on state highways and mountain roads throughout the county.

The Georgia EPORTS system is the online source for state patrol crash reports. Search by date and location, pay the $5 fee, and get the report by email.

EPORTS is fast and convenient. You do not have to visit any office. The state patrol processes reports and makes them available through the system within a few business days of the crash. For Lumpkin County crashes on winding mountain highways, the state patrol is often the responding agency.

The BuyCrash portal is another online option. It covers reports from multiple agencies across the state. Search by name, date, or location. If the Lumpkin County report is in the system, you can purchase and download it immediately. Between EPORTS and BuyCrash, many accident reports can be obtained without leaving home.

Under O.C.G.A. 50-18-72, people who were not involved in a crash may need to provide a written statement of need to get the accident report. This applies to non-parties only. If you were in the crash, you do not need to provide this extra documentation.

Criminal Records in Lumpkin County

Criminal records come from two offices. The sheriff has arrest records. The Clerk of Superior Court in Dahlonega keeps court records with case outcomes, charges, and sentences. These are different kinds of records. You may need both to understand the full scope of a case.

For a statewide criminal history search, contact the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. A GBI check pulls records from all 159 Georgia counties. This is more thorough than checking a single county at a time. The Georgia Sheriffs' Association website lists contact details for every sheriff's office in the state, which is useful for multi-county searches.

Lumpkin County's location in north Georgia means it borders several other counties. If the person you are researching has lived in the area, they may have records in Dawson, White, Union, Hall, or Forsyth counties as well. Each county maintains its own records independently.

Open Records and Your Rights

Georgia law strongly favors public access to government records. Initial incident reports and arrest reports must be released even while a case is active. The Lumpkin County Sheriff's Office cannot withhold these basic records just because an investigation is ongoing. The public has a right to know what happened.

Some exemptions exist. Juvenile records have restrictions. Confidential informant information is protected. Records that could put someone in danger can be withheld. Investigation details beyond the initial report may be held back until all legal proceedings conclude. But the default is openness, not secrecy.

If the sheriff's office denies your request, they must give you a written explanation citing the specific statute. You can challenge the denial in superior court. Agencies that improperly withhold records face penalties under Georgia law. These enforcement tools exist to make sure the Open Records Act works the way it is supposed to.

Nearby Counties

Looking for police records from counties around Lumpkin County? These neighboring jurisdictions can help.