Rabun County Records Access

Rabun County police records are managed by the Rabun County Sheriff's Office in the northeast corner of Georgia. Sheriff Mark Gerrells leads the department from Tiger, Georgia, and oversees all law enforcement records for the county. The sheriff's office handles incident reports, arrest records, accident reports, and other public records. Clayton is the county seat, and the courthouse there handles related court records. Rabun County sits along the North Carolina and South Carolina borders, and the sheriff's office is the main source for police records from this mountain county.

Rabun County Sheriff's Office

Sheriff Mark Gerrells operates the Rabun County Sheriff's Office from 56 Boen Creek Drive, Tiger, GA 30576. The main number is (706) 782-3612. The office is open Monday through Friday during normal business hours. Deputies patrol a large, mountainous area and handle everything from traffic stops to felony investigations. The reports they write are the police records you can request through open records.

To get records, submit an open records request. You can walk in, call, or mail a letter. Be ready with the date and location of the incident, names of people involved, and the type of report. A case number speeds things up. Staff will check what is available and tell you the cost. The sheriff's office processes requests in the order they come in, and simple ones can sometimes be filled on the spot.

The EPORTS online portal from the Georgia Department of Public Safety handles State Patrol reports from Rabun County.

If a Georgia State Patrol trooper responded to an incident in Rabun County, use EPORTS to get that report. Reports cost $5 and are typically available within a few business days after the request is made.

Note: The Clayton Police Department handles reports for incidents that happen within Clayton city limits, so check which agency responded first.

Open Records Laws for Rabun County

Georgia's Open Records Act gives everyone the right to access police records in Rabun County. O.C.G.A. 50-18-70 says that public records must be open for inspection and copying. This applies to the sheriff's office, any city police departments, and every other government agency in the county. Documents, photos, electronic files, video footage, and any other format used to store records all fall under this law. You do not need to be a Rabun County resident to make a request.

The response deadline is three business days. Under O.C.G.A. 50-18-71, Rabun County agencies must acknowledge your request and provide a status update within that time frame. They do not have to hand over the records in three days, but they have to tell you what they found, what the cost is, and when you can expect to pick up or receive the documents. For quick requests, you might get the records right away. For bigger searches, the agency gives you a timeline.

Copy fees are set statewide. It costs $0.10 per page. The first 15 minutes of search time are free. After 15 minutes, the charge is based on the hourly pay of the lowest-paid worker who can handle the task. If the total will be over $25, the agency has to let you know and get your approval before doing the work.

Rabun County Crash Reports

If a Rabun County deputy worked a crash, the accident report is at the sheriff's office. Call (706) 782-3612 to ask about it. Have the date and location of the accident, along with the drivers' names. Most Georgia agencies charge about $5 for a crash report. If you were in the accident, getting a copy is simple.

State Patrol crash reports from Rabun County go through the EPORTS system. Each report costs $5. You submit a request online and get an email when the file is ready. The BuyCrash website is another place to look. Some Georgia agencies upload crash reports there for online purchase. Mountain roads in Rabun County see a fair amount of traffic during tourist season, so the State Patrol handles a good number of accidents in the area.

Under O.C.G.A. 50-18-72, a person who was not a party to the crash may need to provide a written statement of need before the report is released. This is a privacy protection for crash victims. Parties to the accident do not face this requirement. Attorneys and insurance companies regularly obtain these reports as well.

Note: Rabun County's mountain roads and seasonal tourism can lead to multi-agency responses, so check both the sheriff's office and State Patrol for the right report.

Criminal Records in Rabun County

Arrest records from the Rabun County Sheriff's Office show each time a deputy takes someone into custody. Booking information, charges, and photos become part of the police record. These records are public. Initial arrest reports are available even during active investigations.

For a statewide search, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation runs the Georgia Crime Information Center. This database pulls records from all 159 Georgia counties and provides criminal history that goes beyond what Rabun County alone has on file. Court records from the Rabun County Clerk of Superior Court offer a different view. The clerk keeps files on charges, pleas, trial outcomes, and sentences from cases that went through the local court.

Police records and court records are separate systems. The police record shows the arrest and what the officer reported. The court record shows what happened in the legal process afterward. For a full picture of a criminal case in Rabun County, you may need to request records from both places.

How to Request Records

Going in person to the sheriff's office in Tiger is the quickest route. Bring your ID and the details of the record. For simple requests, you may leave with copies the same day. Staff can check right away whether the file exists and what it costs to copy.

Mail also works. Send your request to 56 Boen Creek Drive, Tiger, GA 30576. Put your full name, mailing address, phone number, and a detailed description of what you need in the letter. Be specific about dates and names. The more information you provide, the easier it is for the records team to find the right file. Phone requests at (706) 782-3612 are accepted as well. Georgia law permits oral requests, but written ones give you a better record of what was asked for.

The Georgia Sheriffs' Association maintains a directory with contact details for the Rabun County Sheriff and all other county sheriffs in Georgia. It is a handy reference for double-checking addresses and phone numbers.

Public Records in Rabun County

Most police records from Rabun County are public. Initial incident reports and arrest reports are always available. Booking records, mug shots, 911 call logs, citations, and closed-case crash reports are public too. Internal affairs records open up 10 days after they are submitted to the agency head.

Certain details are removed before release. Social Security numbers are taken out. Birth dates may be partially redacted. Home addresses and personal phone numbers of law enforcement officers are protected. Medical and financial details in police files can be blacked out. Records that would endanger someone or reveal a confidential source may be withheld entirely. Active investigation files can be held back, but initial reports stay public. When the case closes or litigation ends, the full file becomes available.

Nearby Counties

For police records from counties near Rabun County, use the links below.