Randolph County Police Records

Randolph County police records are housed at the Randolph County Sheriff's Office in Cuthbert, Georgia. Sheriff Eddie Fairbanks heads the department and manages all law enforcement records for the county. The sheriff's office keeps incident reports, arrest records, crash reports, and other files that the public can access through open records requests. Randolph County is in southwest Georgia, and the sheriff's office serves as the primary law enforcement agency for the area outside of any municipal police jurisdictions. Cuthbert is the county seat and where the main office is located.

Randolph County Sheriff's Office

Sheriff Eddie Fairbanks runs the Randolph County Sheriff's Office from PO Box 506, Cuthbert, GA 39840. Call (229) 732-2525 to reach the office. Hours are Monday through Friday during regular business hours. The department is responsible for patrolling the county, answering calls for service, and filing the police reports that make up the public record. Deputies cover a wide rural area and handle the bulk of law enforcement calls in the county.

To request police records, you need to file an open records request. You can come to the office, phone in, or send a letter by mail. Provide the date of the incident, names of the people involved, and the type of report you want. A case number is useful if you have one handy. Staff will search their files and let you know what is available and how much it costs. Written requests are best because they give both sides a clear record of what was asked.

The BuyCrash website from LexisNexis lets you search for and purchase crash reports from Georgia law enforcement agencies.

If a Georgia State Patrol trooper responded to a crash in Randolph County, the report may be on BuyCrash. Check there before calling the sheriff's office, since you might be able to download the report right away.

Open Records Laws

All police records in Randolph County fall under Georgia's Open Records Act. O.C.G.A. 50-18-70 states that public records must be open for inspection and copying by any person. This covers the sheriff's office, city police, and every other government agency in the county. Paper files, digital records, photos, videos, audio, and all other storage formats are included. You do not have to live in Randolph County or in Georgia to file a request.

Agencies in Randolph County have three business days to respond. O.C.G.A. 50-18-71 requires them to acknowledge the request and provide a status update within that time. They do not have to hand over records in three days, but they must give you a real answer about what exists, what it costs, and when you can expect to receive the files. Quick requests sometimes get filled on the spot. Bigger jobs take longer, and the agency should give you a timeline.

Fees follow state guidelines. Copies are $0.10 per page. The first 15 minutes of search and retrieval time are free. After that, the agency charges the hourly rate of the lowest-paid worker who can handle the job. If the bill will go past $25, they have to tell you first and get approval.

Note: If an agency denies any part of your request, it must give a written reason citing the specific exemption under Georgia law.

Randolph County Accident Reports

Crash reports from Randolph County deputies are on file at the sheriff's office. Call (229) 732-2525 and ask about the report. Bring the date and location of the crash and the names of the people involved. Most Georgia agencies charge around $5 for a crash report copy. People who were in the accident get their copy without jumping through extra hoops.

For State Patrol crashes in Randolph County, the EPORTS system is where you go. Reports cost $5 each and take a few business days to process. You submit online and get an email notification when the file is ready for download. BuyCrash is another tool. Some agencies in Georgia post their crash reports there, and you can buy them online without contacting the office directly.

Under O.C.G.A. 50-18-72, non-parties to a crash may need to submit a written statement explaining their reason for requesting the report. This protects the privacy of people involved in accidents. If you were in the crash, this extra step does not apply. Insurance companies and attorneys handle these requests regularly and know the process well.

Criminal History in Randolph County

Arrest records from the Randolph County Sheriff's Office document each time a deputy takes someone into custody. Booking details, charges, and photos all become part of the police record. These records are generally public under Georgia law. Initial arrest reports are available regardless of whether the case is still active or under investigation.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation maintains the Georgia Crime Information Center with records from all 159 counties. The GBI database goes much deeper than what any single county holds. Court records from the Randolph County Clerk of Superior Court provide another layer of information. The clerk keeps records of charges filed, plea agreements, trial results, and sentences for cases that went through the Randolph County court system.

Police records and court records track different parts of the process. The police record covers the arrest and the officer's report. The court record covers what happened in the legal system afterward. You may need to pull from both sources to get a full picture of a criminal matter in Randolph County.

Making a Request

The simplest approach is to visit the sheriff's office in Cuthbert. Bring ID and the details of the record you need. For basic requests, you might get copies that same day. Staff can check on the spot whether the file exists and let you know the cost.

Mail works if you cannot go in person. Address your letter to PO Box 506, Cuthbert, GA 39840. Include your full name, mailing address, phone number, and a detailed description of the records you are after. Specific dates and names help a lot. The more detail you include, the faster the staff can locate the file. Phone calls to (229) 732-2525 also work. Georgia law permits oral requests, but a written one gives you better protection if anything goes wrong or gets delayed.

The Georgia Sheriffs' Association publishes a directory listing contact information for every county sheriff in the state. It is a good way to confirm addresses and numbers before sending a request to the Randolph County Sheriff's Office.

Note: The Cuthbert Police Department handles reports within city limits, so confirm which agency responded to the incident before making your request.

What Records Are Public

Most police records from Randolph County are open to the public. Initial incident reports and initial arrest reports are always available. Booking records, citations, 911 call records, and crash reports from closed cases are all public. Internal affairs records become open 10 days after submission to the head of the agency.

Certain information gets blacked out before release. Social Security numbers are always removed. Parts of birth dates may be redacted. Home addresses and phone numbers of officers are protected by law. Medical and financial information within police records can be taken out. Records that would endanger a person or reveal a confidential source may be withheld. Active investigation files can also be held back, though initial reports remain public. Once the case is closed or litigation ends, the full file is released.

Nearby Counties

For police records from counties near Randolph County, check these pages.