Seminole County Police Records

Seminole County police records are held by the Seminole County Sheriff's Office in Donalsonville, Georgia. Sheriff Heath Elliott leads the department and oversees all law enforcement records for the county. The sheriff's office keeps incident reports, arrest records, crash reports, and other police files available to the public through open records requests. Seminole County is in the far southwest corner of Georgia, near the Florida and Alabama borders. The sheriff's office serves as the main point of contact for anyone who needs police records from this part of the state.

Seminole County Sheriff's Office

Sheriff Heath Elliott runs the Seminole County Sheriff's Office from 208 Court Street, Donalsonville, GA 39845. You can reach them at (229) 524-5115. The office is open on weekdays during regular business hours. Deputies patrol the county, take calls, and file the reports that become the police records you can request. The sheriff's office handles law enforcement for the entire county outside of any municipal police areas.

Getting records starts with an open records request. Walk in, call, or send a letter. Provide the date of the incident, names of the people involved, and what kind of report you want. A case number makes things easier if you have one. Staff will search their files and give you a cost estimate. Written requests are the safest route since they leave a clear trail of what you asked for. In a small county like Seminole, the staff is generally familiar with recent incidents and can find files pretty fast.

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

If a Georgia State Patrol trooper responded to something in Seminole County, EPORTS is where you go for that report. Reports cost $5 and are usually available within a few business days of making the online request.

Open Records Laws

All police records in Seminole County are covered by Georgia's Open Records Act. O.C.G.A. 50-18-70 requires public records to be open for inspection and copying by any person. This includes the sheriff's office and every other government agency in the county. Paper files, digital records, photos, video, and any other format fall under the law. You do not need to be a Seminole County or Georgia resident. Anyone can make a request.

Seminole County agencies have three business days to respond. Under O.C.G.A. 50-18-71, they must tell you within that time whether the records exist, what the cost is, and when you can expect the files. They do not have to hand over documents in three days, but they must give you a real answer. For simple requests at a small office like this, you might get the records immediately. Bigger searches take more time.

Fees follow state rules. Copies are $0.10 per page. The first 15 minutes of search time are free. After that, the agency can charge the hourly rate of the lowest-paid person who can do the search. If the total goes over $25, they have to tell you first and get your approval.

Note: Seminole County borders Florida and Alabama, so incidents near the state lines may involve agencies from other states as well.

Seminole County Accident Reports

Crash reports from Seminole County deputies are on file at the sheriff's office in Donalsonville. Call (229) 524-5115 and ask about the report you need. Have the date, location, and names of the people involved ready. Crash reports in Georgia typically cost about $5. If you were a party to the accident, getting a copy is easy.

For State Patrol crashes in Seminole County, the EPORTS system is where you request the report. Each one costs $5. You submit online and get an email notification when the file is ready for download. The BuyCrash website is another tool to try. Some Georgia agencies post their crash reports there for online purchase. Check both systems if you cannot find what you need through the sheriff's office alone.

O.C.G.A. 50-18-72 says non-parties to a crash may need to give a written statement explaining why they need the report. This privacy rule protects accident victims. If you were in the crash, this does not apply. Insurance companies and lawyers get these reports routinely and are used to the process.

Criminal History in Seminole County

Arrest records from the Seminole County Sheriff's Office show each arrest made by a deputy. Booking details, charges, and photos are part of the police file. These records are generally public under Georgia law. Initial arrest reports stay available even during active investigations. The sheriff's office is the right place to ask for arrest records from the county.

A statewide criminal history search can be done through the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The GBI runs the Georgia Crime Information Center with records from all 159 counties. This gives you a much broader view than any single county office. Court records from the Seminole County Clerk of Superior Court offer more detail on the legal side. The clerk has files on charges, pleas, trial results, and sentences for cases in the Seminole County court system.

Police records and court records are not the same thing. The police record shows the arrest and the officer's report. The court record shows what happened in court after the arrest. You may need both to get the complete picture on a criminal case in Seminole County.

Making a Records Request

The fastest way is to visit the sheriff's office at 208 Court Street in Donalsonville. Bring your ID and details about the record. For simple requests like a single incident report, you may get copies that same day. The staff can look up the file while you wait and tell you the cost.

Mail works if you cannot go in person. Send your letter to 208 Court Street, Donalsonville, GA 39845. Include your name, mailing address, phone number, and a clear description of the records you need. Be specific about dates and names. The more detail you give, the faster the search goes. Phone requests at (229) 524-5115 are another option. Georgia law permits oral requests, but writing things down provides better documentation. If there are ever questions about what you asked for, the written record settles it.

The Georgia Sheriffs' Association keeps a directory of every county sheriff in Georgia. It is a good way to verify addresses and phone numbers, including those for the Seminole County Sheriff's Office.

Note: The Donalsonville Police Department handles reports within the city limits, so check which agency responded to the incident before submitting your request.

What Records Are Public

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

Certain information is removed before release. Social Security numbers are always taken out. Birth dates may be partially redacted. Home addresses and phone numbers of officers are protected under Georgia law. Medical and financial details in police records can be blacked out. Records that could endanger someone or reveal a confidential source may be withheld. Active investigation files can also be held back, but initial reports always stay public. Once a case is closed or litigation ends, the remaining files become available.

Nearby Counties

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