Search Walton County Police Records

Walton County police records are managed by the Walton County Sheriff's Office in Monroe, Georgia. Sheriff Keith Brooks leads the department, which handles incident reports, arrest records, accident reports, and other law enforcement documents for the county. The records division processes requests under the Georgia Open Records Act. Walton County is located east of metro Atlanta, and the sheriff's office serves as the main custodian of police files for all unincorporated areas and communities that rely on county law enforcement.

Walton County Sheriff's Office Records

The Walton County Sheriff's Office is at 350 Georgia Avenue, Monroe, GA 30655. The phone number is (770) 267-6557. Sheriff Keith Brooks runs the department, and the records staff handles all open records requests during business hours. The office is open Monday through Friday.

Police records from Walton County include incident reports, arrest records, crash reports, and supplemental investigation files. The records division keeps these documents and makes them available to the public. When you call or visit, the staff can help you find what you need. Having a case number or specific date makes the process much faster.

Monroe also has its own city police department. If the incident happened inside Monroe city limits, the city police may have the report instead of the sheriff's office. Always check which agency responded to the call before you file a records request. The 911 center can tell you which agency was dispatched.

Note: Walton County is growing fast, so the records division handles a high volume of requests. Plan for the full three business day window when you submit a request.

Records Fees and Costs

Walton County follows the state fee schedule for police records. Copies are $0.10 per page. This is the standard rate under Georgia law. Accident reports cost $5 for people who were involved in the crash. The first 15 minutes of staff research time are free. After that, the hourly charge is based on the pay of the employee pulling the records.

If the total is expected to go over $25, the office will give you a cost estimate first. You can choose to proceed or limit your request. There is no fee to inspect records in person at the office. You only pay for copies you want to take with you. Payment is accepted by cash, check, or money order. Call ahead if you want to confirm card payments are accepted.

The Georgia Department of Public Safety processes state patrol accident reports through the EPORTS online system. Reports from this system also cost $5.

The EPORTS portal lets you search for crash reports by date and location. Walton County crashes handled by state patrol troopers show up in this system within a few business days of the incident.

How to Get Walton County Police Records

You can request records from the Walton County Sheriff's Office in several ways. Written requests are the most reliable method. Put your request in writing and include your name, phone number, and a clear description of the records you need. Mail it to 350 Georgia Avenue, Monroe, GA 30655.

Phone requests work for simple lookups. Call (770) 267-6557 and ask the records division about the report you need. Give them the date and location or case number. They can tell you if the records are on file and what it will cost. In person visits are another option during business hours. Walk up to the records window and speak with the staff directly.

Under O.C.G.A. 50-18-71, the office must respond within three business days. The response might be the records themselves, a cost estimate, or a timeline for when the records will be ready. If the request is denied, the office must put the reason in writing and tell you which law allows the exemption.

For the best results, be as specific as possible. Vague requests take longer to process and can cost more because of the extra research time. A good request includes the date of the incident, the names of people involved, and the type of report you want.

Walton County Open Records Rights

Georgia's Open Records Act under O.C.G.A. 50-18-70 gives every person the right to inspect and copy public records from Walton County agencies. You do not need to be a resident. You do not need to give a reason. The law covers police records, court files, and other documents held by government offices.

Initial incident reports and initial arrest reports are public. This is true even while a case is still open. The full investigation file opens up after all court proceedings end. Some records have exemptions, such as those that could put someone in danger or reveal a confidential informant. But the law leans toward disclosure, and Walton County has to follow the same rules as every other county.

If your request is denied, you have the right to appeal. The first step is to ask for the denial in writing with the specific code section cited. If you still disagree, you can file a complaint in Walton County Superior Court. The court can order the records released and may award attorney fees if the denial was not justified.

Walton County Accident Reports

Crash reports from Walton County are available from the agency that responded. Sheriff's deputies handle most crashes in unincorporated areas. The Monroe Police Department handles crashes inside city limits. Georgia State Patrol covers the interstate and some state highways.

For sheriff's office reports, contact the records division at (770) 267-6557. For state patrol reports, use the EPORTS portal online. The cost is $5 either way. You need the date and location of the crash to search for it. Under O.C.G.A. 50-18-72, people who were not involved in the accident may need to provide a written statement of need to get the report.

Note: Crash reports sometimes take a few days to get into the system. If you cannot find your report right away, wait a week and try again.

Criminal History and Background Checks

Walton County criminal records are maintained by the Clerk of Superior Court. These court records include case filings, charges, dispositions, and sentencing details. They are separate from the police reports held by the sheriff's office. The clerk's office is in the Walton County courthouse in Monroe.

For a statewide criminal history check, contact the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The GBI maintains the state criminal database and processes background check requests. County level checks through the clerk's office only show cases filed in Walton County courts.

Nearby Counties

If you need police records from areas around Walton County, check these neighboring counties.