Search White County Police Records

White County police records are maintained by the White County Sheriff's Office in Cleveland, Georgia. Sheriff Rick Kelley leads the department, which manages incident reports, arrest records, accident reports, and other law enforcement documents for the county. The records division handles public requests under the Georgia Open Records Act. White County is in the north Georgia mountains, and the sheriff's office serves as the primary keeper of police files for the area's residents and visitors alike.

White County Sheriff's Office Records

The White County Sheriff's Office is at 1210 Hulsey Road, Cleveland, GA 30528. The phone number is (706) 865-5177. Sheriff Rick Kelley runs the department. The records division processes all open records requests during regular business hours Monday through Friday.

Police records from White County include incident reports, arrest bookings, crash reports, and supplemental investigation files. The sheriff's office handles calls across the unincorporated parts of the county. Cleveland has its own police department, so incidents within city limits may be handled by city officers. Always confirm which agency responded to your call before submitting a records request.

White County sees a lot of visitor traffic because of the mountain area attractions. That means the sheriff's office handles a wider variety of calls than you might expect for a county this size. Accident reports on mountain roads, theft reports from vacation rentals, and other incident types are all part of the records the office keeps.

The Georgia Sheriffs' Association directory lists contact information for the White County Sheriff's Office and every other county sheriff in the state.

Use this resource to confirm the mailing address and phone number before sending your open records request.

White County Records Fees

Fees for police records in White County follow state law. Copies are $0.10 per page. Accident reports cost $5 for people involved in the crash. The first 15 minutes of research time are free under O.C.G.A. 50-18-71. After that, the hourly charge depends on the pay of the employee doing the search.

If the total is going to exceed $25, the office will let you know before they finish. You can then decide whether to go ahead or narrow your request. Cash and checks are the standard payment methods. Call ahead to ask about card payments. Make checks out to the White County Sheriff's Office.

Inspecting records in person at the office is free. You only pay for copies you take with you. This is a good option if you want to review a file before deciding which pages you actually need.

Note: The $0.10 per page rate applies to standard letter size copies. Oversized documents or specialized formats may cost more.

How to Request White County Records

There are several ways to request police records from White County. You can submit a written request by mail to 1210 Hulsey Road, Cleveland, GA 30528. Include your name, contact details, and a clear description of the records you want. Dates and names help the staff find your file quickly.

Phone requests are accepted at (706) 865-5177. Tell the records staff what you need and they can check if the file is on hand. In person visits during business hours work well for simple requests. Walk in and speak with someone at the front desk. For straightforward reports, you might get copies the same day.

Georgia law requires a response within three business days. This does not mean the records will be ready that fast. It means the office must acknowledge your request and tell you the cost and timeline. Simple requests often move faster than the three day window.

Open Records in White County

The Georgia Open Records Act under O.C.G.A. 50-18-70 gives the public access to police records from White County agencies. Any person can make a request. You do not need to live in the county. You do not need to state a reason. The law applies to incident reports, arrest records, crash reports, and other documents held by government agencies.

Initial incident reports and arrest reports are always public. This is the rule even while a case is still under investigation. The full investigation file becomes public after all court proceedings end. Some records are exempt. Records that could endanger someone or reveal a confidential informant may be held back. But Georgia law defaults to openness.

If the White County Sheriff's Office denies your request, they must put the reason in writing and cite the law that allows the exemption. You can challenge any denial in White County Superior Court. The court can order the records released and award attorney fees if the denial was not lawful.

White County Accident Reports

Crash reports from White County are available from the responding agency. Sheriff's deputies handle most crashes in unincorporated areas. Cleveland city police cover crashes within city limits. Georgia State Patrol handles crashes on some state highways and mountain roads.

For sheriff's office reports, call (706) 865-5177 or send a written request. For state patrol reports, use the EPORTS system online. Reports cost $5 from either source. Under O.C.G.A. 50-18-72, people not involved in the crash may need to submit a written statement of need.

Mountain roads in White County can see more accidents than typical rural areas, especially during peak tourism times. Crash reports take a few days to enter the system. If you cannot find yours right away, wait a week and check again. The records staff or the EPORTS help desk can give you an update.

Criminal History Searches

Court records in White County are kept by the Clerk of Superior Court at the courthouse in Cleveland. These records include case filings, charges, pleas, and sentencing details. They are separate from the police reports held by the sheriff's office.

For statewide criminal history searches, contact the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The GBI maintains the state criminal database. A search through the White County clerk's office only pulls up cases filed in that county's courts. If you need both police records and court records for the same case, you will need to make two separate requests to two different offices.

Nearby Counties

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