Search Savannah Police Blotter

Savannah police blotter records are generated by the Savannah Police Department, the primary law enforcement agency for this coastal Georgia city of nearly 149,000 people. The department files incident reports, arrest records, and crime data for everything that happens within Savannah city limits. Chatham County handles records for areas outside the city through the sheriff's office. Georgia's Open Records Act gives anyone the right to access Savannah police blotter entries, and multiple online tools let you search for specific reports from home without visiting an office in person.

Savannah Police Blotter Records

The Savannah Police Department handles all police blotter records within city limits. SPD officers respond to calls for service, write incident reports, make arrests, and file the paperwork that becomes the public police blotter. The department's main phone number is (912) 652-6500. For records requests specifically, contact the records division during normal business hours.

Savannah police blotter entries cover a wide range of incidents. Theft reports, assault cases, vehicle accidents, domestic calls, drug arrests, and property crimes all generate reports. Each entry gets a case number that you can use to track it through the system. If you need a copy of a Savannah incident report, provide the case number, date, or names involved. The more details you give, the faster staff can locate your records. Walk-in requests at the Savannah Police Department are processed during business hours, and written requests are also accepted.

The Chatham County Sheriff's Office handles areas outside Savannah city limits. If you are not sure whether the incident happened inside or outside city boundaries, call SPD first. They can tell you which agency took the report.

Savannah Police Blotter Open Records

Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, police blotter records from the Savannah Police Department are public. Anyone can request them. You do not need to live in Savannah or explain your reason. The law covers incident reports, arrest logs, booking records, and other documents the department creates or maintains. These are open to inspection and copying.

O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71 sets the timeline. The Savannah Police Department has three business days to respond after getting your written request. Copies cost up to 10 cents per page for standard paper. Certified copies add $2.00 per document. The first 15 minutes of staff time searching for your Savannah police blotter records are free. Beyond that, the city can charge the hourly rate of the lowest-paid person who can do the work. Most routine requests are done within the free window.

Certain Savannah police blotter records are exempt under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72. Active investigations may have parts withheld. Juvenile records are sealed. Victim addresses and phone numbers get removed. Medical details are redacted. But the basic report with the incident type, location, date, time, and any arrest information is nearly always available in Savannah.

Savannah Police Blotter Info

State-level records add another layer to Savannah police blotter data. The EPORTS portal run by the Georgia Department of Public Safety gives you access to crash reports, incident reports, and citations from state troopers working Savannah's highways. Interstate 16 ends in Savannah and connects to Interstate 95, so state patrol handles many traffic-related reports in the area. Crash reports cost $5.00, incident reports run $2.00, and citations are free for the first copy.

The Georgia Sex Offender Registry is searchable for registered offenders living in Savannah. The Georgia Department of Corrections offender search covers people in state prison after a Savannah conviction. And the GBI Records Request Center accepts open records requests for any state investigation connected to Savannah.

Note: Criminal history background checks through the GBI require written consent from the subject under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34, except for felony conviction records which are public.

Savannah Police Record Fees

Savannah police blotter record fees follow state guidelines. Standard copies from SPD cost up to 10 cents a page. Certified copies add $2.00. The DPS fee schedule shows the full breakdown of what agencies across Georgia can charge for records. The first 15 minutes of search time are free at any Georgia agency, including Savannah PD.

Through EPORTS, state patrol records from Savannah highways cost $5.00 for crash reports and $2.00 for incident reports. Citations are free. These fees are separate from what the Savannah Police Department charges for its own records. For most routine Savannah police blotter requests, the total cost is modest. Call ahead if you want an estimate before committing to a records search.

Savannah Crime Data Tools

The Georgia Sheriffs' Association maintains a directory of all sheriffs by county, including Chatham County which covers the Savannah area. If you need to reach the sheriff's office for records outside Savannah city limits, this directory has current contact information.

The sheriffs' directory covers every county in Georgia, including Chatham County which serves the Savannah area.

The Georgia Sex Offender Registry lets you search by address, city, or county to find registered offenders in Savannah neighborhoods. The GBI maintains this database and updates it regularly. It is free to search and does not require an account.

Registry searches are free and show current addresses, photos, and offense details for registered offenders in the Savannah area.

Nearby Cities

Pooler is the closest qualifying city to Savannah with its own police department and separate police blotter records. If an incident happened near the city border, check which agency filed the report before making your request.