Police Blotter in Clay County

Clay County police blotter records are maintained by the sheriff's office in Fort Gaines, Georgia. This is one of the smallest counties in the state by population, and the sheriff's office is the sole law enforcement agency. Every arrest, incident report, and call for service across Clay County goes through this one office. If you need to search for a police blotter entry, the process is simple. Call or write the sheriff's office, and they will look up what you need. Georgia's open records law guarantees public access to blotter data, and most requests from Clay County are handled quickly given the smaller volume of records.

Clay County Police Blotter Office

Sheriff Locke Shivers runs the Clay County Sheriff's Office from 124 Thomas Street, Suite 1 in Fort Gaines. The office is small but handles all law enforcement duties for the county. Deputies patrol the roads, investigate crimes, serve warrants, and manage the county lock-up. Every incident gets logged into the police blotter. In a county with fewer than 3,000 people, the blotter is usually manageable for staff to search through quickly.

Clay County borders Alabama along the Chattahoochee River. Fort Gaines is the only town of any size. The police blotter captures everything that happens here, from traffic stops on GA 37 to property crimes and domestic disturbance calls. If you need a record from Clay County, the staff at the sheriff's office can usually find it the same day you ask.

Getting Clay County Police Blotter Data

Call (229) 768-2505 to request police blotter records from Clay County. The staff is small, so you may speak directly with a deputy or the records clerk. Give them the date, name, or type of incident. They can check the files while you are on the phone. For written requests, send a letter to 124 Thomas Street, Suite 1, Fort Gaines, GA 39851.

Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71, the response time is three business days. Standard copies cost up to 10 cents per page. The first quarter hour of search time is free. In a county this size, the total cost for a basic police blotter request is usually very low. You can also walk in during office hours and ask to view the records in person at no cost.

Note: Active investigation records may be withheld under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72 until the case is closed.

Clay County Police Blotter Records

Georgia's Open Records Act at O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 makes police blotter records public. Any person can ask to see them. No reason is required. The sheriff's office in Clay County must respond within three business days. If they deny a request, they have to put the reason in writing. The law protects your right to see arrest logs, incident reports, and call records from Clay County.

Exemptions under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72 protect pending investigations, confidential sources, and safety-related information. Personal data like phone numbers and birth dates get redacted. But the core details of each police blotter entry, including the date, location, charges, and description, are public in Clay County.

State Resources for Clay County

State patrol reports from highways in Clay County are available through the DPS EPORTS system. Incident reports cost $2.00 and crash reports cost $5.00. The first citation is free. These cover incidents on GA 37, GA 39, and other state routes in Clay County.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation handles major cases and maintains the crime information center. You can submit requests through their records portal. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34, criminal history records beyond felony convictions need the person's consent. The Georgia Sheriffs' Association directory lists all county sheriffs.

The Georgia Department of Corrections offender search helps track people who were arrested in Clay County and ended up in state prison. To submit a crime tip, use the GBI online tip form or call (800) 597-8477. Tips can be anonymous.

Clay County Blotter Record Fees

Copy fees follow state law under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71. Standard paper copies are up to 10 cents a page. The first 15 minutes of staff search time are free. After that, the charge is based on the lowest qualified employee's hourly rate. For small counties like Clay County, the cost of a typical blotter request is minimal.

State patrol report fees are set by the DPS fee schedule. Those payments go through the EPORTS system online.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Clay County. If an incident took place near a county line, the report may be on file at a different office. Verify the jurisdiction before making your request.