Search Dawson County Police Blotter

Dawson County police blotter records are managed by the sheriff's office in Dawsonville, north Georgia. Sheriff Jeff Johnson runs the Dawson County Sheriff's Office, which is the main law enforcement agency for this growing foothill county of about 27,000 people. Police blotter entries, arrest logs, and incident reports from Dawson County are available to the public under Georgia law. Whether you need to search for a recent arrest, look up an incident report, or check crime data for Dawson County, this page explains the steps to get those records through the sheriff's office and state-level tools.

Dawson County Police Blotter Office

Sheriff Jeff Johnson leads the Dawson County Sheriff's Office from 19 Tucker Avenue in Dawsonville. The phone number is (706) 544-3535. This office handles all law enforcement in the unincorporated areas of Dawson County, operates the county jail, and maintains the booking log. Every arrest by a deputy and every incident report filed in Dawson County outside city limits starts here.

Dawsonville has a small city police force, but the sheriff's office covers the majority of the county. Georgia Highway 400 runs through Dawson County and brings traffic from the Atlanta metro area, especially on weekends when visitors head to the North Georgia Premium Outlets and the mountains. This traffic means more incidents and more police blotter records. Contact the sheriff's office to request copies. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, police blotter entries are public records in Georgia.

Dawson County Police Blotter Records

Under Georgia's Open Records Act, police blotter files in Dawson County are public. O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71 gives the sheriff's office three business days to respond to your request. Copies cost up to 10 cents per page. Staff time for the first 15 minutes is free. After that, Dawson County can charge at the hourly rate of the lowest-paid person able to handle the work.

O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72 exempts records from active investigations or pending cases. If there is an open case in Dawson County, the sheriff can hold back certain files. Confidential sources are protected. But the initial police blotter entry is almost always available. You do not need to explain why you want the record. Written requests work best because they create a paper trail and trigger the response deadline.

Note: You can submit requests by mail to 19 Tucker Avenue, Dawsonville, GA 30534 or call (706) 544-3535 during business hours.

State Patrol Police Blotter in Dawson County

Georgia State Patrol troopers create police blotter records for highway incidents in Dawson County. GA 400 is a major route through the county, and troopers handle many crashes and traffic stops along it. These state patrol reports are separate from sheriff's office files.

Request state patrol records through the EPORTS portal. Crash reports cost $5.00. Incident reports are $2.00. The first citation copy is free. Most reports are available within three to five business days. For GA 400 incidents in Dawson County, EPORTS is the quickest path to a copy. Submit online, wait for the notification, pay, and download.

If a state trooper and a Dawson County deputy both work the same scene, each agency files a separate police blotter report.

GBI Crime Records for Dawson County

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation supports Dawson County law enforcement with lab work and investigations. If the GBI worked a case in the county, request records through the GBI Records Request Center. The Georgia Sex Offender Registry lets you search for offenders in Dawson County at no cost.

Criminal history checks under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34 need consent from the individual unless you are only searching Georgia felony convictions. The Georgia Department of Corrections offender search covers state inmates after a Dawson County conviction. To report crime information, use the GBI tip form.

Dawson County Police Record Fees

Police blotter fees in Dawson County follow Georgia's state rules. Copies cost up to 10 cents per page. Certified copies add $2.00. See the DPS fee schedule for the complete breakdown of what agencies can charge.

EPORTS charges $5.00 for crash reports and $2.00 for incident reports from state troopers in Dawson County. The sheriff's office may have its own copy rates for local records. Call ahead to confirm costs. The first quarter hour of search time is always free at every agency in Georgia.

Understanding Dawson County Reports

A Dawson County police blotter entry lists the date, time, and location. It names the people involved and describes what happened. Arrest entries show charges and the arresting officer. Each incident in Dawson County gets a case number that connects all the related paperwork.

State law requires redaction of some personal information before police reports go public. Phone numbers, the day and month of birth, and medical details are removed from Dawson County police blotter records. The year of birth remains. Parties to the case or their lawyers may get less-redacted versions. The Georgia Sheriffs' Association directory helps you verify the Dawson County Sheriff's Office contact details.

Confirm the Dawson County Sheriff's Office contact information through the statewide sheriffs directory.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Dawson County in the north Georgia foothills. If you need a police blotter record from near the county line, check with both jurisdictions.