Search Fannin County Police Blotter

Fannin County police blotter records track crime and arrest data from law enforcement across this north Georgia mountain community. The Fannin County Sheriff's Office logs each call, each arrest, and each incident that takes place within county lines. If you want to look up recent crime reports or find old arrest records in Fannin County, this page walks you through the process. Blue Ridge serves as the county seat and is home to the main sheriff's office where most police blotter data gets filed. Searching these records helps residents stay up to date on local crime and public safety in Fannin County. Georgia open records law gives the public a right to see most of these files.

Fannin County Police Blotter Office

Sheriff Dane Kirby runs the Fannin County Sheriff's Office out of Blue Ridge. This is where police blotter records get made and stored for the county. When deputies respond to a call, they write up an incident report. That report goes into the blotter. The same thing happens with arrests, traffic stops, and any other law enforcement action in Fannin County. You can call the office or go in person to ask about a specific police blotter entry or request copies of incident reports.

The Fannin County Sheriff's Office sits at 645 West First Street in Blue Ridge, GA 30513. The main phone line is (706) 632-2044. Office hours run Monday through Friday during normal business hours, though the dispatch line stays open around the clock for emergencies. Walk-in requests for police blotter records are handled by the records clerk. Bring your ID and be ready to give a date range or a name so staff can pull the right files from the Fannin County police blotter. Keep in mind that some records tied to open cases may not be available yet under Georgia law.

Fannin County Police Blotter Open Records

Georgia's Open Records Act covers police blotter data in Fannin County. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, public records include documents that any government agency prepares or keeps. Police blotter logs fall into that group. The law says that agencies must turn over records within three business days of a request. This rule applies to the Fannin County Sheriff's Office just like every other law enforcement office in the state.

There are limits, though. O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72 lists certain records that agencies can hold back. If an investigation is still active in Fannin County, the sheriff's office may not release the full police blotter report right away. Records that name confidential sources or could put someone in danger also get held back. Once a case closes, most of the file becomes open to the public. Initial incident reports from the Fannin County police blotter are almost always available, even while a case is still under review. You do not need to give a reason for your request.

Note: The first quarter hour of search time is free under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71, and copies cost up to 10 cents a page.

How to Get Fannin County Blotter Records

There are a few ways to request police blotter records from Fannin County. The most direct path is to visit the sheriff's office in Blue Ridge. You can fill out a records request form on site and staff will pull the files. If the records are ready, you can get them that day. For larger requests, the office may need up to three business days to gather everything per state law.

You can also make your request by mail. Send a written note to the Fannin County Sheriff's Office at 645 West First Street, Blue Ridge, GA 30513. Include as much detail as you can: the date of the incident, the names of people involved, or a case number if you have one. The more details you give, the faster staff can find the right police blotter records in Fannin County. Phone requests are possible too, but you may still need to come in or pay by mail to get copies of Fannin County records.

Fees for police blotter copies in Fannin County follow state guidelines. Expect to pay up to 10 cents per page for standard copies. The agency can also charge for staff time spent searching and pulling records, but the first 15 minutes of that work is free. If the total cost goes over $25, the office may ask for payment up front before starting work on your Fannin County police blotter request.

Georgia State Police Blotter Resources

Some Fannin County incidents show up in state-level databases too. The Georgia Department of Public Safety runs the EPORTS system, which lets you look up incident reports, crash reports, and citations from the Georgia State Patrol. If a trooper responded to a call in Fannin County, that report goes through EPORTS rather than the local sheriff's blotter. Incident reports cost $2.00 each, and the system processes requests in about three to five business days.

The EPORTS portal handles requests for any report that state troopers write in Fannin County or elsewhere in Georgia. You will need to create a free account to start a request.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation also takes open records requests. If the GBI was involved in an investigation in Fannin County, you can submit a request through their online portal. The GBI keeps criminal history records as well, though O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34 limits who can access full criminal histories. Georgia felony conviction records are open to the public, but other criminal history data requires the consent of the person whose record you want to see.

The Georgia Sheriffs' Association directory lists contact details for all 159 county sheriffs, including Fannin County. This is helpful if you need to reach a neighboring sheriff's office about a police blotter record that crosses county lines.

Reporting Crime in Fannin County

Every crime report filed in Fannin County becomes part of the police blotter. If you witness a crime or are a victim, call the Fannin County Sheriff's Office at (706) 632-2044. For emergencies, dial 911. The dispatcher will send a deputy, and that deputy will write a report. Once the report is done, it joins the blotter log at the Fannin County Sheriff's Office.

You can also submit tips to state agencies. The GBI tip line takes anonymous reports about serious crimes. The GBI phone tip line is (800) 597-8477. Tips can lead to new entries on the Fannin County police blotter if local law enforcement follows up.

Fannin County Arrest and Offender Data

Arrest records are a big part of the Fannin County police blotter. When someone gets booked into the Fannin County jail, staff create a booking record with the person's name, charges, arrest date, and bond amount. These records are generally public under Georgia law.

For state-level searches, the Georgia Department of Corrections offender search lets you look up anyone who is currently or was previously in a state prison. This tool covers Fannin County residents who have been sentenced to state time. It shows photos when they are on file. The GDC warns that information may not be fully up to date, so you should verify anything you find by writing to Inmate Records and Information at P.O. Box 1529, Forsyth, GA 31029.

The Georgia Sheriffs' Association provides a central resource for connecting with local law enforcement across the state, including the Fannin County Sheriff's Office.

Nearby Counties

These counties sit next to Fannin County in north Georgia. If an incident happened near the county line, the police blotter record may be in one of these neighboring offices instead.