Find Wilkinson County Police Blotter
Wilkinson County police blotter records document arrests, incidents, and crime reports from this central Georgia county. Irwinton is the county seat. Sheriff Richard Chatman runs the Wilkinson County Sheriff's Office, which serves as the main law enforcement agency for unincorporated areas and the county detention center. Georgia's Open Records Act ensures public access to police blotter data from Wilkinson County. You can get incident reports, arrest records, and booking logs from the sheriff's office or search state-level online portals for certain police blotter entries filed by state agencies in Wilkinson County.
Wilkinson County Quick Facts
Wilkinson County Police Blotter Office
The Wilkinson County Sheriff's Office is your main contact for police blotter records in the county. Sheriff Richard Chatman operates from PO Box 178 in Irwinton. The phone number is (478) 946-2411. This office handles arrests in unincorporated Wilkinson County, manages the county jail, and maintains booking records for all inmates processed through the facility.
Wilkinson County is a small, rural county. Irwinton and a few other small communities make up the populated areas, but the sheriff's office handles the vast majority of law enforcement calls. Most police blotter records from Wilkinson County come directly from this single office. If you need a report, this is almost always the only call you need to make. The smaller record volume means staff can typically pull files without much delay.
Walk-in requests are accepted during normal business hours.
| Office | Wilkinson County Sheriff's Office |
|---|---|
| Address | PO Box 178, Irwinton, GA 31042 |
| Phone | (478) 946-2411 |
| Sheriff | Richard Chatman |
Wilkinson County Police Blotter Records
Under the Georgia Open Records Act, you can request police blotter entries from Wilkinson County agencies. O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 defines all agency-created documents as public records. Arrest reports, incident logs, and booking sheets from the Wilkinson County Sheriff's Office are included. You do not need to explain why you want the records.
Agencies must respond within three business days per O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71. Wilkinson County typically meets this deadline. The office often responds faster due to lower volume. Standard copies cost up to 10 cents per page. The first 15 minutes of search time are free. After that, an hourly charge may apply based on the lowest-paid qualified staff member. Most police blotter requests from Wilkinson County cost almost nothing.
O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72 exempts active investigation files and certain confidential details. The initial police blotter entry from Wilkinson County is nearly always available to the public regardless of these exemptions.
State Patrol Police Blotter in Wilkinson County
Georgia State Patrol troopers write their own police blotter records for incidents on state highways through Wilkinson County. SR 57, US 441, and US 80 all pass through the area. State trooper reports are kept separate from Wilkinson County sheriff's records.
Access state patrol reports through the EPORTS online portal. Crash reports cost $5.00. Incident reports are $2.00. Citations are free for the first copy. Wilkinson County reports are typically available within three to five business days. EPORTS is a good option for anyone who cannot easily drive to a state office from this rural part of Georgia.
Look up Georgia statutes that govern Wilkinson County police blotter record access.
The Georgia Code contains the Open Records Act and related laws that control access to Wilkinson County police blotter data.
Note: If both a trooper and a Wilkinson County deputy responded to the same scene, each agency files its own report.
Wilkinson County Police Blotter Data
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation collects crime statistics from all law enforcement agencies in Wilkinson County. The GBI does not patrol locally. It provides lab support, major case investigations, and data analysis. In a small county like Wilkinson, the GBI may get involved more often for serious crimes. The GBI Records Request Center processes open records requests for their investigative files.
Criminal history records need consent under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34 unless limited to Georgia felony convictions. The GBI runs the Georgia Sex Offender Registry, which is free to search for offenders in Wilkinson County. Crime tips can be submitted through the GBI online tip form.
Wilkinson County Offender Search
People serving state prison time after a Wilkinson County conviction can be found through the Georgia Department of Corrections offender search. The tool shows current inmates with photos when available. It covers state prison only. People in the Wilkinson County jail or federal facilities will not appear.
For current jail inmates, call the Wilkinson County Sheriff's Office at (478) 946-2411. Booking records are public under Georgia law. They list who is in custody, their charges, and their booking date. This data is part of the Wilkinson County police blotter. The small jail means staff can usually confirm inmate information quickly if you provide a name.
Note: The state corrections search covers only sentenced inmates, not those awaiting trial in the Wilkinson County jail.
Wilkinson County Police Record Fees
Police blotter record fees in Wilkinson County follow state law. Standard copies cost up to 10 cents a page. Certified copies add $2.00. The first 15 minutes of search time are free. The DPS fee schedule details what agencies can charge across Georgia.
Through EPORTS, crash reports from state troopers in Wilkinson County cost $5.00. Incident reports are $2.00. Your first citation copy is free. These apply only to state-generated records. The Wilkinson County Sheriff's Office may set its own rates for local police blotter documents. Most requests from this small county cost very little.
Reading Wilkinson County Police Reports
A police blotter entry from Wilkinson County follows a standard format. It shows the date, time, and location of the incident. A narrative describes what happened. If there was an arrest, the person's name, charges, and arresting officer are listed. A case number ties all related files together for each Wilkinson County event.
Georgia law requires redaction of some personal details before release. Phone numbers, day and month of birth, and medical information are removed from Wilkinson County police blotter records. The year of birth stays in. Addresses may be partially blocked. You receive a version that protects privacy while providing the basic facts of the incident. If you are a party to the case, a more complete copy may be available from the Wilkinson County Sheriff's Office. Attorneys can sometimes get less-redacted versions through proper legal channels.
Use the Georgia Sheriffs' Association directory to verify Wilkinson County Sheriff's Office contact details before making a request.
The GBI cold case review program may accept applications for unsolved cases in Wilkinson County and across Georgia.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Wilkinson County. Incidents near a county line could be filed by a different agency. Confirm the exact location before requesting police blotter records.