Dawson County Background Information
Dawson County is a county located in the State of Georgia. According to a census, Dawson County had a total population of 26,798 in 2020. The seat in Dawson County is Dawsonville.
The county was founded in 1857.
It is named for William Crosby Dawson, a U.S. Senator from Georgia.
Dawson County Arrest Records
In Dawson County, arrest records are also kept on each individual crime within the jurisdictional area. These crimes are separated into two main categories, violent crime and property crime. In 2021, in Dawson County, there were 52 violent and 314 property crimes. Dawson County Sheriff’s Office can be contacted at:
Dawson County Sheriff's Office
Sheriff: Jeff Johnson
19 Tucker Avenue
Dawsonville, GA 30534
Phone: (706) 344-3535
Fax: (706) 344- 3537
Dawson County Criminal Records
Dawson County records their criminal activity in the form of criminal records. These records cover murders, rapes, burglaries, arson, motor vehicle theft, assaults and crimes of a sexual nature. Criminal records are frequently updated in Dawson County, including inmate and jail records. A search tool can allow members of the public in Dawson County to access criminal records. Members of the public in Dawson County can use the search tool to find any nearby inmates or those on release.
In Dawson County, as well as the entire state of Georgia, the police are required to maintain an up-to-daye register of all sex offenders in the area. Any person working, attending school or incarcerated in the area is also included on the list if they are a registered sex offender. This list is available to the public in Dawson County. Residents of Dawson County, can look up any offender near to their home, as is their right. People must simply enter their zip code, or the zip code of their desired location, to perform the search. The website will then list all sex offenders found within a given radius of this pinpointed location in Dawson County. Residents can also look for specific offenders. These include non-compliant and incarcerated offenders.
Dawson County Court Records
All family, civil, and criminal cases in Dawson County are overseen by the county courthouse. Court records in Dawson County are maintained by the court clerk. Members of the public in Dawson County can purchase court records at:
Dawson County Courthouse
Justin Power, Clerk
25 Justice Way
Suite 1302
Dawsonville, GA 30534
Office Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00AM - 5:00PM
Phone: (706) 344-3510
Fax: (706) 344-3511
Any contested lower court case can be reviewed by the Court of Appeals in Georgia, including Dawson County. These lower courts often refer to one of the 159 superior or trial courts found across Georgia’s 159 counties, including Dawson County.
NOTE - Usually, records can be sent via fax, email, or mail in Dawson County. Additionally, official records in Dawson County can only be sent by mail.
Dawson County Public Records
All Dawson County residents have vital records kept on them. These vital records include documents relating to a person’s most important milestone events throughout their life. These records include births, deaths, marriages, and divorces. The state of Georgia uses counties such as Dawson County to assist with collection. Counties are usually in charge of collecting and passing on vital files. Counties like Dawson County store all marriage records in Georgia. County offices, such as the one in Dawson County, were also in charge of collecting birth and death records through Georgia’s history. The vital files that counties such as Dawson County help or have helped with include birth certificates, death certificates, divorce decrees, marriage licenses, divorce certificates, marriage certificates, and more. All records, including those from Dawson County, are stored in one central registry. The vital records can be used further down the line for statistical analysis.
All public domain records can be accessed and copied by members of the public in Dawson County. The 1959 Open Records Act gives residents the right to access/copy these files. The 1959 Open Records Act was amended in 2012. To obtain public records in Dawson County, a person must enquire at:
Dawson County Clerk’s Office
Clerk: Kristen Cloud
25 Justice Way
Dawsonville, GA 30534
Phone: (706) 344-3500 x 42235
Email: kcloud@dawsoncountyga.gov
Records in Dawson County, and across Georgia, are not free. For example, birth certificates in Dawson County cost $25 for the first copy, and $5 for any extra copy ordered at the same time. Any death record in Dawson County will cost $25, and an extra $5 for any added copies.
NOTE - The office opens between 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. from Monday to Friday. Photo ID must also be tendered when requesting records. Acceptable IDs include a driver's license or state ID. Dawson County public record seekers must also put the request in writing.
