What are Dougherty County Public Records?
As established under the Georgia Open Records Act, Dougherty County public records include papers, tapes, letters, files, photographs, and other materials generated, maintained, and issued by government agencies in the county.
In addition to government agencies, some public records may also be accessible from third-party websites. These non-government platforms come with intuitive tools that allow for extensive searches. Record seekers may either use these tools to search for a specific record or multiple records. However, users will need to provide enough information to assist with the search, such as:
- The name of the subject involved in the record (subject must be older than 18 or not juvenile)
- The address of the requestor
- A case number or file number (if known)
- The location of the document or person involved
- The last known or current address of the registrant
Government agencies do not sponsor third-party sites. Hence, record availability and results may vary.
Dougherty County Crime Statistics
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation, in partnership with the Uniform Crime Reporting Program of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, compiles and analyzes crime reports across the state of Georgia. In the 2017 report of Dougherty county, 5,492 crimes were listed within county limits. Of this number, they were 876 violent crimes, and 4,616 were property crimes. Violent crimes comprised 22 murders, 33 rapes, 159 robberies, and 662 aggravated assaults. On the other hand, property crimes consisted of 976 burglaries, 3,395 larcenies, 216 auto thefts, and 29 arson cases.
The reports show a general decline in the county's crime rates relative to a previous five-year record. Compared with the crime data of 2014, the statistics show variations in the trend of each crime category in Dougherty County. Murder cases rose by 144%, rape crimes by 27%, aggravated assaults by 8%, and robberies reduced by one reported incident. Also, property crimes showed variations in trends with each category. There was a 24% reduction in burglary offenses, and a 5% drop in auto theft reports, while larceny and arson reduced by 6% and 107%, respectively.
Are Dougherty County Criminal Records Public?
Dougherty county criminal records are largely open to the public. Criminal history information services in Dougherty County are maintained and provided by the Dougherty County Sheriff's Office located at:
Judicial Building
225 Pine Avenue
Albany, GA 31701
Phone: (229) 431-3259
Members of the public can access this service by visiting the Dougherty County Facility between 7:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Each criminal history check costs $20. Requestors are required to call (229) 430-6674 to confirm an appointment with the office.
However, the information provided through the county sheriff's office is limited to the county database. If a more thorough search is desired, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Georgia Crime Investigation Center (GCIC) provides much more detailed criminal history information.
A criminal history record in Georgia contains a person's biodata, arrest information, a court disposition of the case, or other agency information. Interested parties may request their criminal history records, having paid the required fees. Third-party requestors may only receive criminal history records of another person by obtaining a signed consent from the involved party. Criminal records of felony cases still under investigation may also be restricted from public access upon the request of involved parties.
However, felony conviction records are provided upon request to members of the public without the consent of the involved party. The full name, nationality, gender, and date of birth of the record holder are required to request a felony conviction record.
Interested individuals may also request information using the Georgia Felon Search. The online service fee may be made for using a credit card. However, the GCIC conducts only fingerprint-based checks. To request one, visit the office at:
3121 Panthersville Road
Decatur, GA 30034
Or call: (404) 244-2600
Requestors may also use the online resources to obtain further information:
Copies of arrest and crash reports are available 3 to 5 days from the date of the incident, at the Dougherty County Police Department located at:
2106 Habersham Road
Albany, GA 3170
Phone: (229) 430-6600
Requestors are required to indicate the reference number of the report of interest. Copies attract a service fee of 10 cents per page and $5.00 for an accident report.
How to Find Sex Offender Information in Dougherty County
The Dougherty County Sheriff's Office maintains a database of sex offenders within the county. Interested persons can locate sex offenders within their neighborhood using the portal. Residents can also subscribe to receive alerts of sex offenders in the area. In addition, the GBI sex offenders registry provides a more robust database of sex offenders within and throughout the state.
How to Find Dougherty County Inmate Records
The Dougherty County Sheriff manages the Dougherty County Jail. The facility is located at:
1302 Evelyn Avenue
Albany, GA
The facility also accepts inmate referrals from other law enforcement agencies within or outside the county but within the state. Online funding facilities are provided for persons seeking to fund an inmate's account. For information regarding the process, contact the office of the county sheriff at:
Dougherty County Sheriff's Office
Judicial Building
225 Pine Avenue
Albany, GA 31701
Dougherty County Court Records
Dougherty County court records are generally available for inspection and copying to members of the public. However, some exceptions exist. Juvenile records, financial details of involved parties, and records of cases sealed by court order are exempted from public disclosure.
To obtain court records, visit the court where the case was tried between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on business days.
There are six trial courts in Dougherty County. The following are their addresses and contact information:
Dougherty County Superior Court
225 Pine Avenue
Room 126
P.O. Box 1827
Albany, GA 31702
Phone: (229) 431-2198
Fax: (229) 431-2850
State Court of Dougherty County
225 Pine Avenue
Room 126
P.O. Box 1827
Albany, GA 31702
Phone: (229) 431-2198
Fax: (229) 431-2850
Dougherty County Juvenile Court
225 Pine Avenue
P.O. Box 1827
Albany, GA 31702
Phone: (229) 431-2162
Fax: (229) 431-2665
Probate Court of Dougherty County
225 Pine Avenue
Suite 123
P.O. Box 1827
Albany, GA 31702
Phone: (229) 431-2102
Fax: (229) 434-2694
Dougherty County Magistrate Court
P.O. Box 1827
Albany, GA 31702
Phone: (229) 431-3216
Fax: (229) 446-2752
Municipal Court of Albany
225 Pine Avenue
Room 202
P.O. Box 447
Albany, GA 31702
Phone: (229) 431-2865
Fax: (229) 432-8193
Dougherty County Vital Records
The State Office of Vital Records (SOVR) of the Georgia Department of Public Health registers all births, deaths, marriages, and divorces. These records are kept for population statistics and are made available to interested and eligible members of the public on request. Birth and divorce records are accessible to only persons named in the record, their immediate family relatives of legal age, anyone to whom the involved parties grant an official release, or by court order.
Eligible persons may request vital records at the County Office of Vital Records located at:
Dougherty County Clerk
225 Pine Avenue
Albany, GA 31701-2561
(912) 436-1589
2 Peachtree Street, NW
15th Floor
Atlanta, GA 30303
The application forms for each record are as follows:
Request for Search of Birth Record (Form 3918)
Request for Search of Death Record (Form 3912)
Request for Search of Marriage Record (Form 3913)
Divorce Verification Request (Form 3917)
To initiate a request process, download the form of interest and fill it out. Print the completed application and enclose a copy of a valid photo ID, a money order, or a check payment of $25 made payable to the State Office of Vital records.
Mail the request to:
State Office of Vital Records
Suite 100
1680 Phoenix Boulevard
Atlanta, GA 30349
In-person requests may also be made to the same address. Mail-in requests are processed within ten weeks, while walk-in visits are processed the same day.
Alternatively, requesters can visit the Office of the Clerk of the Superior Court to obtain certified copies of divorce records. Certified copies of marriage records filed before June 9, 1952, should be requested at the county's Probate court during office hours.
