Access Valdosta Arrest Records
Valdosta arrest records are held by the Valdosta Police Department and the Lowndes County Sheriff's Office. This south Georgia city has about 55,000 residents and serves as the county seat of Lowndes County. Valdosta is home to Valdosta State University, which adds to the area's population. Arrest records from city police and the county sheriff are public in Georgia. You can search them through local offices, the county jail system, or state databases. Whether you need a recent booking or an older arrest record from Valdosta, there are several paths to get the information you need.
Valdosta Quick Facts
Valdosta Police Arrest Records
The Valdosta Police Department is located at 222 North Ashley Street, Valdosta, GA 31601. The non-emergency number is 229-293-3091. This is the main law enforcement agency for the city. Officers patrol Valdosta and make arrests for all types of crimes. Each arrest generates a booking record that stays on file with the department. You can call to ask about someone in custody or request details on a past arrest in Valdosta.
Walk-in requests work during business hours. Have the full name and date of birth of the person ready. Staff can search the system and pull up arrest records tied to Valdosta cases. Written requests by mail are another option if you cannot visit in person. The Valdosta Police Department also fields calls about open warrants and active cases within city limits.
The Valdosta city website has contact information for the police department and other city services.
The city site lists police department contacts and links to public safety resources in Valdosta.
| Department | Valdosta Police Department |
|---|---|
| Address | 222 N Ashley St, Valdosta, GA 31601 |
| Phone | 229-293-3091 |
| Website | valdostacity.com |
Lowndes County Records for Valdosta
Valdosta is the county seat of Lowndes County. The Lowndes County Sheriff's Office runs the county jail and handles bookings for many arrests in the area. When someone is arrested in Valdosta, they may end up booked into the Lowndes County Jail. That creates a county record in addition to the city police record. Both agencies maintain their own files.
The Lowndes County Sheriff also patrols unincorporated areas around Valdosta. Arrests made by county deputies go through the sheriff's office, not the Valdosta Police Department. If you are not sure which agency handled the arrest, checking both the city and county is the best approach. The county system covers more of the surrounding area and may have records that the city police department does not.
Note: Valdosta State University has its own campus police that make arrests too, and those records go through the university police department.
Georgia State Arrest Records
Every arrest in Valdosta gets reported to the Georgia Crime Information Center. The GCIC is run by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and keeps criminal history data from all 159 counties. The Criminal Justice Information System links law enforcement agencies across Georgia, including the Valdosta Police Department. Data flows into this central database from more than 600 agencies each month.
Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, you can inspect your own criminal history record for up to $15. This covers arrests from Valdosta and all other locations in Georgia. If the data has errors, you can ask for a correction within 60 days. The GBI website explains the full process for getting a criminal history check.
The Georgia Department of Corrections offender search covers people in state prison. If someone was arrested in Valdosta and sent to a state facility, you can look them up by name or GDC ID. People held at the Lowndes County Jail will not appear in the GDC system.
Arrest Record Laws for Valdosta
Georgia's Open Records Act at O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 gives the public access to arrest records in Valdosta. Initial arrest reports and incident reports must be shared with anyone who asks. Pending investigation files can be held back. But the first report is always public. Violating the Open Records Act carries fines up to $1,000 for a first offense and up to $2,500 for repeat violations within 12 months.
Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-38, getting arrest records under false pretenses is a crime. Fines reach $5,000 and prison time can be up to two years. Record restriction is another part of Georgia law that affects Valdosta arrest records. If an arrest ended in a dismissal, no bill, or nolle prosequi, that charge can be restricted from public view. Only law enforcement agencies can see restricted records after that point. Guilty outcomes are never eligible for restriction in Georgia.
Valdosta Felony Search Tools
The Georgia Felon Search costs $15 per check. It covers felony convictions only. Misdemeanor arrests from Valdosta are not included. You need a first name, last name, date of birth, and sex to run the search. Sealed and restricted records will not show up.
The Georgia Sheriffs' Association directory lists every sheriff in the state by county. Use it to find the Lowndes County Sheriff's contact details for arrest record questions about the Valdosta area.
Lowndes County Arrest Records
Valdosta is the county seat of Lowndes County. The county jail, booking data, and sheriff records all cover the Valdosta area. For full details on the county system and other resources, visit the Lowndes County arrest records page.