How to Request Records from the Lowndes County Sheriff's Office (Open Records)

An Open Records request gives you access to records that already exist - you can inspect them, make your own copies, or request copies from the office. It's the formal route for getting sheriff's office records, with a clear process for how they're searched, produced, and billed.

Email is the fastest way to submit. Send your completed Open Records request form to sorecords@lowndescounty.com. Fill it out completely before sending, and attach it as a file so staff can easily open and print it.

Prefer fax? Send your completed form to (229) 333-5141. Include a cover sheet with your name and contact info, and save the confirmation page. That receipt comes in handy if there's ever a question about whether it went through.

You can also mail your request to 120 Prison Farm Road, Valdosta, GA 31601. Include your contact information so staff can reach you quickly if they need clarification or need to send a cost estimate.

Request Contents

• ✓ Full name(s) connected to the record you’re requesting
• ✓ Date of birth (if you have it)
• ✓ SSN (if available and relevant)
• ✓ Case number (if you have it)
• ✓ Address connected to the incident or record (if you have it)
• ✓ A detailed description of what you want (specific dates, report types, and any other identifiers)
• ✓ Your choice on the form: “inspect and copy” or “obtain copies”

The request form asks whether you want to "inspect and copy" records or "obtain copies." Inspection makes sense if you want to review what exists before narrowing things down. If you already know exactly what you need, requesting copies is simpler - just expect copying fees to apply.

Staff time can be billed when they search for, retrieve, copy, or supervise access to records. The rate is based on the hourly pay of the lowest-paid employee qualified to handle your request. The first 15 minutes are free.

Standard paper copies cost 10 cents per page for letter- or legal-sized documents. Requesting a large file? Page count is usually the biggest driver of your total cost.

Non-standard documents cost more. The sheriff's office may charge actual costs for electronic media or unusual formats, and certified copies or specialized records can carry higher fees when allowed by law.

Prepayment may be required before your request is processed. If the estimated cost exceeds $500, you'll need to pay upfront. The same rule applies if you have unpaid balances from previous requests.

Open Records covers what already exists. The law requires production, inspection, and duplication of existing records - but the sheriff's office doesn't have to create new documents, files, or spreadsheets for you.

The form lets you request access within three business days if records are available. If they can't meet that window, the office should give you a timetable. You can also indicate that you don't need the three-day turnaround and specify your own preferred timeline instead.

1. Send the completed form - Submit it by email to sorecords@lowndescounty.com, by fax to (229) 333-5141, or by mail to 120 Prison Farm Road, Valdosta, GA 31601.
2. Save proof you sent it - Keep your sent email, your fax transmission confirmation, or your mail receipt/tracking.
3. Follow up with your preferred contact method - If you don’t hear back after a reasonable amount of time, reply to your sent email, re-fax with your confirmation, or reference your mailed request so staff can locate it.
4. Ask for the timeline and any cost estimate - If the request is large or complicated, getting an estimate and expected completion date helps you avoid surprises.

Next Steps Tracking

• ✓ Fill out the Open Records request form completely
• ✓ Choose your access type on the form: inspect and copy, or obtain copies
• ✓ Be as specific as possible so staff can locate the right records faster
• ✓ Submit the completed form by email (sorecords@lowndescounty.com), fax ((229) 333-5141), or mail (120 Prison Farm Road, Valdosta, GA 31601)
• ✓ Save your confirmation: sent email, fax transmission receipt, or mail tracking/receipt

Cost estimate over $500? You'll need to prepay before processing starts. The same rule applies if you have unpaid balances from past requests - worth clearing those up before submitting something new. Keep copies of everything you submit and any payment receipts. Those records make it much easier to track your request if you need to follow up.