Find Valdosta Background Check Records

Valdosta background check records are available through the Lowndes County Sheriff's Office and the Valdosta Police Department. Valdosta is the county seat of Lowndes County in south Georgia, near the Florida border. With a population of about 55,000, it is the largest city in the region. Both local agencies process criminal history requests from the public. The state-level Georgia Bureau of Investigation also maintains Valdosta arrest and conviction data in its central database. This page explains how to get a Valdosta background check, which offices handle requests, and what the process looks like.

Lowndes County Sheriff Background Check

The Lowndes County Sheriff's Office handles background checks for Valdosta residents. Sheriff Ashley Paulk runs the department. The mailing address is PO Box 667, Valdosta, GA 31603. Call 229-671-2900 for questions about the background check process. You need to visit in person with a valid government-issued photo ID. Social Security cards are not accepted as primary identification. Give the staff your full name, date of birth, and Social Security number to start the search.

The sheriff's office searches the Georgia Crime Information Center database. This pulls up arrests, charges, and court dispositions from Valdosta and across Georgia. Name-based checks can return results the same day in many cases. The fee is capped at $20 per person by state law under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34. Ask about accepted payment methods when you call.

Valdosta Police Department Records

The Valdosta Police Department is at 500 N. Toombs Street, Valdosta, GA 31601. Non-emergency calls go to 229-293-3091. For records, call 229-293-3144. The police department runs background checks through their own files and the state system. This gives you a second option beyond the sheriff's office. If one is busier than the other, try the alternative.

Valdosta PD handles a good volume of records requests. The city is the largest in south Georgia and draws people from surrounding counties. The records section processes background checks, police reports, and other public record requests. Walk in during business hours or call ahead to check availability. Having both the police department and sheriff's office available makes getting a Valdosta background check more convenient than in smaller towns that only have the sheriff.

This screenshot shows the Valdosta Police Department webpage where you can find information about background check services and records.

State Background Check Options

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation manages the statewide criminal history database. Every Valdosta arrest feeds into this system. The Georgia Felon Search is the quickest state-level tool. It costs $15 per search and sends results to your email within minutes. Only felony convictions show up. No misdemeanors. No pending cases. No arrests without convictions. You get charged even if nothing comes back.

The GAPS fingerprint system through IdentoGO offers a more complete Valdosta background check. Fingerprint-based searches pull from both Georgia and federal records. Results come in 24 to 48 hours. The cost is higher, but you get a much fuller picture since fingerprints confirm identity better than just a name match. Call IdentoGO at 833-542-9283 to find the nearest fingerprinting site to Valdosta.

Note: GCIC does not run name-based checks directly, so you must go through a local agency like the Valdosta PD or Lowndes County Sheriff for that type of search.

Valdosta Background Check Law

Georgia law sets clear rules for background checks. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34, private citizens can access felony conviction records without the subject's consent through the Georgia Felon Search. For a complete criminal history that includes all arrests, you need signed consent on a GCIC form. The form requires the person's full name, address, date of birth, and Social Security number.

The First Offender Act under O.C.G.A. § 42-8-60 can hide certain records from a Valdosta background check. People sentenced as first offenders who complete their terms get discharged without a conviction. Those records are sealed. Record restriction under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37 also removes eligible arrests from public view. Both of these mean a clean background check result does not always tell the full story.

Valdosta Background Check Fees

• Lowndes County Sheriff: up to $20
• Valdosta PD: up to $20
• Georgia Felon Search: $15 per search
• GAPS fingerprint check: varies
• Record inspection: up to $15 plus fingerprinting

No agency in Georgia can charge more than $20 for a criminal history record check. Call ahead to confirm current fees and payment methods at either Valdosta agency.

Valdosta Contact Details

Use these contacts to start your Valdosta background check. The Georgia Sheriffs' Association keeps a directory of all 159 Georgia county sheriffs.

• Lowndes County Sheriff: PO Box 667, Valdosta, GA 31603
• Sheriff Phone: 229-671-2900
• Valdosta PD: 500 N. Toombs Street, Valdosta, GA 31601
• Police Non-Emergency: 229-293-3091
• Police Records: 229-293-3144

Nearby Cities

These Georgia cities are near Valdosta and have their own background check pages.