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Georgia · How-To Guide

How do I find an inmate or search a jail roster?

Georgia Department of Corrections - GDC (state prisons) / County Sheriff's Office (county jails)
Details

What you need to know

Fee
Online searches free; certified records requests may involve fees ONLINE OPTION: Yes - GDC Inmate Query at gdc.ga.gov; county sheriff websites for local jails WHERE TO GO: GDC (state prisons); County Sheriff's Office (county jail)
Online Option
Yes - GDC Inmate Query at gdc.ga.gov; county sheriff websites for local jails
Where to Go
GDC (state prisons); County Sheriff's Office (county jail)
County-specific variations apply

Each of Georgia's 159 county sheriffs operates a separate jail with its own roster. Online search capabilities vary widely - metro Atlanta counties (Fulton, Gwinnett, DeKalb, Cobb, Cherokee) have robust online inmate search systems; many rural Georgia counties have limited or no online access, requiring a direct phone call to the jail. Georgia has the second most counties of any state (159) - each maintaining independent jail operations.

Georgia Notes

Important state-specific details

  • Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) manages all state prisons, transitional centers, and probation detection centers; Inmate Query at gdc.ga.gov covers currently incarcerated state inmates.
  • County jails operated by County Sheriffs - separate from GDC; recent arrests will NOT appear in GDC database.
  • Georgia State Patrol and GBI (Georgia Bureau of Investigation): may have additional records for serious crimes; gsp.georgia.gov and gbi.georgia.gov.
  • Georgia Sex Offender Registry: gbi.georgia.gov/sex-offender-registry - searchable online by name, county, or address.
  • Georgia has 159 county jails - one for each county - making it one of the most decentralized jail systems in the US.
  • For visitation, phone calls, sending money, commissary, or mailing to a Georgia inmate: inmateaid.com has GDC and county jail facility details.
Official Source

State office contact

State Office
Georgia Department of Corrections - gdc.ga.gov | (478) 992-5249; GDC Inmate Query: gdc.ga.gov (look for "Find an Offender")