Search Georgia Jail Roster
Georgia jail roster records are kept by the 159 county sheriff offices and the Georgia Department of Corrections. You can look up who is in a local county jail or a state prison through online search tools. Most counties in Georgia post their jail roster on the sheriff's office site or through third-party inmate search services. The GDC runs a free offender search for state facilities. This guide covers how to search the Georgia jail roster, which agencies hold inmate data, and where to find booking records for any county in the state.
Georgia Jail Roster Quick Facts
Georgia Corrections Jail Roster Database
The Georgia Department of Corrections runs a free offender search tool for state prison inmates. This is the main state agency for jail and prison records in Georgia. The GDC keeps records on all people held in state facilities. You can search by name to find current inmates, their charges, and where they are held. The tool also shows tentative parole dates and offender ID numbers. It does not cover county jail inmates though. For county jails in Georgia, you need to check with the local sheriff.
The GDC main office is at 300 Patrol Road, Forsyth, GA 31029. Call (404) 656-4661 for inmate questions. The offender info page has links to search tools and FAQ answers about finding someone in a Georgia state facility. You can also check the GDC facility directory to find specific prisons and jails across Georgia.
The GDC offender search page requires you to accept a disclaimer on first use before you can look up jail roster records.
The search works best when you use the first four letters of the last name. Set the query to show all offenders, not just active ones. People who finished their term under Georgia's First Offender Act per O.C.G.A. Section 42-8-66 will not show up in the results. You must turn on cookies in your browser for the search to work. The GDC does not share transfer dates for safety reasons.
How to Search Georgia Jail Roster Records
There are several ways to find jail roster records in Georgia. The method you use depends on whether the person is in a county jail or state prison. State inmates go through the GDC search. County inmates need a local search. Each of the 159 counties in Georgia runs its own jail, and many post their roster on the web.
You can view the Georgia Department of Corrections website for state-level inmate data and jail roster info. The site has an offender query form that lets you search by name or ID number.
Many county sheriff offices in Georgia use online booking search tools. Some use Southern Software. Others use InteropWeb. Some have their own custom systems. The Georgia Sheriffs' Association can help you find your local sheriff office. They represent all 159 elected sheriffs in the state.
To search a Georgia jail roster, you typically need:
- The person's full name or partial last name
- The county where the arrest took place
- A booking number or ID if you have one
Call the sheriff office if you can't find what you need online. Staff can look up jail roster records by phone during business hours at most Georgia county jails.
Georgia VINE Jail Roster Notification
VINE is a free service that tracks jail roster changes in Georgia. It stands for Victim Information and Notification Everyday. Many Georgia counties use this system. You can sign up to get alerts when an inmate is moved or released from a Georgia jail.
You can use VINELink to look up inmate custody status across Georgia. The service is free and runs day and night. It works in more than one language. You can get alerts by phone, email, or text. The system will tell you the current status of a person on the Georgia jail roster. It is also fully confidential, so your identity stays private when you track someone.
To use VINE for Georgia jail roster tracking, call 1-800-398-2892 or visit the VINELink site. Have the inmate's name or booking ID ready. You set up a four-digit PIN and pick how you want to be told when their status changes. A live person is on call at all times if you need help. Hearing impaired users can call the TTY line at 1-866-847-1298.
Open Records Requests for Georgia Jail Data
Georgia's Open Records Act, O.C.G.A. Section 50-18-70, makes most jail records open to the public. You can ask for jail roster data from any county in Georgia. The law says agencies must respond within three business days. The first 15 minutes of search time are free. After that, they can charge a fee based on the staff time it takes to find the records.
The GDC has its own open records request page for state facility data. You can submit a formal request through their online portal for jail and prison records. Copies cost $0.10 per page for non-medical files. The GDC bills search time at the hourly rate of their lowest paid staff member who can do the work.
Some jail records in Georgia are exempt from public access. Security procedures, employee personal info, and medical records are not open under the law. Investigation files from the Office of Professional Standards are also exempt. Under O.C.G.A. Section 50-18-74, agencies that deny valid requests can face fines up to $1,000 for the first offense and $2,500 for each one after that within 12 months.
Georgia Criminal History and Jail Records
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation runs the Georgia Crime Information Center. This is where criminal history records are stored at the state level. The GCIC keeps arrest data, charges, and case outcomes for people who have been through the Georgia jail system.
Under O.C.G.A. Section 35-3-37, you can view your own criminal history for a fee of up to $15. That does not include the cost of fingerprinting. If you think your record has errors, you can ask the GCIC to fix it. Georgia also has rules about when old jail records get restricted. Misdemeanor arrests with no case outcome get restricted after two years. Non-violent felony arrests get restricted after four years if there is no disposition. Serious violent crimes wait seven years before restriction can apply.
County and municipal jails in Georgia must restrict access to records when the state GCIC restricts them. An individual can send a written request to the jail. The jail then has 30 days to restrict those records. This matters for people who show up on a Georgia jail roster but whose case was later dropped or dismissed.
Georgia Jail and Prison Facility Search
The GDC runs a facility search tool that covers state prisons, county facilities, and transitional centers across Georgia. You can search by name, address, zip code, or security type. The tool gives full info on state facilities but does not have detailed data sheets for county jails.
You can look up rules about visiting an inmate on the GDC site. Visit rules change from one facility to the next in Georgia. Some county jails only allow video visits. Others still do in-person visits on set days. Each county sets its own jail visit schedule, so call the local sheriff before making a trip.
The GDC offender info section has details on how to send money to inmates, check parole status, and find out which prison someone is in. For county jail roster questions, the local sheriff's office is always the best place to start in Georgia. You can also reach the GDC by email at webmaster@gdc.ga.gov for technical issues with the search tool.
Browse Georgia Jail Roster by County
Each of the 159 counties in Georgia runs its own jail under the county sheriff. Pick a county below to find jail roster info, inmate search tools, and contact details for that area.
Jail Roster in Major Georgia Cities
Most Georgia cities do not run their own jails. Arrests made by city police go to the county jail. Pick a city below to find out which county handles the jail roster for that area.