Georgia Inmate Search
GDC Offender Search, 159 Georgia Counties and Free Official Tools (2026)Georgia has one of the largest prison systems in the nation, with more than 50,000 adults in state custody and 159 county jails operating independently under each county sheriff. This guide covers the official GDC search tool, all 159 counties, and three Georgia-specific rules that cause most searches to fail.
To find someone in Georgia state prison, first determine whether they are in county jail or GDC state custody. For state prison, use the GDC Find an Offender tool at gdc.georgia.gov. Accept the disclaimer, then search by name, GDC ID, or case number. Make sure cookies are enabled in your browser : GDC requires a session cookie. For county jails, search the sheriff website for the county where the arrest occurred. Not sure which applies? See our county jail vs state prison guide.
GDC main phone: (404) 656-4661. Mailing address for records: PO Box 1529, Forsyth, GA 31029.
Why Your Georgia Search Returned Nothing
| What Happened | Why It Happens | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| GDC page keeps redirecting to disclaimer | GDC’s search tool requires browser cookies to function. If cookies are disabled, the page loops back to the disclaimer without loading results. | Enable cookies in your browser settings, then return to the GDC search. The cookie expires when you close the browser : this is normal. |
| Searched GDC but person is in county jail | GDC only covers people in state prison custody. County jail inmates awaiting trial or serving shorter sentences are not in the GDC database. | Search the county sheriff website for the county where the arrest happened. |
| Person completed sentence under First Offender Act | Under O.C.G.A. § 42-8-60, Georgia’s First Offender Act removes records from GDC’s public database after successful completion of the sentence. | Call GDC at (404) 656-4661 or submit a written request to PO Box 1529, Forsyth, GA 31029 for records not publicly available. |
| Person recently sentenced, not yet fully processed | After sentencing, Georgia sends inmates through a GDC diagnostic facility. During this period their GDC record may appear incomplete. | Check both county and GDC. Call (404) 656-4661 if both are empty after a few weeks. |
| Name search returns no results | GDC uses the exact legal name from court records. Nicknames, maiden names, or spelling variations return nothing. | Try searching only the first four letters of the last name to cast a wider net. Add race or sex to narrow results with common names. |
| No statewide Georgia county jail database | Georgia has 159 counties, each with its own separate jail roster. No single database covers all county jails. | Search the specific county sheriff website for the county where the arrest occurred. |
Which Georgia System Should You Search?
| Your Situation | Where to Search | Database |
|---|---|---|
| Arrested recently in Georgia | County Jail | County sheriff website for the arrest county |
| Awaiting trial, bond hearing, or arraignment | County Jail | County sheriff roster (not GDC) |
| Sentenced to state prison, felony conviction | State Prison | GDC Find an Offender |
| Recently sentenced, in diagnostic intake center | County + GDC | Check both. GDC record may appear incomplete during intake. Call (404) 656-4661. |
| Completed sentence under First Offender Act | GDC Direct | Public database removed. Call (404) 656-4661 or write to PO Box 1529, Forsyth GA 31029. |
| Federal crime or federal charges | Federal BOP | bop.gov federal inmate locator |
| Immigration hold or ICE detention | ICE / Federal | ICE Detainee Locator at ice.gov |
Georgia GDC State Prison Search
What GDC Offender Search Shows
- Full name, GDC ID number, and photo
- Current facility location
- Offense details and sentence information
- Projected release date (where available)
- Release history and supervision status
- Case number and county of conviction
What GDC Search Does Not Show
- County jail inmates (separate system)
- Federal prison inmates (BOP, not GDC)
- First Offender Act completions (removed)
- Youthful offender records (sealed)
- Inmates at intake centers (incomplete record)
Georgia Inmate Search by Name and GDC ID
Searching GDC by Name
Enter the last name. You can also filter by first name, race, sex, and other criteria to narrow common name results. GDC allows partial last name searches : try just the first four letters if exact spelling is uncertain. Adding a first name or GDC ID number produces more precise results. The system searches all GDC facilities simultaneously.
Searching by GDC ID Number
The GDC ID is assigned at intake and stays with the person across transfers between Georgia state facilities. Using it produces an exact result with no name-matching issues. Find the GDC ID on court commitment papers, sentencing documents, or by calling (404) 656-4661 with a name and date of birth.
Searching County Jails by Name
Each of Georgia’s 159 counties runs its own booking system. Most accept name searches. Some larger counties like Fulton, Gwinnett, and Cobb have dedicated online search portals. Smaller rural counties may require a call to the sheriff’s booking desk. Use the county grid below to find the right sheriff website.
Searching by Booking Number
Booking numbers are county-specific and assigned at arrest. They work in county jail roster searches but not in GDC’s state system. If you have a booking number, use it in the county sheriff website for the county where the arrest occurred. For state prison, use the GDC ID instead.
How Georgia Custody Works
Arrest
Arrested and booked into county jail. Booking number assigned. County holds pre-trial detainees and short-sentence offenders.
County RosterPre-Trial
Arraignment, bond hearings, and trial occur in county court. Person stays in county sheriff custody throughout this stage.
County SheriffDiagnostic Intake
After sentencing to state prison, sent to one of GDC’s diagnostic and classification facilities. GDC record may be incomplete here.
GDC (incomplete)State Prison
Classified and assigned to a permanent GDC facility. Full record becomes searchable in GDC Find an Offender tool.
GDC Offender SearchStep-by-Step: How to Find an Inmate in Georgia
Determine which system holds them
Was the arrest recent? Start with the county jail. Was the person sentenced to a state felony? Use GDC. Is the charge federal? Use bop.gov. Georgia’s county and state systems are entirely separate. Not sure which applies? The decision table above covers the most common Georgia scenarios.
Enable cookies, then search GDC for state inmates
Go to services.gdc.ga.gov/GDC/OffenderQuery. If the page keeps redirecting to the disclaimer, enable cookies in your browser settings. GDC requires a session cookie to run searches. Accept the disclaimer, then enter the last name. Add race or sex to narrow results for common names. Try the first four letters of the last name if exact spelling is uncertain.
Search county sheriff roster for recent arrests
Find the sheriff website for the county where the arrest happened. Major counties like Fulton (Atlanta), Gwinnett, DeKalb, Cobb, and Richmond have online inmate rosters. Use the county grid below for direct links. Smaller counties may require a phone call to the sheriff’s booking desk if no online roster exists.
Try partial name or GDC ID if results are empty
If the name search returns nothing, try only the first four letters of the last name with no first name. GDC allows partial searches. If you have a GDC ID from court papers, use it for an exact match. If the person was recently sentenced, their GDC record may still be incomplete during diagnostic intake. Call (404) 656-4661 during business hours for a manual check.
Check federal custody if both searches return nothing
Georgia has five federal prison facilities. If both GDC and county searches fail, check the Bureau of Prisons at bop.gov by name or register number. For ICE immigration holds, use the ICE Detainee Locator at ice.gov. If the person completed their sentence under Georgia’s First Offender Act, their record will not appear in the public GDC database. Call GDC directly in that case.
What Information Georgia Inmate Records Show
GDC State Prison Records
- Full name and GDC ID number
- Photo (where on file)
- Current facility location
- Offense details and case number
- Sentence length
- Projected release date
- Supervision and parole status
County Jail Records (Varies by County)
- Full name and booking number
- Booking date and charges
- Bond or bail amount
- Current custody status
- Facility location
- Mugshot (where published)
Georgia Mugshot and Booking Records
The GDC Find an Offender tool displays a photo for state prison inmates where one is on file. This is typically taken at intake and updated at each diagnostic center. It is not always the same as the original county booking photo.
For county arrests, mugshot availability depends entirely on the county. Many Georgia counties publish booking photos as part of their online jail roster. Fulton County (Atlanta) and Gwinnett County publish photos for current detainees. Some smaller counties do not publish booking photos online at all.
Georgia’s Open Records Act (O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70) generally makes booking records publicly accessible. If a county does not post photos online, you can submit an Open Records Request to the county sheriff’s office to obtain booking information. GDC accepts written open records requests at PO Box 1529, Forsyth, GA 31029. Processing typically takes three business days for a first response.
Georgia County Jail Search by County
Georgia has 159 counties, the highest count east of the Mississippi. Major counties with high search volume are listed below. For any county not shown, search “[county name] Georgia sheriff inmate search” to find the official sheriff website.
Georgia has 159 counties : the most east of the Mississippi. For counties not shown above, search “[county name] Georgia sheriff inmate search” to find the official sheriff website. External links verified August 2026.
Major GDC Facilities
Key Georgia Department of Corrections institutions. Verify current status and visiting hours at gdc.georgia.gov before travel.
Georgia Inmate Search: Important Rules to Know
GDC’s Search Tool Requires Browser Cookies to Work
This is the most common technical reason Georgia searches fail and it is documented on GDC’s own FAQ page. The GDC Find an Offender tool uses a session cookie to function. If your browser has cookies disabled : common in private browsing mode or with strict privacy settings : the page will keep redirecting back to the disclaimer without loading search results. The fix is simple: enable cookies in your browser settings, then try again. The cookie GDC uses is a basic session cookie that expires when you close the browser and is not used for tracking or marketing.
Georgia’s First Offender Act Removes Records from Public Search
Under O.C.G.A. § 42-8-60, Georgia’s First Offender Act allows certain first-time offenders to complete their sentence without a formal adjudication of guilt. GDC states that it does not publish records of offenders who completed their sentence under Georgia’s First Offender Act. Other court or criminal-history records may be subject to separate restriction or sealing rules. If you believe someone may have used this act, call GDC directly at (404) 656-4661 or submit a written request to PO Box 1529, Forsyth, GA 31029. Records are not available through the public online tool in these cases.
Frequently Asked Questions
Use the GDC Find an Offender tool at services.gdc.ga.gov/GDC/OffenderQuery/jsp/OffQryForm.jsp. Accept the disclaimer, then search by name, GDC ID, description, or case number. Results show current facility, sentence details, and a photo if on file. The tool is free. If the page keeps redirecting to the disclaimer, enable cookies in your browser.
A GDC ID is the unique identification number assigned by the Georgia Department of Corrections to every person admitted to state custody. Having the GDC ID makes any offender search faster and more precise than a name search. You can find it on court commitment papers or sentencing documents. It stays with the person across transfers between GDC facilities.
Common reasons: the person may still be in county jail awaiting transfer to GDC; they may have completed their sentence under Georgia’s First Offender Act, which removes records from public databases; they may be in a county facility during intake; or browser cookies may be blocking the GDC search tool. Enable cookies and try again.
Yes. The GDC Find an Offender tool is completely free and requires no account. Most Georgia county sheriff inmate rosters are also free. Georgia’s Open Records Act (O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70) makes incarceration information publicly accessible. Avoid third-party sites that charge fees for information freely available through official sources.
For recent arrests, search the county sheriff website for the county where the arrest happened. GDC only covers people already sentenced and in state custody. Most of Georgia’s 159 counties maintain online inmate rosters or booking databases through their sheriff’s office. Larger counties like Fulton and Gwinnett have dedicated online search tools.
Georgia’s First Offender Act (O.C.G.A. § 42-8-60) allows certain first-time offenders to complete their sentence without a formal conviction. Upon successful completion, the record is not published in GDC’s public database. If you search for someone who used the First Offender Act and completed their sentence, no result will appear. Contact GDC directly at (404) 656-4661 for assistance.
Transfer timing varies by case and classification. After sentencing, a person in Georgia typically goes through one of GDC’s diagnostic and classification facilities before permanent assignment. During this intake period, their GDC record may appear incomplete or they may not yet show up in the offender search. Keep checking both county and GDC systems during this time.
The GDC offender search returns the person’s name, GDC ID, photo (if available), current facility, offense information, sentence details, and projected release date where applicable. It also shows release history and supervision status for people on parole or probation. Results are retrieved from GDC’s online offender database.
Official Georgia Inmate Search Sources
Official Georgia Department of Corrections inmate search. Free. Search by name, GDC ID, or case number. Requires cookies enabled.
Official interactive directory of all GDC facilities with addresses, phone numbers, and visiting hours.
Official Fulton County Sheriff’s Office inmate search tool for Atlanta and Fulton County arrests.
Official Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office inmate search for Lawrenceville and Gwinnett County arrests.
Register for automated custody alerts for Georgia state inmates and many county jail facilities.
Official GDC FAQ page including the cookie requirement explanation and offender search guidance. Phone: (404) 656-4661.