Search Georgia Booking Releases
Georgia booking releases are public records kept by county sheriffs and the Georgia Department of Corrections. Each of the 159 counties in Georgia has a sheriff who logs every person booked into and released from the county jail. State prisons track booking and release data through the GDC Offender Search system. You can look up booking release records online, by mail, or in person at local offices. Whether you need info on a current inmate or want to find a past release date, Georgia has several tools to search. This guide covers the main agencies, databases, and steps to find booking release records across Georgia.
Georgia Booking Releases Quick Facts
Georgia Department of Corrections Records
The Georgia Department of Corrections runs the state prison system and keeps records on every inmate sentenced to state facilities. GDC handles booking releases for state prisons only. County jails fall under the local sheriff. If someone you know was held at a state prison, GDC is the place to start. Their main office is at 7 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Suite 543, Atlanta, GA 30334. You can call (404) 656-4661 for general questions about booking releases. For inmate records and release info, write to PO Box 1529, Forsyth, GA 31029.
GDC also runs the Find an Offender page on its site. This is the starting point for most booking release searches at the state level. The page walks you through search options and tells you what data is available. Photos show up if the system has them on file. GDC warns that all info should be verified through written correspondence with the Inmate Records office before you assume it is complete.
Under O.C.G.A. § 42-4-7, every sheriff in Georgia must keep a record of all persons committed to the county jail. This law requires the name, age, sex, race, charge, commitment date, discharge date, and the court that issued the order. These records are open to public inspection under the Georgia Open Records Act. So whether you are checking on a state inmate through GDC or a county jail detainee through the local sheriff, Georgia law backs your right to access booking release records.
Search Georgia Booking Release Records
The GDC Offender Search Database is the main tool for looking up state inmates in Georgia. You can search by name, description, ID number, or case number. The system pulls up booking release data and shows photos if they are on file. This database covers inmates currently in state custody.
GDC posts a clear disclaimer on the search page. The agency makes "no warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of any information obtained through the use of this service." Users agree to hold GDC harmless for any damages. You should verify booking release details through written correspondence with Inmate Records at PO Box 1529, Forsyth, GA 31029 before relying on the data.
For county jail booking releases, check the local sheriff's website. Many Georgia counties run their own inmate search portals. Fulton County has one at fultoncountycourt.us. Gwinnett County uses a JAIL View system. Bibb County updates its inmate roster every half hour. Each county handles it a bit differently, but the records are public in all 159 Georgia counties.
Note: County jail booking release records cover pre-trial detainees and those serving short sentences, while GDC records cover state prison inmates.
Georgia Booking Release Open Records
You can file an open records request to get booking release documents in Georgia. The GDC Open Records page explains how the process works for state corrections records. Georgia's Open Records Act, O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, makes most government records available to the public. Agencies have three business days to give you an initial response after you submit a request.
GDC uses the GovQA portal for open records requests. You submit your request online and track its progress through the system. Copies cost $0.10 per page for standard documents. Search and retrieval fees are billed at the hourly rate of the lowest paid qualified employee. The first 15 minutes of search time are free. If the cost goes over $25, the agency must give you an estimate. Prepayment may be required if costs exceed $500.
Some GDC records are exempt from release. These include disciplinary reports, grievances, housing assignments, phone call logs, security classifications, and investigation files. Medical and mental health records need a HIPAA consent form. Policies that could compromise safety are also withheld. But standard booking release data like dates, charges, and discharge info is generally available through an open records request in Georgia.
Georgia Bureau of Investigation Records
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation plays a big role in the state's criminal records system. GBI does not run jails, but it maintains the databases that connect booking release data across all Georgia agencies. Their main office is at 3121 Panthersville Road, Decatur, GA 30034. Call (404) 244-2600 for general info.
The Georgia Crime Information Center is a division of GBI that was set up in 1972 by executive order. GCIC runs the Computerized Criminal History database, which holds records on almost 4 million offenders. This is the backbone of criminal record tracking in Georgia. GCIC also runs the Criminal Justice Information System network, the Uniform Crime Reporting program, the Georgia Applicant Processing Service for fingerprint-based background checks, the Protective Order Registry, the Rapid ID system, and the Sex Offender Registry.
If you have a problem with your own Georgia criminal history record, contact the Criminal History Records division at (404) 244-2639. Email gacriminalhistory@gbi.state.ga.us for general issues. Attorneys can fax requests to (404) 270-8386 or call (404) 244-2639 option 3. GCIC lobby hours are by appointment only for record inspections and fingerprint services.
Note: GCIC contacts are only for issues with your own record, not for general booking release searches.
GBI Open Records in Georgia
The GBI Open Records Unit gives access to GBI public records under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70. On December 11, 2023, the GBI moved to a web-based open records system. They no longer accept requests by email. You must use the online portal or mail your request to Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Open Records Unit, Legal Division, P.O. Box 370808, Decatur, GA 30034. Call (404) 270-8527 if you have questions about the process.
The GBI Open Records Portal is where you submit and track requests online. The portal runs through GovQA, the same system GDC uses. Both agencies follow the same state rules on fees and response times for booking release records and other public documents. Submit your request with your name, mailing address, phone number, and a clear list of what records you want. Be specific about dates, names, and case numbers if you have them.
Georgia Sheriff Booking Records
County sheriffs are the front line for booking release records in Georgia. The Georgia Sheriffs' Association represents all 159 county sheriffs in the state. The association provides training on jail administration, court services, domestic violence response, and sex offender registry management. Their annual directory lists every sheriff with addresses, phone numbers, jail info, and personnel counts.
Georgia law is clear about what sheriffs must track. O.C.G.A. § 42-4-7 says the sheriff shall keep a record of all persons committed to jail. The record must include the inmate's name, age, sex, race, the process under which they were committed, the court that issued the process, the crime charged, the date of commitment, the day of discharge, the order of discharge, and the court that issued the discharge order. This is the legal basis for all county booking release records in Georgia.
The law also says these records "shall be subject to examination by any person" under the Georgia Open Records Act. So you have a legal right to view booking release records at any county sheriff's office in Georgia. Some sheriffs post this data online. Others keep a printed jail docket book at the office for public viewing. Either way, the records are public.
Georgia Booking Photo Laws
O.C.G.A. § 35-1-18 controls when and how booking photographs can be released to the public in Georgia. This statute sets specific rules about mugshot release that law enforcement agencies must follow. The law was created to balance public access with privacy concerns around booking photos.
O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72 also ties into booking photo rules. That statute says the release of booking photographs "shall only be permissible in accordance with Code Section 35-1-18." This means agencies cannot just hand out mugshots freely. They must follow the specific rules in the booking photo statute. If you want a booking photo from a Georgia jail or prison, you may need to file a formal open records request and cite the relevant law.
Probation records are handled differently in Georgia. O.C.G.A. § 42-8-40 classifies all probation system records as confidential. They are exempt from release even by subpoena or under the Open Records Act. Only a majority vote of the Board of Corrections can declassify them. Parole records are also confidential under O.C.G.A. § 42-9-53. These rules do not affect standard booking release records from county jails.
Georgia Open Records Act
The Georgia Open Records Act is the legal foundation for public access to booking release records and all other government documents in Georgia. O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 establishes the right of every citizen to inspect and copy public records held by state, county, and local agencies. This law applies to all 159 county sheriff offices, the Department of Corrections, and every other government body in Georgia.
O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71 lays out the steps for requesting public records in Georgia. You can submit requests by written letter, in person, or through web portals. The law says your request should include your name, mailing address, contact phone number, and a clear list of what records you want. Be as specific as you can. Include names, dates, and case numbers when possible. The more detail you give, the faster the agency can find your booking release records.
Not all records are public. O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72 lists the exemptions. Law enforcement records in pending investigations can be withheld. Initial arrest reports and incident reports are still public even during an active case. Medical records, confidential sources, and records that could put someone in danger are also exempt. But basic booking release data like names, charges, booking dates, and release dates is almost always available to the public in Georgia.
Georgia Inmate Tracking Tools
VINE is a free service that lets you track criminal offenders in Georgia. VINE stands for Victim Information and Notification Everyday. You sign up and get automatic alerts when an inmate is released, transferred, or escapes. The system covers jails and prisons across the state. You can also download the VINELink mobile app or call 833-216-6670 to register for notifications. Muscogee County and many other Georgia counties use this system for booking release notifications.
Several third-party systems help with inmate services in Georgia jails. JailATM handles mail processing and money deposits at many Georgia county jails. Gwinnett County and Chatham County both use JailATM for inmate mail. All regular mail goes to a central processing facility where it gets scanned and delivered electronically. Money orders and commissary funds can also be sent through the system.
The Georgia Sex Offender Registry is another tool run by GBI through the GCIC division. This public database tracks registered sex offenders across the state. While not a booking release tool, it connects to the same criminal records system. DeKalb County has switched to ViaPath Technologies for inmate phones, video visitation, and electronic mail. Cobb County runs its own inmate search portal. Each county may use different vendors, but the underlying booking release records remain public under Georgia law.
Browse Georgia Booking Releases by County
Each county in Georgia has a sheriff who keeps booking release records. Pick a county below to find local contact info, inmate search tools, and resources for booking releases in that area.
Booking Releases in Georgia Cities
City police in Georgia typically transport arrestees to the county jail for booking. Pick a city below to learn about booking release records in that area and which county handles them.