Search DeKalb County Booking Releases

Booking releases in DeKalb County are maintained by the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office, headquartered at 4425 Memorial Drive in Decatur. Sheriff Melody Maddox oversees all jail operations for this county of more than 750,000 residents. The Sheriff's Office processes bookings and releases daily, and you can access these records through the department's website or by contacting the office directly. DeKalb County also provides bonding and inmate services information online for anyone looking to post bail or check on a release.

DeKalb County Sheriff's Office Booking Releases

The DeKalb County Sheriff's Office sits at 4425 Memorial Drive in Decatur. You can reach them by phone at (404) 298-8100. Sheriff Melody Maddox leads the department and oversees the jail, court security, and civil process divisions. The office handles all booking release records for the county, and these records fall under Georgia law that requires sheriffs to keep track of everyone held in their custody.

Under O.C.G.A. § 42-4-7, the sheriff must maintain a record of each inmate. This includes the person's name, when they were booked, what they were charged with, and when they left the jail. DeKalb County stores all of this data in its jail management system. The records go back years and cover every booking that has come through the facility on Memorial Drive.

The DeKalb County Sheriff's website provides an overview of the agency and its services.

You can find contact numbers, office locations, and links to bonding services from this page.

Finding DeKalb County Booking Release Records

To look up booking releases in DeKalb County, start with the Sheriff's Office website. The DeKalb County Sheriff's site has links to inmate services and current jail population data. You can search for inmates who are currently held or who were recently released. The search typically requires the person's name, and results show charges, booking date, bond amount, and release information if the person is no longer in custody.

If you can't find what you need online, call the jail at (404) 298-8100. Staff can look up booking releases in their system and give you basic info over the phone. For detailed records or certified copies, you will likely need to submit an open records request. Georgia's Open Records Act at O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 gives the public a right to inspect and copy most government records. The Sheriff's Office must respond within three business days of getting your request.

Walk-in requests are also an option. Go to the Sheriff's Office at 4425 Memorial Drive during business hours. Bring your ID and any details you have about the person, like their full name and date of birth. Staff can search the system and let you know what records are available for that booking release in DeKalb County.

Note: Certain DeKalb County booking records tied to sealed cases or juvenile matters may not be available to the public under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72.

Bonding and Release Process in DeKalb County

After someone is booked into the DeKalb County jail, the bonding process determines how and when they can be released. DeKalb County has a dedicated Bail Bonding Office that handles all bond matters. You can reach it at 404-298-8195. The office is open from 7:00 AM to 11:59 PM every day, including weekends and holidays. This is one of the few bonding offices in metro Atlanta with such extended hours.

There are three main ways to post bond in DeKalb County. A cash bond means you pay the full amount set by the judge. You can pay with cashier's checks, traveler's checks, US Postal or Western Union money orders, or US currency. Personal checks are not accepted at the DeKalb County jail. The second option is to use a professional bonding company, which charges a fee based on the bond amount. For bonds of $10,000 or less, the company charges 12%. Bonds over $10,000 carry a 15% fee. The third option is a property bond, where you put up real estate as collateral.

All bonds in DeKalb County carry a $20 non-refundable fee. This is set by state law and applies regardless of bond type. Once the bond is posted and processed, the jail begins the release paperwork. Release times vary depending on how busy the jail is and what time of day the bond was posted.

The DeKalb County bonding and inmate services page shows bond types and payment options.

This page on the DeKalb Sheriff's site gives details on accepted payment methods and bonding company rules.

What DeKalb County Booking Releases Show

A booking release record from DeKalb County contains key facts about an arrest and release. When someone is brought to the jail, staff log their name, date of birth, physical description, the arresting agency, and every charge filed against them. The booking number ties all of this together in the system. When that person leaves custody, the release date, time, and type of release are added to the record.

Georgia law at O.C.G.A. § 35-1-18 also covers booking photographs. These photos are taken during the intake process and may be part of the booking record. The law places limits on how booking photos can be used and shared. DeKalb County follows these state guidelines for any requests that involve booking images.

Bond information is another piece of the booking release record. You can see the bond amount, the type of bond posted, and whether the person made bail or stayed in custody until their court date. This data is useful if you need to verify that someone was released and on what terms.

DeKalb County Inmate Communication

DeKalb County has been switching to ViaPath Technologies for inmate phone calls, video visitation, messaging, and electronic mail. This new system changes how families and others stay in touch with people held in the county jail. The transition means that booking release records and inmate information may also be accessible through new digital channels over time.

Video visitation lets you talk with an inmate face to face through a screen. You don't have to go into the jail housing area. This service is available on a set schedule, and you should check the Sheriff's website or call (404) 298-8100 for current visitation hours. The messaging system through ViaPath lets you send written messages to inmates, and they can respond when they have access to the system.

State Booking Release Resources for DeKalb County Bookings

State-level databases can help when you need booking release information that goes beyond what DeKalb County holds. The Georgia Department of Corrections offender query lets you search for anyone who was sentenced to state prison after a DeKalb County booking. The search is free and shows current facility, sentence details, and release dates for state inmates.

You can also use VINE to track an inmate's status in DeKalb County. VINE sends you an alert by phone or email when someone is released from jail. It works for county jails across Georgia and is free to sign up. This is a good option if you want to know the moment a booking release happens without having to keep checking the system on your own.

For broader records requests, the GDC Open Records portal handles requests for state corrections data. The GBI Open Records portal covers law enforcement records at the state level. Both can fill in gaps if you need booking and release data that crosses between DeKalb County and other jurisdictions in Georgia.

Note: The Georgia Sheriffs' Association maintains a directory of all county sheriff offices in the state if you need to contact jails in other counties.

Cities in DeKalb County

DeKalb County includes several cities, and arrests in any of them lead to bookings at the county jail. Local police departments make the arrest, but the Sheriff's Office processes the booking and handles all release records for the county.

Other communities in DeKalb County include Decatur, Clarkston, Lithonia, Pine Lake, and Stone Mountain. Booking releases from arrests in these areas are all kept by the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office.

Nearby Counties

These counties share a border with DeKalb County. Each one runs its own jail and keeps separate booking release records. Check that you are searching the correct county based on where the arrest happened.