Charlton County Inmate Population

Charlton County runs a small jail in Folkston in the far southeast corner of Georgia. The Charlton County inmate population is small, matching the rural nature of this area near the Okefenokee Swamp. If you need to search for someone held at the Charlton County Jail, you can use state databases and the local sheriff to find what you need. This page walks through the search tools, the rights you have under Georgia's open records laws, and how the jail fits into the larger state system. Folkston serves as the county seat and is where the courthouse and jail are both located. The sheriff handles all jail operations here.

Charlton County Inmate Population Overview

The Charlton County Jail is at 100 South Third Street in Folkston, Georgia 31537. It is a small facility run by the Charlton County Sheriff. Folkston is a quiet town, and the jail handles a low volume of inmates compared to larger counties. The Waycross Judicial Circuit covers Charlton County, so court schedules from that circuit determine how fast cases move through the system here.

Because Charlton County has a small population, the jail does not need a large facility. But it still must meet state standards for housing inmates. The sheriff is in charge of all bookings, releases, and day-to-day operations at the Charlton County Jail. If you need to check on someone being held here, you can call the sheriff's office in Folkston or use the state search tools listed on this page. The Charlton County inmate population stays low, but the jail is an important part of the local justice system.

The GDC keeps a page for the Charlton County Jail at gdc.georgia.gov. The screenshot below shows this listing.

Use this page for address and contact details about the Charlton County Jail.

Searching Charlton County Inmate Population

The best way to find an inmate in Charlton County is through the state tools. The GDC Find an Offender page lets you search by name across all Georgia facilities. If the person is at the Charlton County Jail, the results will show it. For more search options, use the GDC Offender Query tool.

VINELink Georgia works well for tracking inmates over time. You register for an account and pick the inmate you want to follow. When their status changes, you get a call, email, or text. This covers the Charlton County Jail and all other facilities in the state. It is free and available around the clock.

The Georgia Sheriffs' jail report also publishes jail data that may include Charlton County numbers. Between these tools and a phone call to the sheriff, you should be able to find what you need about the Charlton County inmate population.

Charlton County Inmate Population Records

Georgia's Open Records Act covers jail records in Charlton County. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, you can request booking logs, arrest reports, and other records from the sheriff. The law requires a response within three business days. You can make the request in writing, by email, or in person at the sheriff's office in Folkston.

O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72 says which records are open and which can be held back. Most jail records are public. Medical files and ongoing investigations may be exempt. For state-level records, use the GDC Open Records page or the GovQA portal. These are good for records about anyone under state supervision or held at a state facility.

Note: O.C.G.A. § 42-9-53 limits access to some parole board records, but basic Charlton County inmate population data is public.

Rural Jails in Southeast Georgia

Charlton County is one of the more remote counties in Georgia. The Okefenokee Swamp takes up a large part of the land here. The population is small, and the jail reflects that. Rural jails face their own set of challenges that differ from those in metro areas. Funding is tight. Medical services may be limited. And inmates sometimes need to be transferred to larger facilities for specialized care.

Despite these challenges, the Charlton County Jail must meet the same state standards as any other facility in Georgia. The GDC inspects county jails and requires compliance with health, safety, and staffing rules. Under O.C.G.A. § 42-8-40, some offenders in Charlton County may serve probation instead of jail time, which helps keep the inmate population manageable in a county with limited resources. The balance between incarceration and alternatives like probation is something that affects every county in Georgia, but it matters more in small, rural places like Charlton County where the jail has less room and fewer staff.

Folkston and the Charlton County Jail

Folkston is the only real town in Charlton County. It serves as the county seat and is where all government offices are located. The jail, the courthouse, and the sheriff's office are all here. If you need to visit the jail in person, file records requests, or attend a court hearing, everything is in Folkston.

The town is known for the Okefenokee Swamp and the train watching platform, but what matters for this page is the Charlton County inmate population and how to access records about it. The courthouse handles all criminal cases for the county. When someone is arrested, they are brought to the Charlton County Jail for booking. From there, the court process begins. Bond hearings, arraignments, and trials all happen at the Folkston courthouse.

Nearby Counties

Charlton County is in the far southeast corner of Georgia. These neighboring counties also operate jails and may be useful if you are searching for someone in this part of the state.