DeKalb County Inmate Population

DeKalb County's inmate population spans hundreds of individuals held at the county jail on Memorial Drive in Decatur. The DeKalb County Sheriff's Office manages the facility and keeps records on every person booked into custody. As one of metro Atlanta's most populated counties, DeKalb handles a high volume of arrests and bookings. You can search the inmate population using the sheriff's website, the GDC Offender Query, and VINELink. The sheriff also has a dedicated open records process for requesting detailed inmate data. This page walks through each option so you can find the information you need quickly.

DeKalb County Inmate Population Information

The DeKalb County Sheriff's Office runs the county jail at 4425 Memorial Drive in Decatur. This is the primary facility for people arrested in DeKalb County. The jail books thousands of inmates each year. Staff work around the clock processing arrests, handling intake, and assigning housing. The facility holds both pre-trial detainees and sentenced inmates serving terms of 12 months or less.

DeKalb County is one of the largest counties in Georgia by population. The jail stays busy because of the volume of arrests across the county's many cities and unincorporated areas. Once a person is convicted and sentenced to more than a year, they transfer to a state prison run by the Georgia Department of Corrections. Until that happens, they remain in the DeKalb County inmate population.

The sheriff's homepage below is the starting point for jail-related information, including inmate searches, visitation, and open records.

From this page you can navigate to sections on the jail, inmate lookup, and how to submit open records requests.

How to Search DeKalb County Inmate Population Online

The DeKalb County Sheriff provides tools to search the current inmate population. Visit the sheriff's website and look for the inmate search section. You can search by name or booking number. Results typically show charges, bond amount, and booking date. This is the most direct way to check who is in the DeKalb County Jail right now.

For state inmates, use the GDC Offender Query. Enter a name or GDC ID and the system shows the person's current facility, sentence length, and earliest release date. This tool covers all state prisons and transitional centers. It picks up DeKalb County offenders after they have been convicted and moved to state custody.

VINELink is another option. It covers the DeKalb County Jail and lets you check custody status. Search by name, then register for alerts. VINELink sends you a phone call, email, or text when the inmate's status changes. The system updates about every 15 minutes for county jails.

DeKalb County Inmate Open Records Requests

The DeKalb County Sheriff has a dedicated Open Records page on the website. This is where you submit requests for booking logs, arrest reports, and other jail records. Georgia's Open Records Act under O.C.G.A. 50-18-70 requires the agency to respond within three business days. Standard copies cost ten cents per page.

The screenshot below shows the DeKalb County Sheriff's open records page.

This page explains how to submit your request and what information to include.

Some records are exempt under O.C.G.A. 50-18-72. Disciplinary records at state facilities, housing assignments, and central office files are not public. Medical records require the inmate's written consent. For records from the GDC about a DeKalb County offender in state prison, use the GDC Open Records Portal instead.

Probation records are confidential under O.C.G.A. 42-8-40. Parole records have similar limits under O.C.G.A. 42-9-53.

DeKalb County Inmate Population Alerts Inmates

VINELink tracks inmates across Georgia, including those at the DeKalb County Jail. After you find someone in the system, register for alerts. You pick how you want to hear from VINELink. Phone, email, and text are all options. The inmate will not know you signed up.

You need a four-digit PIN when registering a phone number. If VINELink calls and you miss it, the system tries again for 24 hours. For help, call (833) 216-6670. The service is free and works around the clock.

Visiting Inmates at the DeKalb County Jail

The DeKalb County Sheriff sets visitation rules for the jail on Memorial Drive. Check the sheriff's website for the current schedule, ID requirements, and what items are not allowed. Most visits happen on set days during specific hours. You will need a valid photo ID to enter.

State prison visits follow a different process. The GDC requires a Visitation Request Form that must be notarized and mailed to the facility. Include a copy of your photo ID and any required documents like a marriage license. Processing takes several weeks. The form cannot be emailed, and you cannot visit without prior approval.

DeKalb County Inmate Population Resources

The Georgia Sheriffs' Association Jail Report tracks jail capacity and inmate counts each month. You can check how the DeKalb County Jail compares to other large facilities across the state. About 68% of county jail inmates in Georgia are pre-trial detainees, and DeKalb County's busy court docket means that ratio can be even higher.

The Department of Community Supervision manages probation and parole in Georgia. If someone released from DeKalb County is under community supervision, DCS is the right contact. They oversee about 180,000 adult felony offenders statewide. The Georgia Department of Corrections covers inmates still in prison.

Cities in DeKalb County

DeKalb County includes several cities in the eastern metro Atlanta area. People arrested in these cities are typically booked into the DeKalb County Jail. If you are looking for someone arrested in any of these places, start with the DeKalb inmate search.

Nearby Counties

These counties border DeKalb County. If you are not sure where an inmate is held, check the neighboring jails. Transfers between facilities happen regularly in metro Atlanta.