Dougherty County Inmate Population Records
Dougherty County's inmate population includes hundreds of people held at the county jail on Evelyn Avenue in Albany. The facility has a capacity of 1,230 and currently holds about 784 inmates, with a large share awaiting trial. As the largest county in southwest Georgia, Dougherty handles a high volume of bookings each year. Free search tools from the GDC and VINELink make it easy to find someone in custody. This page explains each lookup method, covers the open records process, and describes how to set up alerts for changes in an inmate's status.
Dougherty County Quick Facts
Dougherty County Inmate Population Data
The Dougherty County Jail sits at 1302 Evelyn Avenue in Albany. The sheriff's office runs the facility, which has a capacity of 1,230 beds. About 784 inmates are in custody at any given time, putting the occupancy rate at around 63.7%. That leaves room in the facility, but the numbers shift constantly as people are booked in and released.
Of those 784 inmates, roughly 580 are awaiting trial. That is about 74% of the total population. This pre-trial rate is higher than the statewide average of 68%. It means most people at the Dougherty County Jail have not yet been convicted. They are waiting for bond hearings, court dates, or plea deals. The rest are serving sentences of 12 months or less at the county level.
The GDC maintains a profile page for the Dougherty County Jail in its facility directory. You can view it at the GDC listing for Dougherty County Jail to confirm the address and phone number.
The screenshot below shows the GDC listing for the Dougherty County Jail.
This page provides basic facility details and links to the broader GDC directory.
| Facility | Dougherty County Jail |
|---|---|
| Address | 1302 Evelyn Avenue, Albany, GA 31701 |
| County Seat | Albany |
| Capacity | 1,230 beds |
| Current Inmates | 784 (63.7% occupancy) |
| Pre-Trial Detainees | 580 (74% of total) |
How to Search Dougherty County Inmates
The GDC Offender Query is the primary tool for locating state inmates. Enter a name or GDC ID. Results show the person's current facility, sentence details, and earliest release date. This covers convicted offenders who have transferred from the Dougherty County Jail to a state prison. Pre-trial detainees still at the county jail will not appear here.
For people held at the county jail, check VINELink. Search by name and select Georgia. VINELink covers the Dougherty County Jail and shows custody status. You can register for alerts that notify you when the inmate is released, transferred, or has any status change. Updates come in about every 15 minutes.
You can also call the Dougherty County Jail directly to ask about a specific person. Staff can confirm custody status, charges, and bond amount over the phone. This is often the fastest way to get current information, especially if VINELink data has not updated yet.
Dougherty County Inmate Population Records
Georgia's Open Records Act under O.C.G.A. 50-18-70 gives the public access to most government documents. You can request booking records, arrest reports, and jail roster information from the Dougherty County Sheriff's Office. They must respond within three business days. Copies cost ten cents per page for standard documents.
O.C.G.A. 50-18-72 lists records that are exempt. Central office files at state prisons, disciplinary reports, and housing assignments are not open to the public. Medical records need written consent. For GDC records about a Dougherty County offender in state prison, submit a request through the GDC Open Records Portal.
Probation records are confidential under O.C.G.A. 42-8-40. Parole records are restricted under O.C.G.A. 42-9-53. These exemptions limit access to some categories of Dougherty County inmate data.
Dougherty County Inmate Population Alerts
VINELink is the best way to track an inmate's status in Dougherty County. Register for phone, email, or text alerts. The service is free. The inmate will not know you signed up. With 74% of the jail population awaiting trial, status changes happen often as people bond out or get transferred.
You set a four-digit PIN when you register a phone number. If VINELink calls and you miss it, the system tries again for 24 hours. Call (833) 216-6670 for technical help. The system is available around the clock.
Visiting Inmates in Dougherty County
The Dougherty County Sheriff sets visiting rules for the jail on Evelyn Avenue. Call ahead to find out the current schedule, what ID you need, and the dress code. Visits are usually limited to specific days and hours. You will need a valid photo ID.
State prison visits require a different process. You must submit a notarized GDC Visitation Request Form by mail. Include a copy of your photo ID and supporting documents. The form cannot be emailed. Processing can take several weeks, so plan ahead if someone from Dougherty County has been transferred to a state facility.
Dougherty County Inmate Population Resources
The Georgia Sheriffs' Association Jail Report tracks jail capacity and inmate counts statewide each month. Dougherty County's numbers regularly appear in the report. With a capacity of 1,230 and about 784 inmates, the jail runs at a manageable occupancy rate. The report helps you see how the local facility stacks up against others in Georgia.
The Department of Community Supervision handles probation and parole. If someone from Dougherty County has been released and is now under supervision, DCS is the right contact. They manage about 180,000 adult felony offenders statewide. The Georgia Department of Corrections covers people still in prison.
Cities in Dougherty County
Dougherty County's largest city is Albany, the county seat. People arrested in Albany and other parts of Dougherty County are booked into the county jail on Evelyn Avenue.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Dougherty County. If you cannot find someone in the Dougherty County inmate population, check the neighboring jails. Transfers between facilities happen in southwest Georgia.