Paulding County Inmate Population

The Paulding County inmate population stands at 303 people inside a jail built for 631. That puts the facility at about 48% capacity, which is well below the statewide average. Located in Dallas, Georgia, the Paulding County Jail is run by the county sheriff and serves one of the fastest-growing counties in the metro Atlanta area. Despite the growth, the jail has room to spare. About 83.5% of inmates are awaiting trial, meaning most have not yet been convicted. This guide covers how to search for inmates, request records, and get alerts on custody changes in Paulding County.

Paulding County Inmate Population Data

The Paulding County Sheriff's Office operates the jail in Dallas. The facility was built with a capacity of 631 beds, but it currently houses only 303 inmates. That low usage rate is unusual for a county this close to Atlanta. Many suburban counties near the city run at or above capacity. Paulding County has enough room that overcrowding is not an issue right now.

Of the 303 inmates, about 253 are awaiting trial. That is 83.5% of the total population. The high pre-trial rate is consistent with the rest of Georgia, where many counties see similar numbers. These are people who have been arrested and charged but have not yet gone to trial or taken a plea deal. Some may be waiting on bond hearings. Others could have a bond set but cannot afford to pay it.

The sheriff handles all day-to-day jail operations. That includes booking, housing, medical care, and transport. The Georgia Department of Corrections does not run county jails, but it does maintain a directory entry for the Paulding County Jail. If an inmate is sentenced to more than 12 months, they will eventually transfer to a state facility.

You can view the GDC offender search portal, which covers state inmates from all Georgia counties, below.

The screenshot shows the GDC Offender Query form. Use it to find state inmates connected to Paulding County.

Search Paulding County Inmate Population Online

Start with the GDC Offender Query if you think the person is serving a state sentence. Enter a name or GDC ID and hit search. The results page shows the inmate's current facility, sentence details, and photo. This tool is free and open to anyone. It works well for people already convicted and housed in a state prison or transitional center.

County jail inmates are a different matter. The Paulding County Jail may not appear in the GDC database for people who are only held pre-trial. In that case, try VINELink. This tool covers most Georgia jails and shows whether someone is currently in custody. It updates throughout the day, so the data is usually current within a few hours at most.

If neither tool works, call the Paulding County Jail directly. Staff can confirm if a person is booked there, what their charges are, and whether bond has been set. Phone calls are the most reliable option for people who were just arrested.

The Georgia Sheriffs' Association Jail Report also publishes monthly data on jail populations across the state. Paulding County's numbers show up in this report when the jail submits data for that period. You can compare the county's inmate population with other jails to see how it ranks.

Open Records and Paulding County Inmate Data

Georgia's Open Records Act, codified at O.C.G.A. 50-18-70, gives the public a legal right to access most government documents. The Paulding County Sheriff's Office falls under this law. You can request booking logs, arrest reports, and other records tied to the jail. The agency must respond within three business days. Standard copies cost ten cents per page.

Some records are off limits. O.C.G.A. 50-18-72 lists several categories of exempt documents. Internal investigative notes, medical files, and certain law enforcement materials can be withheld. For state-level records, use the GDC Open Records Portal to submit a formal request. The portal tracks your request and sends updates by email.

Probation records stay confidential under O.C.G.A. 42-8-40. Parole records have a similar shield under O.C.G.A. 42-9-53. These rules limit what you can get about someone who is no longer in custody but is still under supervision.

Paulding County Custody Alerts

VINELink is a free notification service that tracks inmate custody changes. If you register for alerts on a Paulding County inmate, VINELink will contact you when that person is released, transferred, or has any other status update. The inmate is never told that someone signed up.

To use it, go to VINELink Georgia and search by name. Pick the right person from the results and choose how you want to be notified. Options include phone, email, and text. For phone alerts, you need a four-digit PIN. If VINELink calls and you do not answer, it will retry for 24 hours. Call (833) 216-6670 if you need help with the system.

Visiting Inmates in Paulding County

The Paulding County Jail sets its own visitation rules. Contact the jail to get the current schedule, dress code, and ID requirements. Most Georgia jails allow visits on specific days and limit the time you can spend with an inmate. Bring a valid photo ID. Visitors with active warrants risk arrest when they show up at the facility.

If the person you need to visit has been transferred to a state prison, the GDC visitation process takes over. You must complete a visitation application and mail it to the facility. The form requires notarization. Include a copy of your photo ID. Processing takes several weeks, so do not wait until the last minute. The GDC does not accept emailed applications.

Paulding County Inmate Population Resources

The Georgia Department of Community Supervision oversees probation and parole statewide. If someone from Paulding County has been released under supervision, DCS is the agency that tracks them. The department handles about 180,000 adult felony offenders across Georgia. Contact DCS if you need information about a person who is no longer behind bars but still has reporting requirements.

Local legal aid groups serve Paulding County residents who cannot afford an attorney. The Georgia Legal Services Program offers free help with certain legal matters. If you have questions about a loved one's bond, charges, or sentencing, they may be able to assist. Reach out through their intake line to find out if you qualify.

Nearby Counties

Paulding County borders several other counties in northwest Georgia. If you cannot find an inmate in the Paulding County system, check these neighboring jails. Transfers and cross-county arrests happen frequently in this region.