Find Polk County Inmate Population Records
The Polk County inmate population stands at 231 people in a jail built for 240. That is 96.3% capacity, leaving almost no room. Out of those 231 inmates, 187 are awaiting trial, which comes to 81% of the total. These numbers put Polk County near the top of the list for facility usage in northwest Georgia. Finding someone in this jail or the state system takes just a few steps using free online tools. This page lays out the options and explains how each one works.
Polk County Quick Facts
Polk County Inmate Population Data
The Polk County Sheriff's Office runs the jail in Cedartown. At 96.3% capacity, the facility is nearly full. Only nine beds separate the current count from the maximum. This kind of pressure means the jail has to manage space carefully, sometimes moving inmates to other facilities or speeding up release processing for low-risk detainees. Staff handle booking, classification, and daily operations for all 231 people in custody.
The pre-trial numbers tell an important story here. With 187 inmates still waiting on court dates, the jail is mostly filled with people who have not been convicted. That is 81% of everyone locked up. Some of these people cannot afford bond. Others face charges serious enough that bond was denied. Either way, the high pre-trial count drives most of the crowding at this facility.
Cedartown sits in northwest Georgia, not far from the Alabama line. The jail serves a county of about 42,000 people. For a county that size, 231 inmates is a heavy load. Contact the sheriff's office to ask about a specific person or to learn about current jail conditions.
| Facility | Polk County Jail |
|---|---|
| County Seat | Cedartown |
| Current Inmates | 231 of 240 capacity (96.3%) |
| Awaiting Trial | 187 inmates (81%) |
Search Polk County Inmate Population Records Online
The GDC Offender Query is the primary free search tool for Georgia inmates. Enter a name or GDC ID number and the database returns current facility information, sentence details, and a photo. This tool is best for state-level inmates. People sitting in the Polk County Jail on local charges may not appear in this database until they get sentenced to state prison.
You can access the GDC search form shown below at any time. It is free and open to the public.
The GDC search form shown above lets you look up inmates by name across all Georgia facilities.
VINELink covers county jails and is a solid option for finding people at the Polk County Jail. Search by name and the system shows custody status. You can sign up for alerts to get notified by phone, email, or text when an inmate is released or transferred. Updates come through roughly every 15 minutes.
With the jail so close to full, turnover can be quick. Someone booked today might get transferred tomorrow. Calling the Polk County Sheriff's Office is often the fastest way to confirm if a person is still there. Staff can share charge details, bond amounts, and upcoming court dates.
Open Records for Polk County Inmates
Georgia's Open Records Act, codified at O.C.G.A. 50-18-70, requires agencies to respond to records requests within three business days. The Polk County Sheriff's Office falls under this law. You can request booking logs, arrest reports, and other documents tied to the jail. Standard copies cost ten cents per page.
Certain records are exempt under O.C.G.A. 50-18-72. This includes housing assignments, disciplinary files, and internal security documents at state prisons. Medical records require the inmate's written consent. If you need state-level records about a Polk County inmate, file through the GDC Open Records Portal.
Probation records stay confidential under O.C.G.A. 42-8-40. Parole records are similarly restricted by O.C.G.A. 42-9-53. These laws limit what you can learn about someone's post-release status, even if their arrest record is fully public.
Polk County Custody Notifications
VINELink offers free custody alerts for the Polk County Jail. Once you find an inmate in the system, register for notifications. Pick phone, email, or text. The system contacts you when something changes. A release, a transfer, or an escape all trigger an alert. You need a four-digit PIN for phone notifications.
Missed calls from VINELink repeat for 24 hours. You can also check status online anytime. For help, call (833) 216-6670. Given how close to capacity Polk County runs, status changes can happen fast.
Visiting Polk County Inmates
The Polk County Jail in Cedartown sets its own visiting rules. Call the sheriff's office for the current schedule. Most jails in Georgia require a valid photo ID, and visitors must follow a dress code. Show up on time. If you are late, staff may turn you away. Visits are usually limited to 15 or 30 minutes depending on the day and the number of visitors.
If a Polk County inmate has been transferred to a state prison, you need to go through the GDC visitation application. The form must be notarized and mailed to the facility. Include a copy of your ID. The GDC does not accept email submissions. Plan ahead because processing takes several weeks.
Polk County Inmate Population Resources
The Georgia Sheriffs' Association Jail Report tracks jail data statewide. It includes capacity numbers, inmate counts, and pre-trial rates. Polk County shows up in the report when the jail submits data. With the facility running at 96.3%, the county's numbers stand out in the monthly reports.
The Georgia Department of Community Supervision manages people who have left custody and are on probation or parole. If someone from Polk County has been released from jail or prison, DCS may be tracking them. The agency oversees roughly 180,000 offenders across the state.
Nearby Counties
Polk County borders several other counties in northwest Georgia. If a person is not at the Polk County Jail, they may have been transferred to a nearby facility. Check these neighboring counties.