Search Union County Inmate Population
Union County's inmate population sits at roughly 60 people, which is a notable figure given that the jail only has space for 57. That puts the facility at about 105% of its rated capacity. Blairsville serves as the county seat, and the sheriff's office handles all jail operations there. Roughly 65% of the current inmates are still waiting for trial. If you need to find someone in custody here or check on a state inmate linked to Union County, there are several free tools that can help. This page covers the main search methods, visiting rules, and open records process for the county.
Union County Quick Facts
Union County Inmate Population Data
The Union County Sheriff's Office runs the jail in Blairsville. The facility is small by state standards, with a rated capacity of just 57 beds. Right now, it holds about 60 inmates, meaning the jail is over capacity. Overcrowding in rural jails across north Georgia is common, and Union County is no exception. The sheriff manages bookings, releases, and day-to-day operations. When someone is arrested in the county, they are brought to this jail for processing. Staff log each person into the system with a booking number, charges, and bond amount.
About 39 of those 60 inmates have not yet been to trial. That is roughly 65% of the jail population. Pre-trial detention rates across Georgia hover around 68%, so Union County falls close to the state average. Long waits for court dates contribute to crowding. The jail does not have a large staff, and resources are limited compared to larger counties further south.
If you need to confirm the jail address or phone number, call the Union County Sheriff's Office in Blairsville directly. They can tell you if a specific person is in custody and what their bond is set at.
| Facility | Union County Jail |
|---|---|
| County Seat | Blairsville |
| Current Inmates | 60 |
| Rated Capacity | 57 (Over Capacity) |
How to Search Union County Inmate Population Records
The most reliable way to search for state inmates connected to Union County is the GDC Offender Query tool. This free database covers everyone serving a sentence under the Georgia Department of Corrections. You can search by name, GDC ID, or other identifiers. Results include the inmate's current location, sentence length, and earliest possible release date. The tool works well for people in state prison but does not always show county jail holds.
For people at the Union County Jail specifically, you may need to contact the sheriff's office by phone. Many smaller Georgia jails do not publish a live roster online. A quick call can confirm whether someone is booked in, what they are charged with, and whether a bond has been set. The staff can usually give you that information right away.
You can also try VINELink for a search that covers most Georgia county jails. Enter the person's name and pick Georgia as the state. VINELink pulls data from participating jails and shows the person's custody status. It updates about every 15 minutes, so results stay fairly current throughout the day.
The Georgia Sheriffs' Association Jail Report publishes monthly data on jail populations statewide. Union County appears in these reports when data is submitted. It will not help you find a specific inmate, but it gives a snapshot of how many people the jail holds at any given time.
Union County Inmate Population Records
Georgia's Open Records Act, found at O.C.G.A. 50-18-70, gives the public the right to request most government documents. This applies to the Union County Sheriff's Office. You can ask for booking logs, arrest reports, incident reports, and other records tied to the inmate population. Agencies must respond within three business days of getting your request. Copies cost ten cents per page.
Some records are off limits. Under O.C.G.A. 50-18-72, items like internal disciplinary files, housing assignments at state facilities, and certain investigative materials may be withheld. Medical records need a signed release from the inmate. If you want state-level records for someone who passed through Union County on the way to a GDC facility, submit your request through the GDC Open Records Portal. The portal tracks your request and sends updates by email.
Probation records fall under O.C.G.A. 42-8-40 and stay confidential. Parole records follow O.C.G.A. 42-9-53. These rules mean that not all information about an offender in Union County will be available to the public.
Custody Alerts for Union County Inmates
VINELink is a free notification system that tracks changes in an inmate's custody status. If someone is held at the Union County Jail and you want to know when they are released or moved, VINELink can alert you by phone, email, or text. The inmate will not be told that you registered. Go to the Georgia VINELink page, search by name, and then follow the steps to set up alerts.
When you register a phone number, you will create a four-digit PIN. VINELink calls you when the status changes, and you need that PIN to hear the message. If you miss the call, the system keeps trying for 24 hours. You can reach their help line at (833) 216-6670 if something goes wrong or if the system cannot find the person you are looking for. Coverage depends on whether Union County's jail feeds data into VINELink, which most Georgia jails do.
Visiting Inmates in Union County
Visits at the Union County Jail follow the rules set by the sheriff's office. Contact them ahead of time to learn the current schedule. Most jails in Georgia have set visiting days and hours, and they require a valid photo ID. Dress codes are enforced. Given that the jail is over capacity, visiting slots may be more limited than usual.
If the person you need to visit is in a state facility rather than the county jail, the Georgia Department of Corrections has its own process. You must fill out a visitation application and mail it to the facility where the inmate is housed. The form needs to be notarized, and you should include a copy of your photo ID. The GDC does not accept emailed forms. Processing takes several weeks, so plan well in advance. Visit the GDC visitation page for full details.
Union County Inmate Population Resources
The Georgia Department of Community Supervision handles oversight for people on probation or parole in Union County. DCS manages about 180,000 felony offenders across the state. If someone has been released from the Union County Jail or from a state prison and is now on supervision, DCS is the agency to contact. They do not manage people who are still in custody.
The GDC offender search at services.gdc.ga.gov remains the best tool for looking up state inmates. It is free to use and does not require an account. You can search as many times as you want. The database updates regularly, though the GDC does not share exact transfer dates for security reasons.
For a broader look at how Union County's jail compares to others across the state, check the monthly reports from the Georgia Sheriffs' Association. The data shows how crowding, pre-trial rates, and capacity usage vary from one county to the next.
Union County Inmate Search Tools
The GDC Offender Query page is the main online tool for finding state inmates in Georgia. Below is a view of the search form used to look up offenders.
This search page lets you enter a name or GDC ID to pull up inmate records. It covers state facilities and can show results for people originally booked in Union County who have since been transferred to state custody.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Union County in north Georgia. If you cannot locate an inmate here, check the neighboring jails. Transfers between facilities are common in this part of the state.