Search Arrest, Mugshot & Inmate Records by Name
Search by name and state for arrest, booking, mugshot, inmate, jail roster, prison, criminal and court-record search categories.
Independent records-search resource. This website is not a government agency, police department, sheriff's office, jail, prison or courthouse. Search coverage varies by source and jurisdiction. Some links may lead to third-party services, and compensation may be received when a partner service is used.
Find a DeKalb County Jail inmate and verify current custody
If you need to find someone who may be held at the DeKalb County Jail, start with the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office Inmate Lookup. The Sheriff’s current website sends its Inmate Lookup users to the Corrections Records Search portal, so do not be concerned if the search opens on a different domain.
A jail booking or charge is not proof of guilt or a conviction. For hearings, filings and final case outcomes, use the applicable DeKalb County court record after identifying the correct person.
DeKalb County Jail quick information
Decatur, GA 30032
How to search the DeKalb County Jail roster
- Start from the Sheriff’s inmate lookup. Open the search linked above. If you prefer, open the Sheriff’s official website first and select Inmate Lookup under Quick Reference Links.
- Use the inmate’s legal name. Enter the identifying information requested by the current search form. Avoid nicknames when you know the person’s full legal name.
- Compare possible matches carefully. Check the displayed identity, booking information, charges, custody information and identifiers before assuming a result belongs to the person you want.
- Save the booking or inmate identifier. You may need it when discussing the inmate with jail staff or addressing correspondence.
- Check court information separately when needed. A jail record explains custody; it does not necessarily show the full court history or final disposition.
- If nothing appears, do not immediately assume release. Recheck the spelling, consider recent booking or release processing, confirm the arresting jurisdiction and call the jail information line at 404-298-8145 if the status remains unclear.
What an inmate lookup can help you confirm
| What you need | Best place to start | What to remember |
|---|---|---|
| Whether someone is in DeKalb County jail custody | Sheriff Inmate Lookup | Very recent changes may require verification with jail staff. |
| Booking or inmate identifier | Inmate Lookup | Save the identifier before contacting the jail or sending mail. |
| Listed charges | Inmate Lookup | A charge is an allegation, not a conviction. |
| Bond information | Inmate Lookup + Bail Bonding Office | Confirm the current amount and bond type before paying anything. |
| Court date or case history | DeKalb court records | The jail roster is not the final source for court disposition. |
| Booking photo | Sheriff Open Records process | Booking-photo access has separate rules; do not assume every photo is publicly displayed in the jail lookup. |
If a recently arrested person does not appear
A missing search result can have several explanations. Work through these before relying on a third-party inmate directory:
- Check first-name and last-name spelling.
- Try the person’s legal name rather than a nickname or shortened name.
- Confirm that the arrest actually resulted in booking at DeKalb County Jail.
- Allow time for intake and booking after a very recent arrest.
- The person may already have bonded out, been released or transferred.
- If the arrest occurred elsewhere in metro Atlanta, confirm the correct county or detention agency.
- For a person transferred into Georgia state prison custody, a county jail search may no longer be the correct system.
When online results remain unclear, call the DeKalb County Jail information hotline at 404-298-8145 and have the person’s full legal name and any known arrest or booking details ready.
Bond and release information
The DeKalb County Bail Bonding Office is at the jail at 4425 Memorial Drive, Decatur, GA 30032. The Sheriff’s current published hours are 7:00 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. daily, including weekends and holidays. The bonding line is 404-298-8195.
The Sheriff’s Office publishes three main bond methods:
- Cash bond
- Professional bonding company
- Property bond
The Sheriff’s published procedures state that it charges a $20 non-refundable fee on bonds. The same page states that authorized professional bonding companies may charge 12% on bonds of $10,000 or less and 15% on bonds over $10,000. Confirm the current total before paying.
Cash bond
The Sheriff states that accepted cash-bond payment forms include United States currency, cashier’s checks, traveler’s checks, U.S. Postal Service money orders and Western Union money orders. Personal checks are not accepted for a cash bond.
Property bond checklist
If you are considering a property bond, do not travel to the jail with only a deed. The Sheriff’s current requirements include:
- All people listed as owners on the deed generally must appear to sign, unless a legally valid power of attorney applies.
- Each owner must provide state-issued identification or a driver’s license.
- Bring a certified copy of the Warranty Deed or another qualifying recorded deed.
- Bring the current year’s property-tax statement.
- Bring the recent mortgage statement or qualifying proof that the security deed has been cancelled.
- If an owner has died, probate documentation may be required.
The Sheriff also publishes a $20 property-bond form fee and a $7.50 property-affidavit fee. Because property eligibility and court orders can differ by case, call 404-298-8195 before gathering documents or traveling.
Review current DeKalb County Sheriff bonding procedures.
Visiting a DeKalb County Jail inmate
DeKalb County changed its video-visitation process in 2026 and currently uses ViaPath. Family and friend visits are remote rather than on-site video visits.
- First confirm that the inmate is still at the DeKalb County Jail.
- Make sure you are on the inmate’s approved visitation list.
- Create an account through the DeKalb ViaPath visitation portal.
- Wait for account approval.
- Schedule the visit online at least 24 hours in advance. Telephone scheduling is not available.
- Connect from an internet-enabled computer, smartphone or other supported device at the scheduled time.
| Remote visitation hours | 8:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.–9:20 p.m. daily |
|---|---|
| Visit allowance | Three 30-minute remote visits per week |
| Published remote rate | $0.19 per minute |
| Advance scheduling | At least 24 hours |
| Friends/family on-site video visits | Not currently offered |
Friends-and-family visits are recorded and electronically monitored. The Sheriff’s current policy also states that maximum-security and mental-health inmates cannot have visitors, although special accommodations may be arranged during intake.
Check current Sheriff visitation rules before scheduling because provider procedures and restrictions can change.
Inmate phone calls, messaging and electronic communication
The Sheriff’s current visitation page says each housing unit has a coinless pay telephone. Its published inmate-call rate is $0.10 per minute, while calls to legal services are available without cost.
The Sheriff also announced new ViaPath-based options in 2026 for telephone calls, video visitation, messaging and electronic mail. Because account options and vendor charges can change, start from the Sheriff’s Bonding & Inmate Services section rather than relying on an old provider bookmark.
How to put money on an inmate account
Inmates have personal accounts that can be used for approved commissary items. The current Sheriff page confirms these deposit methods:
- At the jail: use cash or a debit card at an approved kiosk in the jail or visitation area.
- ViaPath: use the Sheriff’s approved ViaPath/GettingOut deposit service or call 866-516-0115.
Open the currently linked ViaPath/GettingOut deposit service.
How to mail an inmate
The Sheriff’s currently published personal-mail instructions use a separate mailing address from the jail’s Memorial Drive street address:
DeKalb County Jail, Georgia
Inmate Name, Inmate Identifier
P.O. Box 247
Phoenix, MD 21131
For ordinary non-legal mail, the Sheriff currently publishes these requirements:
- Use postcards for regular U.S. Mail correspondence.
- The postcard must be white.
- Minimum size: 3½ × 4¼ inches.
- Maximum size: 4¼ × 6 inches.
- Use blue or black ink.
- Postage must be metered or pre-printed; adhesive/glued stamps are not accepted under the published policy.
- Do not use stickers, labels, plastic wrapping, paint, crayons, markers, perfume, lipstick or other prohibited alterations.
- Material depicting nudity, weapons or gang references is prohibited.
These postcard restrictions do not apply in the same way to legal mail. The Sheriff’s current page also states that the jail no longer accepts books ordered through Amazon; books must come from qualifying retail book stores.
Verify current mail and inmate-support rules before sending important correspondence.
Retrieving an inmate’s personal property
The Sheriff’s published procedure says an inmate can authorize another person to retrieve items from the inmate’s property in an emergency during the first seven days of incarceration. After the inmate signs a release, property pickup is listed for Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Call the jail before traveling if you need property released, because the inmate must complete the required authorization first.
Jail record vs. court record: use the right search
The jail lookup is best when your question is, “Is this person in custody?” A court record is better when your question concerns a hearing, filed criminal case, disposition or later court activity.
Use the inmate record first to identify the person accurately, then compare the court record. This reduces the risk of mixing up two people who have similar names.
Warrant questions
If your actual question is whether there is an outstanding DeKalb County warrant rather than whether someone is already in jail, contact the Sheriff’s Warrants Unit at 404-298-8200. A current jail search and a warrant inquiry answer different questions.
Booking photos and older public records
Do not assume that every DeKalb booking photo is available as a public mugshot gallery. The Sheriff’s Open Records page provides a formal request process for records and booking photos and also publishes special booking-photo requirements for news organizations.
- Find the inmate first and record the correct name and current booking number if available.
- Open the Sheriff’s Open Records & Public Information page.
- Use the Sheriff’s linked records-request portal.
- Describe the record you need as specifically as possible.
- Follow any identity, fee or permitted-use instructions provided for that record type.
Open the DeKalb Sheriff Open Records request portal.
Useful DeKalb County jail contacts
| Office | Contact | Best use |
|---|---|---|
| DeKalb County Jail information | 404-298-8145 | Current jail and custody questions |
| Inmate Family Hotline | 404-298-8090 | Family-related inmate questions |
| Bail Bonding Office | 404-298-8195 | Bond type, amount and procedures |
| Warrants Unit | 404-298-8200 | Outstanding warrant questions |
| Court Services | 404-371-2570 | Court Services Operations |
| Sheriff Open Records | 404-298-8171 | Records not available through the live inmate search |
Related Georgia jail searches
If the person may have been booked in another Georgia county, these verified guides may help:
DeKalb County Jail inmate search FAQs
1. How do I search for an inmate in DeKalb County Jail?
Use the Inmate Lookup linked by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office. Search with the person’s legal identifying information, compare the returned booking details carefully and save the booking or inmate identifier if you find the correct record.
2. Where is the official DeKalb County jail roster?
The Sheriff’s public Inmate Lookup functions as the practical jail-roster search. The Sheriff’s official website currently directs its Inmate Lookup button to the DeKalb County Corrections Records Search portal.
3. Why can’t I find someone who was just arrested in DeKalb County?
The person may still be going through booking, the name may be entered differently, the person may have already been released or transferred, or the arrest may be handled by another jurisdiction. Recheck the search and call 404-298-8145 when custody remains unclear.
4. What is the DeKalb County Jail address and phone number?
DeKalb County Jail Services Operations are at 4425 Memorial Drive, Decatur, GA 30032. The Sheriff’s jail information hotline is 404-298-8145.
5. How do I find or post a DeKalb County inmate’s bond?
Check the inmate record first, then confirm the current bond with the DeKalb County Bail Bonding Office at 404-298-8195. The Sheriff publishes cash, professional bonding-company and property-bond options.
6. How do I visit an inmate at DeKalb County Jail?
Friends and family currently use ViaPath remote video visitation. Visitors must be on the inmate’s approved list, register online and schedule at least 24 hours ahead. The published remote hours are 8:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.–9:20 p.m. daily.
7. How can I put money on a DeKalb County inmate account?
The Sheriff’s current instructions include deposits through approved jail kiosks and ViaPath/GettingOut. Verify the inmate first and confirm the recipient information before completing a deposit.
8. What address should I use to mail a DeKalb County Jail inmate?
For the Sheriff’s currently published regular-mail process, address correspondence to DeKalb County Jail, Georgia, followed by the inmate’s name and inmate identifier, P.O. Box 247, Phoenix, MD 21131. Ordinary non-legal mail is subject to the Sheriff’s postcard rules.
9. Can I get a DeKalb County inmate mugshot from the jail roster?
Do not assume every booking photo is displayed through the inmate lookup. The Sheriff provides a separate Open Records process and publishes special rules for requesting booking photos.
10. Is the jail inmate lookup the same as a DeKalb County court-record search?
No. The inmate lookup is primarily useful for custody and booking information. Use DeKalb County court records when you need hearings, later case activity or a final disposition. A jail booking does not establish a conviction.
Independent information notice: CountyJailInmateSearch.org is not the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office, DeKalb County government or a court. Jail custody, bond, visitation and vendor procedures can change. This guide brings the practical information together so you normally need the official portal only to perform the live lookup, submit a request or complete another official transaction.