DeKalb County Jail Inmate Lookup and Criminal Court Verification
Trying to find someone arrested in DeKalb County, Georgia? Start with the official jail search, save the booking details, then use the correct court, bond, visitation, police-record or legal-help route without wasting time on the wrong office.
Use DeKalb’s Judicial Information System and choose Jail Search.
404-298-8145, available 24 hours a day.
404-298-8195, 7:00 a.m.–11:59 p.m. daily.
Call the Sheriff’s Warrants Unit at 404-298-8200.
4425 Memorial Drive, Decatur, GA 30032.
404-371-2836, weekdays 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
404-371-2222, weekdays 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Georgia VINE: 1-800-398-2916.
Search the official Jail Search first. If no record appears, wait for booking intake to finish, then call 404-298-8145 with the full legal name and approximate arrest time. Ask for the booking number, current custody, bond status and whether another hold is listed.
What do you need from DeKalb County right now?
Select the closest task. This helper runs only in your browser and does not collect names, case numbers or personal information.
Use Jail Search, then call the 24-hour jail hotline if intake is still processing.
Check the displayed bond, then verify accepted payment and any hold with the bonding office.
Use ViaPath, approved mail rules and the official commissary deposit route.
Use Smart Search or Search Hearings and choose the correct court level.
Apply through the DeKalb Public Defender or verify a Georgia lawyer through the State Bar.
Start with the prosecutor, court disposition and arresting agency—not a private mugshot page.
Which DeKalb office handles each arrest-record task?
Task | Correct office or portal | Prepare | Next action |
|---|---|---|---|
Current jail custody | Name, booking date or identifier | Choose Jail Search and open the matching record. | |
Bond or release | Sheriff’s Bail Bonding Office | Booking number, charges and bond amount | Call 404-298-8195 before paying anyone. |
Felony case | Legal name or case number | Use Odyssey Smart Search and review the case history. | |
Misdemeanor case | Name, citation or case number | Choose Case Search for State Court criminal cases. | |
First appearance | Name and booking information | Confirm the published hearing calendar and location. | |
Incident or accident report | Report number, date, location and parties | Use Police Records; use GovQA for broader data requests. | |
Sheriff records request | Exact record, name, date and booking number | Submit the GovQA request and keep the confirmation. | |
Georgia criminal history | Identity and local agency requirements | Follow the GBI route or contact a participating local agency. |
How to search DeKalb County jail records by name
The official DeKalb Judicial Information System combines jail and court tools. It requires JavaScript, cookies and a supported browser.
Use the official link above. If the page only shows a browser warning, enable JavaScript and cookies or switch to a current Chrome, Firefox or Safari release.
Do not start in Smart Search when your immediate question is whether someone is currently or recently held in the county jail.
Add the first name only if the result list is too broad. Try alternate spellings, hyphenated names and former surnames when necessary.
Compare the full name, booking date, arrest date, charges and identifiers. Do not select a record from the name alone.
Write down the booking number, listed charges, bond status, arresting agency and any court number before calling the jail or lawyer.
Use the 24-hour jail hotline at 404-298-8145. Ask whether the person is currently held, released, transferred or subject to another hold.
How DeKalb County bail and first appearance work
The Sheriff’s bonding office processes approved bonds, but the court sets the amount and release conditions. A displayed amount does not guarantee immediate release if another hold or court restriction applies.
Booking number, charges, bond and holds.
Bond type, amount and release conditions.
4425 Memorial Drive, Decatur. Call 404-298-8195.
7:00 a.m.–11:59 p.m. daily, including weekends and holidays.
Cash bond, authorized professional bonding company or qualifying property bond.
Before posting a bond
Use the booking number and ask whether each charge is bondable, whether the amount changed and whether another agency placed a hold.
The Sheriff lists cash, professional and property bonds. Property bonds have ownership and document requirements, so read the official instructions before travelling.
The Sheriff lists cashier’s checks, traveler’s checks, U.S. Postal Service or Western Union money orders and U.S. currency for cash bonds. Personal checks are not accepted.
The Sheriff currently lists a $20 bond fee and publishes statutory professional-bonding fee information. Confirm the total directly before payment.
Record who paid, the amount, date, booking number and release instructions. Do not pay from an unsolicited text or phone link.
Payment is not the final step. Staff must verify the bond, clear holds and complete release procedures.
First appearance schedule
The DeKalb Magistrate Court currently publishes misdemeanor first appearances at 9:30 a.m. daily and felony first appearances at 1:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Confirm the current calendar because court operations can change.
Find DeKalb County criminal cases, hearings and dispositions
Jail data answers custody questions. Court records answer what charges were filed, when hearings are scheduled and how the case was resolved.
Court route | Common case type | How to search | Help contact |
|---|---|---|---|
Superior Court | Felony criminal cases and final dispositions | Use DeKalb Odyssey Smart Search by party name or case number. | Criminal Division, 404-371-2836. |
State Court | Misdemeanor criminal cases and traffic matters | Use State Court Case Search or the DeKalb portal. | Use the official State Court directory for the correct division. |
Magistrate Court | Arrest warrants, first appearance, bond and preliminary hearings | Open criminal calendars or Find My Case. | Criminal Matters, 3630 Camp Circle. |
Micro-steps for a court search
- Open the DeKalb portal and choose Smart Search for case records or Search Hearings for a date range.
- Search the legal name with fewer fields first.
- Compare the case number, filing date, court type and charges.
- Open the register of actions or case history.
- Review upcoming hearings, bond entries, disposition and sentence information.
- Call the correct clerk if the record is sealed, incomplete or needs a certified copy.
The Superior Clerk says certified final dispositions can be picked up at the courthouse. Published fees are $2.50 for the first page and $0.50 for each additional page.
The Clerk currently lists regular copies at $1 per page and notes a credit-card surcharge. Confirm costs before ordering.
Public defender application and private lawyer search
320 Church Street, Decatur, GA 30030
404-371-2222
Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
The official page states that Georgia law requires a $50 application fee by money order, although the court may waive it in some circumstances.
Open official Public Defender guidanceUse the State Bar of Georgia’s Find a Lawyer directory to search by practice area and location. Then verify the lawyer’s license and public disciplinary history in the member directory.
Find a Georgia lawyerVerify attorney status
What to prepare before calling a lawyer
- Full legal name and date of birth
- Booking and case numbers
- Arresting agency and date
- Listed charges and bond
- Next hearing date
- Any release conditions or holds
- Prior court paperwork
- A short timeline of what happened
DeKalb County Jail visitation rules and scheduling
Friends and family currently use ViaPath remote video visitation. The Sheriff states that there are no on-site video visits for friends and family.
Create a ViaPath account, wait for approval, make sure you are on the inmate’s approved list and schedule an available remote slot.
8:00–11:30 a.m. and 4:00–9:20 p.m.
Three 30-minute remote visits per week.
$0.19 per minute for remote service.
Online only; telephone scheduling is unavailable.
How to schedule
- Open the official DeKalb ViaPath visitation portal.
- Select registration if you are a new visitor.
- Complete identity and account verification.
- Wait for account approval and confirm that you are on the approved visitation list.
- Choose the inmate, date and available time.
- Schedule at least 24 hours before the visit.
- Test the camera, microphone and internet connection.
- Join from a quiet place and follow dress and behavior rules.
Inmate phone calls, mail, money and property pickup
The Sheriff publishes coinless housing-unit phones at $0.10 per minute and no-cost access to legal services. Confirm current communication pricing before funding an account because vendors and fees can change.
Use a jail or visitation-lobby kiosk, or the official ViaPath deposit route. ViaPath customer care: 866-516-0115.
Open official deposit instructionsSend mail correctly
Requirement | What to do | Common rejection reason |
|---|---|---|
Mailing address | DeKalb County Jail, Georgia; Inmate Name and Identifier; P.O. Box 247; Phoenix, MD 21131. | Missing inmate identifier or wrong facility address. |
Format | Use a white postcard, except for qualifying legal mail. | Letter, envelope or non-approved material. |
Postage | Use metered or pre-printed postage. | Adhesive or glued stamp. |
Size | Minimum 3½ × 4¼ inches; maximum 4¼ × 6 inches. | Oversized or undersized card. |
Writing | Use blue or black ink only. | Marker, crayon, paint, stickers, perfume or altered postcard. |
Retrieve personal property
An inmate may authorize someone to collect emergency property during the first seven days of incarceration. The inmate must complete a signed release. Published pickup hours are Monday–Friday, 7:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. Call before travelling.
How to request DeKalb police reports, sheriff records and criminal history
The Police Department says reports are typically available 3–5 business days after the incident. Use Police Records for incident and accident reports.
Open Police Records guidanceUse DeKalb’s GovQA Open Records Center for statistics, prior-year data or broader county records. Describe the record, department, date range and preferred format.
Open county records guidanceUse the Sheriff’s Open Records page for jail or Sheriff-maintained records. Booking-photo access is subject to Georgia law and the Sheriff’s current policy.
Open Sheriff records requestPublished Police Records fees
Service | Published fee | Useful note |
|---|---|---|
Incident, Fire or EMS report | $0.25 per page | Have the report number, date and location. |
Accident report | $5 per report | Confirm whether the report is ready. |
Certified report copy | $0.10 per page | This is the amount shown on the current official fee PDF; verify before payment. |
Background check | $20 for employment/adoption/housing/visa/immigration; $10 personal use | Ask what identification and consent are required. |
Record restriction | $25 | Eligibility and prosecutor approval are separate from the records fee. |
Inspection of records | $3 | The PDF lists certified check and money order as accepted payment. |
Open the official Police Records services-and-fees PDF. It is useful for current published charges and payment preparation.
Georgia criminal-history record
The GBI states that a person can obtain a copy of a Georgia criminal-history record from many sheriff or police departments, subject to that agency’s requirements. This is different from a jail booking search and is not a nationwide background check.
Victim notification, warrants and urgent safety routes
Use VINE to search participating custody records and register for available status notifications.
Open Georgia VINELinkTelephone: 1-800-398-2916.
The Magistrate Court says its Clerk will not confirm an outstanding arrest warrant. Contact the Sheriff’s Warrants Unit at 404-298-8200.
Call 911. For DeKalb Sheriff domestic-violence assistance, the published unit number is 404-298-8300.
Correct or restrict a DeKalb County arrest record
Georgia uses the term record restriction for many processes formerly called expungement. Eligibility depends on the arrest date, charge, prosecutor and outcome.
Do not ask a private website to “erase” a record before confirming the court result and the correct prosecutor route.
Use the court portal or request a certified final disposition from the appropriate clerk.
The DeKalb District Attorney generally handles felonies; the Solicitor-General handles misdemeanors and county ordinance matters.
GBI guidance distinguishes many arrests before July 1, 2013 from arrests on or after that date.
For qualifying pre-July 2013 cases, the arresting agency may be the starting point. For later cases, contact the prosecutor responsible for the case.
Save the order, agency correspondence, case number and date the official record was updated.
The DeKalb Solicitor-General explains that a written request may be needed for jail records after the underlying record is restricted. Follow the current official instructions.
DeKalb Solicitor-General: 404-371-2200.
Open misdemeanor restriction guidanceDeKalb District Attorney: 404-371-2561.
Open felony restriction guidanceWhat to do in common DeKalb County situations
Search Jail Search, wait for booking intake, then call the jail with the legal name and arrest time.
Call the bonding office and ask whether another hold, court condition or verification step remains.
Call the jail and check the court case. The person may be released, transferred or listed under a corrected name.
Use Search Hearings or the relevant criminal calendar; compare the case number before relying on a date.
Contact the DeKalb Public Defender and ask about the application, fee, documents and court appointment.
Get the disposition, follow the prosecutor’s restriction route, then request updates from the jail and private publisher.
DeKalb County jail, courthouse and legal-help contacts
Decatur, GA 30032
General information: 404-298-8145
Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Decatur, GA 30032
404-298-8111
Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., except holidays.
4425 Memorial Drive
Decatur, GA 30032
404-298-8195
Daily, 7:00 a.m.–11:59 p.m.
Ground Floor
Decatur, GA 30030
404-371-2836
Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Decatur, GA 30032
Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m., except holidays.
Decatur, GA 30030
404-371-2222
Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Use for jail operations and the bonding office. Call before travelling for a specific service.
Use for Superior Court Criminal Division and Sheriff Court Services. Confirm the room before visiting.
Fix common DeKalb jail and court search problems
- Enable JavaScript and cookies for the Tyler portal
- Use a current supported browser
- Search surname only before adding fields
- Try hyphenated, maiden and former surnames
- Compare booking date and arrest date separately
- Check Jail Search before Smart Search for custody
- Use Search Hearings for a date range
- Check both State and Superior Court routes
- Confirm the arresting agency and jurisdiction
- Save booking and case numbers
- Call after a very recent booking
- Use desktop mode if mobile tables do not load
Official DeKalb County and Georgia arrest-record links
DeKalb County arrest records FAQs
How do I search DeKalb County arrest records online?
Open the official DeKalb Judicial Information System, enable JavaScript and cookies, and choose Jail Search. Search the surname first, open the matching record and compare the booking date, charges and identifiers before relying on it.
What number do I call to find a DeKalb County inmate?
Call the DeKalb County Jail General Information Hotline at 404-298-8145. The Sheriff lists jail operations as available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
How do I check bond for a DeKalb County inmate?
Review the official jail record, save the booking number and call the Bail Bonding Office at 404-298-8195. Confirm the amount, bond type, accepted payment, fees and any other hold before paying.
Where do I find a DeKalb County criminal court case?
Use the DeKalb portal Smart Search for court records. Felony cases are generally handled through Superior Court, misdemeanor cases through State Court, and first appearance or preliminary matters through Magistrate Court.
How soon does a recent arrest appear in the jail search?
The Sheriff does not publish one guaranteed posting time. A fresh arrest may not appear until booking intake is completed. Search again and call the jail with the full name and approximate arrest time if the record is still missing.
Can I visit a DeKalb County Jail inmate in person?
The Sheriff currently states that friends and family do not have on-site video visits. Approved visitors use ViaPath remote video visitation, schedule at least 24 hours in advance and follow the published daily time windows.
How do I send money to a DeKalb County inmate?
Use a cash or debit-card kiosk in the jail or visitation-center lobby, or use the official ViaPath deposit service. Confirm the inmate, facility and account type before paying.
How do I get a DeKalb County police report?
Use DeKalb Police Records for incident and accident reports. The Police Department says reports are typically available three to five business days after the incident. Use the county GovQA portal for broader open-record requests.
How do I apply for a DeKalb County public defender?
Contact the Law Office of the Public Defender at 320 Church Street in Decatur or call 404-371-2222. Ask about the application, supporting financial information, current fee and whether the court can waive the fee.
How do I restrict an old DeKalb County arrest record?
First obtain the court disposition and identify whether the matter was a misdemeanor or felony. Follow the DeKalb Solicitor-General route for applicable misdemeanors, the District Attorney route for felonies and the GBI rules that apply to the arrest date and outcome.
Official resources reviewed August 5, 2026
This website is an independent informational guide and is not affiliated with DeKalb County, the Sheriff, any court, the Police Department, GBI, ViaPath or the State Bar of Georgia. Official links, phone numbers, published hours, fees and service rules can change. Confirm time-sensitive details with the responsible office before travelling, paying or submitting documents.
Presumption-of-innocence notice: An arrest, booking photo or charge is not proof of guilt. Charges can be amended, dismissed, restricted or resolved differently in court.