Search DeKalb County Jail Mugshots

DeKalb County jail mugshots are filed at the largest pre-trial detention center in the state of Georgia. The DeKalb County Sheriff's Office in Decatur processes all bookings for the county and keeps mugshot records on file. With a jail that holds up to 3,800 beds and an average daily population of around 2,200 inmates, there are quite a few records in this system. You can search for DeKalb County jail mugshots and inmate booking photos through the sheriff's online tools or by filing an open records request. This page walks you through each option for finding jail mugshot records in DeKalb County.

DeKalb County Sheriff's Office

The DeKalb County Sheriff's Office runs the jail and handles all inmate bookings. The office is at 4425 Memorial Drive, Decatur, GA 30032. You can call 404-298-8111 for general questions. The public information line is 404-298-8144. For media requests, the email is SheriffPIO@dekalbcountyga.gov, though that line is set up for news organizations only.

The DeKalb County Sheriff's Office website has links to jail services, inmate search tools, and open records forms. Chief Deputy Temetris Atkins helps lead day-to-day operations at the office.

DeKalb County's jail is the largest pre-trial detention center in Georgia. The facility has 3,800 beds. On any given day, about 2,200 inmates are in custody. That high volume means the system processes a large number of booking photos each week. Each person booked at the DeKalb County jail gets a mugshot taken as part of the standard intake process.

Search DeKalb County Jail Mugshots Online

There are two main ways to look up jail mugshots in DeKalb County online. The first is the sheriff's inmate roster. You can visit the DeKalb County Sheriff's inmate roster to search by name. This tool shows current inmates in the jail along with booking details and charges.

The second option is the DeKalb County Court jail roster. This site pulls from the same booking data but is run through the court system. It can show bond info and court dates along with basic inmate details. Both tools are free to use and do not need an account.

Booking photos through these portals may be limited. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-1-19, Georgia law restricts how law enforcement agencies share booking photographs online. The DeKalb County Sheriff's Office makes mugshots available to news organizations through a signed Booking Photo Use Agreement. The public can still search inmate records, but photos may not always show up in the online results for everyone.

DeKalb County Jail Visitation

Visitation at the DeKalb County jail is done by video. There are both on-site and remote options. Inmates get two 30-minute on-site video visits per week. The daily schedule runs from 8 am to 11:45 am and then from 4 pm to 9:50 pm.

Remote video visits cost $5 per 30-minute session. The current provider is Securus Technologies. You can call Securus at 1-877-578-3658 to set up an account or get help with scheduling. All visits at the DeKalb County jail are monitored and recorded, so keep that in mind when you speak with inmates.

DeKalb County Open Records Requests

If you need jail mugshots or booking records that are not on the online search tools, you can file an open records request with DeKalb County. The Georgia Open Records Act under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 gives the public a right to request government records. Agencies must respond within three business days of getting a request.

The DeKalb County Sheriff's Office has an online open records request form on its website. You can use that form to ask for booking records, arrest data, and other jail documents from DeKalb County. Be specific about what you need and include dates and names if possible. That helps the office find what you are looking for faster.

Copy fees are capped at 10 cents per page under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71. The office may also charge a search fee for staff time if the request takes more than 15 minutes. You will get a cost estimate before they start the work so there are no surprises.

Note: Media organizations requesting booking photos must sign a Booking Photo Use Agreement with the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office.

State Resources for DeKalb County Mugshots

The county jail roster only covers people currently in the DeKalb County jail. If someone was convicted and sent to state prison, their records move to a different system. The Georgia Department of Corrections offender search lets you look up inmates serving state sentences. This includes people originally booked in DeKalb County who have since been transferred.

For criminal history checks beyond jail mugshots, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation maintains the state's criminal records through the Georgia Crime Information Center. This covers arrests, court results, and custody data across all Georgia counties. GBI records include DeKalb County data going back years.

Mugshot Laws in DeKalb County

Georgia has strict rules about booking photos. The law under O.C.G.A. § 35-1-19 went into effect on July 1, 2014. It says law enforcement agencies cannot post mugshots on websites unless the person is a fugitive, sex offender, or otherwise falls under a specific exception. Anyone who gets a mugshot from the DeKalb County jail must sign a written promise not to put it on a site that charges for removal.

If a website posts your DeKalb County booking photo without permission, O.C.G.A. § 10-1-393.5 gives you a path to get it taken down. You can send a written request to the site. They have 30 days to remove it. If they do not, the Georgia Consumer Protection Division handles complaints about mugshot websites and can take action against them.

People whose cases were dismissed or who qualify under certain conditions can apply for record restriction. O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37 lets you ask the court to restrict your arrest record. Once restricted, the jail mugshot and booking data are sealed from public view in DeKalb County. This does not erase the record, but it keeps it out of public searches.

Cities in DeKalb County

DeKalb County has several cities and towns. All arrests made by city police within DeKalb County go through the county jail system for booking. The following city has its own page with more detail about jail mugshots and local search options.

Nearby Counties

These counties border DeKalb County. If you are not sure which county handled a booking, check the address where the arrest took place. Jail mugshots stay with the county where the person was booked.