Georgia Inmate Search

How Are Inmate Records in Georgia Created and Stored?

Georgia inmate records are created when someone is arrested by local law enforcement. The initial paperwork is commonly referred to as a RAP sheet, where the person’s name, address, physical description and criminal activity is recorded. These records are kept in an online database so that later other members of law enforcement, corrections authorities and the general public can perform an inmate search. These records change with each event that takes place in the inmate’s life and they are updated frequently, usually daily.

What Does Georgia’s Prison System Look Like?

Georgia’s prison system is elaborate with many different types of facilities. The Georgia Department of Corrections’ focus is on education and rehabilitation rather than just punishment. Their prison system consists of:

• 12 residential substance abuse treatment facilities
• 2 integrated treatment facilities
• 15 transitional centers
• 7 probation detention centers

Administrative offices are split among three different regions to oversee and manage all the pieces of the system. Georgia houses more than 52,000 prisoners.

Types of Jails and Prisons in Georgia

The state of Georgia has the traditional state prisons which house the majority of inmates. They also have specialized treatment programs for inmates suffering with addictions and substance abuse issues. Additionally, they also have reentry programs called “Transitional Centers” to help inmates readjust to society before being released. They have seven probation detention centers for offenders who were sentenced to probation but violated the terms or were sent to probation before being released under supervision. Georgia also has juvenile detention centers for underage offenders and federal prisons for federal inmates.

How Many People are Locked up in Georgia?

Georgia’s prison system holds 53,627 residents in various kinds of correctional facilities, from which 40,521 residents are held in state prisons, 67 in juvenile correctional facilities, and 5,066 in local jails.

Georgia State Prisons

Georgia has thirty-four state prisons housing more than 52,000 inmates. They are overseen and managed by the Georgia Department of Corrections. The list includes:

• Arrendale State Prison.
• Augusta State Medical Prison.
• Autry State Prison.
• Baldwin State Prison.
• Burruss Correctional Training Center.
• Calhoun State Prison.
• Central State Prison.
• Coastal State Prison.
• Dodge State Prison.
• Dooly State Prison.
• Emanuel Women’s Facility.
• Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison.
• Georgia State Prison.
• Hancock State Prison.
• Hays State Prison.
• Johnson State Prison.
• Lee State Prison.
• Long State Prison.
• Macon State Prison.
• Montgomery State Prison.
• Philips State Prison.
• Pulaski State Prison.
• Rogers State Prison.
• Rutledge State Prison.
• Smith State Prison.
• Telfair State Prison/Milan Unit.
• Valdosta State Prison and Annex.
• Walker State Prison.
• Ware State Prison.
• Washington State Prison.
• Whitworth Women’s Facility.
• Wilcox State Prison.

Two of the facilities are women-only prisons and the rest house males only.

Georgia Federal Prisons

The state of Georgia also has six federal prison facilities. The federal prisons hold prisoners who have broken federal laws. All federal prison facilities are operated and managed by the Federal Bureau of Prisons. The federal prison facilities in Georgia are:

• Atlanta RRM – a residential reentry office.
• Atlanta USP – a medium-security prison housing 2,048 male prisoners.
• Glynco – a training academy.
• Jesup FCI – a medium security facility housing 1,693 male inmates.
• McRae CI – a private federal prison.
• Southeast RO – an administrative office.

Georgia County Jails

The state of Georgia has twenty-one county prisons and dozens of county jails. They are integrated with their other prison systems for administrative purposes. Moving inmates between the jail and prison systems is easier with everything connected. The list of county prisons includes:

• Athens-Clarke County Correctional Institution.
• Bulloch County Correctional Institution.
• Carroll County Correctional Institute Carrollton.
• Clayton County Prison.
• Colquitt County Prison.
• Coweta County Prison.
• Decatur County Prison.
• Effingham County Prison.
• Floyd County Prison.
• Gwinnett County Prison.
• Hall County Correctional Institution.
• Harris County Prison.
• Jackson County Correctional Institution.
• Jefferson County Correctional Institute.
• Mitchell County Correctional Institute.
• Muscogee County Prison.
• Richmond County Correctional Institution.
• Screven County Prison.
• Spalding County Correctional Institution.
• Sumter County Correctional Institute.
• Terrell County Correctional Institute.

Each of the 159 counties in the state also has local jails which are operated and maintained by the county Sheriff’s Office. Many of them have their own website.

Georgia Juvenile Detention Centers

The state of Georgia has twenty-six juvenile detention centers. There are basically two types: Regional Youth Detention Centers (RYDCs) for short-term youths awaiting trial and Youth Development Campuses (YDCs) which are secure, long-term facilities housing sentenced offenders. The list of these institutions includes:

• Aaron Cohn (Columbus) RYDC.
• Augusta RYDC.
• Bob Richards RYDC (FORMERLY Rome RYDC).
• Cadwell RYDC.
• Claxton RYDC.
• Crisp RYDC.
• DeKalb RYDC.
• Elbert Shaw RYDC (FORMERLY Dalton RYDC).
• Gainesville RYDC.
• Judge Thomas Jefferson Loftiss II RYDC (Formerly Thomasville RYDC).
• Macon RYDC.
• Marietta RYDC.
• Martha K. Glaze RYDC (FORMERLY Clayton RYDC).
• Metro RYDC.
• Rockdale RYDC.
• Savannah RYDC.
• Terrell RYDC.
• Waycross RYDC.
• Wilkes RYDC.
• Atlanta YDC.
• Augusta YDC.
• Eastman YDC.
• Macon YDC.
• Milledgeville YDC.
• Muscogee YDC.
• Sumter YDC.

Georgia Private Prisons

Georgia also employs four private prisons to hold 7,974 of their prisoners. The four prisons are owned and run by two companies: Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) and the GEO Corporation. Both of the companies are accredited and offer the same resources to inmates as the state prisons do. The privately run and operated prisons in Georgia are as follows:

• Jenkins Correctional Facility.
• Riverbend Correctional Facility.
• Wheeler Correctional Facility.
• Coffee Correctional Facility.

Georgia Transitional Facilities

Georgia’s Department of Corrections is dedicated to serving the inmate population with more than just punishment for crimes they have committed. The state has numerous treatment centers to help inmates with addictions find cures and help with anger management, mental illness and other afflictions. They also have a program of reentry to ease inmates back into society by first moving them to a low-security transitional center and help with getting a job and securing living arrangements.

Why are People Incarcerated in Georgia?

There are more than 52,000 prisoners in Georgia. Of those, the majority (87%) are male and the rest female. More than half are African-American. The number one reason inmates in Georgia are in prison is due to larceny and burglary, followed closely by motor vehicle theft. Only a small percentage (.2%) of people are in prison in Georgia because of serious crimes like murder. Less than one percent (.82%) are incarcerated due to rape. However, more than 7% are in prison due to aggravated assault and other violent crimes.

Georgia’s Incarceration Rate and Statistics

Georgia’s incarceration rate for year-end 2016 under state prison or local jail jurisdiction per 100,000 population was 512, which is higher than an average incarceration rate by 14%. The number of Georgia prisoners at the year-end of 2016 was 53,627, from which 7% were female prisoners, whereas the number of male prisoners was 49,839 in 2016.

Where Do Georgia Inmates Go When They are Released?

Many Georgia inmates will go back home to family and friends once they are released from prison. However, the Georgia prison system includes a series of transitional centers where many select prisoners can ease their way back into society and receive assistance with getting a job, finding housing and continuing their education. These types of transitional facilities are aimed at reducing recidivism.

How Does Parole Work in Georgia?

Parole works when an inmate is released early before completing their sentences. Parole is only granted when an inmate has displayed good behavior and has proven to the parole board that they do not pose a danger to society. They are released early but with some very strict regulations such as having to check in regularly with their parole officer. Parole is a supervisory program designed to rehabilitate offenders while also keeping residents safe.

Parole Population

How Does Someone Get Probation in Georgia?

An offender may be granted probation instead of prison if their crime is a single, first-time offense. After their trial and they are found guilty, the judge will factor in the circumstances, their previous law-abiding behaviors and other issues to determine whether or not to sentence them to jail or prison. In many cases they will sentence probation. When this happens, the offender can remain free but must follow strict rules for a period of time. They must check in regularly with their probation officer and if they violate any of the rules, they will immediately go to prison.

Probation Statistics