Atlanta Correctional Center: What Happened, Where It Is, and How Federal Incarceration Works in Atlanta

If you’re searching for “Atlanta Correctional Center”, you’re most likely looking for information about federal incarceration in Atlanta, how to contact or visit someone in custody, or what facility serves people from the Atlanta area now that the local federal prison has closed.

This guide walks through what the Atlanta Correctional Center was, its status today, how federal custody is handled in Atlanta, and the practical steps you can take to locate, contact, or visit an incarcerated person connected to Atlanta, Georgia.

Understanding the Atlanta Correctional Center

What Was the Atlanta Correctional Center?

The term “Atlanta Correctional Center” is often used informally to refer to federal correctional facilities located in Atlanta, especially the United States Penitentiary, Atlanta (USP Atlanta) and the now-closed Atlanta City Detention Center (ACDC).

Key points:

• USP Atlanta is a federal prison facility in southeast Atlanta.
• Atlanta City Detention Center (ACDC) was a city-run jail in downtown Atlanta that has been largely closed to detainees and is being repurposed.
• People sometimes combine or confuse these names and call them the “Atlanta Correctional Center,” even though that is not the official name of a specific operating federal institution.

If you are trying to reach a federal inmate, you are usually dealing with USP Atlanta or another federal facility where the person has been transferred.

Federal Facilities in Atlanta: What Exists Today

United States Penitentiary, Atlanta (USP Atlanta)

Type: Federal prison facility (primarily for male offenders)
Location:
United States Penitentiary, Atlanta
601 McDonough Blvd SE
Atlanta, GA 30315

USP Atlanta has historically included:

• A high-security penitentiary
• An adjacent minimum-security satellite camp

Over time, operations and inmate housing levels at USP Atlanta have changed. The facility has gone through safety and security reviews, and housing use has been adjusted accordingly. For current information, families typically confirm:

• Whether their loved one is still housed at USP Atlanta
• What custody level and unit they are in
• What the current visiting rules are

Because federal prisons can and do transfer people, it’s important to rely on up-to-date verification tools rather than old assumptions about location.

How to Find Someone in Federal Custody Connected to Atlanta

If you believe a person is at “Atlanta Correctional Center” and you are not sure where they are now, the most direct approach is to use federal inmate search tools and then confirm details with the facility.

1. Use the Federal Inmate Locator

The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) provides a public Inmate Locator. Using this tool, you can typically search by:

• Full name
• Register number (if you have it)
• Age and race (optional filters)

This locator will usually show:

• The person’s current facility (for example, “Atlanta USP” or another federal prison)
• Register number
• Projected release date, if available

If the person is not found, they may:

• Be in a county jail (such as Fulton County Jail or DeKalb County Jail)
• Be in state custody under the Georgia Department of Corrections
• Be in pre-trial custody under U.S. Marshals at a local jail under contract
• Have recently been released or transferred

In those situations, family members often call:

• The Fulton County Sheriff’s Office (if the case is tied to Atlanta/Fulton County)
• The Georgia Department of Corrections Offender Search (for state prison custody)

Contacting or Visiting a Federal Inmate in Atlanta

Once you confirm that someone is held at or connected to USP Atlanta, the next questions usually involve communication and visits.

Mail, Phone, and Money: Common Processes

While specific rules can change, federal facilities generally follow similar patterns:

• Mail:

  • Use the inmate’s full name and register number.
  • Address it to the facility (for example, “Atlanta USP” with the full mailing address).
  • Follow rules on what can be mailed (for example, limits on photos, no cash, restrictions on books or publications).

• Phone calls:

  • Inmates typically make outgoing calls only; friends and family can’t call in directly.
  • Calls are usually collect or paid using the inmate’s phone account.
  • Calls are commonly monitored and recorded.

• Sending money:

  • Federal facilities use standardized methods for sending funds to an inmate’s trust (commissary) account.
  • Close family often rely on electronic transfer services or approved money order methods connected to the Federal Bureau of Prisons system.

Because details may change, many families call the facility’s main number or check posted rules to confirm:

• Accepted money transfer methods
• Limits on phone calls or commissary
• Any temporary restrictions (for example, after an incident or lockdown)

In-Person Visits at Federal Facilities

Policies for visiting a federal inmate connected to Atlanta typically cover:

• Visiting hours and days
• Approved visitors list (inmates must usually submit names for approval)
• Dress code for visitors
• Identification requirements (such as a valid government-issued photo ID)
• Number of visitors allowed at one time
• Special rules for children or infants

Visitors usually need to:

1. Confirm that they are on the inmate’s approved visitor list.
2. Arrive early to allow for security screening.
3. Follow all posted and verbal rules from staff.

Violating visiting rules can result in the visit being denied or future visiting privileges being limited.

Federal vs. Local: Where People May Be Held in the Atlanta Area

Because the term “Atlanta Correctional Center” is broad, it helps to understand how detention is split in the Atlanta region.

Federal Custody (Bureau of Prisons / U.S. Marshals)

Someone with a federal criminal case tied to Atlanta might be:

• In a federal prison (such as USP Atlanta or another facility in the federal system)
• In a regional jail that houses federal detainees under contract with the U.S. Marshals Service
• In transit between facilities, especially right after sentencing

Court proceedings are often associated with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, which is based in Atlanta.

Local and County Jails

If a person is believed to be in “jail in Atlanta,” they may actually be in a county facility, not a federal center. In the Atlanta metro area, that often means:

• Fulton County Jail
  901 Rice Street NW
  Atlanta, GA 30318

Other nearby counties (DeKalb, Clayton, Cobb, Gwinnett) also operate their own jails.

Each county has its own:

• Inmate search
• Visitation schedule
• Mailing rules
• Phone and money procedures

If you are unsure whether your loved one’s case is state, county, or federal, it can help to:

• Look at court paperwork (which court is listed?)
• Check with the attorney of record (public defender or private attorney)
• Call the relevant sheriff’s office if the charges are local

Atlanta City Detention Center (ACDC): Changing Role

For many years, the Atlanta City Detention Center in downtown Atlanta housed:

• Individuals arrested on city ordinance violations
• Some people held on short-term local charges

Address (for reference):

Atlanta City Detention Center
254 Peachtree St SW
Atlanta, GA 30303

In recent years, the City of Atlanta has moved away from using ACDC as a traditional jail and has been working on repurposing the facility for other community uses. Because of this, many individuals who might once have been housed there are instead:

• Released on citation or bond
• Taken to Fulton County Jail or another county facility, depending on the case

If you suspect someone is at ACDC, you may need to check:

• Whether the facility is currently housing detainees
• Which agency (City of Atlanta, Fulton County, or another) is responsible for the person’s custody

Quick Reference: Common Custody Paths in Atlanta

Below is a simple overview to help you match a situation with the most likely type of “correctional center” in or around Atlanta.

This table is a general guide, not a guarantee. Transfers, contracts, and policies can shift, so always confirm with the relevant agency.

Practical Tips for Atlanta Families and Visitors

If you live in or around Atlanta and need to deal with a facility sometimes called the “Atlanta Correctional Center,” these steps can help:

• Clarify the case type first

  • Federal case → Start with the Federal Inmate Locator
  • Local or state case → Check county jail or Georgia DOC

• Get the correct official facility name

  • Instead of “Atlanta Correctional Center,” you’ll usually be dealing with:
    • United States Penitentiary, Atlanta (USP Atlanta)
    • Fulton County Jail or another county jail
    • Another federal prison if the person has been transferred

• Write down key identifiers

  • Full legal name
  • Date of birth
  • Any known register number, booking number, or GDC number (for state custody)

• Confirm rules before you visit

  • Calling ahead can save time and prevent a denied visit.
  • Ask about visiting hours, dress code, ID requirements, and approved visitor lists.

• Plan for Atlanta traffic and parking

  • Facilities like USP Atlanta and Fulton County Jail can be busy, and nearby parking may be limited.
  • Build in extra time for traffic, security checkpoints, and check-in procedures.

When You Need Legal or Case-Specific Guidance

Correctional centers in Atlanta cannot provide legal advice and usually will not discuss case details with family members beyond basic custody information.

If you need to understand:

• Next court dates
• Sentencing possibilities
• Transfer questions related to legal strategy

It may help to:

• Contact the person’s defense attorney (public defender or private counsel)
• Reach out to the clerk’s office for the court handling the case
• Consult with a licensed attorney in the Atlanta area who works with criminal or federal cases

By understanding the roles of USP Atlanta, local jails, and the evolving status of Atlanta’s city detention facilities, you can more confidently navigate what people often call the Atlanta Correctional Center and take the right next steps to locate, contact, or visit someone in custody in the Atlanta, Georgia area.