Atlanta Inmate Lookup: How to Find Someone in Custody in Atlanta, Georgia

If you need to locate a friend or family member in jail in Atlanta, Georgia, you’re not alone. The system can feel confusing, especially if you’re dealing with an arrest for the first time. This guide walks you through how Atlanta inmate lookup works, which agencies are involved, and what practical steps you can take right now.

First Step: Know Which Atlanta Facility to Search

In the Atlanta area, a person in custody might be held in different places depending on:

• Where they were arrested (city of Atlanta, another city, or unincorporated Fulton County)
• Whether their case is city ordinance, state misdemeanor, or felony
• Whether they are awaiting trial or already sentenced

Common facilities connected to an Atlanta inmate search include:

• Atlanta City Detention Center (ACDC) – primarily for city-related offenses and municipal cases
• Fulton County Jail (Rice Street) – main county jail for Fulton County, which includes much of Atlanta
• Other Fulton County facilities or nearby county jails (e.g., DeKalb County, Cobb County) if the arrest happened outside central Atlanta

If you’re not sure which agency made the arrest, start with Fulton County Jail, then check Atlanta City Detention Center.

Atlanta City Detention Center (ACDC) Inmate Lookup

The Atlanta City Detention Center typically houses individuals arrested for city ordinance violations, traffic offenses, and certain misdemeanors within the city limits.

Location (commonly listed):
254 Peachtree Street SW
Atlanta, GA 30303

Main phone (commonly used):
404-865-8001 (or main City of Atlanta corrections line)

How to look up an inmate at ACDC

Because procedures can change, expect one or more of these methods:

1. Phone Inquiry

   • Call the detention center with:
     • Full name
     • Date of birth (if possible)
     • Approximate date of arrest
   • Ask if the person is in custody and what their booking number, charges, and bond amounts are.

2. Online Search (when available)

   • Many city detention centers offer an online inmate search on the City of Atlanta or Department of Corrections site.
   • You typically search by:
     • Last name and first name
     • Booking number, if you have it

3. In-Person Inquiry

   • You may go to the detention center lobby and ask at the information desk.
   • Bring:
     • The inmate’s full name
     • Your photo ID, in case they need to verify your identity for certain requests

What information you can usually see

For someone in the Atlanta City Detention Center, you can often learn:

• Booking date and time
• Charges (often brief descriptions)
• Bond amount (or if they are being held without bond)
• Next court date, if assigned
• Housing status (for example, “in custody,” “released,” or “transferred”)

If the person was recently arrested, data may take some time to appear. If an online search shows nothing but you believe they were arrested, call directly.

Fulton County Jail (Rice Street) Inmate Lookup

If the person is facing state charges, felonies, or county-level misdemeanors in the Atlanta area, they are often taken to the Fulton County Jail.

Main Fulton County Jail (Rice Street) – Common Listing:
901 Rice Street NW
Atlanta, GA 30318
Main phone (frequently listed): 404-613-2000

Fulton County is the county that includes the city of Atlanta, so many Atlanta arrests—especially more serious ones—end up here.

How to search for an inmate in Fulton County Jail

1. Online Inmate Search Tool

   • Fulton County typically provides an online inmate search on the county sheriff or jail website.
   • You can usually search by:
     • Last name and first name
     • Booking number (if known)
   • This is often the fastest way to confirm if someone is in custody in Atlanta under Fulton County authority.

2. Phone Call to the Jail

   • Call the main jail number and request an inmate location and status.
   • Have ready:
     • Full name and correct spelling
     • Date of birth
     • Approximate arrest date or case number, if available

3. In-Person Information

   • You may visit the jail lobby information desk to ask about an inmate.
   • Bring government-issued ID and be prepared for standard security checks.

Information typically shown for Fulton County inmates

Online and phone lookups often provide:

• Full name and booking number
• Mugshot (sometimes included)
• List of charges
• Bond amounts or “no bond” status
• Arresting agency (e.g., Atlanta Police Department, Georgia State Patrol)
• Court or case information, when linked
• Housing location within the jail system

If you see that the person has been “released,” “transferred,” or “out of custody,” they may have posted bond, been moved to another facility, or finished their sentence.

Quick Reference: Where to Start Your Atlanta Inmate Search

Use this simple guide to decide which agency to check first:

If you are unsure what happened, start with Fulton County Jail, then contact the Atlanta City Detention Center.

What If You Can’t Find the Person in Any Inmate Lookup?

If your Atlanta inmate search shows nothing, several things could be going on:

• They haven’t been booked yet (recent arrest, still in transit or processing).
• They were released on citation or signature bond and never fully booked into jail.
• They were transferred to another county, state, or federal facility.
• Their name is spelled differently in the system.

➡️ Practical steps:

1. Call the arresting agency, if you know it
   • For example, if Atlanta Police Department (APD) made the arrest, you can ask APD which facility the person was taken to.
2. Check nearby counties
   • If the arrest happened near the county border (like near DeKalb or Cobb), check those jail systems as well.
3. Ask about spelling variations
   • Provide alternate spellings, nicknames, middle names, or date of birth.

Understanding Charges and Bond in Atlanta

When you perform an Atlanta inmate lookup, you will often see:

• Charge descriptions – brief legal names of the offenses
• Bond type – cash bond, surety bond, property bond, or no bond
• Bond amount – the amount required for release while the case is pending

How bond generally works in Atlanta-area jails

• If a bond is listed, the person may be able to be released once the bond is paid or posted.
• If it says “no bond”, they usually must remain in custody until a judge changes the bond or the case is resolved.
• Bond rules and amounts can depend on:
  • Type of charge (misdemeanor vs felony)
  • Criminal history
  • Judge’s discretion

For specific questions about bond, it can help to:

• Call the jail’s bond information line (if listed)
• Contact the court handling the case (Municipal Court of Atlanta, State Court of Fulton County, or Superior Court of Fulton County, depending on the type of charge)
• Consult an attorney for legal guidance

Visiting and Contacting Inmates in Atlanta

Once your inmate lookup confirms where someone is held, you may want to visit or communicate with them.

Visitation basics (Atlanta area)

Rules vary by facility, but commonly include:

• Approved visitor lists – Inmates may have to list you before you can visit.
• Photo ID required – Driver’s license, state ID, or passport.
• Dress code – Conservative clothing; some items may be prohibited.
• Schedule – Visits are limited to certain days and times, often by housing unit.

Check the current rules directly with:

• Atlanta City Detention Center for city inmates
• Fulton County Jail for county inmates

Policies may change, so always confirm before traveling.

Phone calls and mail

Most Atlanta-area facilities allow:

• Phone calls – Typically collect calls or calls through a contracted phone provider; inmates generally cannot receive incoming calls.
• Mail – Must be addressed correctly and follow the facility’s guidelines (e.g., no contraband, restrictions on photos or materials).

When sending mail, include:

• Inmate’s full legal name
• Booking number or inmate ID
• Name and address of the facility (for example, Fulton County Jail at the Rice Street address)

Atlanta Courts and Case Lookup (Related but Separate)

Finding an inmate is not the same as looking up court cases, but both are connected.

Depending on the type of case, Atlanta-area court records might be found through:

• Municipal Court of Atlanta – For city ordinance and many traffic cases
• State Court of Fulton County – For many misdemeanors and some civil matters
• Superior Court of Fulton County – For felonies and higher-level criminal cases

Many courts offer online case search tools showing:

• Upcoming court dates
• Case status
• Judge assigned
• Basic case history

If your Atlanta inmate lookup shows a case number, you can often plug that number into the related court’s case search to learn more.

Tips to Make Your Atlanta Inmate Search Easier

• ✅ Gather full details first: Full name, date of birth, approximate arrest date, and any known aliases help narrow results.
• ✅ Check both city and county: In Atlanta, people are often moved between the City Detention Center and Fulton County Jail.
• ✅ Be patient with new arrests: It can take several hours before someone appears in an inmate database.
• ✅ Confirm the facility before visiting: Policies and locations can change, so verify by phone the same day you plan to go.
• ✅ Write down booking and case numbers: These numbers make future lookups and court searches much easier.

By understanding how Atlanta inmate lookup works across the Atlanta City Detention Center and Fulton County Jail, you can more quickly find where someone is being held, learn their status, and take the next steps—whether that’s arranging a visit, exploring bond options, or tracking their court case in the Atlanta area.