Atlanta Inmate Search: How to Find Someone in Jail in Atlanta, GA

If you need to locate someone who may be in jail in Atlanta, Georgia, you’re really dealing with two different systems:

1. City of Atlanta / Atlanta City Detention Center (ACDC) – limited and changing use
2. Fulton County Jail system – the main jail for most people arrested in Atlanta

Understanding which agency likely has custody is the key to a fast, accurate Atlanta inmate search.

First Step: Figure Out Which Jail to Search

In the Atlanta area, a person arrested in or around the city might be held in:

• Fulton County Jail (Rice Street) – main county jail
• Fulton County Jail – Union City facility – overflow/annex
• Atlanta City Detention Center (ACDC) – used differently over time, often for short-term or special holds
• Neighboring county jails (DeKalb, Cobb, Clayton) – if arrested in those jurisdictions, not in Atlanta city limits

For most arrests within the City of Atlanta, especially felonies or serious misdemeanors, the person is usually taken to Fulton County Jail.

If you’re unsure which jail applies, start with Fulton County – it’s where many Atlanta-area arrestees are booked and processed.

Main Option: Fulton County Jail Inmate Search

Fulton County Jail Locations

Fulton County Jail (Main / Rice Street)
901 Rice Street NW
Atlanta, GA 30318
Main phone: (404) 613-2000

South Fulton/Union City Jail Annex
6500 Watson Street
Union City, GA 30291
(Operations may change; call Fulton County Sheriff’s Office for current info.)

How the Fulton County Inmate Search Typically Works

Fulton County provides an online inmate lookup and maintains custody records for people arrested in Atlanta who are booked into the county system.

When using the Fulton County inmate search, you can usually search by:

• Full name (or partial name if you’re unsure of spelling)
• Booking number (if known)
• Sometimes date of birth or age range

The search typically provides:

• Full name and booking number
• Current housing location (main jail, annex, etc.)
• Charges listed at booking
• Bond amount, if any
• Arrest date / booking date
• Sometimes court dates or holds

If online tools are unavailable or confusing, you can call Fulton County Jail directly and ask for Inmate Information:

• Fulton County Jail main line: (404) 613-2000
• Fulton County Sheriff’s Office (general): (404) 612-5100

💡 Tip: Have the person’s full legal name and date of birth ready. If the name is common, this helps staff tell you which record is correct.

Atlanta City Detention Center (ACDC) Search

The Atlanta City Detention Center has gone through significant changes in recent years. Its role as a traditional city jail has been reduced and re-evaluated. Still, depending on current policies at the time you’re reading this, it may be used for:

• Short-term detention
• Certain municipal or ordinance cases
• Specialized holds or transfers

Atlanta City Detention Center (ACDC)
254 Peachtree Street SW
Atlanta, GA 30303
Main phone (City of Atlanta Department of Corrections): (404) 865-8001 (or main city information line for up-to-date contacts)

Because the facility’s use can change:

• If someone was arrested specifically by the City of Atlanta Police Department on a city charge, they may have been briefly held at or processed through ACDC.
• Many people are still ultimately transferred to Fulton County Jail for longer-term housing.

To check ACDC:

1. Call the detention center or Department of Corrections and ask for inmate information.
2. Provide name, date of birth, and approximate arrest time.
3. Ask if the person is currently held there or if they’ve been transferred to Fulton County.

Because this facility’s function is evolving, the phone inquiry is often more reliable than assuming someone is housed there long-term.

When the Arrest Was Recently in Downtown or Midtown Atlanta

If you know someone was just arrested in:

• Downtown Atlanta
• Midtown
• Buckhead
• Near major venues (State Farm Arena, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Georgia State, Georgia Tech, airport, etc.)

They will often be:

• Booked by Atlanta Police Department
• Then moved to Fulton County Jail for housing, especially for state-level charges

In the first 2–6 hours after arrest, they might:

• Still be in processing and not yet show up in an online inmate search
• Be in transit between APD precinct, ACDC, and Fulton County Jail

If you search online and do not see them:

• Wait a couple of hours and search again, or
• Call Fulton County Jail and ask if booking is complete yet

Quick Comparison: Where to Search and Who to Call

Below is a simple reference to help you decide your next step.

Using Atlanta Police and Court Information Alongside Inmate Search

Sometimes, to understand what’s going on, you’ll want more than just custody status.

Atlanta Police Department (APD)

If you saw or know about an arrest but can’t find the person in any jail:

• They may still be in intake,
• They may have been released on citation, or
• The paperwork may not yet be in the online system.

You can contact Atlanta Police Department (non-emergency) for general guidance:

• APD Non-Emergency: (404) 614-6544
• For emergency or in-progress crime: 911

APD usually won’t give detailed personal case info, but they may confirm which agency or jail is handling a particular arrest type.

Fulton County Courts

For people booked into Fulton County Jail, their charges and court dates will typically run through:

• Fulton County State Court (many misdemeanors)
• Fulton County Superior Court (felonies and more serious offenses)
• In some cases, Atlanta Municipal Court for city violation matters

If you want to track court dates, case numbers, or judge assignments, you can search Fulton County court records or call the appropriate clerk’s office. This is separate from the jail’s inmate search, but both sets of information help you understand the person’s situation.

What Information You’ll Need for an Atlanta Inmate Search

Having precise information makes your search faster and more accurate. You’ll usually be asked for:

• Full legal name (first, middle, last if possible)
• Date of birth
• Approximate date of arrest
• If available, booking number, case number, or citation number

If you only know a nickname or a common first/last name, staff may have difficulty confirming the correct record. Be ready to provide anything else that helps distinguish the person, such as:

• Approximate age
• Gender
• Any distinctive spellings of their name

Bond, Release, and Next Steps After You Find the Inmate

Locating someone in an Atlanta or Fulton County facility is usually just the first step. Once you find them, you’ll want to understand:

1. Bond and Release Options

From the Fulton County Jail listing, look for:

• Bond amount (if one is set)
• Type of bond (cash, surety, recognizance, etc.)
• No bond or hold notes, which mean bond isn’t currently available

Common next actions:

• Contact the jail for bonding procedures and accepted payment methods
• Contact a licensed bail bonding company in Fulton County (if you choose to use one)
• Ask the jail about first appearance or bond hearing schedules if no bond is set yet

2. Communication: Phone Calls and Visits

Once you confirm where the person is being held:

• Ask about phone options, such as prepaid accounts or call schedules
• Ask about visitation rules, which can include:
  • Dress code
  • Visit length and frequency
  • Check-in times
  • Whether visits are in-person or video-only

Rules can differ between Fulton County Jail and any annex facilities, so be sure you know exactly where the person is housed.

Common Issues and How to Handle Them

The person doesn’t show up in any Atlanta or Fulton County search

Possibilities include:

• They were released quickly after arrest.
• They were transferred to a different county or state facility.
• Their name was entered with a different spelling.
• Booking has not yet been fully processed.

What you can do:

1. Verify the exact name and spelling.
2. Check surrounding counties if you suspect the arrest wasn’t strictly in Atlanta.
3. Call Fulton County Jail and Atlanta City Detention Center directly.
4. If you know the arresting agency (e.g., Atlanta Police, MARTA Police, Georgia State Patrol), contact that agency’s non-emergency line for guidance.

The online info seems out of date

Online inmate listings may not update in real time. If:

• You know the person went to court, or
• You heard they were transferred or released,

but the website doesn’t yet show it, call the jail directly and ask for the most current status.

Special Situations in Atlanta Inmate Searches

Juveniles

Juveniles are generally not held in the same facilities or listed in the same public inmate search systems as adults.

If you’re trying to locate a minor:

• Contact the Fulton County Juvenile Court or related juvenile justice offices.
• Be prepared that information may be more restricted due to privacy rules.

Medical or Mental Health Concerns

If you’re worried about the health or safety of someone in custody:

• After confirming where they’re held, call the jail and ask how to submit a welfare concern or request a wellness check.
• Be specific about your concerns (for example, known medical conditions, medications, or safety risks) so staff know what to look for.

Key Takeaways for an Atlanta Inmate Search

• Start with Fulton County Jail for most Atlanta arrests on state charges.
• Use the person’s full name and date of birth for the most accurate search.
• Consider ACDC for limited, city-related or short-term holds, but expect many arrestees to move quickly to Fulton County.
• If online tools don’t help, call the jail directly and ask for Inmate Information.
• Once you find the person, check bond, charges, and housing location, and then follow up with the appropriate court or jail for next steps.

This approach will give you the clearest, most practical path to locating and understanding the status of an inmate in Atlanta, Georgia.