Atlanta Jails: How They Work, Where They Are, and What to Expect

If you search for “Atlanta jail”, you could be looking for someone in custody, trying to understand where a loved one might be held, or figuring out how the local system works. Atlanta is covered by city, county, and federal facilities, which can be confusing if you are not familiar with the area.

This guide walks through the main Atlanta-area jails, how to find someone, visiting basics, and what residents and visitors should know about the local jail system.

Key Types of Jails in the Atlanta Area

In and around Atlanta, people can be held in several different facilities:

• City of Atlanta jail (municipal level)
• County jails (Fulton County, DeKalb County, etc.)
• Regional and federal detention centers

Knowing which agency made the arrest usually points you to the correct jail.

1. City of Atlanta (Municipal) Jail

Historically, the Atlanta City Detention Center (ACDC) has been used to hold people arrested by the Atlanta Police Department (APD) for city ordinance violations and some state charges within city limits. In recent years, Atlanta has been reevaluating and changing how the facility is used, so its role can shift over time.

People arrested by APD may:

• Be briefly held at a city facility or intake location
• Be transferred to Fulton County Jail or another county facility
• Be released on bond or citation

Because policies and usage of the city jail can change, it’s important to confirm where someone is being held by checking county inmate searches and contacting the arresting agency if needed.

2. Fulton County Jail (Main County Facility)

Most people think of Fulton County Jail when they think of “Atlanta jail,” because much of the City of Atlanta lies within Fulton County.

Fulton County Jail – Rice Street

• Address: 901 Rice St NW, Atlanta, GA 30318
• Main phone (central line): (404) 613-2000 (menu and departments vary)

Fulton County Jail typically houses:

• People arrested on state charges within Fulton County
• People awaiting trial in Fulton County Superior or State Court
• Some individuals picked up on warrants or probation violations

Fulton County also operates additional detention facilities and annexes, but Rice Street is the main jail associated with Atlanta in public conversation.

3. DeKalb County Jail

Parts of Atlanta extend into DeKalb County, including areas on the east side of the city. If someone is arrested by a law enforcement agency operating in DeKalb County, they may be taken to the DeKalb County Jail.

DeKalb County Jail

• Address: 4415 Memorial Dr, Decatur, GA 30032
• Main phone: (404) 298-8145

If you know the arrest happened in east Atlanta, Kirkwood, East Lake, or other areas near the county line, it’s worth checking DeKalb’s facility as well.

4. Federal Detention Center, Atlanta (FDC Atlanta)

People charged with federal crimes or held on federal matters may be housed at:

Federal Detention Center, Atlanta (FDC)

• Address: 601 McDonough Blvd SE, Atlanta, GA 30315
• Main phone (Bureau of Prisons general line for the facility): commonly listed by the BOP; you can verify the current number directly with the facility or the Bureau of Prisons

This is a federal facility, separate from city and county jails.

Quick Reference: Major Atlanta-Area Jails

How to Find Out Where Someone Is Being Held

If you think someone is in an Atlanta-area jail, using a step-by-step approach helps narrow it down.

Step 1: Identify the Arresting Agency

If you know who made the arrest, that’s your best starting point:

• Atlanta Police Department (APD)
• Fulton County Sheriff’s Office
• DeKalb County Police Department / Sheriff’s Office
• Georgia State Patrol operating in the Atlanta area
• Federal agencies (FBI, DEA, etc.) for federal matters

You can often find the arresting agency from:

• A call from the person arrested
• A court notice or citation
• Information relayed by witnesses or family members

Step 2: Search the Correct County Jail

For most local arrests, people are held in a county jail:

• Arrest in most of Atlanta / Fulton County → check Fulton County Jail
• Arrest in Atlanta neighborhoods within DeKalb County or nearby areas → check DeKalb County Jail

Both Fulton and DeKalb typically provide:

• Inmate search tools (online lookups by name or booking number)
• Phone options to speak with jail information or records staff

When you call, have as much information ready as possible:

• Full legal name
• Approximate date of birth
• Approximate time and place of arrest

Step 3: Consider Federal Custody

If you believe the arrest involved federal charges, you may need to:

• Contact the Federal Detention Center (FDC) Atlanta
• Use the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) inmate locator by name or registration number

Note: People newly arrested on federal charges may not appear in federal systems immediately; sometimes they are temporarily held in local jails under contract.

What to Know About Visiting an Atlanta Jail

If someone you know is being held at an Atlanta-area jail, visitation rules are strict and differ by facility. Always verify current policies directly with the jail before planning a visit.

Common Requirements

Across most local jails, you can expect:

• Photo ID: A valid government-issued ID (driver’s license, state ID, or passport)
• Dress code: No revealing clothing, offensive wording, gang-related items, or excessive accessories
• Security screening: Metal detectors and bag checks; no weapons, phones, or personal items allowed inside secure areas
• Age limits: Minors often must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian

Scheduling Visits

Depending on the facility, visitation might be:

• In-person (non-contact or contact) on certain days/times
• Video visitation from a kiosk at the jail or remotely from home, if available

For each jail, confirm:

• How to register as a visitor (online or in person)
• Whether visits must be scheduled in advance
• How long each visit typically lasts
• Limits on number of visits per week or number of visitors per session

🚩 Tip: Before traveling to the jail, call ahead or check official information to confirm visiting hours, rules, and whether the person is eligible for visits (some housing units or disciplinary statuses limit visitation).

Phone Calls and Communication

People held in jail around Atlanta generally cannot receive incoming calls, but they can usually:

• Make collect calls to landlines and some mobile phones
• Use prepaid phone accounts set up through an approved service provider
• Send and receive mail, and sometimes email or messaging through a jail-approved system

If you want to stay in contact:

• Ask the person (when they call) which phone service the facility uses
• Follow the instructions to set up an account, if offered
• Make sure your phone can accept collect or prepaid calls

Keep in mind:

• All calls are typically monitored and recorded
• Call times may be limited or blocked during lockdowns or head counts

Bond, Bail, and Release From an Atlanta Jail

After an arrest in Atlanta, many people are eligible for bond (bail), which allows release from jail while the case moves through the court system.

Types of Bonds You May Encounter

In Atlanta-area courts, common bond types include:

• Cash bond: Pay the full amount in cash (or equivalent).
• Surety bond: A bonding company posts the bond for a fee.
• Property bond: Real estate equity is used to secure the bond (requirements are stricter).
• Signature or recognizance bond (ROR): The person is released based on a promise to appear, sometimes with conditions.

Exact options depend on:

• The charges
• The person’s history (prior arrests, failures to appear)
• Any written bond schedule or judge’s order

Where Bond Is Handled

• If the person is in Fulton County Jail, bond is usually handled through the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office and the relevant Fulton County court (State, Superior, or Municipal).
• If in DeKalb County Jail, look to the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office and DeKalb courts.
• For federal cases at FDC Atlanta, bond decisions are made by federal judges, and the process is different from local courts.

You can generally:

• Get bond information from jail staff or online inmate details
• Pay bond at designated bonding windows or court clerk offices, during set hours

Property, Money, and Commissary

When someone is booked into an Atlanta-area jail, their personal property is usually taken, logged, and stored until release, and they are given a jail uniform.

Adding Money to a Jail Account

Most jails in the Atlanta region allow you to add funds to an inmate’s trust account, which can be used for:

• Commissary (snacks, hygiene items, writing materials)
• Certain fees or services, depending on the facility

Ways to add money typically include:

• On-site kiosks in the jail lobby
• Online deposits through a contracted service
• Mail-in options, where permitted

Always verify:

• Approved payment methods (cash, card, money order)
• Deposit limits and processing times
• Any fees the service provider charges

Picking Up or Releasing Property

Rules vary by facility but commonly include:

• The inmate may have to authorize property release in writing
• The person picking up property must show valid photo ID
• Certain items (e.g., evidence) may not be released while the case is active

Ask jail staff or check official information for:

• Property release hours
• Required forms or approvals

Courts Connected to Atlanta Jails

Where someone is held is closely tied to which court is handling the case.

Common Courts Involved

• Atlanta Municipal Court: City ordinance violations, some traffic offenses within the city limits
• Fulton County State Court: Many misdemeanors and some traffic cases in Fulton County
• Fulton County Superior Court: Felonies and more serious matters in Fulton County
• DeKalb County State and Superior Courts: Similar roles within DeKalb County
• U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia: Federal cases (often tied to FDC Atlanta)

Court appearance information can often be found through:

• Online court case search systems (by name or case number)
• Contacting the clerk of court
• Information provided by jail staff or on inmate records

If You’re Visiting or New to Atlanta

For visitors or new residents, Atlanta’s overlapping city and county boundaries can cause confusion:

• A person arrested in “Atlanta” might be in Fulton County, DeKalb County, or in some situations, another nearby county if the arrest occurred just outside the city limits.
• Some neighborhoods with an Atlanta mailing address are legally outside the City of Atlanta and fall under different jurisdictions.

If you only know “arrested in Atlanta,” start by:

1. Checking Fulton County Jail
2. Checking DeKalb County Jail if the arrest occurred on the east side or near that county
3. Clarifying with the arresting agency if you can identify it

Practical Checklist When Dealing With an Atlanta Jail

Use this quick list to stay organized:

• ✅ Confirm the arresting agency (APD, county sheriff, federal, etc.)
• ✅ Check Fulton County Jail if you’re unsure where in Atlanta the arrest occurred
• ✅ Check DeKalb County Jail for eastside or DeKalb-based arrests
• ✅ Have full name and date of birth ready when you call or search
• ✅ Verify visiting rules and hours before going in person
• ✅ Ask about bond amount and bond type (cash, surety, etc.)
• ✅ Learn how to add funds to the inmate’s account if you plan to support them
• ✅ Keep track of court dates and the court handling the case

Staying calm, collecting accurate information, and contacting the correct facility or court makes dealing with the Atlanta jail system much more manageable for both residents and visitors.