Search Georgia Released Inmates
Georgia released inmates records come from two main sources. The Georgia Department of Corrections holds files on all state prison inmates. County sheriff offices keep jail records too. That covers all 159 counties in Georgia. You can search for released inmates through free online tools, open records requests, or by phone. The state runs an offender search for anyone who has done time in a GDC facility. It lets you look up released inmates by name or ID. County jails post their own rosters and booking data as well. Most of these sites update each day, so the released inmate info you find in Georgia stays fairly current.
Georgia Released Inmates Quick Facts
Georgia Department of Corrections Inmate Search
The Georgia Department of Corrections is the main source for released inmates data in the state. GDC runs 35 state prisons. It tracks close to 60,000 inmates. The agency also keeps tabs on more than 150,000 people on probation. GDC is one of the largest prison systems in the country with about 15,000 staff members. Their mission is to protect the public by running secure facilities and giving inmates a chance at change.
You can find a released inmate through the Find an Offender page on the GDC site. This tool lets you search by name, ID number, or case number. You can also search by physical traits like gender, race, and age range. Filter results to show active inmates, past inmates, or both. Photos show up when they are on file. The search is free to use and runs around the clock. GDC warns that the info may not be fully up to date, and they ask users to verify facts through written contact with their Inmate Records office at P.O. Box 1529, Forsyth, GA 31029. Call (404) 656-4661 if you have questions about a released inmate in Georgia.
If you can not find someone, try using only the first four letters of their last name and set the search to return all inmates instead of just active ones. GDC does not publish records of people who finished their sentence under Georgia's First Offender Act per O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72.
How to Find Released Inmates in Georgia
There are several ways to search for released inmates in Georgia. The fastest is the GDC online offender search. It is free. It works any time of day. You just need a name or ID to start. For county jail records, check the sheriff office website for that county. Many post a daily jail roster that lists who is in and who got out. Some use tools from InteropWeb or Southern Software that show booking data in real time.
The GDC FAQ page has tips for searching. If the tool keeps sending you back to the disclaimer page, you may need to turn on cookies in your browser. GDC uses a cookie to make the search work right, and it goes away when you close the browser. You do not need to sign up for an account to run a search for released inmates in Georgia. The results will show the inmate's name, GDC ID, facility, sentence, and projected release date when that data is on file.
For inmates not in state prison, check with the county jail. Each of the 159 counties in Georgia has its own jail run by the sheriff office. These jails hold people who are awaiting trial or serving short sentences. Released inmates from county jails may not show up in the GDC search. You will need to go to that county's site or call the jail for that info.
Georgia Parole and Pardon Records
The Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles handles parole status for released inmates in the state. They have two main search tools. The Inmate TPM Lookup shows the tentative parole month for someone still in prison. The Parolee Database lets you search for people who are already on parole. You need the inmate's six-digit number, GDC ID, or personal data to search.
Parole files in Georgia are not fully open to the public. Under O.C.G.A. § 42-9-53, all records the Board gets in the course of its work are classified as confidential state secrets until they decide to release them. People in prison do not have a legal right to see their own parole file. Two types of items are not treated as secret though: records that were already public when the Board got them (like court files) and contacts made to the Board in support of parole. Be aware of fraud too. No one should ever pay for parole help. If someone asks for money, call the fraud line at 404-657-9450 or email GaParoleBoard@pap.ga.gov.
Open Records for Georgia Released Inmates
Georgia's Open Records Act gives the public a right to inspect most government records. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, any person can ask for records. You do not need a reason. The right belongs to everyone. This applies to released inmates data held by GDC and county agencies in Georgia.
To submit a request, use the GDC Open Records Request Portal. GDC has three business days to give you a first response. Copies of non-medical records cost $0.10 per page. The fee for search and redaction work is billed at the hourly rate of the lowest paid staff member who can do the job. Some records are off limits. Offender files, disciplinary reports, housing info, phone call data, and security details are exempt from public release. Medical and mental health records need a HIPAA consent form.
County sheriff offices handle their own open records requests for local jail data. Contact the sheriff office in the county where the inmate was held. Most take requests by phone, mail, or email. Some counties have online portals. Response times and fees vary by county across Georgia.
Georgia Released Inmates Reports
GDC puts out annual reports on released inmates called the Profile of Inmate Releases. These go back to fiscal year 2000. Each report has about ninety pages of data on the inmates who left state prison that year. The stats cover age, race, education, criminal history, and health info. Both male and female inmates are in each report. The latest one covers FY 2025.
These reports are free to download as PDFs from the GDC site. They are a good source if you want big picture data on released inmates in Georgia rather than info on one person. Researchers, journalists, and public policy groups use this data often. The numbers can show trends in who is getting out, what crimes they served time for, and how long they were in.
County Jail Released Inmates in Georgia
County jails are not the same as state prisons. Jails hold people before trial or for short sentences, usually under one year. State prisons hold people with longer terms. When someone is released from a county jail in Georgia, the sheriff office keeps those records. Each of the 159 counties runs its own jail. The GDC Facility Search can help you find contact info for state and county facilities across Georgia.
VINELink is a free service that lets you track an offender's custody status in Georgia. You can sign up for alerts by phone, email, or text when an inmate is released or transferred.
VINELink covers jails and prisons across Georgia. You can search by name or offender ID to get current status info.
Related Georgia Released Inmates Resources
The Georgia Department of Community Supervision tracks people on probation and other community programs after release. If a released inmate in Georgia is on probation instead of parole, this agency has their records. They took over probation duties from GDC and handle supervision across the state.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation runs the state criminal history records and the Sex Offender Registry. Under O.C.G.A. § 42-1-12, GBI maintains a public list of sex offenders. You can search by name, address, or county. GBI also runs background checks through the Georgia Crime Information Center. These records may show if a released inmate in Georgia has a broader criminal history beyond what one county or facility reports.
For federal inmates who were held in Georgia, use the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator. ICE has its own detainee locator for non-citizens aged 18 and up. Between all of these agencies, there are many paths to find released inmates records in Georgia.
Browse Georgia Released Inmates by County
Each county in Georgia has a sheriff office that keeps jail records, including data on released inmates. Pick a county below to find local resources and search tools.
Released Inmates in Major Georgia Cities
City arrests go through the county jail system. Pick a city below to learn about released inmates resources in that area of Georgia.