Find Released Inmates in Polk County

Polk County released inmates records are managed by the Sheriff's Office in Cedartown. Search jail rosters, check booking logs, and access inmate data through local and state resources.

Polk County Sheriff Office Inmate Search

The Polk County Sheriff's Office runs the jail in Cedartown and is the primary source for released inmates records in this area of northwest Georgia. With a population of around 42,000, Polk County is mid-sized and processes a steady flow of bookings each year. The sheriff's staff handle all intake, booking, and release operations at the county jail. Every arrest that happens in Polk County goes through this facility.

You can reach the Polk County Sheriff's Office by phone to check on an inmate's status. Staff can tell you if someone is currently held or has been released. They keep booking logs that show names, charges, bond amounts, and release dates. This data is public under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, Georgia's Open Records Act. You have the right to see it.

Cedartown is the main city in Polk County. The Cedartown Police Department also makes arrests, but everyone they book goes to the same county jail. So all Polk County released inmates records end up in one place, no matter which agency made the arrest. That keeps things simple when you are trying to track someone down.

The state Department of Corrections portal helps track Polk County inmates who went to state prison after their county jail stay.

Released Inmates Records in Polk County

A booking record is created every time someone enters the Polk County jail. The record includes the person's full name, date of birth, physical description, charges, arresting agency, and bond information. When the inmate is released, the date and reason for release get added. These records stay in the system even after the person leaves custody. They become the released inmates records that people search for.

Polk County sits in the Tallapoosa Judicial Circuit along with Haralson and Paulding counties. Court cases tied to Polk County arrests move through this circuit. If you need court records on top of jail records, the clerk of court in Cedartown handles those files. Booking records and court records are two different things, though they often overlap for the same person.

Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72, most booking and release records from the Polk County jail are public. There are exemptions for things like ongoing investigations or sealed juvenile records. But the standard booking log is open to anyone who asks for it. The sheriff's office cannot deny a valid open records request without citing a specific legal exemption.

Online Lookup Tools for Polk County

Third-party jail roster sites often carry Polk County data. These sites pull from public booking logs and list inmates by name, charge, and date. Some show current inmates only, while others keep records of released inmates too. The data can lag behind the sheriff's own records by a day or so, but it is a good starting point for online searches.

The Georgia Department of Corrections at gdc.georgia.gov has a free offender search. It covers state prison inmates. If someone from Polk County was sentenced to prison and moved out of the county jail, you can find them in this system. The search at gdc.georgia.gov/offender-info/find-offender shows release dates, parole status, and current facility for state inmates. County jail records are not in this system.

For a full criminal history check that spans all of Georgia, the GBI runs background checks under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37. This is a paid service. You submit a request through gbi.georgia.gov and get a report that covers arrests and convictions statewide, not just Polk County. It takes more time and costs money, but it gives you the most complete picture.

State Resources for Polk County Searches

The Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles at pap.georgia.gov handles parole for state inmates. O.C.G.A. § 42-9-53 gives the board authority over parole decisions. If a Polk County inmate went to state prison and got paroled, this board made that call. You can look up parole information through the board's website.

The Department of Community Supervision at dcs.georgia.gov keeps track of everyone on probation or parole in Georgia. That includes people from Polk County. If a released inmate is under community supervision, DCS is the agency that monitors them. Their site has information about how supervision works and where local offices are.

For open records requests on state inmates who came from Polk County, use the GDC portal at gdc.georgia.gov/contact-us/open-records-request. This is separate from the county request process. State and county records are kept by different agencies. You may need to contact both if someone spent time in the Polk County jail and then went to a state facility.

How to Request Polk County Inmate Records

Contact the Polk County Sheriff's Office in Cedartown to start your records request. Phone calls work for quick questions about whether someone is in jail or has been released. For official copies of booking records, file an open records request in writing. Include the inmate's full name, date of birth, and what documents you want.

Mail your request to the Polk County Sheriff's Office in Cedartown, GA 30125. You can also drop it off in person. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, the office has three business days to respond. They will tell you the cost for copies before they pull the records. Fees are usually low for simple booking record requests. Larger requests that cover many records or long time periods may cost more.

Walk-in requests are practical for Polk County. The sheriff's office in Cedartown is the only stop you need. Bring an ID and tell the front desk what you are looking for. For current inmates, they can check the system on the spot. For released inmates records going back months or years, a written request gives the staff time to pull everything together.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Polk County in northwest Georgia. Each has its own jail and manages its own released inmates records.