How to Find Someone in a Georgia State Prison: 3 Official Ways (online, phone, records request)
Need to locate someone in a Georgia state prison? The Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) gives you a few official ways to do it. Here are the three options families use most, from fastest to most detailed.
The GDC provides three main ways to find an inmate in Georgia. The online offender search is the quickest. The inmate locator phone line works when you can't get online. And a formal request to Central Records is the way to go when you need detailed documentation.
The GDC online offender query is the main self-serve option. You can search by the person's name, their GDC ID number, or a case number. Results can include arrest records, mugshots, and sentencing records. This tool also works for locating someone held at Arrendale State Prison.
Tip: If you have a GDC ID number, use it. It's the cleanest way to pull up the right person, especially when the name is common.
Prefer to search by phone? GDC offers an inmate locator phone service at 404-656-4661. Have the inmate's name or GDC ID number ready so the person helping you can look them up quickly.
Good to know: The phone line is a solid backup when you can't access the online query. Having the correct spelling of the name (or the GDC ID) speeds things up.
Need detailed inmate records from GDC? The official route is a formal records request. You'll fill out a request form and send it to the GDC Central Records Unit. This goes beyond the basic info you'd get from the locator tools.
- ✓ Completed inmate records request form
- ✓ Inmate’s full name (as you know it)
- ✓ GDC ID number (if you have it)
- ✓ Case number (if you have it)
- ✓ Your contact information so Central Records can respond
If you just need to find where someone is housed, start with the GDC online offender query or the phone service. For official, detailed records, go through the Central Records request process. One thing to watch for: double-check that you have the right person before moving forward. Common names can lead to mix-ups. Matching the name to a GDC ID number or case number helps confirm you're looking at the correct record.
If your search shows a match at Arrendale State Prison and you need to follow up, call Arrendale's administrative line at 706-776-4700. It's a straightforward way to confirm you're working from the right information before taking next steps.
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