Georgia State Prisons
72 facilities- Athens-Clarke County Corrections Department
- Decatur County GA Prison
- Effingham County GA Prison
- Floyd County GA Correctional Institution
- GDC-Albany Transitional Center (TC)
Federal Facilities in Georgia
2 facilitiesGeorgia County Jails
155 facilities- Appling County Detention Center
- Athens-Clarke County GA Jail
- Atkinson County Jail
- Bacon County Jail
- Baker County GA Jail
ICE Detention Centers
3 facilitiesGeorgia Department of Corrections
The GDC Public Offender Query searches by GDC number or name. Georgia has 159 counties - one of the highest county counts of any state - creating significant variation in jail conditions and policies across local facilities.
The official inmate search is available at gdc.georgia.gov/public-offender-query. FCI Jesup and FCI Talladega are frequently used for Georgia federal inmates.
Visitation in Georgia Facilities
GDC visitor approval requires a completed GDC Visitor Application submitted to the facility. Processing takes 3 - 4 weeks. Background checks required for adult visitors. Georgia has 159 county jails with varying visitor policies - contact each county jail directly.
Always confirm visiting schedules directly with the facility before traveling. Find specific visitation rules on each facility's page in our Georgia prison directory.
Sending Mail to Georgia Inmates
Georgia GDC mail requires the inmate's GDC number. Standard 4x6 photos accepted. Georgia's 159 county jails vary significantly in mail policies - some use Smart Communications, others accept physical mail. Verify county jail mail policies individually.
InmateAid delivers letters and photos, postcards, and magazines to Georgia facilities. Want to receive letters without sharing your home address? Our Letters From Inmates service scans and delivers inmate mail to your account.
Phone Calls from Georgia Facilities
Georgia is not currently among the states that offer free inmate phone calls. Securus Technologies holds the GDC contract for most state facilities.
Following the FCC's Martha Wright-Reed Order (effective April 6, 2026), per-minute rates for inmate calls are now federally capped at state and federal facilities. Find current carrier and rate information on each facility's page in our Georgia prison directory.
Sending Money to Georgia Inmates
Commissary funds let inmates purchase approved items from the facility store. Primary money transfer options for Georgia:
- JPay (primary for GDC state facilities)
- Tiger Commissary (some facilities)
- Money orders at county jails - policies vary
- Lobby kiosks at some county jails
See our Send Money guide or navigate to the specific facility page for current provider information.
Reentry Resources in Georgia
Planning for release is one of the most important things a family can do. These organizations provide support in Georgia:
- Georgia DOC Reentry - Official GDC reentry programs
- Georgia Legal Services Program - Free civil legal help across Georgia
- Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation - Legal services in metro Atlanta
- Prison Reform Trust Georgia - Georgia-focused criminal justice reform
Frequently Asked Questions About Georgia Prisons
What is a GDC number?
GDC stands for Georgia Department of Corrections - the state agency that manages Georgia's sentenced prison population. Every person sentenced to Georgia state prison is assigned a unique GDC number at intake, and that number stays with them through their entire sentence regardless of transfers. The GDC number must appear on all mail sent to a GDC facility - mail without it is routinely delayed or returned. Find your inmate's GDC number through the GDC Public Offender Query at gdc.georgia.gov, or ask your inmate to give it to you during a call. It also appears on court commitment documents and all official GDC correspondence. Keep it easily accessible - you'll need it for mail, JPay deposits, visitor applications, and any time you contact GDC or the facility directly.
Why does Georgia have so many county jails?
Georgia has 159 counties - one of the highest county-to-area ratios of any US state, a legacy of 19th-century political decisions designed to ensure no Georgian lived more than a day's horseback ride from a county seat. Each county operates its own jail for pretrial detainees and sentences under one year, creating enormous variation in conditions, mail policies, phone providers, visitation rules, and commissary vendors across the state. A family member in Fulton County Jail in Atlanta operates under completely different rules than someone in a small rural county jail in south Georgia. Before sending mail or money, or planning a visit to any county facility, always call that specific county jail for their current policies - never assume what works in one Georgia county applies elsewhere.
Does Georgia have free prison phone calls?
No - Georgia has not eliminated phone call fees at GDC state facilities. Securus Technologies holds the GDC contract for most state prisons. The FCC's April 2026 rate caps reduced per-minute rates at state facilities from historical levels, but calls are still charged per minute. Georgia county jails use their own carriers with their own rate structures - Fulton County Jail in Atlanta, for example, operates under a completely separate contract from GDC. Phone costs in Georgia's correctional system have historically been a significant financial burden for families, particularly for those with loved ones in county jails that are not covered by the federal rate caps.
What is Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison?
Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison in Jackson, Butts County, is the primary intake and classification facility for the Georgia DOC system - the first place all men sentenced to Georgia state prison go. At GDCP, staff assess security needs, medical and mental health requirements, educational background, and program needs before assigning a permanent facility. GDCP also houses Georgia's death row. If your family member was recently sentenced to state prison, they are likely at GDCP temporarily - this is normal and does not indicate they will stay there. The permanent facility assignment typically happens within several weeks of arrival. Jackson is about 60 miles south of Atlanta. Your inmate will be able to tell you where they're being transferred as soon as the assignment is made.
How do I find out which county jail someone is in?
If your person was recently arrested, start with the county where the arrest occurred - contact that county sheriff's office directly. Most Georgia county sheriff offices maintain online inmate rosters updated daily, and you can find contact information through the county's official government website. The GDC offender search covers only sentenced state prison inmates and will not show a pretrial detainee. For people who have been convicted and sentenced to state prison, use the GDC Public Offender Query at gdc.georgia.gov. For federal cases, use the BOP inmate locator at bop.gov. Between the county sheriff, GDC, and BOP, you should be able to locate your person regardless of which system they're in.
Can I visit someone at a Georgia county jail?
Yes, but the process and rules vary significantly between Georgia's 159 county jails. Each operates independently under the county sheriff with no statewide standard. Larger jails - Fulton, Gwinnett, Cobb, DeKalb - often have online visitor registration systems and may offer video visitation as well as in-person visits. Smaller rural county jails may require you to appear in person to be added to a visitor list, or may have only certain visiting hours each week. Most Georgia county jails now offer at least some form of video visitation. Call the specific county jail directly before planning any visit - ask about visiting hours, the application process, dress code, ID requirements, and whether video visits are an option.