DeKalb County Recent Arrest Records Search

DeKalb County recent arrests are tracked through the Sheriff's Office in Decatur, Georgia. With a population near 764,000, this is one of the most active counties in the state for jail bookings and inmate processing. You can search for arrest records, check on current inmates, and look up warrants through the DeKalb County Sheriff and the county's online inmate lookup portal. The jail sits at the main headquarters on Memorial Drive, and the office takes calls, walk-in requests, and formal open records filings for anyone who needs arrest data from DeKalb County.

DeKalb County Sheriff and Recent Arrest Records

Sheriff Melody Maddox runs the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office. This office handles the jail, serves warrants, and keeps arrest records for the whole county. The main office and jail are both at the same spot on Memorial Drive in Decatur. When someone gets booked into the DeKalb County jail, the Sheriff's Office creates an arrest record that goes into the system. That record stays on file and can be pulled up through a search or a formal records request.

The DeKalb County Sheriff website is where most people start when they need arrest data. It links to the inmate search tool, open records forms, and contact info for each unit in the office. The site also has details about jail programs and how to reach an inmate by phone or mail. For general questions about recent arrests in DeKalb County, the main line is 404-298-8111. The jail has its own hotline at 404-298-8145 that runs during business hours.

You can reach the Sheriff's Office at this location for arrest records and inmate questions in DeKalb County.

How to Look Up DeKalb County Recent Arrests

The main way to search for recent arrests in DeKalb County is through the online inmate lookup portal. This tool is run by Tyler Technologies and gives you real-time data on who is in the jail right now. You can search by name, booking date, or charge type. The results show the person's name, booking photo, charges, bond amount, and when they were brought in. It is free to use and does not need an account.

Go to the DeKalb County inmate lookup portal to start a search. Type in a first or last name and hit search. The tool pulls up all matches from the jail system. Each result links to a full detail page with the charges, court dates, and bond info. This is the fastest way to check on recent arrests in DeKalb County without calling the jail or going in person.

If the person you are looking for is no longer in custody, the online tool may not show them. Older arrest records in DeKalb County can be found through an open records request or through the state court system. The Georgia E-Access court records portal has case data from courts all over the state, and you can search for DeKalb County cases there too. For state-level criminal history, the Georgia Crime Information Center keeps records that go back years.

Note: The inmate lookup shows current jail inmates and may not include those released in the last 24 hours.

DeKalb County Recent Arrest Record Requests

Georgia law gives you the right to ask for arrest records. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72, most law enforcement records are open to the public. This includes arrest reports, booking data, and incident reports from the DeKalb County Sheriff. There are some limits on what can be shared, but the basic facts of an arrest are almost always public. The name, charge, date, and booking info are all things you can get through a records request in DeKalb County.

The DeKalb County Sheriff open records page has the form and instructions you need. Fill out the request and send it to the office. The direct line for open records is 404-298-8171. Staff will tell you the cost, if any, and how long it will take. Most simple requests get filled in a few business days. More complex pulls that need a lot of pages or cover a long time range can take longer in DeKalb County.

Booking photos are handled differently in DeKalb County. They are available to news organizations that sign a formal agreement with the Sheriff's Office. This is in line with Georgia law on mugshot access. The general public may not always get booking photos through a standard request, so call the open records line to ask about what is available for your specific case in DeKalb County.

Warrants and Fugitive Searches in DeKalb County Recent Arrests

The Warrants Unit in DeKalb County handles outstanding arrest warrants. Call 404-298-8200 to check if someone has an active warrant. The Fugitive Unit, which can be reached at 404-298-8402, tracks down people who have fled or failed to appear in court. Both units work out of the main Sheriff's Office on Memorial Drive in Decatur. If you think you may have a warrant in DeKalb County, it is best to call and check rather than wait for a traffic stop or other contact with law enforcement.

Under O.C.G.A. § 17-4-27, an officer can make an arrest based on a valid warrant anywhere in the state. This means a DeKalb County warrant can lead to an arrest in any other Georgia county. Warrant data also feeds into the state and national databases, so it can come up during routine checks at traffic stops, border crossings, or background screenings. Getting a warrant cleared in DeKalb County before it causes problems is always the best course of action.

The Sex Offender Unit, also called SORT, works under the DeKalb County Sheriff as well. Daytime calls go to 404-298-8397. At night, call 404-298-8200. This unit tracks registered sex offenders in the county and handles compliance checks. For a broader search of sex offenders statewide, the Georgia Felon Search tool lets you look up offenders by name or location.

Georgia Arrest Records for DeKalb County

Several state-level tools can help you find arrest records that involve DeKalb County. The Georgia Crime Information Center, run by the GBI, is the main state database for criminal history records. A formal background check through GCIC will show arrests from DeKalb County and every other county in the state. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, anyone can request a criminal history report for a fee, and employers can get more detailed results with the person's consent.

The Georgia Department of Corrections offender search is another tool worth checking. It shows people who are currently in state prison or on probation. If someone was arrested in DeKalb County and later sent to a state facility, their record will show up here. The tool is free and lets you search by name or GDC ID number.

Court records from DeKalb County can also be searched through re:SearchGA, which is a statewide portal for court case data. It covers civil and criminal cases from many Georgia counties. For a full list of sheriff offices across the state, the Georgia Sheriffs' Association directory has contact info for every county.

Georgia Law and DeKalb County Arrests

Georgia has clear rules about how arrests work and what records the public can see. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-1-19, law enforcement agencies in the state must keep records of all arrests. These records include the name of the person, the charges, the date and time of the arrest, and the arresting officer. The DeKalb County Sheriff follows this law and logs every booking at the jail on Memorial Drive.

Arrest records in Georgia are not the same as conviction records. A person can be arrested in DeKalb County and later have the charges dropped or be found not guilty at trial. The arrest still shows in the system unless the person files to have it restricted. Georgia does allow record restriction in some cases, which limits who can see the arrest data. But while a case is active, the arrest info for DeKalb County is open to the public through standard channels.

The 24-hour communications center for DeKalb County can be reached at 404-298-8400. This line is staffed around the clock and handles calls about active incidents, recent arrests, and general safety concerns. If you need info outside of normal business hours, this is the number to call.

Note: Record restriction in Georgia does not erase an arrest, but it limits public access to that record.

Contact DeKalb County for Arrest Info

The DeKalb County Sheriff contact page has the full list of phone numbers, email addresses, and office locations. If you are not sure which unit to call for arrest information, start with the main number at 404-298-8111. Staff can point you to the right person or unit based on what you need. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for in-person visits.

The DeKalb County government sheriff page also has useful links and info about the office. This page is part of the county's main website and includes details on jail services, court security, and community programs. Both sites are good starting points when you need arrest data from DeKalb County.

Here is a quick reference for the most used phone lines at the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office:

• Main Office: 404-298-8111
• Jail Info Hotline: 404-298-8145
• 24-Hour Communications: 404-298-8400
• Warrants Unit: 404-298-8200
• Fugitive Unit: 404-298-8402
• Open Records: 404-298-8171
• Sex Offender Unit: 404-298-8397 (days) / 404-298-8200 (nights)

Cities in DeKalb County

DeKalb County has many cities and unincorporated areas. All arrests in the county are handled by the DeKalb County Sheriff or the local city police department. Jail bookings from any city in the county go through the DeKalb County jail on Memorial Drive. The following cities have their own pages with more arrest info.

Other communities in DeKalb County include Decatur, Clarkston, Lithonia, Pine Lake, and Avondale Estates. These cities are smaller but still fall under the DeKalb County Sheriff for jail and arrest records.

Nearby Counties

These counties border DeKalb County. If you are not sure which county handled an arrest, check the address where it took place. Each county runs its own jail and keeps its own arrest records.