DeKalb County Arrest Records and Busted Mugshots

DeKalb County sits directly east of Atlanta and is home to more than 770,000 people, making it the fourth most populous county in Georgia. If you need to find DeKalb County busted mugshots, arrest records, or current inmate data, the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office provides both an online inmate lookup and a formal booking photo request process, with specific procedures that reflect Georgia's laws on how law enforcement can share arrest photos with the public.

DeKalb County Sheriff Inmate Lookup and Booking Records

The DeKalb County Sheriff's Office is located at 4425 Memorial Drive in Decatur, GA 30032. The main phone number is (404) 298-8111. The DeKalb County Sheriff's website is the starting point for inmate search and public records access. The site includes links to inmate lookup, the jail roster, and information on open records requests. Media and other parties who need DeKalb County booking photos have a specific process to follow.

DeKalb County has a notable policy on mugshot access. The sheriff's website states clearly: "DeKalb County Jail inmate booking photos (mug shots) are available to news organizations that have signed a Booking Photo Use Agreement as required by Georgia Law." This means regular media access to DeKalb County mugshots is managed through a signed agreement between the news organization and the sheriff's office. For members of the public who want a specific booking photo, the formal open records request process is the right route.

To request a DeKalb County booking photo, start with the inmate lookup to get the person's name and booking number. Then email the photo request to SheriffPIO@dekalbcountyga.gov. For multiple photos, a formal open records request submitted through the proper channel is required. Media inquiries about public information go to (404) 298-8144 during weekday business hours, or by email to SheriffPIO@dekalbcountyga.gov.

The screenshot below shows the DeKalb County Sheriff's open records page, which explains the booking photo access policy and how to submit requests for DeKalb County arrest records and mugshots.

The open records page at the DeKalb County Sheriff's site outlines the process for requesting booking photos and explains the signed agreement requirement for news organizations.

Note: The Booking Photo Use Agreement requirement for news organizations is unique to DeKalb County among major Georgia counties and reflects local interpretation of state law on booking photo distribution.

Georgia Law and DeKalb County Mugshot Policies

DeKalb County's booking photo policy flows directly from Georgia state law. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-1-19, enacted in 2014, Georgia law enforcement agencies cannot post booking photos on the internet. The DeKalb County Sheriff's Office follows this law, which is why booking photos don't appear in the online inmate lookup results. The law was designed to limit the spread of mugshots online and reduce harm to people whose charges are later dropped or reduced.

For people whose DeKalb County booking photos have ended up on third-party mugshot websites, Georgia provides a separate remedy. Under O.C.G.A. § 10-1-393.5 (enacted in 2013), mugshot removal sites must delete photos free of charge within 30 days when the arrest is eligible for record restriction. The request must be sent by certified mail to the website. The Georgia Consumer Protection Division has details on how to use this law and which websites are covered under it.

The Georgia Open Records Act at O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 governs formal records requests made to DeKalb County. The agency must respond within three business days. The first 15 minutes of staff time are free, and the first 20 pages of any records pull are free. Beyond that, copies cost $0.10 each. This applies to booking records, arrest reports, and other documents held by the DeKalb County Sheriff.

DeKalb County Busted Mugshots and the Open Records Process

Getting DeKalb County booking photos as a private individual takes a few steps. First, run the inmate lookup on the sheriff's website to find the booking number for the person you're looking for. That booking number is key. Second, email your request to SheriffPIO@dekalbcountyga.gov with the name and booking number. For a single photo tied to a specific booking, this email process is typically sufficient. For large batches of photos or older records, you'll need to go through the formal open records process.

DeKalb County booking records are public under state law. The signed agreement requirement for news organizations doesn't change the fact that booking photos are public records. It just means the sheriff's office controls how ongoing media access works. Private individuals and researchers can still get photos through open records requests. Response time under state law is three business days, but more complex requests involving large volumes of records may take longer.

The screenshot below shows the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office homepage, the central resource for inmate search, open records, and arrest record information in DeKalb County.

The DeKalb County Sheriff's homepage links to the inmate lookup, open records procedures, and contact information for the public information office that handles booking photo requests.

Statewide Databases for DeKalb County Arrest and Inmate Records

Several state-level tools supplement the DeKalb County Sheriff's local resources. The Georgia Crime Information Center (GCIC), run by the GBI, holds criminal history records for all Georgia counties, including DeKalb. GCIC data includes arrests, dispositions, and convictions. Criminal history queries run through GCIC will reflect DeKalb County booking records that have been submitted to the state system.

The Georgia Department of Corrections offender search is a free tool that shows photos for people currently in state prison. If someone was arrested in DeKalb County, convicted, and sent to a state facility, their record may appear in this database. The Georgia Felon Search at georgia.gov provides instant results for a $15 fee and covers felony conviction records statewide. The Georgia Sex Offender Registry is free, includes photos, and is searchable by name or address. Formal statewide open records requests go through the GBI's online portal.

The screenshot below shows the Georgia GDC offender query database, a free statewide resource for locating people in Georgia state prison, including those convicted after a DeKalb County arrest.

The GDC offender search is free and shows photos automatically for people in Georgia state prison, complementing the local inmate lookup at the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office.

DeKalb County Arrest Records and the GCIC System

Every arrest made in DeKalb County generates a record that flows into the Georgia Crime Information Center through standard reporting. Law enforcement agencies in the county submit fingerprints, photos, and booking data to GCIC after each arrest. This means a criminal history check run through any GCIC-connected system, including the Georgia Felon Search, will include DeKalb County arrest history if it has been reported and processed.

For the most current inmate data, the sheriff's online lookup is faster than a GCIC check. GCIC is more useful for checking prior arrest history across the state rather than looking up who is currently in the DeKalb County jail. Both tools serve different purposes and are worth knowing about if you're trying to get a complete picture of someone's arrest record in DeKalb County or anywhere else in Georgia.

The screenshot below shows the Georgia Sex Offender Registry, a free statewide tool maintained by the GBI that includes photos and is searchable by name or address for DeKalb County and all other Georgia counties.

The sex offender registry is one of the few Georgia law enforcement databases that includes photos in a publicly searchable format, since law enforcement photo posting is otherwise restricted by state law.

Cities in DeKalb County

DeKalb County contains several incorporated cities with their own pages covering local arrest records and inmate resources.

Nearby Counties

DeKalb County is surrounded by other major metro Atlanta counties, each with its own inmate search and arrest record resources.