Gwinnett County Inmate Search
The incarceration process in Gwinnett County starts with an arrest. According to Georgia Code § 17-4-1, an arrest is initiated when there is probable cause to believe a crime has been committed and a suspect has been identified.
When law enforcement officers in Gwinnett County make an arrest, the suspect is taken to the nearest detention center to be booked and processed. The suspect may be held in a detention center or released on bond, depending on the alleged crime. If held, the suspect will be transferred to a state correctional facility or county jail before being brought to the trial court for arraignment.
The court's ruling determines how long an offender will spend in jail and the detention facility the offender will be sent to. After serving some time, defendants may be released on probation or parole. While in jail, defendants have the right to due process of law at all times, including the right to a lawyer and a fair trial.
In Gwinnett County, there are three detention facilities where those detained or sentenced to serve time within the county are kept. The Gwinnett County Sheriff's Office is responsible for the administration of these facilities and the safety of its inmate population.
Individuals convicted of more serious offenses are often transferred to one of Georgia’s state-run prison facilities, two of which are situated in Gwinnett County. Georgia’s Department of Corrections provides oversight to state-run correctional facilities.
Inmate records are considered public in the United States and therefore are made available by both traditional governmental agencies as well as third-party websites and organizations. Third-party websites may offer an easier means to search, as these services do not face geographical limitations. However, because third-party sites are not government-sponsored, the information obtained through them may vary from official channels. To find inmate records using third-party aggregate sites, requesting parties must provide:
- The location of the sought-after record, including state, county, and city where the inmate resides.
- The name of the person listed in the record, unless it is a juvenile.
Gwinnett County Crime and Incarceration Statistics
There were 24,877 arrests made in Georgia in 2021, as reported by the state's Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program. This includes 12,678 arrests for theft, 7,248 for aggravated assault, 1,832 for burglary, 1,357 for auto theft, 825 for robbery, 403 for murder, 389 for rape, 123 for arson, and 22 for human trafficking.
Individuals between the ages of 30 and 39 make up the largest demographic of those who are arrested, followed by those between the ages of 20 and 29. Also, arrests were more common among males than females and among non-whites than white.
Gwinnett County Prison System
Gwinnett County’s detention facilities are secure rehabilitation and correctional institutions where individuals (referred to as inmates) who have engaged in criminal and illegal activities are confined. Inmates are held in these correctional facilities while awaiting trial, serving sentences, or awaiting transfer to another facility. The Gwinnett County Sheriff's Office runs detention facilities in the county and keeps inmates safe.
The following are the jails and correctional centers in Gwinnett County:
- Gwinnett County Jail
- Gwinnett County Comprehensive Correctional Center
- Gwinnett County Regional Youth Detention Center
- Phillips State Prison (State-owned)
- Phillips Transitional Center (State-owned)
The Gwinnett County Jail, also referred to as Gwinnett County Detention Center is the main detention facility for the county. The jail houses both male and female inmates and can hold up to 2,600 inmates.
Gwinnett County Comprehensive Correctional Center is an 800-bed detention facility that also houses the Gwinnett County Department of Corrections. It has 512 beds dedicated to medium and minimum-security state and county inmates serving full-time sentences. The other 288 beds are Work Release Program beds for offenders and parents who refused to pay court-ordered child support.
Gwinnett County Regional Youth Detention Center is a temporary facility used to detain juveniles who have committed a crime or are awaiting a court hearing. The Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice operates the center and consists of 30 beds divided into three dorms. Each dorm houses 10 beds and is supervised by two juvenile detention officers.
Phillips State Prison is a medium security-level prison managed by the Georgia Department of Corrections. It specializes in housing inmates from other institutions with behavioral issues deemed difficult to manage. It can house 918 adult male felons.
The Phillips Transitional Center is a department in Phillips State Prison that houses work release residents (inmates close to the end of their sentence). This center focuses on helping inmates transition back into the community. It is a minimum-security facility capable of holding up to 204 inmates. Like Phillips State Prison, it is also managed by the Georgia Department of Corrections.
How to Find an Inmate in Gwinnett County
An inmate held in Gwinnett County Jail can be found by running a search via the inmate search tool. The search criteria are the inmate's name or booking date. Upon submitting the search, an inquirer can find information on inmates who are currently incarcerated, those who have been released, and those who were booked in the last 24 hours.
How Does a Gwinnett County Inmate Search Work?
The Georgia Open Records Act allows public access to all inmate records in Gwinnett County unless the information is specifically exempted from disclosure under the law. Therefore, inquirers can view, inspect, and make copies of information regarding offenders serving terms in the County’s jail system. The following records are available to anyone interested in making such inquiries:
- Inmate’s full name, sex, and age.
- Race
- Mugshot
- Physical description (height, weight, eye, and hair color)
- House address
- Booking date and time
- Booking number
- Inmate status (whether in jail, on parole, or out on leave)
- Cell assigned
- Visitation status
- Visitation schedule
- Court case number
- Charge
- Arresting officer’s name
- Warrant number
- Bail amount
- Bail type
- Fine amount
- Sentence date and time
- Release date
Where to Find a Gwinnett County Inmate Locator
The Gwinnett County inmate locator can be accessed through the county sheriff's website. By filling in the inmate's name or booking date in the search box provided, the inmate locator returns comprehensive information on the inmate. However, it only applies to inmates incarcerated within the Gwinnett County Jail system.
Inmates at any of the correctional facilities operated by the Georgia Department of Corrections can be located through a free online Inmate Locator. The offender’s name, description, ID, or case number can be used to conduct the search.
Inquirers can access information on federal inmates via an Inmate Locator on the website of the Federal Bureau of Prisons. The search criteria are by name or number.
An alternative method to the above would be third-party aggregate websites. These websites give the general public access to inmate records and charge a fee for their service. Information about the inmate, such as name, age, sex, and the location of jail, is required by these websites to conduct the search.
How to Send Money to a Gwinnett County Inmate
In Gwinnett County, inmates are not allowed to be in possession of money while incarcerated. All funds are instead deposited into an account credited to them. Anyone who wishes to send money to an inmate may do so via the following means:
- Money Order,
- Smart Deposit Kiosk at the jail lobby,
- Third-party websites, and
- Phone Deposits.
Money orders can be sent to inmates via the U.S. postal service. Although, only U.S. Postal Money Orders and Western Union Money Orders are accepted. On the envelope, the sender must write the inmate's name and ID number. Address the envelope to the jail and write “For Deposit Only” boldly on the envelope.
Address for Money Orders:
Gwinnett County Jail
2900 University Parkway
Lawrenceville, GA 30043
"FOR DEPOSIT ONLY"
Alternatively, deposits can be made on third-party platforms using debit and credit cards. Transactions via these channels are subject to an extra charge which varies according to the amount being deposited.
Visitors at the detention facility have access to Smart Deposit Kiosks located in the main lobby of the jail. Here, deposits can be made in cash as well as debit/credit card. A flat fee of $3 is charged on cash deposits while fees on credit/debit card transactions vary depending on the amount deposited.
Phone deposit is another easily accessible option to place money in the account of inmates in Gwinnett County. To credit inmates' accounts via this route, dial the call center number (866) 345-1884. The call center is open 24/7 and information regarding the inmate to be credited will be requested. Kindly note that transactions via phone deposits are subject to an additional fee and only debit/credit cards are accepted.
How to Visit a Gwinnett County Inmate
Gwinnett County inmates are entitled to two visits per week, one during the week and one over the weekend. No more than two adults can visit an inmate at a time. During weekend visits, two minors(aged 17 and below) are allowed to accompany two adults to the detention facility. Only minors who are either biological, adopted, or under the inmate’s guardianship can come to the jail for visitations.
If a child's age or relationship with the inmate raises suspicion, proper identification will be required to prove they are underage and related.
To have a successful visitation experience, it's important to have the right documents handy. A valid picture identification, such as a driver's license, passport, or state-issued ID card, will be required at the registration desk. Only then will visitors be granted the opportunity to visit.
The following rules and regulations guide visitation to Gwinnett County jails:
- Visitors are prohibited from bringing food and drinks into the jail.
- Items such as cigarettes, handbags, purses, bags, strollers, knives, pens, pencils, sunglasses, hats, gum, toys, cameras, cell phones, and other electronic gadgets are not allowed.
- All personal belongings must be left in vehicles or pay lockers in the jail lobby.
- Indecent dressing of any kind is not permitted. Visitors are expected to dress moderately and avoid revealing clothing such as swimwear, mini skirts, short gowns, and sleepwear.
- Any visitor exhibiting signs of intoxication or disruptive behavior will not be allowed on the premises.
- Also, those who fall into the category below are not permitted to visit an inmate:
- Individuals currently under probation or parole supervision,
- Visitors with an active PFA against them,
- Former inmates of any correctional system,
- Visitors whose visiting privileges have been suspended, and
- Victims of the inmate.
Visitation days and hours for detention facilities in Gwinnett County vary from one facility to the other. Comprehensive Correctional Center’s visitation schedule only permits visit on weekends and Gwinnett County holidays. Gwinnett County Jail’s visitation schedule is more flexible and allows both weekend and weekday visits on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Intending visitors to the Gwinnett Comprehensive Correctional Center can dial (770) 619-6500 for more information. Individuals planning to visit inmates at Gwinnett County Jail can call (678) 407-6088 for further inquiries.
Families and loved ones that are unable to make a physical visit can communicate via video visitation powered by a third-party vendor. For further information on video visitation, send an email to GCSOInmateVideoVisitation@gwinnettcounty.com.
How to Send Jail Mail in Gwinnett County
A new regulation that took effect on the 1st of July, 2021 has stopped inmates from receiving mail directly from their loved ones. Instead, all mails are to be sent in form of a postcard to a central processing facility managed by JailATM. From this facility, the postcards will be scanned and transmitted electronically to inmates via JailATM devices.
This new procedure was initiated to prevent the smuggling of drugs and other contraband into the prison and to ensure the safety of the inmates and the staff. All inmate mail must adhere to this rule, with the exception of legal and religious mail, money orders, and packages, which must be sent directly to the jail.
It is important to note that all unacceptable mail delivered to the Gwinnett County Prison will be sent back to the post office. Any mail deemed unacceptable by the Central Mail Processing Facility will be rejected and destroyed or stored for investigative purposes.
The following type of mail is deemed unacceptable by Gwinnett County jails:
- Postcards that are defaced or tampered with
- Mail that contains plastic wrapping
- Mails marked or tagged with permanent markers, crayons, or paint
- Mail with stickers or labels including address labels
- Mail that is watermarked or stained in any way
- Mail containing any potentially hazardous substances, including cosmetics like lipstick and perfume
- Mail with references to gangs or weapons
- Mail with graphic sexual content
- Mail containing swimwear, lingerie, or any inappropriate clothing
- Mail with secret codes or illustrations
- Over-sized postcards.
Gwinnett County jails allow inmates to receive magazines, newspapers, and publications sent by a publisher or authorized retailer. However, it has to be pre-paid and have a packing slip or receipt that includes what is contained in the package. Packages sent by independent sellers like eBay and Amazon are not permitted.
Furthermore, hardbound books (including pamphlets and booklets) and packages that exceed 8x11 inches in size and four pounds in weight are not acceptable. Also, a shipment must not exceed four books or magazines; otherwise, they will be returned to the sender at their own expense.
If an item or package is rejected by the facility, a sticker that states the reason for the rejection will be affixed on the package to formally notify the sender. Within 30 days of receiving a package that was rejected, the sender may appeal the decision by contacting the Inmates Services Supervisor at (770) 619-6498 or (770) 619-6411.
All inmates' mail should be directed to the central processing facility addressed below:
JailATM.com – Gwinnett County Jail
Inmate Name/Inmate ID#
925B Peachtree St. NW
P.O. Box 2062
Atlanta, GA 30309
Religious mail, legal correspondence, and packages should be sent to:
Gwinnett County Jail
Inmate Name/Inmate ID#
2900 University Parkway
Lawrenceville, GA 30043
Gwinnett County Jails and Prisons
Here is a list of all prisons in Gwinnett County with their associated names, phone numbers, and addresses:
Gwinnett County Jails
Gwinnett County Jail
2900 University Parkway
Lawrenceville, GA 30043
Phone: (770) 619-6500
Gwinnett County Comprehensive Correctional Center
750 Hi Hope Road
Lawrenceville, GA 30043
Phone: (678) 407-6000
Gwinnett County Regional Youth Detention Center
650 Hi Hope Lane
Lawrenceville, GA 30043
Phone: (770) 339-2341
State Prisons in Gwinnett County
Phillips State Prison
2989 West Rock Quarry Road
Buford GA 30519
Gwinnett County
Phone: (770) 932-4500
Phillips Transitional Center
2989 West Rock Quarry Road
Buford GA 30519
Gwinnett County
Phone: (770) 932-4714
