Dodge County Booking Reports and Jail Records
Dodge County booking reports are kept by the Dodge County Sheriff's Office in Eastman and are public records under Georgia law. Every arrest processed at the Dodge County detention facility results in a booking record that is open to public inspection. This page covers how to search for current inmate information, how to request records from the sheriff's office, and what statewide Georgia tools can help when local data doesn't have what you need.
Dodge County Quick Facts
How Booking Records Work in Dodge County
Dodge County sits in central-south Georgia, with Eastman as its county seat. When an arrest is made in Dodge County, the person is taken to the county detention facility and processed through booking. During that intake, staff record the individual's name, date of birth, charges, the agency that made the arrest, and the date and time of booking. That document becomes the jail docket, which is public under O.C.G.A. § 42-4-7.
The Dodge County Sheriff is required by Georgia state law to maintain this record and allow the public to inspect it. Anyone can visit the sheriff's office in Eastman during business hours and ask to view the current jail docket. You don't need to explain your reason. The law gives you that right directly.
Being in the booking log is not the same as being guilty. Arrests happen at the start of the legal process, not the end. Many people in booking records are released on bond, have charges reduced, or have cases dismissed before trial. Only court records show the final outcome of any criminal case.
Searching Dodge County Jail Records
Dodge County does not appear to maintain a public online inmate search tool. The fastest path to current information is to call the Dodge County Sheriff's Office in Eastman. Give staff the person's full name and date of birth. They can check the current jail log and confirm custody status and charges. This is the quickest way to get a current answer without traveling to the sheriff's office.
If you need written records, submit an Open Records Act request to the sheriff's office. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 et seq., the office has three business days to respond. The first 15 minutes of staff time is free. Larger document requests may carry fees for staff time and copying. Include the person's name and any other details like approximate arrest date to help staff find the right records efficiently.
Eastman city police may also handle arrests in the city limits of Eastman. City police records may be separate from sheriff's office records, though bookings often end up at the same county facility. If you're unsure which agency made an arrest, call both the sheriff and the city to confirm.
GBI Criminal History Records for Dodge County
The GBI's Georgia Crime Information Center (GCIC) holds statewide criminal history data for all Georgia counties, including Dodge County. GCIC is useful when you need records spanning multiple counties or a comprehensive arrest history. Call GCIC at 404-244-2639 or visit 3121 Panthersville Road, Decatur, GA 30034.
View the Georgia Sheriffs' Association jail statistics report for statewide data that includes Dodge County jail operations.
The Georgia Sheriffs' Association tracks county-level jail data statewide. As of January 2026, about 67.9% of all Georgia county jail inmates are awaiting trial.
The GBI's GCIC FAQ explains the process for requesting criminal history records in Georgia. If you need a formal state-level record rather than just a local booking search, GCIC is the right starting point. The FAQ covers both self-requests and authorized third-party requests with details on documentation and fees.
Georgia Department of Corrections for State Inmates
When a person is convicted in Dodge County and sentenced to state prison, their records transfer to the Georgia Department of Corrections. County jail records stay with the sheriff's office; state prison records live in the GDC database. These are separate systems. If someone is no longer in the local jail and you think they were convicted, the GDC offender search is your next step.
Written verification of a GDC record can be requested at Inmate Records and Information, PO Box 1529, Forsyth, GA 31029. A written response provides a more formal document than what you get from an online search, which can be useful for legal or administrative purposes.
VINE Notification and Open Records Rights
The VINE victim notification service covers Dodge County. Register online with VINE using an inmate's name or case number to receive automatic custody status alerts. VINE notifies you when someone is released, transferred, or has a status change at the county jail. The service is free and runs continuously. It removes the need for repeated phone calls to the jail to check on someone's status.
Your rights under the Georgia Open Records Act are broad. Most booking records are public. Exemptions under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72 are narrow and specific, requiring written justification when applied. If a request is denied, you can challenge it. Booking photos are public records in most cases; O.C.G.A. § 35-1-19 limits commercial use but does not make them off-limits for public records purposes.
For court records in Dodge County, the Superior Court clerk in Eastman is the right contact. Search case outcomes through Georgia Courts online. Booking records show the arrest; court records show the rest of the story. Both together give you a complete picture of any case.
Nearby Counties
Dodge County is in central-south Georgia. These surrounding counties also have booking report pages: