Free Online Georgia Criminal Records

Another type of genealogy record that provides tremendous value is criminal records. Some of our ancestors unfortunately got in trouble with the law. And records were kept from arrests through court cases to prison documents. Now, more and more of these records are being digitized or transcribed and are being made available online.

Types of Records

• Criminal court proceedings
• Police reports
• Prison and jail admission registers
• Arrest records
• Mug books
• Pardon and discharge information
• Hospital record books
• Workhouse records

Types of Information

• Name
• Age
• Birth date
• Height
• Weight
• Complexion
• Eye color
• Hair color
• Nationality
• Occupation
• Education
• Habits (alcohol use)
• Relations (parents living)
• Date incarcerated
• Court where charged
• Recommitments
• How and when discharged

Note: Some of the links listed take you to a FamilySearch Collection of digital images. Near the bottom of the page under Film/Digital Notes is the name of each sub-collection. If there is a camera icon at the right of the name (in the Format column) then the collections’ images are browsable. If there is a camera with a key icon, it is only available at a Family History Center or affiliated library. If there is a film reel icon, then it is only available in microfilm format, not digital. To take full advantage, please make sure that you are logged in to FamilySearch. The results may be different if you are signed in, rather than not.

Listed below are links to criminal records that are available for free online for the state; the first list is for multi-state collections:

(Updated February 2023)

Georgia Criminal Records

United States

• Before the Needles, Executions in America Database
• Death Penalty USA, Executions 1607-1976 (by state)
• Federal Bureau of Prisons, Inmate Search 1982-
• Freedmen’s Bureau Records Relating to Murders and Outrages

Georgia

• Alexander County, Convicts in the Hands of Grant Alexander Co. January 1 1870.
• Andersonville Confederate Prison records, 1864-1865
• Andersonville Prison Records, 1862-1865
• Athens Police/Mayor’s Court Records
• Atlanta Federal Penitentiary, Inmate Case Files, 1902–1921
• Atlanta, Federal Penitentiary Index, ca. 1880-1922
• Baldwin County, Georgia Penitentiary Cemetery
• Baldwin County, Georgia State Prison Farm Cemetery
• Bryan County, Criminal proceedings, 1833-1853
• Bryan County, Felony Records, 1937-1946
• Campbell County, County Court Docket, 1866-1931
• Campbell County, Jail Record, 1877-1929
• Chatham County Farm Convict Camp # 1 1900, Prisoner Index
• Chatham County, 1900 Census Farm Convict Camp #1
• Chatham County, Minutes, 1790-1873
• Chatham County, Minutes, 1873-1901
• Chatham County, Prison Records 1891-1899
• Chatham County, Superior Court Criminal Minutes, 1890-1900
• Chattooga County, Inmates at Prison Farm in Milledgeville, 1903
• Cherokee County Convict Camp 1930, Prisoner Index
• Cherokee County, Convict Camp 1930 Index of prisoners
• Civilians Held Prisoner in Atlanta, 1865-1866 
• Clarke County, Chain gang and paupers 1883-188
• Coffee County Convict Camp 1930, Prisoner Index
• Dekalb County Chain Gang, Lines 8 – 100 1900, Prisoner Index
• Effingham County, Criminal bonds 1899-1906, and jury lists 1910-1932
• Effingham County, Miscellaneous index of County Records
• Elbert County, Various Records 1822-1874
• Emanuel County Jail Inhabitants, 1878-1897
• Fayette County, Superior Court Records of Criminal Cases, 1833-1882
• Floyd County, Criminal Minutes, 1858-1913
• Floyd County, Criminal Record Minutes, 1883-1909
• Fort McHenry Prison, Records
• Franklin County Convict Camp 1930, Prisoner Index
• Fulton County Convict Camp 1900, Prisoner Index
• Fulton County, Atlanta Federal Penitentiary Case Files | National Archives
• Fulton County, Atlanta Federal Penitentiary Cemetery
• Fulton County, List of Convicts of the Georgia State Penitentiary for the year ending December 31, 1870.
• Fulton County, Peachtree Convict Camp 1900 Prisoner Index
• Fulton County, Prison Cemetery
• Fulton County, Prison Inmates 1817-1839
• Fulton County, Prison Inmates 1840-1855
• Fulton County, United States Penitentiary
• Georgia Executions before Lethal Injections
• Georgia Penitentiary Convict Camp # 3 1880, Prisoner Index
• Georgia Prison Records, 4/24/1856-6/20/1857 (partial listing)
• Georgia, Georgia Prison Records 1856 – 1857
• Georgia, List of prisoners in penitentiary, convict camps, chain gangs and jails in Georgia: including a list of guards, jailers, sheriffs and others, from 1880 federal census records
• Georgia, Savannah City Jail Registers
• Georgia, Southern District, General index Books, 1789-1928; Minute Books and Bench Dockets, 1789-1870
• Georgia, World War I Selective Service System draft registration cards, Prisoners, Insane, In Hospitals, 1917-1918
• Glynn County Convict Camp 1930, Prisoner Index
• Glynn County, Criminal Minutes, 1894-1916
• Greene County, Georgia Penitentiary Convict Camp # 3 1880 Index of Prisoners
• Greene County, Court Dockets, 1792-1857, 1882-1889
• Houston County Chain Gang 1930, Prisoner Index
• Institutions, 1900 Federal Census, Soundex
• Jefferson County, Criminal bonds, 1891-1924
• Lincoln County, Evidence in Criminal Cases 1869-1884, and Constable Records 1849-1879
• Lincoln County, Minutes of Criminal proceedings 1816-1880 and writs 1802-1804
• Lisbon Convict Camp 1900, Prisoner Index
• List of prisoners in penitentiary, convict camps, chain gangs and jails in Georgia : including a list of guards, jailers, sheriffs and others, from 1880 federal census Records
• Miller County Chain Gang 1930, Prisoner Index
• Monroe County, Criminal Records
• Montgomery County, Proceedings of the Superior Court in Criminal Cases, 1830-1850: Appeals Docket, 1837-1867
• Morgan County, Criminal Docket Book, 1836-1849
• Oconee Convict Camp 1900, Prisoner Index
• Oglethorpe County, Inferior Court; 1788-1942
• Peachtree Convict Camp 1900 Prisoner Index
• Prisons-Inmates Administration Central Register of Convicts, 1817-1868
• Savannah City Jail Registers, 1855-1873
• Savannah, Jail Records, 1855-1873
• Screven County, Criminal Court Minutes, 1830-1866
• Tattnall County, Georgia State Prison or Reidsville Prison Cemetery
• Tattnall County, Loose papers
• Tattnall County, Testimony in Criminal Cases 1835-1839
• Walker County, Lisbon Convict Camp 1900 Index of Prisoners
• Washington County Chain Gang 1930, Prisoner Index
• Wilcox County, Prison Cemetery