Crime in Lithonia, Georgia:
In 2016, the crime index in Lithonia, Georgia was 424.1 while the national average was 269.2.
The crime rate is a different number entirely as it is based on a set population of 100,000 so that both smaller cities and larger cities are both equally represented.. For example, Lithonia had 119 crimes reported, which seems like a very small number and therefore a safe place to live; however, when you take into account the population of Lithonia it tells us little about the crime rate. If Lithonia had a population of 100,000, there would be 5,828 crimes per 100,000 citizens. This rate is higher than the Georgia state average of 3,402 crimes for every 100,000 residents and higher than the national average of 2,837 crimes per 100,000 people as well.
Violent crimes (rape, murder, robbery, and assault) have a rate of 686 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in Lithonia. Again, this rate is higher than both the average in the state of Georgia which has 398 crimes per 100,000 citizens, and higher than the U.S. average of 386 crimes for every 100,000 people. Property crimes, with only 105 reported in Lithonia, are also higher when based on 100,000 citizens. There are 5,142 property crimes for every 100,000 people. The national average is 2,451 per 100,000 individuals and the average in Georgia is 3,005 per 100,000 residents.
Facts about crime in Lithonia, Georgia:
The overall crime rate in Lithonia is 105% higher than the national average and Lithonia is safer than only 8% of cities in the United States;
If there were 100,000 residents in Lithonia, then there would be an average of 15.97 crimes daily in Lithonia;
Your chances of becoming the victim of any crime in Lithonia are 1 in 18; and
The number of total year over year crimes in Lithonia has increased by 31%.
Lithonia, Georgia Police Department
Lithonia Municipal Complex
Lithonia Police Department
6920 Main Street
Lithonia, GA 30058
770-482-8136
Other Information about Lithonia Police:
The Chief of Police of Lithonia is Chief Roosevelt Smith. He was appointed as Chief of Police on November 12, 2014 by the Lithonia Mayor Deborah Jackson. Chief Smith can be reached at 770-482-8947 ext. 124.
In 2015, there were eight (8) full-time law enforcement employees in Lithonia, seven (7) of them were police officers. This means that there were 3.47 officers for every 1,000 citizens in Lithonia, which is higher than the average in the state of Georgia for the same year of 2.49 officers for every 1,000 residents.
Open Records Request in Lithonia, Georgia:
Record requests from DeKalb County, Georgia:
DeKalb County Records Request
Most records request will likely be sent to the Clerk of Superior Court of DeKalb County, Debra DeBerry:
DeKalb Clerk of Superior Court
DeKalb County Courthouse
556 North McDonough Street
Ground Floor
Decatur, GA 30030
404-371-2836
DeKalb Clerk of Superior Court
County Sheriff, Warrant, Most Wanted Information in Lithonia, Georgia:
The Sheriff of DeKalb County is Sheriff Jeffrey L. Mann, Esq. Sheriff Mann won the 2016 Sheriff’s election by a landslide and was appointed Sheriff in February of 2014 by the retiring Sheriff Thomas Brown. In July of 2014, Sheriff Mann was elected to fill the two years that remained in Sheriff Brown’s term.
DeKalb County Sheriff Jeffrey L. Mann, Esq
DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office Headquarters:
Executive Offices
4415 Memorial Drive
Decatur, GA 30032
404-298-8100
DeKalb County Sheriff
DeKalb County Jail
4425 Memorial Drive
Decatur, GA 30032
404-398-8145
DeKalb County Jail
For information on current inmates in the DeKalb County Jail:
DeKalb County Jail Inmates
SERVICES OFFERED TO INMATES IN THE DEKALB COUNTY JAIL
INMATE SUPPORT SERVICE
HEALTH & WELLNESS:
1. Health Care – includes medical, dental services, mental health services, and access to prescribed pharmaceutical drugs and nutritional supplements. The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office Health Care staff conducts an intake screenings on all patients, develops a treatment and discharge plan for all chronic care patients, and offers in-house dialysis. Inmates can request health services confidentially through electronic monitors and in writing;
2. Food Services – inmates receive free, freshly-prepared meals three times per day. Additional snack items are available at an extra cost from the jail commissary services. Special diets are available as necessary for medical or religious needs; and
3. Personal Services – all inmates are issued a hygiene kit, shoes, and appropriate clothing which is laundered frequently and replaced as needed. There are licensed barbers on the premises who provide supervised services to inmates during the weekdays. There is a fee for barber services unless the inmate is indigent.
RECREATION & QUALITY OF LIFE:
1. Recreation – inmates are offered one (1) hour of recreational activity daily. There are color televisions, tables for games inside each housing until and inmates go to a supervised, open-air recreation area where they have they access to basketball and physical exercise. Additionally, checkers and chess are available through the commissary;
2. Library – The jail library provides an on-site resource for help with legal research for inmates and a selection of reading materials, forms and legal documents. The inmate services staff takes a “lending library” cart of books and magazines to different housing units on a daily basis; and
3. Options for Living & Learning – The DeKalb County Jail offerers special classes to inmates while they await trial. These include the eight-week “Options for Living & Learning” which creates access to information and positive social interaction among inmates It is available to both males and females and includes yoga, chess, poetry and short story writing, Thinking for a Change discussion/certificate, and art and music appreciation. Approximately 23% of all inmates participate in the volunteer classes.
PERSONAL PROPERTY, MAIL AND MONEY ACCOUNTS:
1. Inmate Commissary Accounts – there is a jail commissary from which inmates can purchase additional food items, personal items, and games with money from personal accounts that are set-up at intake by the inmate. People can make deposits to these accounts and the balances are refunded upon release of the inmate;
2. Retrieving Inmate Property – inmates can authorize a person to pick up their personal property in the case of an emergency within the first seven (7) days of incarceration. These items can be picked up after the inmate has signed a release form and then between the hours of Monday – Friday 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.;
3. All incoming and outcoming mail to the DeKalb County Jail inmate must be pre-stamped or metered postcard form with the exception of legal mail. This measure was taken to ensure the safety of the inmates and staff at the DeKalb County Jail;
4. Sending Mail to an Inmate: you should use this address to send mail to an inmate in the DeKalb County Jail:
a. (INMATE’S FULL NAME – REQUIRED)
(Inmate’s Cell Location and SPN Number)
DeKalb County Jail
4415 Memorial Drive
Decatur, GA 30032
DeKalb County Inmate Support Services
Mail Requirements – Please follow these standards when sending mail to inmates through the U.S. Postal Service as mail that doesn’t meet these standards will be returned to the sender. These rules and requirements do not apply to legal mail;
1.ONLY Postcards can be used to contact inmates through the U.S. Mail;
2.Postcards must be metered or stamps must be pre-printed. Adhesive or glued stamped won’t be accepted;
3. Postcards should be a minimum of 3 ½ inches by 4 ½ inches and a maximum of 4 ¼ inches by 6 inches;
4. The actual postcard itself must be white;
5. You should use blue or black ink only;
6. Postcards that have been altered or defaced won’t be accepted, nor will those with plastic or wrappings. They may not be marked with paint, crayon, markers, stickers, watermarks, biohazards, perfume, lipsticks or show nudity, weapons or gang violence, signs, or colors; or postcards containing a stamp that has not been affixed or metered at the post office.
DEPOSITING MONEY INTO AN INMATE ACCOUNT – can be deposited into an inmate’s account in three different ways:
1. Via direct deposit using cash or a credit card at a kiosk in the jail lobby or the Visitation Center Lobby;
2. Make deposits using TouchPay™ services. Call 1-866-232-1899 or go online to touchpaydirect.com; and
3. Send a money order to the jail following the following rules carefully:
a. Only Western Union or U.S. Postal money orders for up to $75.00 are accepted;
b. Envelope must be clearly marked with “INMATE ACCOUNTING:’
c. No other correspondence will be accepted with inmate funds and you will need to send a separate letter to communicate with your loved one; and
d. If additional corners are found in the envelope, such as those that could be used for hiding drugs or other illegal or banned substances, the entire package will be returned to sender and you may be prosecuted.
INMATE PROGRAMS:
START Program – this program targets inmates who have felony drugs abuses charges and histories of repeat offenses. This program may be one that inmates choose to do, or it may mandated by the court to complete this free 90-day program. It includes an HIV risk reduction and education component, a general education component, and a life skills curriculum designed to prepare inmates to re-enter the workforce. After release from jail, continued counseling and treatment are available through the DeKalb Community Service Board;
Inmates Substance Addictions – used in combination with Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) where volunteers conduct addiction programs at the jail;
Vocational Education – offered in partnership with Goodwill Industries, participants in this program train for 10 weeks to learn specific work skills including: electrician’s helper, HVAC, and commercial maintenance. Resume writing, interview skills, and budgeting are also included;
General Education Development (GED) and Adult Basic Education (AED) – administered by Georgia Piedmont Technical College every week inside the jail. Inmates who are in START or AA/NA programs without high school diplomas can still attend GED classes. The costs for the GED testing are paid for by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office;
Chaplaincy Program – a program which allows inmates to receive ministry each week from more than 80 in-house volunteer chaplains representing many of the faiths of the DeKalb population. They also serve the DeKalb Sheriff’s Office employees, if requested;
Inmate Workforce – inmates who qualify can work on labor tasks, including facility and equipment maintenance. Those who are sentenced at the local jail can request assigned must be approved. It’s estimated that this program saves the taxpayers $1 million yearly;
Work Release Program – in cooperation with the DeKalb State Court Judges and the DeKalb County Probation Office, some inmates can keep their jobs while incarcerated but they must reside at the jail;
“A Bridge to Opportunity and Personal Success,” is a Life Skills program designed to help self-esteem, and provide knowledge in skills to obtain employment after release. This is a component of the START program but it is open to other qualified inmates;
Alternative Sentencing Program – for those who are sentenced to community service rather than incarceration the are directed and supervised by the sheriff’s office in collaboration with the DeKalb County Probation Department. They complete work detail on the weekends but they are not housed in the jail.
BAIL BONDING PROCEDURES
A bail bond is a written promise to appear in court at the scheduled date and time to answer the criminal charges for which the person was arrested. The bond amount is set by the court and the amount is forfeited if the defendant doesn’t appear at the court hearing.
There are three kinds of bonds:
Cash Bond – where the defendant or another party put up the total face value of the bond, plus any penalties, in cash.The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office will only accept cashier’s checks, traveler’s checks, USPS or Western Union Money Orders, and United States Currency;
Professional Bonding Company – so called “bail bond agents” who can post the full amount of the bond in exchange for a non-refundable fee. There are a list of Professional Bonding Companies authorized to do business in Dekalb County; and
Property Bond – an individual or individuals may put up their property in the place of the bond once the following conditions are met:
1. All parties listed as Owners on the Property Deed must be present to sign the Bond and Property Affidavit unless one can produce a legal Power of Attorney or, if one of the owners is deceased, a certified copy from the Probate Court identifying the owner and that the property has cleared probate and there are no disputes about ownership;
2. Owners must have a driver’s license or state identification card to verify their identity;
3. Owners must provide a certified copy of the Warranty or other legally filed and recorded Deed;
4. Owners must provide the current year Property Tax Statement;
5. Owners must provide a copy of the recent Mortgage Statement or a certified copy of the Cancellation of Security Deed. If the property has no mortgage, the owners must provide a copy of the money transfer statement along with a copy of the cancelled check pertaining to the sale of the property; and
6. Other fees including:
a. A Non-refundable Property Bond Fee of $20 cash for each property bond form prepared by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office (this excludes bond forms prepared in other jurisdictions and bond forms for signature bonds) and
b. A Non-refundable Property Affidavit Fee of $7.50 cash.
Bail Bonding Procedures
DeKalb County Bail Bonding Office
DeKalb County Jail
4425 Memorial Drive
Decatur, GA 30032
404-298-8195
7:00 a.m. – 11:59 p.m.
Daily, Weekends, and Holidays
Authorized Professional Bonding Companies:
A-Action Bail Bonds, LLC – 404-294-5568
Atlanta DeKalb Bail Bonding Agency, Inc. – 404-292-0640
BBH Bonding Co. – 404-294-0805
DeKalb Bonding Specialist, LLC – 404-298-9722
Delta Jet Bonding Company, Inc. – 404-296-2304
Free At Last Bail Bonds, Inc. – 404-294-1366
Hosea’s Bonding Company – 404-222-9999
Levett-Phillips Confidential Bonding, Inc – 404-299-6000
DeKalb County Authorized Professional Bonding Companies
INMATE VISITATION
Automated Information System – monitors located in each housing unit which inmates can use to access information about services, file grievances, make medical appointments, and order commissary;
Telephone Services – within each housing unit is a coinless payphone and phones than can be used for free to reach legal services;
VISITATION
VISITATION GUIDELINES & REQUIREMENTS – visitors must be on the inmate’s approved visitation list to visit either on-site on via the Internet. Approved visitors are allowed only one visit per week and are by appointment only. Visits must be scheduled 24 hours in advance by coming to the jail or by registered online at www.securustech.net/videovistitation.
VIDEO VISITATION CENTER – Most inmates in the DeKalb County Jail can visit with friends or family at the jail video visitation center or remotely via the Internet. Visits are daily from 8:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. and from 4:00 p.m. – 9:50 p.m. Inmates are allowed two 30-minute visits a week at the visitation center. Those who are housed in maximum security or in the mental health areas are not permitted to have visitors. The jail staff can arrange accommodations for inmates with special needs upon request at the time of intake;
VISITOR PARKING – available in areas designated as “Visitor Parking.” There is a public pay parking lot located adjacent to the building off Camp Drive. These public parking lots are managed by private companies and are not regulated by or affiliated with the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office.
JAIL VISITATION CENTER – visitors to the jail must present a valid government issued photo identification card;
Appropriate dress is required and tobacco, cell phones and other electronic devices are not allowed inside the facility. Visitors are responsible for watching their own children. Visits may be terminated at any time if the Sheriff’s Office deems it necessary or appropriate;
ONLINE (AT-HOME) VISITS
Remote visitation is available for a fee from any device that has Internet access and/or a webcam including smartphones. Remote visitation sessions are not included in the inmate’s onsite visitation allowance; however, remote visitation costs $5.00 per a 30-minute session.
1. To set up at-home visitation: securstech.net/videovisitation or call 1-877-578-3658.
All visitors even from home should be dressed appropriately and behave in an appropriate manner. Visits are subject to electronic monitoring by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office and any violations can result in the termination of online visitation.
If you think you may have a warrant in DeKalb County, Georgia, you should call the Sheriff’s Office at 404-298-8100.
