> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.docketstream.org/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Get Started with DocketStream in Minutes

> Learn how to create your DocketStream account, run your first unified search across live Georgia correctional records, and set up Smart Alerts in minutes.

Whether you're tracking a pending court case, monitoring local jail rosters, or building a watcher for a person of interest, DocketStream puts real-time Georgia correctional intelligence at your fingertips. This guide walks you through creating your account, running your first search across 305,118+ court cases and 14,502+ active inmate records, and configuring a Smart Alert — all in under five minutes.

## Prerequisites

* A modern web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge)

That's it. No software to install, no credit card required to start your free trial.

## Steps

<Steps>
  <Step title="Create Your Account">
    Head to [docketstream.org](https://www.docketstream.org) and click **Get Started** in the top-right corner. Fill in your name, email address, and a password, then click **Create Account**.

    Check your inbox for a verification email from DocketStream and click the confirmation link. Once verified, you'll land directly in your dashboard.

    <Note>
      Your 14-day free trial activates automatically upon email verification — no credit card is required at signup.
    </Note>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Run Your First Unified Search">
    Click the **Search** bar at the top of any page and type a person's full or partial name, a case number, or a booking ID. Press **Enter** or click the magnifying glass icon.

    DocketStream queries jail rosters, court records, GDC corrections data, and sex offender registries simultaneously and returns a unified results list. Each row in the results includes:

    | Column      | Description                                        |
    | ----------- | -------------------------------------------------- |
    | **Name**    | Full legal name of the individual                  |
    | **County**  | Georgia county where the record originates         |
    | **Charges** | Most recent or primary charge(s) on file           |
    | **Status**  | Current status (e.g., Booked, Released, Sentenced) |
    | **Date**    | Date of booking, filing, or last record update     |

    Click any row to open the full detail panel, where you can view charge history, case links, and available documents.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Browse Live Jail Rosters">
    Select **Roster** from the left-hand navigation menu. Use the **County** dropdown to pick from any of DocketStream's 8+ supported Georgia counties, then click **View Roster**.

    The roster table loads all current bookings for that county. Look for the **auto-refresh indicator** in the top-right corner of the table — it shows the timestamp of the last data pull and counts down to the next refresh. Rosters update every 30–60 minutes, so you're always viewing near-real-time data.

    <Tip>
      Pin your most-watched counties by clicking the **★ star icon** next to the county name. Pinned counties appear at the top of the dropdown for faster access.
    </Tip>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set Up Your First Smart Alert">
    Navigate to **Alerts** in the left-hand menu and click **New Watcher**. Configure your alert in three quick steps:

    1. **Enter a name or identifier** — type the full or partial name of the person you want to monitor.
    2. **Choose a notification method** — select your preferred email delivery option.
    3. Click **Save Watcher**.

    DocketStream will notify you the moment a matching record appears or changes across any connected data source.

    <Note>
      Starter plan accounts support up to **5 active watchers**. Upgrade to Professional or Enterprise for unlimited watchers.
    </Note>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Explore the Intelligence Dashboard">
    Return to the **Dashboard** (the home icon in the left nav) to see your Intelligence overview. The dashboard surfaces key metrics updated throughout the day:

    * **24-Hour Bookings** — a rolling count of new jail bookings across all monitored counties
    * **Top Charges** — a ranked breakdown of the most common charges in the current window
    * **Court Outcomes** — recent dispositions and case status changes from connected court records

    Use these panels to spot trends, prioritize follow-ups, or brief a team — without running a single manual search.
  </Step>
</Steps>

***

<Tip>
  Ready to automate your workflow programmatically? Visit the [**API Reference**](/api/overview) to learn how to query DocketStream data, manage watchers, and receive webhook events directly in your own applications.
</Tip>

<Note>
  All new accounts include a **14-day free trial** with full access to every feature — no credit card required. At the end of your trial, choose the plan that fits your needs to keep your account active.
</Note>