- County Jail
- Alabama
- 256-549-5410, 256-549-1444
- Official Website
- Featured
Etowah County Detention Center (ICE) basic information to help guide you through what you can do for your inmate while they are incarcerated. The facility's direct contact number: 256-549-5410, 256-549-1444
This facility is for adult inmates.
The Etowah County Detention Center (ICE) is a medium-security detention center located at 827 Forrest Ave Gadsden, AL which is operated locally by the Etowah County Sheriff's Office and holds inmates awaiting trial or sentencing or both. Most of the sentenced inmates are here for less than two years. Etowah County accepts inmates from surrounding towns, municipalities, the US Marshal's Service and the Gadsden Police Department who do not have their own long-term lock-up.
Etowah County Detention Center (ICE) – Immigration Detainee Locator
The Custody Section is responsible for inmate and detainee custody and care from initial intake until release. The Custody Section serves as liaison to the Courts for scheduling inmate court appearances and to Patrol for transportation to and from the Alabama Department of Corrections.
The Custody Section day time team is led by supervisor Sgt. Barry Smith. He may be reached directly by telephone at 256-439-3487.
The night time teams are led by supervisor Sgt. Clara Reaves and supervisor Sgt. Dwight Fuller. They may be reached directly by telephone at 256-439-3487.
Phone: All inmates and detainees can make outside calls to family and friends. No incoming calls can be received.
Each inmate will be given access to the telephone upon the completion of the booking process. Telephones for private use are located in each housing area.
In order to make personal calls, phone cards are sold from the commissary. Pro Bono phone calls may be made from unit phones. These are free calls for ICE detainees. The procedure for making these calls, along with a list of available numbers is listed in each unit.
All telephone calls, local and long distance, are collect and three way calls are prohibited.
Inmates and detainees may not take more than 20 minutes per call. They may not make more than one call in a row if another inmate/detainee wishes to use the phone.
Booking Unit
Booking is the entry and exit point of the Detention Center. In booking, all who enter are first searched. The belongings of the inmate/detainee are inventoried in their presence and then secured. Each person is interviewed concerning personal and emergency contact information. Photographs, commonly referred to as “mug shots,” are then taken. Through a series of identification number checks and fingerprinting, the true identity of the inmate is determined. These queries search to determine if a person is wanted by any other law enforcement agency. Based on the arrestee’s charges, bond conditions, probation or parole, and warrants by other agencies, determination is made if the person can be released.
For those not eligible to be released, further checks are conducted to include: medical and mental health needs, initial security classification and housing unit assignment. When appropriate, additional search of inmates may be conducted prior to detention center clothing being issued. A shower is located in the changing room and may be used by the inmate. Personal clothing is inventoried along with other property and placed in property storage. Inmates/detainees with cash at the time of booking place their money into a kiosk which creates an account that can be used to purchase items from the detention center.
Housing Units
Once the booking process is complete, the person is then escorted to one of ten housing units. Within the minimum and medium custody housing units, there are no barriers separating detention deputies and the inmates/detainees. This type of detention center management is known as direct supervision.
According to the National Institute of Corrections, this design allows staff to interact continuously with inmates in the housing units, actively supervising them to identify problems in their early stages. Detention deputies utilize basic management techniques to prevent negative behavior and encourage positive behavior. This allows staff to maintain direct control of the housing unit and establish a professional supervisory relationship with inmates.
In special management and maximum security housing units, inmates/detainees are often separated from others housed in those units. In these housing arrangements, detention deputies monitor the activity of the unit indirectly through security glass and video surveillance.
The Program Section is responsible for facilitating a wide range of inmate/detainee programming. Courses, sessions, and projects involve educational, therapeutic, religious, social, recreational, special needs, and community service activities. Each member of the Program Team specializes in a unique subject area to better facilitate programing in their area of responsibility. Regularly, over one hundred and twenty five volunteers from educational, religious, and civic organizations give of their time as part of the Programs Team.
The Program Section is lead by supervisor Sgt. Allen Weston. He may be contacted directly by e-mail at aweston@etowahcounty.org or by telephone at 256-549-2194.
Substance Abuse Prevention Program
In mid 2004, Dr. Scott Hassell, Chief Deputy of Detention, began the Substance Abuse Prevention Program (SAPP) inside the Detention Center. Since its inception, it has diverted over 1500 individuals from the Alabama Department of Corrections.
This single act has saved Alabama's General Fund millions of dollars at zero additional cost to the taxpayer (by using existing resources). In the past few years, the program has grown to serve males and females, includes a work release component and has created a partnership with: Court, Aftercare, Community Corrections, CRO, local industry and countless others. We hope to serve as a model of how government and private sectors can work together to solve problems that face our community.
SAPP is a "Therapeutic Community" based program that uses the "Living in Balance" recovery and other scientific based curriculum to effect change in the participants. The program is a minimum of 26 weeks, but may be extended based upon the participants' performance and involvement. Due to the high demand for the program and the limited resources, we currently only accept court ordered persons from courts of the 16th Judicial Circuit.
Influence Program
In partnership with Keep Etowah Beautiful Inc., the Influence Program started in 1993. Supervised by a detention deputy, inmates daily walk the roadways of Etowah County picking up litter and other debris. Inmates selected for the Influence Program are nonviolent offenders who volunteer for the job. After a background check, they are approved by jail administration.
Therapeutic Recreation
Therapeutic recreation is a service that provides recreation activities to individuals within the detention center to improve or maintain physical, mental and emotional well-being and help reduce depression, stress and anxiety.
Recreational activities help participants develop basic motor functioning and reasoning abilities, build confidence and socialize more effectively. Activities may incorporate arts and crafts, animals, sports, games, and competitive events.
The recreation program is based on the Adventure Programming model and is scientifically proved to meet the therapeutic needs of the participants with the ultimate goal of reducing recidivism.
Horticulture
Participants in this program are taught the various methods of producing food and other plants from the seed to harvest. Techniques include the ability to grow plants in an indoor setting as well as using tools and items that one might find in any household. This empowers and equips the participants with a life skill that can be used outside the walls of detention to channel their energies to more positive endeavors.
Aquaculture
Through a partnership with Gadsden State Community College, a full Aquaculture program operates within the detention center.
This is an educational endeavor that teaches participants the art and science of raising fish. One technique uses simple tools that can be acquired in most countries. This allows many of our ICE detainees to be able to carry these skills back to their home country where they can raise their own fish and feed their respective communities.
Puppies without Borders
Through a partnership with the Etowah County Animal control, Inmates and Detainees may participate in a program that teaches basic obedience skills to dogs that have been otherwise unadoptable. The dogs live with the inmate/detainees during the time they are in the program and they are responsible for both their training and care. The dogs are trained under the direction of a volunteer trainer. They receive obedience training, such as sit, stay, down, heel, loose leash walking, proper greetings, pay attention, and house/crate training. There is not a time limit for title training of these dogs.
For training to be considered successful, the dogs must pass the AKC's Canine Good Citizenship Test. Upon graduation of the program, the dogs are returned to the Animal Shelter to be adopted.
Renew Our Rivers
The Etowah County Sheriff's Office is working to clean up the county by joining the efforts of Renew Our River. More than 35 inmates, from the Substance Abuse Prevention Program, spend time each April picking up trash and removing debris from the river banks of the Coosa River.
Renew Our Rivers is an award-winning environmental river cleanup program that began as Renew the Coosa, a vision of retired Alabama Power employee Gene Phifer. Now in its 12th year, more than 10 million pounds of trash and debris have been removed from Alabama and Southeast rivers.
Barbering
Barbering classes provide participants a method by which to learn the basic principles of hair cutting. This course draws from experience from other inmates/detainees who are skilled in barbering to teach fellow inmate/detainees. The detention center setting promotes hands on practice to become proficient in the trade.
Computer Basics
In today's technologically demanding society, basic computer skills are a must in being competitive from employment. This program provides participants a method by which to learn basic computer operation skills. This course draws from experience from other inmates/detainees and volunteers who are knowledgeable in computer skills. The detention center setting promotes hands on practice for participants.
Community Outreach
Realizing the need to "Prevent" the addiction cycle, members of the SAPP regularly reach out to schools, churches and other civic organizations to spread the message of drug prevention and sober living. For more information about this program or to schedule this group to visit your organization, contact Supervisor Sgt. Allen Weston directly by e-mail at aweston@etowahcounty.org or by telephone at 256-549-1444, extension 358.
Religious
Weekly, volunteers affiliated with various religions come into the detention center and present programing to inmates/detainees. Accommodations are made to allow inmates/detainees to observe and participate in religious activities as they personally desire.
Volunteers
Regularly, over one hundred and twenty five volunteers from educational, religious, and civic organizations give of their time as part of the Programs Team. All volunteers must go through an application, interview, and background investigation process.
If you need information about a detainee that is housed at this facility, you may call (256) 549-8154 between the hours of 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. When you call, please have the individual's biographical information ready, including first, last and hyphenated names, any aliases he or she may use, date of birth and country of birth.
Detainees cannot receive incoming calls. If you need to get in touch with a detainee to leave an urgent message, you must call (256) 549-5410 and leave the detainee's full name, alien registration number and your name and telephone number where you can be reached. The detainee will be given your message.
visitation Info
Etowah County Detention Center (ICE) – Friends and Family Visits
Unit 1: Sunday & Monday, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.; Tuesday & Wednesday, 2 p.m. –5 p.m.
Unit 8: Sunday & Monday, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.; Tuesday & Wednesday, 2 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Unit 9: Sunday & Monday, 2 p.m. – 5 p.m.; Tuesday & Wednesday, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Unit 10: Sunday & Monday, 2 p.m. – 5 p.m.; Tuesday & Wednesday, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
To ensure adequate time to process visitors through security, all visitors must arrive 45 minutes prior to the scheduled visit time.
Visitors must present a valid verifiable government-issued identification card to enter the facility.
Visits shall not exceed 30 minutes.
Minors who are visiting the facility must be accompanied by an adult guardian (18 years or older). Minors must not be left unaccompanied in the waiting room, visiting room or any other area.
Attorney Visits
Legal representatives of detainees are authorized to visit their clients during the following hours:
Daily, 8 a.m. – 7 p.m., including holidays
A list of pro bono (free) legal organizations will be posted in all detainee housing units and other appropriate areas. This list shall be updated quarterly. If a detainee wishes to see a representative or paralegal from that organization, it is the detainee's responsibility to contact them for an appointment.
Consular Visits
Consular officials may meet with their detained nationals at any time. It is requested that prior arrangements be made with the ICE Supervisory Detention and Deportation Officer to the extent possible, and that consular officials bring appropriate credentials when they come to the facility. The ICE Supervisory Detention and Deportation Officer in charge of the facility can be reached at (256) 543-8154.
Clergy Visits
Clergy may visit detainees at any time, but must make prior arrangements with the Chaplain's Office at (256) 549-2194.
Visiting Restrictions
- All family or other social visits are non-contact.
- No firearms or weapons of any kind are permitted in the facility.
- If visitors are or appear to be intoxicated, visitation will not be allowed.
- All visitors are subject to search while in the facility.
- Visitors are not allowed to pass or attempt to pass any items to detainees.
- Visitors are not allowed to carry any items into the visitation area.
Search Procedures (prior to or during all visitations)
All individuals requesting admittance to the facility or the visitation area are subject to a pat-down search of their person, an inspection of their belongings, and a metal scan search. Individuals refusing to cooperate with a reasonable search will not be admitted. No firearms or weapons of any kind are permitted. No electronic devices (cell phones, pagers, radios, etc.) are permitted in the secure areas of this facility.
Jail Visitor Conduct
While visiting the Detention Center it is expected that all posted rules and any further instructions given to visitors by the Detention Deputies are followed.
Any misconduct that is immoral or affects the order and operation of this program will result in revocation of visitation privileges. If applicable, criminal charges may be filed.
Any disruptive conduct by either party will result in the termination of the visit and may have an adverse affect on future visits.
If visitors bring children, 17 years of age or under, they are expected to remain under the direct supervision of the adult visitor so they will not disturb others.
The following items are not allowed in the Visitation Area:
- Weapons (guns, knives, mace, clubs, etc.)
- Cell phones, pagers, laptops, or smart phone/wireless communication devices of any kind
- Handbags or hand-held wallets
- Briefcases, clipboards, notebooks, magazines, cameras or any electronic/recording or playing device
- Food or drink
Jail Visitor Dress Code
Visitors must be properly dressed before checking in to visit an inmate. Any clothing or clothing articles that are considered inappropriate will not be permitted to be worn. Proper undergarments must be worn. Some clothing articles and accessories are prohibited.
The following dress code will be followed:
- Shorts will be knee length.
- No short dresses (just above the knee is acceptable)
- Shirts and dresses must have sleeves.
- No see-through clothing.
- No low-cut clothing.
- The bottom of shirts must come to the belt line.
- No skintight clothing.
All inmate/detainee visits are non-contact and conducted by video visitation. This system allows visitors and the inmate/detainee to see each other and communicate through a video monitor, while increasing the safety of the visitors and the security of the facility.
A valid ID must be presented at the time of each visit.
All visitors must have a picture identification to show proof of age, except children under the age of 13. A current military ID is acceptable; School ID is not.
If under the age of 16, the visitor must be accompanied by an adult. The juvenile must stay with the adult at all times. Children will be controlled and not allowed to wander unsupervised.
Inmates/Detainees may have only one (1) visit per day, and up to two (2) visits per week (Sunday through Wednesday). Two adults and two juveniles may visit each visitation day. All visiting minors must be supervised by an adult at all times.
Visitation will not be scheduled during an inmate's scheduled court appearance.
Visitation Schedule
Sunday-Wednesday ONLY
9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
The Etowah County Sheriff's Office allows all inmates and detainees an opportunity to visit with family and friends.
All visits are by appointment only. The inmate/detainee is solely responsible for scheduling a visit and notifying family and friends of the date and time of the visit by U.S. mail or by phone.
Visitors are only allowed to see one inmate per day.
