Gwinnett County Jail

Gwinnett County Jail basic information to help guide you through what you can do for your inmate while they are incarcerated. The facility's direct contact number: 770-619-6500

This facility is for adult inmates.

The Gwinnett County Jail is a medium-security detention center located at 2900 University Pkwy NE Lawrenceville, GA which is operated locally by the Gwinnett 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. Gwinnett County accepts inmates from surrounding towns, municipalities, the US Marshal's Service and the Lawrenceville Police Department who do not have their own long-term lock-up.

The Gwinnett County Jail – the largest of the Sheriff’s Department’s four divisions – is a direct supervision pretrial detention facility. The jail was constructed in 1991 as a result of overcrowding in the 1980s and replaces the previous linear jail, which had been used since 1974. The maximum capacity of the jail in 1991 was 576 inmates, but in 1997 the facility had to double-bunk non-specialty beds. By 2002, the gymnasium was renovated adding an additional 182 beds – bringing the maximum capacity to 1,274. Near the end of 2006, the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Department completed and opened the new “Wimberly” Tower. The Tower was named after Deputy Ken Wimberly who was tragically killed in the line of duty. This new construction is part of the expansion plan for the Gwinnett County Jail. Overcrowding at the original direct supervision facility forced the county to add more bed space to the existing site. The first was the completion of the “Wimberly” Tower and the second will be an additional tower at some future date. The first inmates were moved into the first floor of this four-level building on October 23, 2006. On February 27 of 2007, the remaining inmates who had been housed out to other agencies due to overcrowding were brought back to Gwinnett and housed in the new tower.
The original facility can hold up to 1,274 inmates, and the new tower has added 1,440 to the site, which included 102 specialty beds that are designed to hold maximum-security inmates, medical inmates and disciplinary inmates. The total capacity for the jail is now 2,744 beds. In 2008, an additional 21 specialty beds were added to increase the total capacity to 2,765. The facility at present has a total population of more than 2,600 inmates.

Non-Local Newspapers, Magazines, and Books

• Magazines/non-local newspaper subscriptions and books will be accepted as long as they are mailed directly from the publisher or authorized retailer. We DO NOT accept packages from EBAY or Amazon independent sellers.
• Hardbound books (including pamphlets and booklets) will not be accepted.
• All packages received for inmates by US mail or UPS containing books, newspapers, or magazines must be PRE-PAID. They must have a packing slip or receipt stating what is in the package. Any packages that do not have these slips or contain contraband items will be returned at the sender’s expense.
• Books and magazines must not exceed 8 – 11 inches in size, four pounds in weight, and must not exceed a quantity of four books and/or magazines in one shipment.

Prohibited Content and Appeals

• Publications that contain jail prohibited content will be confiscated and will not be distributed to inmates. These publications will be returned to the publisher or retailer.
• If an item (e.g., letter, postcard, newspaper) or package is not accepted, the rejected material will be returned to the sender or, if there is no return address, back to the post office.
• The author/sender can appeal the decision to not accept an item to the mailroom supervisor at (770) 619-6594 within 30 days of receipt of the returned item.
• If a package is not accepted the sender can appeal the decision to not accept the package to the Inmate Services supervisor at (770) 619-6485 within 30 days of receipt of the returned package.
• Appeals received after 30 days will not be considered. The mailroom supervisor and the Inmate Services supervisor cannot make the initial decision to not accept an item or package. They will only hear appeals of the initial decision.

The sender of a rejected item or package will be notified of his/her right to appeal by the use of a sticker affixed to the returned item or package. The sticker will notify the sender of the reason the item or package was returned, and inform the sender that he/she can call the applicable number listed above, or visit the Sheriff's Office website, to appeal the decision.

visitation Info

Gwinnett County Jail – Visitation

Only approved family members may visit with inmates at the correctional complex. Visitation occurs every Saturday, Sunday and Gwinnett County holidays.  The schedule for weekend visitation is as follows:

Saturday Visitation

• 8:00 am – 11:00 am last name A – K
• Noon – 3:00 pm last name L – Z

Sunday Visitation

• 8:00 am – 11:00 am last name L – Z
• Noon – 3:00 pm last name A – K

The Saturday visitation schedule will be used for holidays that fall on Thursday and Friday. Holiday visitation is as follows:

• The Sunday schedule will be used for holidays that fall on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday.

​Visitation information will not be provided over the telephone or by email. The inmate must inform all visitors of the date and time scheduled for visitation.

Visitation at the Gwinnett County Jail occurs every day except Wednesdays and Fridays. Children under the age of 17 may visit every Saturday and Sunday when accompanied by an adult (17 years of age and above). If a question arises about the age of a qualifying adult, it will be resolved only with proper identification. At no time will children be allowed to remain in the lobby area without adult supervision.

It is the inmate’s responsibility to notify visitors of all scheduled dates and times. You must present a valid picture ID to visit. A valid ID is a state-approved driver’s license, passport, or state-issued identification card. Arrive at least 15 minutes prior to your scheduled visit. Each visit is limited to a maximum of 30 minutes.

• Visitors will not be allowed to bring handbags, purses, bags, infant bags, car seats, strollers, cell phones, pagers, keys, lighters, cigarettes, knives, pens, pencils, sunglasses, hats, guns, explosives, etc. into the Jail.
• Visitors will not be allowed to bring any food or drinks into the Jail.
• The Reception Officer will not hold property for any visitors. Visitors will be instructed to secure items in their vehicles or in the pay lockers provided in the lobby.
• Proper attire will be required for all visitors. Inappropriate clothing such as halter tops, swimwear, revealing clothing, sleepwear, or any clothing that may be deemed unacceptable will not be permitted.
• Visitors who appear to be under the influence of any intoxicant or display unruly behavior will not be permitted to visit.
• Visitors will be required to submit to a search of their person by Sheriff’s Deputies. Searches may be conducted by electronic means, physical pat-down, or both. Failure or refusal to submit to a search will result in denial of visitation.
• Visitors will be required to proceed directly to their assigned visitation booth. Loitering in the visitation corridors will not be permitted.