Irwin County Detention Center (ICE) – LaSalle

Irwin County Detention Center (ICE) – LaSalle basic information to help guide you through what you can do for your inmate while they are incarcerated. The facility's direct contact number: 229-468-4121

The inmates housed at Irwin County Detention Center (ICE) – LaSalle located at 132 Cotton Dr in Ocilla, GA are placed according to their custody level and are incarcerated by a private company contracted by a government agency and are paid a per diem or monthly rate, either for each inmate in the facility or for each bed available. The facility is well-trained and well-staffed. This doesn't come without some controversy as the "price of incarceration" is big business and critics claim there is a monetary benefit to keeping people locked up. The flip side is this facility undergoes rigorous inspections and are some of the be maintained in the US.

For inmates that show a willingness to learn new things, there are educational and vocational training programs here that will prepare them for a successful reentry when released.

Irwin Detention Center is a minimum-maximum security jail with the capacity of about 1,200 adult inmates that is the responsibility of the Sheriff's Department under management by LaSalle Corrections. The goal for all LaSalle inmate programs is to change lives through the implementation and development of evidence-based and innovative programming solutions. From booking to re-entry, LaSalle offers a variety of programs and services to securely process, house, treat, and return inmates to society. In addition to offering typical activities like outside recreation, telephone communications, and commissary services in our facilities, there are opportunities to pursue continuing education, participate in rehabilitative programs, develop vocational skills, and even earn additional income that are available to inmates.
Program Categories:
• Accountability Planning – Supervision strategies are devised by a panel of advisors (i.e., law enforcement, community partners, correctional staff, family members, etc.) in order to assure a continuum of care for the offender during incarceration and upon release. This process begins with an initial intake process for the offender in order to assess programming needs, and then follows with the implementation of an individualized plan aimed at preparing the offender for successful re-entry.
• Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) – CBT addresses emotional, psychological, and cognitive disorders through behavior modifications. By aiding offenders in recognizing responses to different environments and situations, CBT impacts decision-making. It identifies detrimental patterns of thought and attempts to alter them. It is effective in treating substance abuse disorders, mood disorders, personality disorders, eating disorders, and anxiety disorders.
• Family Reunification – Children with offender parents are five to six times more likely to be incarcerated than children without offender parents. Family reunification programming focuses on strengthening family support networks. Regular visitation (both face-to-face & video conferencing), family counseling, parenting skills, and services provided for the well being of the child/children, are all utilized resources.
• Victim Awareness – Offenders do not always understand the impact of crime on the community, particularly the victims. Victim awareness programming enhances offenders' comprehension of the cause and effect nature of their actions, especially as it regards to the experience of being victimized. Programming may include any resources that assist the offender in attaining this comprehension, such as panels made up of victims, facilitated group discussion, statistics, audio/visual materials, and more.
• Workforce Development – Work release programs provide a community-based experience for offenders before their release date, and the Workforce Development Program coordinates work release activities with pre-transition educational and vocational training (i.e., GED, technical certification, computer training, etc.) because the synchronization of these processes allows offenders to develop a career path by providing them with marketable skills.
Specific Programs:
• GED, Literacy Training, CDL Computer-based training, Carpentry, Plumbing, Welding, Mechanical Training, Electrical Training, Heavy Equipment Training, Computer Training, Work-Release, Resume Training, Job Application Training, Offender Managed Newsletters, Freedmen Ministry – Accountability Planning & Workforce Development.
• Faith-based Substance Abuse Programs (Celebrate Recovery, Breaking Out: Faith-based Recovery, Drawing Near – Accountability Planning, CBT, Family Reunification, & Victim Awareness.
• Secular Substance Abuse Programs (AA, NA, CA, Blue Walters 90 Substance Abuse Program, STAR 1-year Substance Abuse Program) – Accountability Planning, CBT, Family Reunification, & Victim Awareness.
• Multi-denominational Worship Services, Group and Individual Counseling, Bible Study Sessions, Reading Groups, Offender Choirs, Angel Tree Christmas Gift Ministry, Traveling Sports Teams, Bicycle Repair Program – Accountability Planning, CBT, Family Reunification, & Workforce Development.

Inmate Programs – The goal for all LaSalle inmate programs is to change lives through the implementation and development of evidence-based and innovative programming solutions. From booking to re-entry, LaSalle offers a variety of programs and services to securely process, house, treat, and return inmates to society. In addition to offering typical activities like outside recreation, telephone communications, and commissary services in our facilities, there are opportunities to pursue continuing education, participate in rehabilitative programs, develop vocational skills, and even earn additional income that is available to inmates.

Program Categories:

• Accountability Planning – Supervision strategies are devised by a panel of advisors (i.e., law enforcement, community partners, correctional staff, family members, etc.) in order to assure a continuum of care for the offender during incarceration and upon release. This process begins with an initial intake process for the offender in order to assess programming needs and then follows with the implementation of an individualized plan aimed at preparing the offender for successful re-entry.
• Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) – CBT addresses emotional, psychological, and cognitive disorders through behavior modifications. By aiding offenders in recognizing responses to different environments and situations, CBT impacts decision-making. It identifies detrimental patterns of thought and attempts to alter them. It is effective in treating substance abuse disorders, mood disorders, personality disorders, eating disorders, and anxiety disorders.
• Family Reunification – Children with offender parents are five to six times more likely to be incarcerated than children without offender parents. Family reunification programming focuses on strengthening family support networks. Regular visitation (both face-to-face & video conferencing), family counseling, parenting skills, and services provided for the well being of the child/children, are all utilized resources.
• Victim Awareness – Offenders do not always understand the impact of crime on the community, particularly the victims. Victim awareness programming enhances offenders' comprehension of the cause and effect nature of their actions, especially as it regards to the experience of being victimized. Programming may include any resources that assist the offender in attaining this comprehension, such as panels made up of victims, facilitated group discussion, statistics, audio/visual materials, and more.
• Workforce Development – Work release programs provide a community-based experience for offenders before their release date, and the Workforce Development Program coordinates work release activities with pre-transition educational and vocational training (i.e., GED, technical certification, computer training, etc.) because the synchronization of these processes allows offenders to develop a career path by providing them with marketable skills.

Specific Programs:

• GED, Literacy Training, CDL Computer-based training, Carpentry, Plumbing, Welding, Mechanical Training, Electrical Training, Heavy Equipment Training, Computer Training, Work-Release, Resume Training, Job Application Training, Offender Managed Newsletters, Freedmen Ministry – Accountability Planning & Workforce Development.
• Faith-based Substance Abuse Programs (Celebrate Recovery, Breaking Out: Faith-based Recovery, Drawing Near – Accountability Planning, CBT, Family Reunification, & Victim Awareness.
• Secular Substance Abuse Programs (AA, NA, CA, Blue Walters 90 Substance Abuse Program, STAR 1 year Substance Abuse Program) – Accountability Planning, CBT, Family Reunification, & Victim Awareness.
• Multi-denominational Worship Services, Group and Individual Counseling, Bible Study Sessions, Reading Groups, Offender Choirs, Angel Tree Christmas Gift Ministry, Traveling Sports Teams, Bicycle Repair Program – Accountability Planning, CBT, Family Reunification, & Workforce Development.

Irwin County Detention Center (ICE) – Immigration Detainee Locator

If you need information about a detainee that is housed at this facility, you may call (229) 468-4121 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 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 (404) 893-1210 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

Irwin County Detention Center (ICE) – Friends and Family Visits

Male Detainees: Thursdays and Saturdays, 1 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Female Detainees: Fridays and Sundays, 1 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

• Although we make every attempt to accommodate such visits they are subject to availability of the Visitation Room and the security requirements of the facility.
• Detainees are allotted one hour for visitation.  
• To ensure adequate time to process visitors through security, all visitors must arrive 45 minutes prior to the scheduled visit time.

Adult visitors must present a valid, verifiable government-issued identification card to enter the facility.

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:

Attorneys and/or paralegals may visit detainees seven days a week at any time, 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.

Video Teleconferencing – The Irwin County Detention Center is piloting video teleconferencing (VTC) via the free Skype internet application to facilitate virtual attorney/client meetings.  Please see the flyer for details.

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 Deportation Officer to the extent possible, and that consular officials bring appropriate credentials when they come to the facility. The ICE Supervisory Deportation Officer for this facility can be reached at (404) 925-1228.

Clergy Visits – Clergy may visit detainees at any time but must make prior arrangements with the Chaplain’s Office.

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.