Cherokee County Detention Center

The Cherokee County Detention Center (aka the Cherokee County Jail) -- located in Centre, Alabama -- is operated by the Cherokee County Sheriff's Department. The facility houses people who've been arrested by the sheriff's department or by municipal law enforcement officers from towns located inside of Cherokee County.

Many of the inmates at the detention center are waiting for their cases to be adjudicated by the courts. Others are waiting for transfer to an Alabama Department of Corrections facility to serve their sentence after conviction.

The Cherokee County Detention Center was opened in October 1996 and renovated in 2004. The facility houses both male and female adult inmates for the county, municipalities, state, and US Marshal Service.

The mission of the Cherokee County Detention Center is to provide a safe, secure, and humane environment for both officers, inmates, and the general public.

How to find an inmate

To find out if your loved one is being held at the Cherokee County Detention center, go to the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office website and check the inmate roster page.  All inmates are published to the website when they are booked into the facility, along with their charge and any available bond amounts.

Charge Codes

On the inmate roster, there will be a code listed for the charge the inmate has been booked into the jail on. Here are the abbreviations for the most common charges:

TOP = Theft of Property

UPODP = Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

UPOM = Unlawful Possession of Marijuana 

UMOCS = Unlawful Manufacture of Controlled Substance

UPOCS = Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance

UDOCS = Unlawful Distribution of Controlled Substance

FTA/FTP = Failure to Appear/Failure to Pay

DUI = Driving under the influence

VPL = Violation of Prohibition Law

GJI = Grand Jury Indictment

Inmate Bail Bonds

The Cherokee County Detention Center accepts three types of bail bonds:

• Property - All property bonds require two signatures. Each signature must have property equal to the amount of the bond each, and can not have mortgaged property.
• Cash Bond - Must be paid in full at the Cherokee County Circuit Clerk's Office.
• Bonding Company - Bonding Companies must be licensed in Cherokee County to make bonds.

Licensed Bonding Companies in Cherokee County are:

• Connie's Bail Bonds - (256) 630-2824           
• 4you Bail Bonding - (256) 927-2245

Bail Bonds may be made at any time, seven days a week, with the following exceptions: Between 5AM - 7AM, 11AM - 1PM, 5PM - 7PM

If an inmate on the Jail Roster has a bond amount of zero, they can only be released two ways. 

• A Court Order from the presiding Judge in the case to release the inmate - OR -
• If an inmate owes fines to be released, they must be paid at the Cherokee County Circuit Clerk's Office. This includes Failure to Pay cases and NWNI cases. The Circuit Clerk's Office can be reached at (256) 927-3637.

Prison Insights

Visiting Hours and Rules

Visitation at Cherokee County Detention Center is seven days a week by video only. To see an inmate you must go to www.inmatesales.com to set up an account and to make an appointment.  Officers can not schedule a visit for you. You can also call 1-877-998-5678 for assistance.

The Cherokee County Detention Center recommends that inmates receive their mail on 3x5 postcards. All incoming and outgoing mail is inspected for contraband. Letters, cards, postcards with up to five pictures maximum. Pictures can be no larger than 5x7. Incoming and outgoing mail must have no profanity, stickers, or graffiti on the outside of the envelope.

How to Call an Inmate

You can't call an inmate who is housed at the Cherokee County Detention Center, but they do have access to phones and are allowed to make outgoing calls. 

How to Send Money

The Cherokee County Detention Center accepts funds for inmate commissary three different ways. 

1. Friends and family can use the Keefe Cashier machine in the lobby of the Sheriff's Office which accepts CASH ONLY. 

2. Another option is WWW.SMARTDEPOSIT.COM. You will only need the inmate's full name, their resident ID (first and last initial followed by the last 4 of the social security number), and location to set up an account to add funds.

3. You can add money to an inmate's account by phone via Smart Deposit at 1-866-394-0490. Just like the online option, you will only need the inmate's full name, their resident ID (first and last initial followed by the last 4 of the social security number), and location to set up an account to add funds.

Inmate Property

Due to security risks, the Cherokee County Detention Center does not accept any property for inmates from the outside. Inmates may purchase all necessary items from the inmate commissary. Any property left by the inmate will be held for seven days after their arrival. Inmates are allowed to release their personal property to friends and family.

Programs For Inmates

Southern Health Partners provides inmate health care, consisting of 2 LPN's, and 1 Doctor.  Inmates requiring medical attention may request to see a nurse seven days a week, between 7AM to 5PM. Medical Staff members are on call 24/7 for emergencies.

The Cherokee County Detention Center currently operates an inmate work release program. Only inmates with non-violent histories are considered for participation in the program. All inmates must get the approval of the presiding judge and jail staff. 

The money an inmate earns through work release is used to help pay the inmates court costs, fines and court ordered monies.

Pictures of Cherokee County Detention Center

Careers at Cherokee County Detention Center

If you are interested in a career with the Sheriff's Department and would like more information about the job openings at the Cherokee County Detention Center, click here.