Dekalb County Jail

The Dekalb County Jail is located in Fort Payne, Alabama and is operated by the Dekalb County Sheriff's Department. 

This facility holds inmates who have been arrested by local county or municipal law enforcement, and is the primary detention facility for all law enforcement agencies in Dekalb County. Including the municipal police departments in Fort Payne, Fyffe, Sylvania, Rainsville, Geraldine, Henagar, Collinsville, Crossville, Powell, Valley Head, and Hammondville.

The Dekalb County Jail houses:

  • Inmates who have been charged and are awaiting trial
  • Those who have been arrested on warrants
  • Those who have been sentenced to the county jail for one year or less for a misdemeanor crime
  • Those who've been placed on hold by Alabama Probation and Parole
  • Inmates sentenced by municipal courts in the county
  • People who have been placed in the jail "on hold" by other agencies, and
  • Inmates who are waiting to be transferred to their assigned Alabama Department of Corrections facility.
  • Federal inmates under contract with the United States Marshal's Office

The Corrections Division processes approximately 2,800 inmates in and out of the Dekalb County Jail annually, and maintains an average population of 235. There are 46 staff members assigned to the Detention Center facility.  

The staff -- led by Chief Jail Administrator David Smith -- is dedicated to providing a safe and secure environment for inmates and visitors. It is their goal to treat everyone in a respectful and professional manner. 

A person may be released from the Dekalb County Jail on his/her own recognizance, through a private bonding company, by the posting of a Property Bond, or by posting a Cash Bond.  

However, each individual’s bond varies according to the nature of the offense charged. If you have a loved one being held at the Dekalb County Jail, you should contact the facility to find out the exact type of bond required. To find out the current inmate roster at the facility, click here.

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Dekalb County Jail

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Visiting Hours and Rules

The Dekalb County Jail has video terminals set up for scheduled inmate visitation. Each inmate is limited to three visitors per visit, and each visit is limited to 30 minutes.

To visit an inmate, you must MAKE AN APPOINTMENT. To make an appointment, visit the Sheriff’s Office and set it up on the Kiosk in the lobby, go online to NCIC.com, or www.jailfunds.com. Visiting days are Monday thru Friday from 9:00am to 3:30pm.

Physical Address

Dekalb County Jail
2801 Jordan Road SW
Fort Payne, AL 35968

Driving Directions: https://goo.gl/maps/z9wbXiMNFBk8BXmV8

General Phone Number

256-845-3801

Inmate Mailing Address(es)

Dekalb County Jail
℅ Inmate name
2801 Jordan Road SW
Fort Payne, AL 35968

All incoming and outgoing mail is processed through the United States Postal Service. Packages for inmates are not accepted through the mail by the Dekalb County Jail.

How to Call an Inmate

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

How to Send Money

During the booking process at Dekalb County Jail, a commissary account is set up for each inmate. If the inmate has money in their possession during the booking process, the money will be taken and placed into their inmate commissary account.

You can add money to an inmate's account at the Dekalb County Jail by using the kiosk in the jail lobby, which accepts cash, debit, & credit cards. You can also add funds online at http://www.jailatm.com.

Inmates have the option to order snacks, drinks, personal hygiene items, stationary items, and some clothing.

Programs For Inmates

The Dekalb County Jail has an on-site medical unit staffed by a full-time registered nurse and a part-time contracted medical doctor. It has a fully equipped law library and on-site video conferencing.  Preliminary hearings and some other court appearances may be held on-site, without the necessity of transporting inmates to the courthouse. 

The Sheriff’s Office in Dekalb County operates two Inmate Work Crews out of the Detention Center (aka the Dekalb County Jail).  These Work Crews include non-violent offenders only and cover a lot of ground each week. They clean up DeKalb County roadways and collect an average of 1,400 pounds of garbage per day.  

The work crews also maintain county property by mowing grass and doing other miscellaneous tasks at county offices such as the County Commission Office, the DeKalb County Courthouse, and the DeKalb County Library.  Additional inmate workers maintain the Sheriff’s Office and Jail property, inside and out.

Other non-violent, sentenced inmates participate in a Work Release Program, in which they leave the facility in the morning, work all day for an outside employer, and return in the evening.

Pictures of Dekalb County Jail

Careers at Dekalb County Jail

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

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