Chatham County Jail

This jail houses adult male and female inmates —both felony and misdemeanor offenders—who have been arrested by local county or municipal law enforcement, as well as pre-trial and convicted inmates.

The Sheriff's Complex houses a maximum capacity of 1650 inmates, held in nine connecting housing units, plus the Receiving and Discharge/Transport unit.

Inmate Search

To find out if your loved one is being held in Chatham County, click here, or call the jail at 912-651-3700. Be prepared to provide the inmate’s full name and date of birth.

Bonding someone out of the Chatham County Jail

If an inmate has bondable charges, he or she can bond out at any time. A bond can be paid with or without a bail bond agent. The method (cash/surety) and amount of money needed for bonding someone out of the Chatham County Jail depends on their charges. Most crimes, but not all crimes, are bondable offenses. All bonds must be accompanied with a State of Georgia Bond fee of $20.

• Cash Bond

When you pay a cash bond, it is refunded to you when all court appearances have been made and the case is discharged, dismissed, or a not guilty verdict rendered. If the arrestee fails to appear, the money will be forfeited. 

To sign a cash bond you must bring a photo identification card and enough cash to cover the bond. The sheriff's office accepts paper money (no change allowed). The entire amount of the cash bond must be paid before the inmate is released. 

The jail does accept MasterCard and Visa cards for a cash bond payment. These cards must be in the name of the person posting the bond and picture ID is required. 

If using a card for the bond fee, you will be charged $2.50; if using the card for the bond and bonding fee, you will be charged 10% of the total amount. If paying with a card, use the kiosk machine in the front lobby when the cashier booth is closed. 

You can also go online and use www.cashbondonline.com to pay a cash bond. The CCSO Detention Center doesn't take any payments over the phone.

• Surety Bond

When you use a Bail Bondsman for a surety bond, you will be required to pay a fee (equal to 15 percent of the bond amount) that will not be refunded.

Approved Bonding Companies in Chatham County are:

For more detailed information about bonds, click here.

Jail Overcrowding History

For 90 years, the Chatham County Jail was located on Habersham Street next to the Police Department. The jail had a maximum capacity of about 300 inmates, and averaged about 270 inmates daily. 

In 1978, the jail was moved to Montgomery Street next to the Chatham County Judicial Complex. This facility had an inmate capacity of 381 inmates, but it was quickly outgrown. In 1988, the Chatham County Detention Center on Chatham Parkway opened its doors. But once again, the facility became overcrowded, and it happened just one year after it opened, in 1989.

At this point, it became apparent that the county would have to design and construct a facility that would accommodate the growing number of inmates that were being brought in.

Construction soon began on a state-of-the-art facility next to the Detention Center, which opened in 1993. The new jail and the Detention Center were then combined to make up the 5 unit jail facility with a capacity to hold 1224 inmates. The goal was to handle the inmate population until at least 2010, but by 1999, the jail was overcrowded.

This ongoing problem eventually led to the sheriff's office seeking alternatives to incarceration.

In 2005, Chatham County attempted to relieve some of the jail overcrowding by entering into a contract with Deboer Vining to provide a 300 bed temporary housing unit

At that time, the Detention Center had an average daily population of 1455 inmates, but it continued to climb. Now, the county is working in phases to expand the Detention Center. When it's completed in 2025, the new jail capacity will be 2774 inmates.

Prison Insights

Visiting Hours and Rules

Visiting at the Chatham County Jail is held on-site at the video visitation center, but you can also visit with your inmate remotely from home. All visits are conducted via video. On-site visits at the visitation center are free, and remote visits are available for a fee. The cost is 40 cents per minute or $8.00 for 20 minutes. You can pay with any major credit card.

VIDEO VISITATION SCHEDULE

• Unit 1: Mondays and Thursdays (9:00 AM - 6:00 PM)

• Unit 2A, 2B, and 2C: Mondays and Thursdays (9:00 AM - 6:00 PM)
• Unit 3: Wednesdays and Fridays (9:00 AM - 6:00 PM)
• Unit 4: Mondays and Thursdays (9:00 AM - 6:00 PM)
• Unit 5: Wednesdays and Fridays (9:00 AM - 6:00 PM)
• Unit 6: Tuesdays and Wednesdays (9:00 AM - 6:00 PM)
• Unit 7: Tuesdays and Wednesdays (9:00 AM - 6:00 PM)
• Medical: Tuesdays & Fridays (9:00 AM - 6:00 PM)

Video Visitation at the Chatham County Detention Center is available from home through a computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone. The Chatham County Sheriff's office has partnered with JailATM™ to provide this service.

All the visiting party needs is an internet connection, and a device with a webcam or front facing camera and headset. If you are using a mobile device, it is recommended that you stay in one location during the visit. You run the risk of signal drop or losing your signal all together which will cut off the visit.

Online SignUp for Visitation

New users can go to www.JailATM.com and create an account to set up inmate visitation. Follow the steps below.

• How-To Create An Account:
  • Click Sign In In The Top Right Corner
  • Enter Your Email Address 
  • Fill Out All Information On The Personal Details Form
  • Click Save
  • Create A Password
  • Check Your Email, There Will Be An Activation Link. Click On It Or Copy The Link And Paste Into Your Browser
  • Sign In Using Your Email Address And Password

Visitation Rules

• Absolutely NO weapons (guns, knives, pepper spray, scissors, etc) are allowed on the premises. These items will be confiscated and destroyed.
• All visitors must have a valid Government/State/School picture I.D. with date of birth and current address.
• All visitors who are under the age of 17 years must be accompanied by an adult.
• Disruptive, argumentative, or unruly behavior by any visitor at any time will be grounds for termination of that visit.
• No child is to be left alone; all children must be accompanied by an adult at all times. 
• Only a valid I.D. and keys are allowed in the visitation area. All other items are considered contraband and are to be secured in your vehicle or lockers provided in the waiting area.
• Cell phone usage in the waiting or visitation area is prohibited and will result in termination of visitation.
• No food or drink is allowed in the waiting or visitation area.
• Visitors who appear to be under the influence or smell of drugs or alcohol will not be allowed to visit.

Dress Code

• Females can wear shorts, capris, skirts, and dresses that fall to the top of the knee are allowed.
• No distasteful or extremely tight fitting clothing of any kind.
• No ripped clothing, clothing with holes or clothing with tears.
• No low cut shirts of any kind, CLEAVAGE MUST BE COMPLETELY COVERED.
• Midriffs/stomachs must be completely covered.
• No tank tops, shoulders must be covered
• Shirts displaying alcohol, drugs, gang signs, vulgarity, or offensive writing/pictures are not allowed.
• Clothing that appears to be see-through or transparent is not allowed.
• No sagging pants or exposure of under garments.
• Pants must be at waist level

Inmate mail at the Chatham County Jail is delivered electronically through the kiosk system. The mail is scanned so the inmates can read it digitally, but they do not receive the letters and envelopes. 

Photographs will be reviewed and scanned then sent to the inmate. Emailing photographs as an attachment is no longer an option.

Prohibited inmate mail material includes:

• Racy or pornographic images.
• Pictures or descriptions of illegal activities.
• Pictures or descriptions of self-defense tactics, locksmith instructions, escape techniques, or similar material deemed hazardous by correctional staff.
• Pictures or descriptions of the use or manufacture of firearms, explosives, or other weapons.
• Drugs or biohazards on the envelope or contents.
• Threatening or violent content.

To find your inmate's ID number, go to www.JailATM.com

Other Inmate Mail

Soft cover books (ordered through a commercial vendor), magazine subscriptions, legal mail, and religious material should still be addressed to:

Inmate ID # - Inmate Full Name
Chatham County Jail
1074 Carl Griffin Drive
Savannah, GA  31405

How to Call an Inmate

Inmates at the Chatham County Jail cannot receive incoming phone calls, however, they have access to phones and can make outgoing calls from the inmate housing area daily. Phone calls are recorded and may be monitored at any time.

How to Send Money

All inmates at the Chatham County Jail are set up with an inmate cash account when they are booked into the facility. This account is used by the inmate to purchase commissary items and phone calls. There are three ways to deposit money:

• Money Order/Certified Check

Must be mailed directly to the jail and include the Sender's Full Legal Name and Home Address. Mail the money order/certified check to:

Chatham County Sheriff’s Office
Finance and Accounting Services
Inmate ID # - Inmate Full Name
1050 Carl Griffin Drive
Savannah, GA  31405

• Jail ATM Kiosk (Jail Lobby)

Cash, credit card, or debit card can be brought to the jail and deposited on an inmate's account using the Jail ATM Kiosk machines, located in the jail lobby. A service fee does apply. The kiosks are accessible to the public 24 hours a day. Any after-hours and weekend deposits can be made at the jail ATM machines in the Video Visitation building.

Kiosks Availability Hours by Location:

Video Visitation Center:
Monday thru Friday, 9:00am to 6:00pm
Cashier's Booth - Monday thru Friday, 9:00am to 4:30pm

Main Lobby:
Monday thru Thursday, 6:00pm to 9:00am
Friday, 6:00pm thru Monday 9:00am

• Online

Programs For Inmates

This information is not publicly available.

Pictures of Chatham County Jail

Careers at Chatham County Jail

If you are interested in a career with the Chatham County Sheriff's Office and would like more information about the job openings and opportunities at the Chatham County Jail, click here, call the recruitment office at 912-652-7795, or email them at [email protected].

Salaries start at $38,000 for corrections officers and $45,000 for certified law enforcement officers. Sheriff's office employees are eligible for 1% increase for each year of credible law enforcement / corrections experience (not to exceed 10%).