Columbia County Jail

The Columbia County Jail (aka the Columbia County Detention Center) is located in Appling, Georgia and is operated by the Detention and Court Services Bureau of the Columbia County Sheriff's Office.

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 facility is rated to hold a maximum of 338 inmates. Approximately 4,000 inmates are processed through the jail each year.

The Detention Center operates under the concept of direct supervision, which enables the housing officers to maintain direct contact with, and control of, the inmates. The goal of this supervision concept is to provide a healthier living environment for the inmates. It also enables staff to have a better understanding and working knowledge of each inmate under supervision.

Inmate Search

To find out if your loved one is being held in Columbia County, click here, or call the jail at (706) 541-1042. Be prepared to provide the inmate’s full name and date of birth.

Bonding someone out of the Columbia 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 Columbia County Jail depends on their charges. Most crimes, but not all crimes, are bondable offenses.

• 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 only accepts paper money (no change allowed). The entire amount of the cash bond must be paid before the inmate is released. 

All bonds must be accompanied with a State of Georgia Bond fee of $20 that must be paid in cash.

• Surety Bond

Prison Insights

Visiting Hours and Rules

For visiting information at the Columbia County Jail, call (706) 541-1042.

Video visitation is used at the Columbia County Detention Center for inmates to visit with relatives and friends. It can be done on-site at the jail, or from any location that has a computer (or tablet, Android or Apple smartphone), internet access, and a web camera on the device. 

Friends and family can register and schedule video visitation (both on-site and remote) through Securus Technologies. 

Remote Visits

You can schedule dates and times for remote access visitation up to 14 days in advance, but must be scheduled at least 24 hours in advance of the visit. It is up to the inmate to check the visitation kiosk in his/her housing unit for times of scheduled visits. There is a fee for remote visits.

On-Site Visits at the Detention Center

If you do not wish to participate in remote access video visitation you may use the video visitation terminals in the Lobby of the Detention Center. These terminals are free of charge. 

To visit with your inmate on-site at the jail, just go to the lobby of the Detention Center and check in with the Deputy in Reception. Please note, the Lobby option is based on availability due to already scheduled visits and may incur a lengthy wait time. 

Visiting Rules

All visitors and inmates are required to follow the rules at all times during visitation:

• All inmates are allowed to have three 20-minute visits with friends or family each week.
• For on-site visitation, visitors under the age of 18, except legal spouses of inmates, are required to be accompanied by a parent or guardian during the visit. At no time will facility staff supervise any visitor’s children.
• Proper attire is required for all visitors—no exceptions. Inappropriate clothing such as halter tops, swimwear, revealing clothing, see-through clothing, sleepwear, or any other clothing that may be deemed unacceptable is not permitted.
• On-site visitors who appear to be under the influence of any intoxicant or display unruly behavior will not be permitted to visit and are subject to arrest.
• Visitors and inmates are required to display appropriate behavior during visits.
• On-site visitors are required to leave the visitation area upon announcement of the end of the visitation period.

Only letters that are typed or written in pen, pencil or fine point felt tip marker are permitted. Letters written with other instruments than listed above will be rejected. 

Letters or envelopes that have stickers, lipstick or any other materials that stain or are attached to the letter or envelope will not be delivered. Enclosures such as drawings, newspaper clippings, internet printings, song sheets, etc., are not permitted. 

No more than three pictures (no larger than 5x7) may be sent, but must be commercially developed (no Polaroids or printed pictures). Inmates are not allowed to receive packages.

How to Call an Inmate

Inmates at the Columbia 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 Columbia 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

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

Columbia County Jail
Inmate’s Full Name, Housing Unit
PO Box 310
Appling, Georgia 30802

• 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 machine, located in the jail lobby. A service fee does apply.

• Online

Programs For Inmates

This information is not publicly available.

Pictures of Columbia County Jail

Careers at Columbia County Jail

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

To begin the process, applicants must fully complete the Columbia County Sheriff's Office Employment application, along with Criminal History Records Information Consent Form, Domestic Violence Conviction Attestation, and the Applicant Data Sheet.