Dougherty County Jail

The Dougherty County Jail is a 1,230-bed pre-trial detention facility located in Albany, Georgia that is operated by the Dougherty County Sheriff's Department. 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 objective of the jail is to treat inmates fairly and humanely, provide an environment that is clean and healthy for staff, inmates, and visitors, and constantly maintain a high level of safety and security—using current and nationally accepted detention management practices.

Inmate Search

To find out if your loved one is being held in Dougherty County, click here or call the jail at (229) 430-6500. Be prepared to provide the inmate’s full name and date of birth.

Bonding someone out of the Dougherty County Jail

A criminal bond is a financial guarantee that the arrested person will appear in court on a specified date. A BOND IS NOT A FINE. The person you are posting the bond for must appear before a judge to answer criminal charges. 

A fee of $20.00 is charged for every bond that is written by the jail. This fee may be paid in cash and is non-refundable.

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 Dougherty 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. Failure to appear at the appointed time will result in forfeiture of the bond amount and may result in a Bench Warrant ordered by the judge.

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), money order, or cashier’s check. The entire amount of the cash bond must be paid at the bonding office before the inmate is released. 

• Surety Bond

Prison Insights

Visiting Hours and Rules

The Dougherty County Jail Facility offers remote video visitation with friends and family members, and the visits are initiated by the inmate. Remote visitation is open 24/7, but visits are limited to 15 minutes in length. Inmates are limited to three visitors per week, provided they are approved. All visits are recorded and subject to monitoring by staff. 

You must have a HomeWAV account online at HomeWAV.com or download the HomeWAV mobile app in order to receive a visit request from your inmate. HomeWAV charges a fee for remote visitation.

Inmates in Disciplinary Detention do not receive visitation privileges.

Free Video Visits in the Jail Lobby

Visitors who want to visit with their inmate for free can do so by using a visitation kiosk in the jail lobby. On-site visits must be scheduled at least 24 hours in advance via HomeWAV.com or on the HomeWAV app. The inmate must accept the requested time in order for the visit to be scheduled. 

On-site visiting hours are from 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. daily. On-Site Visitation rules are as follows: 

• No weapons of any type will be allowed on the premises. 
• No food and/or drinks allowed in the lobby waiting area. 
• No alcohol beverages or illegal drugs.
• Visitors who appear to be under the influence or smell of drugs and/or alcohol will be excluded from visiting. 
• Visitors are subject to be searched at any time. 
• Visitors must be 16 years of age or older. 
• Visitors will not leave anyone under the age of sixteen (16) unattended in the lobby or parking lot. 
• Disruptive, argumentative or unruly behavior by any visitor at any time will be grounds for termination of that visit 
• No packages, cash, checks, or money orders will be accepted.

Dress Code

Visitors must be properly dressed. No hats/ball caps, scarves or other head coverings inside the jail (medical or religious exceptions will be considered). No distasteful or extremely tight fitting clothing is allowed. Shorts, skirts, and dresses are allowed but the hem must not fall above mid-thigh. 

No low cut shirts, bra must be worn (cleavage must be completely covered), tank tops or sleeveless shirts (shoulders must be covered), midriffs (midsection must be covered), and/or see-through clothing. 

Pants must be at waist level (no sagging pants or exposure of undergarments). No clothing with rips, holes or tears is allowed. 

Clothing displaying alcohol, drugs, gang signs, vulgarity or offensive writing/pictures is not allowed. 

No pajama/lounge pants and/or bedroom slippers.

All correspondence including mail, photos, books, and magazines are subject to inspection and will not be allowed if they contain the following: 

• nude or indecently clothed persons
• pictures of bulldogs commonly used for illegal dog fighting
• street gang activities including hand signs and drawings
• self defense techniques
• alcoholic beverages, illegal drugs and paraphernalia
• offensive information or contents
• artwork
• perfume scented, lipstick imprints, foreign substances, and any other items deemed by the Jail Administration to be a health, security or fire hazard.

Inmates are not allowed to receive packages through the mail.

How to Call an Inmate

Inmates at the Dougherty County Jail cannot receive incoming phone calls, however, they have access to phones and can make outgoing calls from the inmate housing area until 11:30 pm. Phone calls are recorded and may be monitored at any time. 

Phones are turned off during the hours of 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. for lunch and 4:30 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. for dinner

How to Send Money

Money can be added to an inmate's account at the Dougherty County Jail by using the lobby kiosk, anytime, seven days a week. No personal checks will be accepted. No exceptions.The online option for sending money to an inmate is www.JailATM.com. You can also use this site to send care packages filled with commissary items.

Money orders or cashiers checks, made out to the inmate with their inmate ID#, may be sent through the mail to: 

INMATE’S FULL NAME—MONEY ORDER
Cell Number and OCA Number
Dougherty County Jail Facility
1302 Evelyn Avenue
Albany, Ga. 31705

Funds may be deducted from an inmate's account if the inmate initiates non-emergency medical and/or dental treatment, inmate programs requiring a fee, damages to jail property, etc.

Programs For Inmates

Pretrial Release Program

Selection for the Pretrial Release Program is made by a Pretrial Services Unit Deputy based on the following criteria: 

• Must have a bond on all charges that is $20,000 or less
• Must have five references that will be willing to discuss the inmate, their living arrangements, work skills and family life. The references must speak positively about the inmate. 
• The inmate must be willing to comply with Pretrial Supervision until their case has been disposed of through the courts. 
• Must have a valid home address. 
• Must maintain a working cell phone. 
• Must report as directed and call in once a week, or as directed. 
• Abide by curfew from 10pm to 5am, unless working. 
• Work on areas of improvement in life such as job employment and/or education. 

Inmates may be ineligible for Pretrial Release for the following reasons: 

• Current charge is a forcible felony 
• Current parole violation 
• Current escape charge 
• Current fail to appear charge 
• Probation violations that are not satisfied through the courts 
• Hold for other Law Enforcement 
• Bail jumping 
• Current WID or trafficking any type of illegal drugs 
• Any possession of methamphetamine or heroin; past or present 
• Failure to register as a sex offender 
• Any other felony charge not listed that is deemed a risk to society 
• The references provided speak poorly of the inmate and their habits
•  Excessive disciplinary reports
• A pattern of violence

Counseling Services

Inmates are provided with the opportunity to participate in counseling programs, including Alcohol/Substance abuse, Mental Health, Psychological, and Psychiatric fields. Certain counseling programs may require a fee for participation. 

Inmate WorkForce

Selection to the Inmate WorkForce is made by the Work Force Detail Officer. Selection is based on, but not limited, to the following criteria: 

• Maximum security inmates are ineligible 
• Current Felony Charges are eligible as long as they are not forcible felonies 
• Felony drug charges such as possession of marijuana and possession of cocaine are eligible for inside detail only. 
• Any Possession WID or Trafficking charges are not eligible for five years from the sentence date and are confined to inside details only. 
• Current Felony prescription drug charges are eligible for inside only detail. 
• Registered Sex Offenders are confined to non maintenance inside details only.

Substance Abuse/AA Program

For inmates who have been sentenced to serve time at the Dougherty County Jail.

Recreational Library

Inmates have access to recreational library materials and may have one library book at a time. Additionally, inmates may have up to three books from publishers per month.

Law Library

Inmates may request legal material from the law library for research on their case.

Pictures of Dougherty County Jail

Careers at Dougherty County Jail

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