Habersham County Jail

The Habersham County Jail (aka the Habersham County Detention Center) is located in Clarkesville, Georgia and is operated by the Habersham County Sheriff's Office. This jail is primarily a holding facility for men and women who have been arrested by local law enforcement.

The Habersham County Jail is a pre-trial facility where persons accused of crimes that cannot bond out await their court date.  

The jail also houses individuals who have been sentenced to serve up to one year of confinement in a local setting. As well as individuals who've been sentenced for more serious crimes and are waiting for bed space to become available with the Georgia Department of Corrections.

The Detention Center opened in the mid 1990's with the capacity to house a maximum of 130 inmates. The current daily number of inmates in the county ranges between 150 and 230. Which means the Sheriff's Department houses up to 60 or more inmates in out-of-County facilities.

Inmate Search

To find out if your loved one is being held in Habersham County, click here or call the jail at  (706)839-0500. Be prepared to provide the inmate’s full name and date of birth.

Bonding someone out of the Habersham 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 Habersham 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. 

To submit a cash Bond online use the link below or call 1(888)726-6301 to use the online service.

Cash Bond Online

• Surety Bond

When you use a Bail Bondsman for a surety bond, you will be required to pay a fee (usually equal to 10 to 15 percent of the bond amount) that will not be refunded. Only an approved bondsman may be used.

There are four bonding companies approved by Sheriff Terrell to sign bonds in Habersham County:

• 1st Choice (706)754-2629 or (888)837-1510
• Easy Out (706)776-6661 or (800)848-9242
• Kwik Bond (706)754-9999 or (800)413-2663
• 24/7 Fly Free (706)768-0894 or (706)200-8430

Prison Insights

Visiting Hours and Rules

The Habersham County Sheriff's Office recognizes the importance of visitation and encourages families and friends to visit as often as they can. However, Inmate Visitation is a privilege. Inmates who become disciplinary problems or security risks will not be allowed to receive visitors (other than legal visits).

The jail uses the HomeWav video visitation system which can be used to speak to your loved ones directly in their housing location within the Detention Center. 

You can visit with your inmate using the HomeWav system at any time that both the Visitor and the Inmate are logged into HomeWav. Visitors have the option of using the visitation center at the jail, or they can use the HomeWav website with a computer or the App with a smartphone from the comfort of their own home.

Only those scheduled to visit will be allowed to visit with an inmate. 

If you have a question regarding the Visitation Policy, please contact the Detention Center at (706)839-0500. 

Visiting Rules

All visitors are asked to be courteous and considerate of others. Visitors should maintain a low tone of conversation while in the lobby. All visitors are monitored and are subject to search and recording.

Respect other visitors at all times. Loud talking, excessive emotionalism or any type of disruptive or suggestive behavior will not be permitted in the visiting area. The use of cell phones or any other electronic recording devices is prohibited inside the visitation area. 

Do not damage or deface visiting booths or phones or your visit will be immediately terminated.

Smoking, eating, and drinking are not permitted in the visitation area.

Proper attire is required. Shoes and shirts must be worn. Please note: The dress code for visiting the facility also applies when engaging in a video visitation. 

Suggestive clothing, see-through fabrics, halter or tube tops, short shorts, and mini-skirts will not be permitted. No low-cut blouses, tank tops, short skirts, short dresses, tight-fitting pants or shirts, or any other form of provocative dress will be allowed. Ladies blouses must have sleeves. Shirts must not expose midriff when sitting down. 

Violation of any of the above regulations may result in the immediate cancellation of the visit and/or suspension of future visitation privileges.

In an effort to curb the introduction of drugs into the Detention Center, all personal inmate mail is now sent to a central processing facility, NOT the jail where an inmate is housed. At this processing facility, mail is opened, scanned, and sent electronically to the inmate. 

All inmate mail—with the exception of legal correspondence, religious mail, money orders and packages—must be mailed to the central processing facility in the form of a postcard. 

Unacceptable mail received at the Central Mail Processing Facility will be rejected via the central mail system and destroyed. Unacceptable mail received at the Habersham County Jail will be returned to the post office. 

Types of unacceptable mail include but are not limited to:

• Defaced or altered postcards
• Mail containing plastic wrappings
• Mail marked with paint, magic markers, or crayons
• Mail with stickers or labels including address labels
• Mail with watermarks or stained in any manner
• Mail with any biohazards, including lipstick and perfumes
• Mail depicting weapons or gang references
• Mail containing sexually explicit content or nudity
• Mail containing swimwear, lingerie, or any inappropriate clothing
• Oversized postcards
• Mail written in code or containing drawings

Postcards are scanned and made available electronically to the inmates for a period of 14 days.

Legal Mail/Business Mail

Business documents must be mailed directly to the jail. These include Checks, Passports, Deposit Slips, Birth Certificates, Social Security Cards, Driver's License, Alien Registration Card/Green Card, Welfare Card, Medical Card, School Diplomas or Personal Identification Cards. To mail official documents use this address:

Attn: Jail Administration- Inmate Name/Inmate Number
Habersham County Detention Center
1000 Detention Drive,
Clarkesville, GA 30523

Official documents sent directly to the institution will not be delivered to the inmate. Instead, they will be transferred to the jail administration and placed in the inmate's property. 

The following items are not accepted through the mail:

Bulk Packages, Cash, Pornographic Material, no more than 10 Photographs, and Correspondence from other Detention Facilities. Suspicious or questionable mail will be returned, and packages that contain contraband will be seized.

How to Call an Inmate

Inmates at the Habersham County Jail cannot receive incoming phone calls through the PayTel phone system. However, the inmates do have access to phones and can make outgoing calls from the inmate housing area during daytime hours. Phone calls are recorded and may be monitored at any time. 

Persons who experience trouble accepting calls from an inmate or have questions about their bills may contact PayTel at 1(800)729-8355.

How to Send Money

Inmates in the Habersham County Jail have the option of ordering snack food and drinks, personal hygiene items, stamps, and prepaid phone cards every week from the jail commissary. Friends and family can send money in the following ways:

Lobby Kiosk

The kiosk is located in the main lobby of the correctional facility. You may deposit using MasterCard or Visa debit/credit card only or cash.   

Online

You can also go online and make a deposit at the JailATM website.

By Mail

A US Postal Service money order made payable to the inmate may be sent through the mail to the following address:

Attn: Jail Administration- Inmate Name/Inmate Number
Habersham County Detention Center
1000 Detention Drive,
Clarkesville, GA 30523

Programs For Inmates

This information is not available.

Pictures of Habersham County Jail

Careers at Habersham County Jail

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

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

• A citizen of the United States
• Submit a copy of your Social Security Card, Birth Certificate and High School Diploma or its recognized equivalent
• 18 Years of Age or Older
• Valid Georgia Driver's License
• No felony or serious misdemeanor convictions
• Not have been convicted of a domestic violence offense
• Pass a criminal background check
• Pass a drug screen by a licensed physician, to be free from any physical, emotional, or mental conditions which might adversely affect his / her exercising the powers or duties.

Starting Salary for a Detention Officer in Habersham County is $16.30/Hour or $36,446.80 annually. Salary increases are available after completion of the Basic Jailer Course. Employees also receive Paid Vacation and Holiday, and Sick Leave.