Detention
ABOUT THE DETENTION CENTER
The primary duties of the Dawson County Detention Center include overseeing individuals who are awaiting trial after arrest. The Dawson County Detention Center is designed to house 192 inmates.
Local detention centers are designed to house pre-trial detainees; whereas, prison systems are designed for confinement after conviction. Because of this distinction, detention center detainees are afforded more rights. Detentions centers are tasked with many responsibilities, such as providing for the protection of certain civil rights and providing programs of recovery. Programs that are offered to our inmates include:
Alcoholics Anonymous, Assistance obtaining a General Education Diploma (GED), and Religious services.
The Dawson County Detention Center maintains an inmate work force. Participants are responsible for several facility details, such as cleaning floors, kitchen duties, and laundry services. In addition to facility details within the Law Enforcement Center, the inmate work force supplements various county departments, such as the County Maintenance Shop, Parks and Recreations Department, Public Works, and the school system. These positions are staffed when qualified detainees are available.
Obviously public safety is a priority with any work detail program. Sacrificing public safety to save various county labor cost is not an option! A very thorough and highly scrutinized selection process is used when placing inmates on a work detail.
Although screening is absolute, we will always encourage the public to be watchful and mindful when Work Detail Inmates are out in the community. We always ask that you immediately report any concerns to our Detention Command Staff.
The Detention Center also participates in the Inmate Work Release Program for eligible detainees. Inmates with Court approval are screened by the Detention Commander for acceptance to participate in the Work Release program. If eligibility requirements are met, the inmate may leave the detention facility to attend approved jobs, although they must return to the facility when they are not working.
DETENTION STAFF
Captain Anthony Davis
Chief Jailer
adavis@dawsoncountysheriff.org
706-344-3535 ext. 20091
Lieutenant Theresa Kirby
Operational Support
tkirby@dawsoncountysheriff.org
706-344-3535 ext. 10224
Lieutenant Chad Mobley
Watch Commander
cmobley@dawsoncountysheriff.org
706-344-3535 ext. 10191
Lieutenant Donna Bennett
Watch Commander
dbennett@dawsoncountysheriff.org
706-344-3535 ext. 10241
Sergeant Zach Smith
Warrant & Transport Unit
zsmith@dawsoncountysheriff.org
706-344-3535 ext. 20253
Corporal Jane Czajkoski
Inmate Services
jczajkoski@dawsoncountysheriff.org
706-344-3535 ext. 10201
WARRANT UNIT
Warrant officers of the Dawson County Sheriff’s Department are responsible for the service of arrest warrants issued by the courts. Warrants are executed regardless of the location of the originating court jurisdiction provided the issuing agency will extradite the subject to be arrested. Responsibilities of the Warrant Unit include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Arranging transportation for extraditions
- Assisting with the maintenance of the most wanted postings
- Obtaining waivers for extradition
- Placing and lifting of detainers on incarcerated suspects
- Receiving, maintaining, and service of arrest warrants
- Serving/ enforcing juvenile pick-up orders
To view our most wanted subjects, please visit our “Most Wanted” page.
TRANSPORT UNIT
The Transport Unit is tasked with the transporting of all court production inmates from counties throughout the state, as well as subjects arrested on Dawson County warrants in other counties. The Transport Unit also assists with the transporting of inmates to and from doctor appointments for medical services that cannot be rendered at the Dawson County Detention Center.
GENERAL DETENTION INFORMATION
INMATE MEDICAL SERVICES – Inmates have access to full medical services through a contracted medical service provider.
MEALS – Inmates are served three meals per day meeting nutritional guidelines. The meals are prepared on-site by a contracted food service provider.
MAIL PROCEDURES – The Dawson County Detention Center has contracted with Smart Communications to provide MailGuard electronic mail services. MailGuard is a quick and efficient way for inmates to receive letters and photos electronically. All regular inmate postal mail (postcards, letters, greeting cards, etc.) will be scanned into the system and available to the inmates to view their postal mail via the kiosks/tablets. Friends and Family members are encouraged to subscribe to MailGuard Tracker. Sign up for a free account and view delivery status, receive notifications if your mail is rejected, and download copies of mail that has been received and processed. Upon release, inmates can login into the public website at https://www.smartinmate.com/ and enter their inmate number and password to download their photos, messages, and postal mail at no cost.
All mail must contain the sender’s complete name and return address. Any mail that is sexually explicit or contains information that may pose a risk to the facility or the residents will be rejected along with any items which are not considered “approved”.
Regular Inmate Postal Mail must be sent to the following address:
Smart Communications / Dawson County Detention Center
Inmate Name and ID #
PO BOX 9142
Seminole, FL 33775-9142
Legal mail and books will continue to be sent to the facility directly at 19 Tucker Ave. Dawsonville, GA 30534
VISITATION – Dawson County Detention Center contracts with Smart Communications to host video visitation services. All visitors must submit an application through Smart Communications at www.smartjailmail.com. All visitations whether on-site or remote must be scheduled 24 hours in advance. Visitors under the age of 18 are only permitted to participate in on-site visitation and must be accompanied by someone 18 years of age or older with an approved application. Each inmate is permitted to receive 1 (one) on-site visitation and 2 (two) remote visitations per week. On-site visits are for 30 (thirty) minutes at no cost to the inmate. Remote visits are for 15 (fifteen) minutes and incur a cost through Smart Communications. On-site visitors are required to be mindful of their children, be respectful of others in the lobby area, and to please report any visitation issues to on-duty staff. We ask that the lobby be treated as a family gathering area; loud, boisterous, foul language could cause your visit to be terminated. No tank tops or other revealing clothing will be permitted and no electronic devices (including cell phones) are permitted at the visitation booths. No more than three visitors per inmate are allowed at the booth at one time. All visits are recorded and subject to monitoring.
INMATE PHONES -Inmate phone services are provided by a contracted service provider, Smart Communications. Smart Communications offers different calling account options to allow you to pay for inmate phone calls in advance and stay connected.
Prepaid Collect (PPC) – allows family and friends to pay for collect calls they receive from an inmate in advance. The PPC account holder decides which phone numbers are allowed and how much they want to spend on receiving collect calls.
PIN Debit – family and friends can deposit funds directly into PIN Debit accounts. These account funds are owned by the inmate and can be used to pay for calls they place to any facility-approved phone number.
Inmates are also able to purchase credits from their commissary funds accounts.
For any issues regarding the inmate phones please contact Smart Communications at 1- 888‐843‐1972.
All calls are recorded and subject to monitoring.
INMATE FUNDS ACCOUNTS – Each inmate is set up an account so they can receive funds to use for medical services, phones, and commissary. Any monies received are placed on their account during the booking process. Family and friends may place money on an inmate’s account by dropping off a money order in the designated lockbox in the Law Enforcement foyer, depositing via cash or card on the “kiosk” in the lobby (much like a deposit only ATM), by phone at 1-866-345-1884, or by internet at www.accesscorrections.com.
INMATE COMMISSARY – Inmates have the opportunity to purchase items from our contracted Commissary provider “KEEFE” through an internet-like order process. Orders are transmitted to Keefe every Thursday and the items are delivered to the inmates on Monday and Tuesday. Examples of available items include cookies, crackers, tuna, meat sticks, candies, chips, undergarments, shorts, thermal tops and bottoms, and hygiene products.
INMATE PROPERTY – Each inmate is approved to receive (within the first seven days of incarceration) from their family/friend socks, underwear, t-shirts, and bras with the following guidelines. All items must be new in unopened packaging. If the packaging has been opened, staff will not be permitted to accept the items. All items must be white (it is okay if the socks have grey on the heels/toes). The inmate will be given up to five of each item (five pairs of socks) and if there are excess in the packages, they will be placed in the inmate’s personal property. Each inmate is also allowed to receive 1 Bible or other religious text in a soft cover version only.
BOOKS – Other than their softcover Religious Text, inmates may not receive books from anywhere except delivery directly from the publisher.
BONDING – All bond amounts will include fees for the following as required by law: An amount equal to 10% of the original bail amount, up to $100.00, for the Peace Officers and Prosecutors Training Act. An additional amount equal to 10% of the original bail amount, up to $100.00 for the Indigent Defense Fund. An additional amount equal to 10% of the original bail amount (no maximum limit) for the Jail Construction and Staffing Fund (Jail fund). All bonds require a non-refundable cash bond fee of $20.00 for each bond instrument written. There are three ways to post an inmates bond:
CASH – a cash bond requires 100% of the bond plus the above fees be paid in cash funds to the Detention Center. In turn, the money is paid to the court as “Guarantor” that the accused will make his/her court appearances.
BONDING COMPANY – please call or visit the Law Enforcement Center for an up to date list of approved bonding companies. Per Georgia Law, staff is not permitted to make a recommendation.
PROPERTY BOND – Please call or visit the Law Enforcement Center for a complete list of required documents and fees if you have personal property you would like to use as collateral on a bond.