Detention Center

The new Cherokee County Detention Center began operations in the Summer of 2008, leaving behind an inefficient 1922 model, only designed to hold a maximum of 43 inmates awaiting trial. However, the Detention Center expanded this capability to nearly 150 inmate beds, including separate medical, juvenile, female and male pods. The facility is designed to handle the inmates with indirect supervision and laid out with seven separate dorms:

  • 1 dorm for 14 inmates that are on the work detail program or that has been court ordered work release
  • 1 dorm housing 10 inmates (Maximum Security)
  • 1 dorm housing 6 inmates in the Medical ward
  • 2 dorms housing 28 inmates, one of which is for female inmates
  • 2 dorms housing 32 inmates in each

The facility was designed to expand in the future to house an additional 100 inmates being a total 350 bed facility.

Jail Administration

Detention Administrator, Major Montgomery (Monty) Ward, is assisted in the detention operations by his second in command, Captain Brian Smith, who assists with scheduling, inmate commissary, budget, planning, personnel issues and fiscal management.

Shifts/Divisions

Each detention shift consists of at least one female and one male officer that are respectively responsible for conducting regular rounds of the female and male cell blocks. The Division also oversees a Transport Division that is responsible for transporting both local and federal inmates to court and medical appointments, work detail assignments, Department of Corrections locations and also transports involuntary commitments to the appropriate medical facilities.

The Detention Center has an in-house Medical Division that provides health services to inmates incarcerated. These services include, but are not limited to, initial medical screenings, medical histories, physical exams, and prescription and administering of needed medications. Medical staff work with community agencies and provide care for inmates with chronic conditions, communicable diseases, alcohol and drug detox needs, dental care, mental health services, and prenatal care. The in-house Medical Division helps to minimize unnecessary inmate trips to the hospital and excessive pharmacy costs, while also improving the quality of care for inmates incarcerated at the Detention Center.

Programs

Eligible inmates can participate in Inmate Work Details, Work Release Programs, and G.E.D. Programs, and have access to speak with Jail Ministers when requested.