About the Etowah County Jail
The Etowah County Jail is officially the Etowah County Detention Center, a county detention center located in Gadsden, Alabama. The facility is operated by the Etowah County Sheriff's Office under Sheriff Jonathon W. Horton, with Chief Barry Smith serving as Chief of Detention. The detention center houses inmates and detainees, arrestees who have not been released because of charges or bond conditions, people held on probation or parole matters, people held on other-agency warrants, and inmates housed under municipal agreements.
Etowah County lists Attalla, Altoona, Glencoe, Hokes Bluff, Rainbow City, Southside, and Sardis among the jurisdictions that use the jail. Official roster information is provided for convenience, but the detention center does not certify the accuracy or authenticity of every roster entry. Before relying on a charge, bond, custody status, case number, or release information, call the jail to confirm the current record.
- Facility
- Etowah County Detention Center
- Address
- 827 Forrest Avenue, Gadsden, AL 35901
- Main Phone
- (256) 546-2825
- Operated By
- Etowah County Sheriff's Office
How the Etowah County Inmate Search Works
The Etowah County inmate search tool is the live roster at the top of this page. Users can search the Etowah County jail roster by name, and the roster navigation supports Current Inmates, Released Inmates, 48 Hour Release, newest-to-oldest sorting, oldest-to-newest sorting, and pagination. The search field may support available roster text, but the confirmed roster navigation includes Search By Name.
The current roster may display a mugshot, name, booking number, age, booking date, charges, bond, and a View Profile link. The released roster may display a mugshot, name, booking number, age, release date, booking date, charges, bond, and a View Profile link. Use View Profile when available to review expanded booking details on a specific inmate record.
Some records may not display charges, and bond information can change after court action or jail processing. Call the inmate information line at (256) 549-5408 before acting on charges, bail, case numbers, custody status, or release information. The Etowah County jail roster is not the court docket and is not a court records search; court records for Etowah County are handled through the Circuit Clerk, Just One Look Public Search, Alacourt.com, public terminal access in the clerk's office, or formal records requests where available.
Posting Bail at Etowah County Jail
Bail is set by the court, not by the Etowah County Detention Center. Before going to the facility, call the jail at (256) 546-2825 or the inmate information line at (256) 549-5408 to confirm the current bail amount, case number, custody status, and any release conditions that apply.
Local official information confirms that bond companies may be part of the bail process in Etowah County, and Alabama court form references support surety bond use. Payment methods for bail are not specified in the county data provided for this page. Call the jail at (256) 546-2825 to confirm accepted payment methods before coming to the facility.
Do not rely only on a displayed roster bond amount before posting bail. Court orders, warrants, holds, probation or parole matters, and other-agency issues may affect whether a person can be released.
Sending Money to an Inmate
Etowah County confirms inmate deposit and support options through InmateSales and the InmateSales app, with Combined Public Communications connected to the inmate communications system. Use the inmate's correct name and booking information when setting up deposits or support services.
Cash drop-off rules, money order rules, lobby kiosk availability for deposits, deposit processing times, and deposit fees are not confirmed in the county data provided for this page. Call the jail at (256) 546-2825 to confirm current approved deposit methods before sending money or bringing funds to the facility.
Inmate Communication
Etowah County confirms Combined Public Communications as the phone service provider for inmate communications. The county data also confirms an inmate communication system that supports messaging through handheld inmate devices and wall-mounted kiosks, along with video call or video visit availability. On-site friends and family visitor kiosks are confirmed, but a separate remote video visitation platform is not expressly confirmed.
Call the jail at (256) 546-2825 to confirm current inmate phone rules, account setup instructions, message availability, and whether inmates can receive messages or only place outgoing calls. If you plan to mail an inmate, call the jail at (256) 546-2825 to confirm the correct mailing format and whether 827 Forrest Avenue, Gadsden, AL 35901 is the current mailing address for inmate mail. The jail may monitor non-legal inmate communications under facility rules, while confidential legal communication is treated separately.
Visitation at Etowah County Jail
Etowah County confirms video visitation availability and on-site friends and family visitor kiosks. Visiting is listed Sunday through Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., and 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., with the last visit connection or scheduling time at 8:30 p.m. Each visit is limited to 25 minutes, and additional time may be purchased after the first 25 minutes if it does not interfere with the county's preset visitation hours.
| Visitation Item | Confirmed Information |
|---|---|
| Days | Sunday through Saturday |
| Morning Hours | 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. |
| Afternoon Hours | 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. |
| Evening Hours | 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. |
| Last Visit Connection / Scheduling | 8:30 p.m. |
| Session Length | 25 minutes |
| Format | Video visitation available; on-site friends/family visitor kiosks confirmed |
Visitor rules can change based on facility operations, inmate classification, discipline, court, or transport status. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID. Minors may need a parent or legal guardian present. Follow jail dress code and conduct rules. Call (256) 546-2825 before planning a visit to confirm the inmate is cleared to receive visitors.
Etowah County Court Information
Criminal cases in Etowah County are handled through the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit of Alabama. Felony prosecutions are handled at the Etowah County Circuit Court level, while misdemeanors are handled at the Etowah County District Court level. District Court also handles preliminary hearings in felony prosecutions and may accept guilty pleas in certain felony cases not punishable by death.
The Circuit Clerk is Cassandra "Sam" Johnson. Court proceedings may include arraignment, bail hearings, preliminary hearings, pretrial settings, trial, sentencing, and related case proceedings. A hearing notice controls the date, time, location, and format of a court appearance, so defendants and families should follow the official notice rather than relying only on roster information.
Etowah County court records may be available through Just One Look Public Search, Alacourt.com, public terminal access in the clerk's office, or formal record requests. Just One Look is described as one case at a time, and Alacourt.com is described as read-only and subscription-based. Etowah County states that most court records are public, but record and copy requests may take up to 30 days because of minimal staffing. Public court calendar information is available through the Etowah County Sixteenth Circuit Court Calendars section, including a 2026 Spring & Fall Term Court Calendar.
- Court
- Etowah County Circuit Court / Etowah County District Court
- Address
- William H. Rhea III Judicial Building, 801 Forrest Ave., Gadsden, AL 35901
- Phone
- (256) 549-2150
- Hours
- 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
- Judicial District / Circuit
- Sixteenth Judicial Circuit of Alabama
- Clerk
- Cassandra "Sam" Johnson