Chathom Jail, AL

Before you visit Chathom Jail, you'll need a valid government, state, or school photo ID showing your date of birth and current address. No ID, no visit. Bringing a child? Anyone under 17 must be accompanied by an adult who stays for the entire visit—they can't be left alone. Pack light: only your ID and keys are allowed in the visitation area. Everything else is considered contraband and should stay in your vehicle or a locker. Cell phones are prohibited in the waiting and visitation areas, and using one can end your visit immediately. No food or drink allowed either. If you live more than 150 miles away, you may qualify for a 45-minute visit with proof of residence—check the facility's sign-in or scheduling process before you go.

Chatham Jail offers at-home video visits through JailATM. You'll need a device with a webcam or front-facing camera, plus an internet connection. A headset helps with audio quality. On mobile? Stay in one spot to avoid signal drops. Visits cost 11 cents per minute—$2.20 for a 20-minute session. You'll need to create and fund a JailATM account to schedule visits. Attorneys can request privileged-user status through JailATM (Settings → Advanced → Privileged User Request, then select "Chatham Attorney, GA"). Once approved, these visits are encrypted and won't be recorded or monitored. For technical help or questions, contact the Chatham County Sheriff's Office or the facility's video visitation support line.

Sending mail to someone at Chatham County Jail requires using JailATM or mailing to the jail's approved vendor address in Atlanta. The vendor reviews and scans all non-legal, non-commercial mail, delivers it electronically to the inmate, then destroys the originals. Want to send photos? Mail them to the vendor for scanning—photo attachments by email aren't allowed. Content with racy or pornographic images, or descriptions of illegal activity or escape methods, will be rejected. Address everything correctly: improperly addressed mail may be returned or discarded under the Aug 1, 2020 rule. "Return to Sender" letters received after Feb 22, 2021 are destroyed. Inmates can keep up to four paperbacks, magazines, or other publications at a time.

Deposits at Chatham County Jail are capped at $300 per visitor, per inmate, per day. Need to deposit more? Documented exceptions are allowed for bonds, fines, child support, or work release. You can add funds anytime at 24-hour kiosks in the Video Visitation Center and main lobby, or online through JailATM. Each kiosk or ATM transaction includes a $2.50 fee. The Video Visitation building also offers after-hours deposit options and ATM access when you can't make it during regular hours. Bond payments and cash-bond refunds follow separate procedures—expect a $20 non-refundable bonding fee and documentation requirements for refunds.