Hamilton County TN Jail

County Jail

Last Updated: May 05, 2023
Address
601 Walnut St, Chattanooga, TN 37402
Beds
489
County
Hamilton
Phone
423-209-7055
Fax
423-209-7056
Email
feedback@hcsheriff.gov

Hamilton County TN Jail is for County Jail offenders sentenced up to twenty four months.

All prisons and jails have Security or Custody levels depending on the inmate’s classification, sentence, and criminal history. Please review the rules and regulations for County - medium facility.

The phone carrier is Global Tel Link (GTL) - ConnectNetwork, to see their rates and best-calling plans for your inmate to call you.

If you are unsure of your inmate's location, you can search and locate your inmate by typing in their last name, first name or first initial, and/or the offender ID number to get their accurate information immediately Registered Offenders

Satellite View of Hamilton County TN Jail

You can support your loved ones at Hamilton County TN Jail on InmateAid, if you have any immediate questions contact the facility directly at 423-209-7055.

The Hamilton County TN Jail is a low/medium-security detention center located at 601 Walnut St Chattanooga, TN which is operated locally by the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office and holds inmates awaiting trial or sentencing or both. Most of the sentenced inmates are here for less than two years. Hamilton County accepts inmates from surrounding towns, Chattanooga Police Department, and the US Marshal's Service.

New detainees arrive at the jail regularly, with some being released on bail, placed under pretrial services caseloads, supervised by probation agencies, or released on recognizance with a court appearance agreement. Those who are not released await their court appearances at the jail, receiving accommodations including bedding and meals. You can see all the arrest records for Tennessee here.

Booking - The Booking Section is a twenty-four hour, seven day per week operation and is responsible for the intake and processing of all admissions into the Hamilton County Jail. The Booking Section is comprised of five posts: Intake, Data Entry, Fingerprint/ID, NCIC/RMS, and First Floor Operations.

Security Division - Several components make up this section. They include:

  • Security
  • Security Supervisor
  • Disciplinary/Workforce Officer
  • Segregation/Movement Officer
  • Security Intelligence Officer
  • Recreation Officer

Security - This area plays a significant role within the daily operation of the Corrections Division. This section is responsible for security operations, physical plant security, emergency plans, fire and life safety, security vulnerability assessments, security threat group management, transports, equipment upkeep, inmate phone system, video monitoring system, radio frequency identification devices, and compiling the monthly security report.

Security Supervisor - This supervisor oversees daily operation and coordinates all safety and security inspections of the facility and follow up on needed repairs and/or corrections, responsible for facility key and lock control, video monitoring equipment, security equipment inventory, communications equipment, kitchen tool inventory and equipment, and vehicle maintenance and upkeep; oversees the Security Threat Group (STG) task force, visitation, inmate workforce and recreation programs, disciplinary process, segregated inmates; high risk, administrative, disciplinary, pre-hearing disciplinary, protective custody, special needs inmates, kitchen tool inventory and equipment; and contraband reduction program; coordinate inmate transports, movement of inmates within the facility to medical, programs, arraignment, court assigned housing areas pending and after classification; conducts educational tours and outside training for the general public as well as other agencies. He is actively involved with in-service and pre-service training.

Segregation/Movement Officer - This officer monitors all inmates housed in a segregation area. He monitors inmates in all classes of Administrative and Disciplinary segregation to ensure the need for segregation is necessary, and ensures those serving a disciplinary segregation sentence are removed on their expiration date. This officer also ensures that weekly and monthly segregation reviews are conducted by appropriate staff members. He works in a coordinated effort with the Classification Section, Medical, and Case Management to ensure that all inmates are properly housed. He also coordinates the movement of inmates throughout the facility in compliance with the Classification decisions. This officer is actively involved in the facility training program.

Security Intelligence Officer - This officer conducts in-house investigations on Protective Custody, Security Threat Groups, Grievances, and Disciplinary infractions as directed by the Security Supervisor. He also maintains the inmate phone system, oversees needed repairs, coordinates updates, and makes recommendations on improvements. This officer is actively involved in the facility training program.

Recreation Officer - This officer ensure that all inmates have an opportunity to indoor/outdoor recreation as scheduled; maintains operational schedule of organized recreational activities; Oversees and maintains accountability for all recreational equipment; Supervises the operation of the inmate library; Locates and maintains a good supply and diversity of acceptable paperback reading material for distribution to inmates. He also oversees the distribution of legal and bulk mail to the inmate population.

Security Shifts - Three security shifts provide around the clock custody and control of the inmate population as well as the daily operations of the jail. Correctional Officers are assigned to a variety of positions that include floor operations (inmate housing units), visitation, central control, booking, court holding, internal and external transportation duties.

Mental Health Transports - The Corrections Division has been tasked with providing transportation services for citizens within Hamilton County who have been identified as potentially harmful to themselves or others as a result of mental health problems. A Crisis Response Team member who makes a determination that the citizen may be at risk conducts an assessment. A Certificate of Need is prepared and the jail is contacted requesting transportation. Transportation is typically provided from the scene to Moccasin Bend Mental Health Facility or any other designated facility.

The Hamilton County Jail Counseling section includes: A licensed counselor from the Mental Health Cooperative and a Master’s of Divinity level Chaplain/Program Coordinator.

On site Mental Health Services were implemented in September 1999 and provide case management and psychiatric services to persons with severe and persistent mental illness. The Case Manager is responsible for assessment, crisis intervention, advocacy, after care planning, and staff mental health/suicide identification and intervention training.

The Counselor advises inmates regarding educational and occupational alternatives; provides crisis intervention counseling to inmates experiencing emotional and/or physical crisis; assists inmates in developing awareness of their problems, values, and social and practical skills to deal with the realities of daily living.

The Jail Chaplain/Program Coordinator plans, directs and administers all aspects of programs both spiritual and secular; is responsible for the approval and training of all lay and clergy volunteers from faiths represented by the inmate population; develops and maintains a close working relationship with community resources, and visits with inmates daily.

The following is a partial list of programs available to inmates incarcerated in the Hamilton County Jail:

  • Religious awareness programs - via basic Biblical and Quran studies, Sunday worship and Jumah services, in-depth doctrinal exegesis, and correspondence courses inmates have the opportunity to explore, affirm and/or reaffirm their spiritual and/or religious foundations.
    1. Holy Communion
    2. Sunday A.M. Worship
    3. Sunday P.M. Worship
    4. Wednesday P.M. Worship
    5. New Believers
    6. Emmaus Walk
    7. Living Well By Faith
    8. Jumah
    9. Catholic Worship
  • Secular awareness programs - from juvenile to senior citizen; relationship building, anger management, constructive decision making, overcoming addictive tendencies, conflict management and child discipline are just some of the topics addressed through secular programming in the Hamilton County Jail.
    1. Adult GED Education
    2. Leading the Way
    3. Alcoholics Anonymous
    4. Beyond the Bars
    5. Transformation Project
    6. House of Refuge
    7. Stephen's Table
    8. Art Class

Commissary - The commissary is operated by BVE (Blind Vendor Enterprises) at vendengine.com. Inmates are permitted to order and purchase items from the commissary with the funds being deducted from their accounts. Items available include correspondence material, hygiene items, food products, and clothing items. Provisions are made for indigent inmates to receive basic necessities.

Food Services - Prepares and serves approximately 1,800 meals daily at an average cost of $2.98 per day per inmate. A Health Department dietician approves menus annually. Food Services also provides a variety of medical and religious diets. The kitchen’s bakery makes all bread products fresh daily. Inmate meals are delivered by “hot carts” and consumed in their living areas. Meals are prepared by inmate workers and adhere to Nationally Recommended Dietary Standards.

Health Services - The Hamilton County Jail and Erlanger Hospital have contracted to provide a comprehensive health services program. Professional medical, nursing, and health care services are provided including consultation on the preliminary screening of inmates upon arrival at the jail, a comprehensive health evaluation, sick call, nursing coverage, emergency medical care, medication administration, preventative care, ancillary services, special medical programs and diets, quality assurance program, and medical administrative support. The medical clinic is connected to the Hospital's emergency room by a Telemedicine link as well. A dentist is on site eight hours weekly to provide for dental care of inmates. Mental health services are provided by the Mental Health Cooperative

Maintenance - This service is provided by the county Maintenance Department. Two full time employees provide daily maintenance services to the facility.

Facility Inspections - Copy for T.C.I. - Fire Safety - Maintenance - Cleanliness - etc to express the administration’s concern to run a safe and secure facility.

Quartermaster - This area includes laundry, sanitation services, supply, and inmate property. Our primary concern is providing clean laundry, a clean and safe facility and concern for the security of the inmate’s property.

Disciplinary/Workforce Officer - This officer is responsible for the Inmate Disciplinary process. This includes reviewing all disciplinary reports, inmate rights advisement, conducting disciplinary hearings, briefing results of hearings to the Jail Captain, and preparing and briefing inmate appeals to the disciplinary process. He/she also reviews applications submitted by inmates requesting to participate in the Inmate Workforce Program. He/she coordinates the hiring of all inmates and their work assignments according to Classification, Medical and Case Management. This officer is actively involved in the facility training program.

Inmate Locator

Hamilton County TN Jail publishes the names of the inmates currently in their facility in Tennessee. Your search should start with this locator first to see if your loved one is there.

The second box is the InmateAid Inmate Search. This database of inmates is user-generated content to access and utilize any or all of the InmateAid services. If you need our assistance creating your inmate profile to keep in touch, email us at aid@inmateaid.com and we will assist you in locating your inmate.

As a last resort, you might have to pay for that information if we do not have it. The Arrest Record Search will cost you a small amount, but their data is the freshest available and for that reason, they charge to access it.

Visitation Information

Hamilton County TN Jail - Visitation

Times and days are subject to change without notice

  • Monday 8:30 am - 4 pm
  • Wednesday 9 am - 6 pm
  • Thursday 9 am - 4 pm
  • Friday 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
  • Saturday 10 am - 4:30 pm

This facility may also have a video visitation option, please call 423-209-7055, and ask for the "visiting room CO on duty" for more information, alerts, or rule changes.

Ask The Inmate

Ask a former inmate questions at no charge. The inmate answering has spent considerable time in the federal prison system, state and county jails, and in a prison that was run by the private prison entity CCA. Ask your question or browse previous questions in response to comments or further questions of members of the InmateAid community.