CountyJail.net

        USA  /  Alabama  /  Calhoun County Jail    CountyJail.net has 1,420 interviews from ex-inmates. Share your story
Find Calhoun County Jail inmates...

Calhoun County Jail

400 West 8th Street
Anniston, AL 36201
(256) 236-5561

Interview with Randall

JM: How long was your sentencing for?
Randall: I was not sentenced I was not sentenced

JM: Did you spend time in a holding cell after your sentencing? If so, what was that like? If you didn't where did they they take you instead?
Randall: I spent 3 days in holding twice. I was put in the kitchen to work afterwards.I spent 3 days in holding twice. I was put in the kitchen to work afterwards.

Background
The Calhoun County Jail is located in Anniston AL and has a capacity to house 370 inmates. However recently the daily population of the prison has increased somewhat and now houses approximately 430 inmates per day, which is an increase from 15 years ago when those numbers hovered right around 180. For the most part custody in this prison is not intended to be punitive since many of the inmates have not been tried by the court yet and are merely in holding awaiting their hearings. The Calhoun County Sheriff's Office explains in their mission statement that these inmates who have not yet been tried are to be treated as innocent until proven guilty. 

The Calhoun County Jail recently received a $20,000 grant from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs, energy division. This grant will allow Calhoun County jail to upgrade it's energy usage by installing energy efficient HVAC upgrades throughout the facility. The total cost of the upgrades will be $30,000 with $20,000 being covered by the awarded grant and the other $10,000 will be covered by the county. In the long run it is expected that these upgrades will reduce the amount that is costs to run the jail and in turn will save tax payers money over time. 

Calhoun County Jail also gain a little national notoriety in January 2013 when the Sheriff who over sees the prison Sheriff Larry Amerson, met with President Barack Obama regarding gun violence. Sheriff Amerson is the president of the National Sheriff's Association and was called to Washington, along with 13 other Sheriffs to meet with the President and discuss gun violence in the United States. 

Life on the Inside
Do to its non-punitive nature, a stay at this facility will probably be a little lighter than most. Many of the inmates housed in this facility are simply awaiting trial and typically it is for a non-violent offense. There are some inmates that have been tried and convicted, however 38% of those who have been sentenced are serving time for minor infractions such as probation violation. Another 25% are serving time for drug or alcohol related offenses. 

Calhoun County Jail employs a full kitchen staff and facility which prepares more than 400,000 meals per year. In addition to the complete kitch and commissary, this facility also has a full medical staff that provides private medical screenings, similar to what most citizens on the outside would experience with a personal physician. There is also a separate medical wing for women inmates. Also provided are a work release program which acts as a temporary employment agency as well as a rehabilitation center that provides over 6,000 hours of community service. 

Visitation 
The visitation procedure at Calhoun County Jail is designed to reduce wait time for those visiting. All requests for visits are to be made in advance by calling the jail directly at (256) 241-0832. If you do not have an appointment, no visitation will be granted. Each inmate may have a list of 5 immediate family members that are allowed to visit and only 4 members can visit at any one time. The inmate has to add your name to the list of possible vistors, you cannot add yourself. Visitation rights are restricted to immediate family members only, which means girlfriends, fiances or a live in spouse will not be permitted to visit. 

You may call to set up a visit during the following hours:

Monday 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. (For Monday night visits) 
Wednesday 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. (For Wednesday night visits) 
Thursday 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (For Saturday visits) 
Friday 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (For Sunday visits) 
 



Continue to the interview