Everything You Need to Know About Shelby County Jail

If you have a friend or loved one who has been arrested in Memphis, TN, then there is a good chance that they are being held at Shelby County Jail.

To get them out fast, call us at (901) 523-2245. We are available 24/7.
The Different Jails In Memphis

There are multiple jails in Memphis, TN, which can make finding your friend or loved one difficult. This is especially true if you don’t have much experience with the local justice system.

To make your search easier, we’ve provided a brief overview of the various jail facilities in Memphis.

While the bulk of this article is about Shelby County Jail, we thought this short overview would be helpful. To skip the overview and start learning more about Shelby County Jail, go to the Shelby County Jail (Shelby County Division Of Correction) Overview section.

Brief Supplemental Information About Other Jails

Mark Luttrell Transition Center (Mark H. Luttrell Correctional Center) – Located at 6000 State Rd, Memphis, TN 38134, this facility is on the smaller side and can accommodate about 450 people. The center’s main focus is on providing transitional services to offenders and helping them cultivate important life skills such as how to be a good employee.

Shelby County Correctional Center (Shelby County Corrections Department) – Located at 1045 Mullins Station Rd Building K, Memphis, TN 38134, this maximum security facility has a capacity of around 3,700 inmates. To learn more about their programs and services, please call the center directly.

Shelby Training Center – Located at 3420 Old Getwell Rd, Memphis, TN 38118, this close security facility can accommodate around 200 inmates. There isn’t much information about this facility available online, as it doesn’t have a website. For more information about their programs and services, please call the facility directly.

Shelby County Jail (Shelby County Division Of Correction) Main Overview

Located at 201/225 Poplar Ave, Memphis, TN 38103, Shelby County Jail is quite a large facility.

In fact, it’s one of the biggest jails in the entire United States and has a capacity of nearly 3,000 inmates, male and female.

Male and female inmates, however, do NOT stay at the same location.

Men are housed at 201 Poplar Ave, while women are held at 6201 Haley Road, which is about 16 miles away from the main facility.

Meanwhile, the Juvenile Court Detention Center is located at 616 Adams Avenue.

The combined daily census at the male and female adult locations is an average of 2,000 inmates. Every year, the two locations book around 56,000 people.

The main Shelby County Jail facility is six stories tall and is surrounded by razor wire.

Note: If you are looking for an inmate at 201/225 Poplar Ave or 6201 Haley Rd, you can either call us or use the Lookup tool on the Shelby Sheriff website.

Safety At Shelby County Jail

Accredited by the American Corrections Association, Shelby County Jail has a no-tolerance policy toward sexual misconduct of any kind, including sexual harassment, assault, and rape.

Inmates who feel their safety is being threatened are urged to speak to a staff member immediately. Friends or families of an inmate who feel their safety is being threatened should call the jail and speak to the staff.

Shelby County Jail History

Built in 1981, the Criminal Justice Center at 201/225 Poplar Avenue is home to Shelby County Jail, the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, the Courts, and other essential buildings.

Shelby County jail was originally built to handle 1,200 inmates but was greatly expanded in 1989 and 1990.

Shelby County Jail East Women’s Facility

Opened in 1999, this is a two-story facility with a capacity of 382 inmates. This facility houses both adult females and adjudicated juveniles and is located at 6201 Haley Road.

Jail East has fairly short stays, which average around seven days. Every year, the location holds around 10,000 people.

The Jail East facility offers education, rehabilitative programs, grief support, and religious services to inmates.

Shelby County Juvenile Detention Center

Located at 616 Adams Avenue, the Shelby County Juvenile Detention Center operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

The Juvenile Detention Services center focuses mainly on providing support for youths who are a danger to themselves or to the public and is mostly a short-term facility where youths are held until their court appointments.

Strict measures are taken to ensure the welfare of every child within the center, including protection from self-incrimination. All youths are provided counsel upon request and informed of their rights.

The Juvenile Detention Center also provides programs and services to educate and rehabilitate troubled youths.

While staying at the center, youths are offered a variety of programs and activities, including educational programs, counseling, physical activities, and programs designed to increase self-control and emotional regulation.

24/7 medical services are also available at the center.

This center has three units (the Central Detention Control, Boy’s Detention, and Girl’s Detention) and has a capacity of 135 residents. The staff to resident ratio is 1 to 8 during waking hours.

The long-term goal of the Shelby County Juvenile Detention Center is to reduce the number of youths within the justice system.

To learn more about the facility, the types of services they offer, and their visitation times, you’ll need to call the Detention Services Bureau.

How To Visit Shelby County Jail

If you want to visit an inmate at Shelby County Jail, you have two options.

Option One is Onsite Video Visitation.

Option Two is At Home Video Visitation.

General Visitation Information

Inmate visitation is important since it allows inmates to connect with their loved ones, reduces stress and anxiety, and aids in the rehabilitation process.

To schedule an onsite or at home video visit, you must be 18 years of age or older and have a valid ID. If you are 65 or older, you may be allowed to use a temporary ID.

Each inmate is allowed two video visits per week. To visit an inmate, you must first get on the inmate’s visitation list.

Tips When Visiting

To ensure you have a smooth, successful visit, there are some things you’ll want to keep in mind.

One, please do not use public wifi and avoid streaming from other sources during your visit.

Two, if you encounter a white screen, inquire with the staff. It probably means you aren’t checked in.

Three, please download the GTL VisMobile app on the Google Play store for your Android device.

Four, if you have issues with the volume during your video call, you can adjust it by touching the bottom of the screen and selecting the volume icons.

Juvenile Visitation Schedule

Visits take place Tuesday through Friday from 6:30 PM to 8 PM.

On Saturday, Sunday, and Holidays, visits are from 12 PM to 1 PM or 6:30 PM to 8 PM.

Holiday visits take place on Mondays only.

Southside Boys, Northside Boys, and Girls all have different visitation days.

Southside Boys can be seen Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.

Northside Boys can be seen Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday.

Girls can be seen Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.

Please keep in mind that in-person visits to the Juvenile Detention Center have been temporarily suspended due to COVID-19. You can call the center for updates.

Attorney Visitation

Attorney visits are available to inmates seven days a week during normal jail hours and have no time restrictions.

Attorneys must present their bar card or agency ID upon entering the different jail facilities. Other kinds of professionals will need to call the jail and receive prior approval before visiting.

Attorneys are allowed to bring items that are necessary for conducting an interview. They are also allowed to bring one assistant or intern or paralegal or interpreter so long as they get prior approval from the jail staff.

If a professional, such as a doctor or an attorney, needs to visit an inmate outside of normal operating hours, a request must be made to the Chief Jailer or designee.

All professional visits are private, although the security staff will have access to observation windows and are very likely to observe the interview.

Visitation Rules Further Explored

If you are between the ages of 13 and 17, you’ll need to provide a School ID and a Dismissal Slip in order to visit Shelby County Jail.

Parents of homeschool students should contact the center and inquire with the staff about how they can schedule a visit.

To enter the jail and complete your onsite video visit, you’ll need to pass a security clearance scanner.

Please keep in mind that people wearing ankle monitors are not allowed to participate in video visitation. Those who have been arrested for a misdemeanor or felony within the last year are also not allowed to participate unless their case was dismissed.

Prohibited Items

There are a number of items that you should NOT bring with you or wear during your onsite visit. These include but are not limited to:

Electronic devices
Food and drink
Tobacco and other smoking products
Gun and gun belts (police only)
Mace, pepper spray, and aerosol sprays
Sharp metal objects such as knives, razors, box cutters, fingernail clippers, fishing hooks, spikes, rat tail combs, hair picks, screws, nails, etc.
Metal bottle openers
Objects that could be used as a blunt weapon, such as glass bottles, heavy flashlights, hammers, crowbars, brass knuckles, etc.
Umbrellas (if you bring an umbrella because it’s raining, please inform the staff immediately).

If you need to store your belongings, the center provides lockers for 50¢. You’ll have to pay with quarters.

Prohibited Behavior

Please avoid the following behaviors:

Using profanity
Making obscene gestures
Making excessive noise
Engaging in fights, arguments, or threatening behavior

Dress Code

Whether you are visiting an inmate as a friend or family member or you are a professional coming to see a client, please dress in fashionable upscale attire.

Men should wear a dress shirt, nice jeans or dress pants, and dress shoes. Women should wear something tasteful.

Shoes must be worn at all times.

Please avoid wearing the following:

See-through clothing
Clothing that is baggy
Clothing that is too tight
Obscene or offensive clothing
Clothing or items that promote gangs, violence, weapons, drug use, or pornography.
Clothing with slogans
Excessive layers of clothing
Ripped or torn clothing
Low-rider pants
House shoes (slippers)

Sending Money To An Inmate At Shelby County Jail

To send money to an inmate, you can use the kiosks in the jail’s lobby.

Just a heads up. You’ll need to bring cash.

To submit funds through a credit or debit card or to submit online, please call the center and ask for further instructions.

The maximum amount you can submit per week is $200. Checks are not accepted.

You are able to add money to an inmate’s account between 8 AM and 7 PM, seven days a week at 201 Poplar Ave for men and 6201 Haley Rd for women.

Writing To An Inmate At Shelby County Jail

To write to an inmate at Shelby County Jail, please use the inmate’s full name, their booking number, and the facility’s address when addressing the letter. Please also add the inmate’s floor and pod if you know it.

The letter should look like this:

Return address
Inmates full name
Booking number
Floor and pod (or where they’re housed if you’re writing to a female inmate)
Facility address

Sending Items To An Inmate At Shelby County Jail

To send books and magazines to an inmate, you’ll need the help of the publisher in question. Shelby County Jail only accepts books and magazines from publishers.

If you’d like to send clothes to an inmate, you’ll have to visit the jail in person and deliver them. You can bring the clothes at any time to 201 Poplar Ave for men and 6201 Haley Rd for women.

The clothes you bring should be formal or upscale attire appropriate for court.

Please do not bring tennis shoes.

Getting Out Of Jail and Release of Property

You might be wondering how long it takes to get out of Shelby County Jail.

Unfortunately, there is no set time.

Each case is unique, and sometimes the process can take as long as six hours.

With all that said, you will mostly only have to wait two hours.

You’ll need to get your photos taken, go through warrant checks, get your fingerprints done, get
checked by the medical staff, and so on.

Property Releases

Anyone over the age of 18 is allowed to pick up inmate property. However, to retrieve the property, the inmate has to make a request via a property release form.

Please note that property that constitutes evidence will not be released.

Paying Bail At Shelby County Jail

To pay bail at Shelby County jail, you’ll want to visit the Jail Annex visitation area. The court clerk’s office is available 24 hours a day.

Cash bonds and professional bail bonds are both accepted.

Personal Care and Health Protocols At Shelby County Jail

Shelby County Jail works hard to provide excellent medical, dental, and mental health services to inmates. Religious services are also available.

For inmates with mental illness, Shelby County Jail has a suicide precaution unit with four fully modified cells and 5 step down cells.

Inmates with mental illness participate in daily individual and group activities (including therapy) and are encouraged to maintain regular contact with their families.

The services at Shelby County Jail are provided through WellPath, which is an accredited provider with the National Commission on Correctional Health (NCCHC).

Inmates that require specialized treatment will be transported to Regional One Health or a Med-Plex clinic.

Shelby County Jail supports inmate rehabilitation through educational and vocational programs and spiritual counseling.

How To Get Out Of Shelby County Jail Quickly

When you are taken to Henderson Detention Center, you have two main options.

The first option is to remain in jail until your trial concludes. This process can last days, weeks, or even months.

The second option is to bail out of jail fast with the help of a professional bail bond agency, which we believe is the better of the two options.

Get A Bail Bond With Us

If you need a bail bond, you aren’t alone. Most people need help paying bail.

To work with a highly experienced bail bond company, call us at (901) 523-2245. We’ve been helping people get out of jail fast for decades and are ready to help you.

We provide bail bonds for all of Shelby County, including Memphis, Millington, Collierville, Germantown, and Bartlett.

Submit An Online Bail Bond Application

Want to submit a bail bond request online? All you need to do is visit our Bail Bond Online page and fill out the information. Once your information has been submitted, a bail bond agent will contact you.

Why Work With Us?

There are several reasons why we may be a good fit for you.

1. We’ve been helping people in the Memphis area obtain fast and simple bail bonds for decades.

2. We have in-depth experience with bail bonds and can walk you through the entire process.

3. We provide expedited bail bonds. In fact, we can post bail for you within minutes of receiving your information.

4. Our payment plans are flexible and tailored specifically to your needs.

5. We are local. You can visit our main office in Memphis at 238 Poplar Ave. Suite 1 Memphis, TN 38103.

6. We are available 24/7.

Everything You Need to Know About Shelby County Jail

Brief Supplemental Information About Other Jails