Etowah County Detention Center Inmate Tablet Rental

Etowah County Detention Center

Address:
827 Forrest Avenue
Gadsden, AL 35901

Phone:

256-549-5408

Securus Tablet Rental

Etowah County Detention Center now offers Securus 'SecureView' Tablet Rentals to their inmates.


  
Securus is the same company that handles the inmate phone system, video visitations, email and texting and digital letters.

The tablets can be rented on a monthly basis and while not directly connected to the internet, the inmates can use them for the following activities:

  • Phone Calls - Inmates may make calls directly from their tablet allowing for more privacy. The rates are the same as the phones in the unit, and the calls are still recorded and monitored.
  • eMessaging - Communicate via a text based message or picture. Fee based system.
  • Job Search - Using JobView, a secure job search application, inmates have the ability to see what jobs are available when they are released.
  • Education - Free educational platform and course catalog that provides thousands of educational resources.
  • Self Help -Inmates have daily access to mental health and addiction recovery programming.
  • Music - Top-40, Hip-Hop, Country, Rock, Gospel, and more.
  • Law Library -  Legal research with up-to-date case information.
  • eBooks - Thousands of available titles.
  • Religion - Religious resources for spiritual guidance.
  • Games - Inmates can play their favorite games. Available through monthly subscriptions
  • Facility Services - Digital access to submitted forms, requests, facility documents, and notifications from staff.

Here's how it works:

  • Register here.  It is recommended you use Chrome or Firefox.
  • Pay for the subscription using Paypal.
  • You get charged the 1st of each month. 
  • You get charged a full month even if it's only used for a partial month.
  • No activation or early termination fees.
  • Your inmate will receive their tablet in 3-5 business days, after you pay.

Questions:

Does Etowah County Detention Center have tablets for the inmates to use?

You can find information about the Etowah County Detention Center’s tablet program at the top of this page. If there is no information about it, it is because they either have recently changed companies or are not yet providing this service for inmates. Call 256-549-5408 to confirm.

What can the inmates use the tablets for?

Inmates in jails and prisons are using tablets for all the communication services available such as video visitation, video phone calls, regular phone calls, and electronic messaging – which is like texting and email.

Tablets are also used for entertainment, such as watching movies, television shows, listening to music and reading e-books. It is also used for education, self-help information, and legal research.

Are the jail’s tablets connected to the internet?

No, they are not connected to the internet. All the messages, visits and programming goes through a system controlled by the company that provides the tablets, and through the jail. They control what each inmate sees. All messages are carefully screened and not delivered if the sender or the inmate violates jail policy.

How much do the tablets cost to use?

For accessing visits and messages, the tablets are free to us. Each unit has many of them, all provided by the company that has contracted with the jail. Of course, the video visits and messages have a fee and those are paid for by the inmate’s family and friends who use the service.

If inmates are supposedly being punished, why do they get access to tablets?

That’s the question a lot of people ask and don’t fully understand.

The way the jail staff looks at it, is that if they can keep the inmates busy and distracted, it makes it safer for them. 

Tablets also give them a certain power over controller an inmate’s behavior. For example, if an inmate knows that they will lose the privilege of having access to a tablet if they get into a fight or violate another rule or policy, they will be better behaved. 

Tablets are one of the few things that make an inmate feel as though they are free, and they don’t want to lose the privilege of having access to one.

What companies have tablets for jail and inmate use?

CIDNET
City Tele Coin
Gettingout
GTL
Homewav
IC Solutions
Inmate Sales
JailATM
J Pay
NCIC
Oasis
Paytel
Reliance
Securus
Smart Communications

What if an inmate breaks a tablet, do they have to pay for it?

Yes, if an inmate breaks a tablet, then they are responsible for paying for it. The money will come out of their commissary funds, so not only do they lose access to having a tablet as punishment, but they also won’t be able to purchase snacks on commissary.
 

How to Rent a Tablet for an Inmate in Etowah County Detention Center

To rent a tablet for an inmate in Etowah County follow these instructions:

  • Register here.  It is recommended you use Chrome or Firefox.
  • Pay for the subscription using Paypal.
  • You get charged the 1st of each month. 
  • You get charged a full month even if it's only used for a partial month.
  • No activation or early termination fees.
  • Your Etowah County inmate will recieve their tablet in 3-5 business days, after you pay.


If you have any questions:

For all Etowah County information on Tablet Rentals for your inmate, check out our Tablet Rental Page.


 

Etowah County Detention Center Inmate Mail Policies and Address - What Can You Send, and Where?

For inmates receiving mail in the Etowah County Detention Center there are different addresses and policies depending on the inmate's status, as well as what type of mail they are receiving; personal mail, legal mail, subscriptions or books sent from a third-party such as Amazon.

All mail is to be shipped to the Etowah County Detention Center:
Inmate's Full Name & Booking #
Etowah County Detention Center
827 Forrest Avenue
Gadsden, AL 35901


For complete information on mail policies, what you can send an inmate and what address to send them, check out our Inmate Mail page.


 

How to Send Money to an Inmate in Etowah County

To send commissary money to an inmate in Etowah County Detention Center follow these steps:

Etowah County Detention Center uses the services of JPAY for you to send money to an inmate's trust fund / commissary account. 

You can send money to an inmate/offender's commissary/spendable account through the Send Money page.
There are several ways to send money to an inmate/offender in Etowah County.

  1. Online payments
  2. Over the phone by calling 800-574-5729
  3. MoneyGram
  4. If you wish to send cash you can use MoneyGram. MoneyGram has many convenient locations nationwide.
    The following establishments will always have MoneyGram services:
    Walmart
    7-11
    CVS Pharmacy

You will need:
The Etowah County Inmate's Correctional ID number and their last name
Etowah County Detention Center or  the receive code.
You can visit the MoneyGram website to find locations near you.

        5. Money Order - Inmate's Name must be on the Money Order
            Inmate Name and Inmate ID#
           Etowah County Detention Center address.

        6. Lobby Kiosk
            You can use a debit or credit card in the jail lobby kiosk to send funds to an inmate/offender.

For all information on how to Send Money to an inmate's account check out our full money and commissary guide for Etowah County Detention Center.


 

How to Schedule and Visit an Inmate in Etowah County Detention Center

To schedule and set up a visit, either at-the-jail or remotely from your home, follow these instructions:

  • Register and/or log in.
  • Select Etowah County Detention Center, then your inmate.
  • Review the days, available hours and the cost of remote and on-site visits in Etowah County.
  • Schedule your visit.

To get more complete instructions, and understand visit lengths, times, locations, fees and all the other rules including children, dress codes and more, check out or Visit Inmate Page.
NOTE: All visits are recorded and whatever you say and do will be monitored. It is best to never discuss sensitive information regarding your inmate's pending case.


 

How to Send a Text or Email Message to an Inmate in Etowah County Detention Center

To send a text or email message to a Etowah County inmate, do the following:

Etowah County Detention Center uses Securus eMessaging for Inmate Email.

Register here. (You are already registered if you signed up with Securus for 'Phone' or 'Remote Visitation' in Etowah County or any jail or prison in the country).
Steps: 
1.  Sign up for eMessaging
2. Find your Etowah County inmate.
3. Purchase a book of Securus ‘stamps’.
4. Type & Send message.

For all Etowah County information for sending secure messages to an inmate in Etowah County Detention Center, including instructions, video examples, fees, limits, tablet rentals and more, check out out Text/Email an Inmate Page.


 

How to Send a Carepack Commissary Package Directly to an Inmate in Etowah County

To send a commissary carepack (food, snacks and goods) directly to an inmate in Etowah County Detention Center follow these steps:

  • Select Alabama, then select Etowah County Detention Center, and then select the 'Send a Package Order' option.
  • Register and create an account with Access Securepak, for Etowah County.
  • Choose the inmate and the products you want shipped to them, and input your payment method. 
  • NOTE: There may be a limit on how much product you can send your inmate in Etowah County at any one time.

For all information, tips and available items for shipping Commissary packages to an inmate in Etowah County Detention Center check out our Commissary Instructions Page for Etowah County.


 

How an Inmate Makes a Phone Call to You or Others from Etowah County Detention Center

To set up a phone account so that your inmate can call you from Etowah County do the following:

1. Enroll in an account with Securus Technologies.

2. Choose one of three account types, Securus Debit, Advance Connect or Direct Bill.
3. Choose [facility_name_1}, then connect with your inmate.
4. If you have any questions, call Securus: 972-734-1111 or 800-844-6591.

To find out fees, how to's, calling times, limits on phone calls and other systems Securus has do that you can communicate with your Etowah County inmate, check out our Inmate Phone Page.
NOTE: All of your inmate's phone calls are recorded and stored. It is advised not to discuss their pending case.


 

Photos of this facility
1 / 9
2 / 9
3 / 9
4 / 9
5 / 9
6 / 9
7 / 9
8 / 9
9 / 9