If you are arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) of drugs or alcohol in Hall County, GA, you will likely be taken to Hall County Jail for testing and processing. If you are convicted in Hall County for DUI and your offense meets certain requirements, you could end up serving time in Hall County Prison.

Knowing what could come, or what is coming, is an important step in defending yourself against DUI charges in Georgia. With the help of an experienced Hall County DUI attorney, you can defend your case and work to keep yourself out of jail or prison.

The Hall County Jail

The Hall County Jail was opened in December 2007. It is a modern and state-of-the-art facility that uses modern technologies. It hosts 1,026 beds for its female and male inmates. The work release dormitory has 148 beds and has a house arrest program that manages up to 60 inmates per day.

It is the largest division within the Hall County Sheriff's Office. It employs over 200 officers and clerks and is responsible for inmate transport to court hearings, medical appointments, and dental appointments.

The Hall County Jail is located at:

1700 Barber Road
Gainesville, GA 30507

The phone number is 770-531-6904.

After an Arrest

After an arrest for DUI within Hall County, you will likely be taken back to Hall County Jail for processing. This includes chemical testing to determine your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) or search for the presence of drugs in your system.

This testing will occur even if you were tested at the side of the road through field sobriety tests or a roadside breathalyzer. The test that occurs at the jail is the official test that can be used at your DUI trial. You may be read your informed consent rights at this time and given the opportunity to refuse a chemical test. This refusal could have a significant impact on your rights moving forward, so this an important decision.

After Processing

If Georgia law enforcement decides not to release you, you will be processed into the jail. All inmates are given uniforms and shoes, and no other clothing or personal items can come into jail with you. Inmates are allowed to purchase hygiene items through the inmate commissary. Medications and special needs are dealt with through the jail's medical staff.

Inmates can receive visitors and mail, but all visitors and correspondence must meet the strict guidelines of the Hall County Jail. Mail or visitation that does not comply with these guidelines can be rejected.

After you are in jail, you can work to get bond posted. With the help of your experienced DUI lawyer, you can get a bond established by the court, have it paid, and get out of jail in most cases. You should not have to sit in jail longer than absolutely necessary. You have rights, and with the help of a knowledgeable attorney, you can make sure those rights are protected from abuse.

The Hall County Correctional Institute

The Hall County Correctional Institute is home to offenders who have been convicted of a crime. It serves to house inmates in compliance with state policies. It houses over 240 inmates at its location in three different dormitories.

The Hall County Correctional Institute is located at:

1698 Barber Road
Gainesville, GA 30507

The prison can be contacted by phone at 770-718-2370 or 770-718-2352. The fax number is 770-536-3709.

Prison Work Force

The Hall County Correctional Institute provides an inmate labor force to Hall county and the cities within it. Approximately 40 to 50 different inmate details work each day to provide a workforce for such entities as:

• Parks and Leisure
• Road Maintenance
• Resource Recovery
• Solid Waste
• Public Works
• Parks and Recreation

This is free labor for the County and its cities. 

Re-entry Accountability Court Transition (REACT)

Starting in 2014, the Hall County Correctional Institute begin a re-entry program for its inmates called Re-entry Accountability Court Transition (REACT). It is meant to provide an opportunity for Hall and Dawson County residents returning to the area from state prison to get certain types of programming to better the transition from prison back to the world at large.

This program includes

• educational upgrades,
• intensive programming, and
• employment prior to release on parole or probation.

The program is designed only for those residents returning to the Northeastern Judicial Circuit, which includes Hall and Dawson counties. Those returning to other counties are not eligible for the REACT program.

The classes the REACT program offers includes:

• Motivation for Change (M4C),
• Re-Entry,
• Moral Recognition Therapy (MRT),
• Resident Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT),
• General Educational Development (GED),
• Adult Basic Education (ABE),
• Alcoholics Anonymous/Narcotics Anonymous (AA/NA),
• Celebrate Recovery,
• Financial Peace,
• Georgia's Best (Workforce Development Skills),
• Welding Certificate Program, and
• mentoring programs.

Defending Your Case

The best way to avoid a lengthy jail or prison sentence is to vigorously defend your DUI case. This should be done with the help of an experienced Gainesville DUI defense lawyer by:

• Challenging Blood, Breath, and Urine Tests Chemical tests taken at the police station, on the road, or in the jail are not always accurate. This is especially true when Georgia law enforcement fails to properly administer the test, which happens more often than you might think.
• Fighting Field Sobriety Tests Field sobriety tests are far from accurate and are often performed poorly due to some medical condition or a simple inability to do the test, even when sober.
• Filing a Suppression Motion When evidence is obtained by law enforcement in a way that violates the U.S. or Georgia Constitution, it can be suppressed or kept out of evidence. This can greatly reduce the charges against you, or even cause them to be dismissed in some cases.

Consult an Experienced Hall County DUI Attorney

If you or someone you care about has been arrested and charged with a DUI in Hall County, you could spend some time in either the Hall County Jail or the Hall County Correctional Institute. To defend your case and protect your rights, an experienced Hall County DUI lawyer can help. Contact us today for a free consultation of your case.