Irwin County Detention Center

Irwin County Detention Center

A hand-painted emblem reading “Irwin County Detention Center” identifies an isolated, boxy building encircled by barbed-wire fencing. It is situated about a mile from the center of Ocilla, Georgia, and about 200 miles (or a three-hour drive) from Atlanta. This facility has 1,200 beds, which makes the private detention center the largest employer in the 10,000-resident county.

In compliance with an agreement with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Georgia, started accommodating immigration detainees in December 2010. Since then, Irwin Detention Center has been criticized by the ACLU of Georgia for poor treatment of the immigrants being held.

The facility accommodates a small portion of the approximately 2,000 immigrants apprehended in Georgia State. To avoid falling through the cracks, detained immigrants should immediately contact a reputable immigration attorney.

Visiting Irwin Detention Center

The facility is located at 132 Cotton Drive Ocilla, GA 31774. It is open for visitors from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. Male detainees receive visitors Thursdays and Saturdays; female detainee visitors are welcome on Fridays and Sundays. Visits are at a maximum one-hour long.

Minors visiting the center must be accompanied by an adult guardian of 18 years or older, and they must remain with that guardian at all times.

To ensure a smooth and event-free entry to the facility, visitors have to present valid and verifiable government-issued identification and arrive 45 minutes before the time of their scheduled visit.

Retaining an Atlanta immigration attorney helps detainees and their family members understand and comply with the facility rules and restrictions.

Irwin Detention Center History

Irwin Detention Center has survived numerous versions. It served as the center for detainees of the U.S. Marshals Service in the early part of the 1990s. Later, it was used as a youth boot camp. Then, it sat vacant until 2004.

In 2004, the facility was purchased by Terry O’Brien of Municipal Corrections. It was reopened under the operating control of former deputy sheriff Michael Croft’s company, Michael Croft Enterprises. At that time, it was used as overflow housing for other inmates from other counties.

The Irwin County Detention Center is Big Business

In an attempt to attract federal customers, the facility’s owner and operator convinced Irwin County that a bigger facility was required. In 2007, Irwin county invested $55-million in lease revenue bonds to double the number of beds the center held. The revenue generated by the additional inmates was anticipated to create a profit to pay the bondholders.

The refurbished Irwin County Detention Center, which reopened in 2009, failed to accomplish the profits required. Later that year, operations were taken over by Detention Management LLC partnering with Municipal Corrections. Capitalizing on connections in Georgia and Washington, DC, they planned to attract the business of ICE to make the center solvent.

With an eye on the bottom-line, the facility may be more concerned about profits than the rights of its inmates. A reliable attorney who possesses experience with Georgia immigration can ensure that the needs of detainees and their families are sufficiently represented.

Irwin Detention Center Georgia In the News

ICE deportation officers for the Irwin Detention Center in Georgia work from the Atlanta ERO Field Office. Family members can contact the Field Office’s duty desk at (404) 893-1290. To be routed to the deportation officer delegated to a specific case, provide the last three digits of the detainee’s alien number.

Family members are required to visit the field office during business hours to meet a deportation officer in person. The office address is 180 Spring Street SW, Atlanta, Georgia 30303.

Immigration matters can be complicated and difficult to handle. Even native English speakers often find legal issues confusing. To improve one’s chance of a better outcome, it is advised to retain legal counsel from an immigration attorney like Jameel Manji from Manji Law P.C.

Jameel Manji’s Atlanta office Manji Law P.C. has the reputation as a top immigration firm. This is why family members of detainees choose to retain him for counsel and representation.

Irwin County Detention Center Help Now

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