Detention Bureau - Commander Terri Ezell

Commander Terri Ezell has been a member of the Muscogee County Sheriff's Office since November 1983. She began her service as a Correctional Officer. She was an Assistant Warden from July 1993 until August 2000, when she was promoted to Warden of the Muscogee County Jail, now the Muscogee County Sheriff's Office Detention Facility. She is the first woman to serve in the capacity of warden in the history of the Muscogee County Sheriff's Office.

Ezell attended Chattahoochee Valley State Community College, earning an Associates of Science Degree in June 1990. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Columbus State University in June 1994. Ezell is a Graduate of Class 8 of the Georgia Law Enforcement Command College and received her Masters Degree in Public Administration from Columbus State University in January 2004.

About the Muscogee County Sheriff's Office Detention Facility

The Muscogee County Sheriff's Office Detention Facility opened in December 2002. The cost to construct the new Jail was approximately $17 million. The facility is located next to the old Muscogee County Jail Complex. Construction of the detention facility began in 1999. The new facility was funded by revenue bonds.

The detention facility contains 24 new cellblocks in addition to the 12 cellblocks in the old jail section, these include special management cells and isolation cells for the close custody inmates. The Administration Section has been expanded and there is a new intake section and visitation section. New and improved security measures have been installed as well. The new building contains a larger medical facility. There are more clinic cells and beds near the clinic. Due to the design of interior outside yards, inmates will no longer utilize the exterior outside yards. The new facility houses the Sheriff's Identification Section, where fingerprinting and classification is provided for all of the law enforcement agencies for all Muscogee County inmates. Investigation of crime scenes is also done through the Sheriff's ID section under the command of Major T. Culpepper, Operations Bureau.

The 1939 Jail facility will no longer be used to house inmates. Instead, it will be used for storage space, training facilities, and administrative offices. The 1984 Jail facility is scheduled to be updated and renovated. It will continue to house inmates as well as provide administrative office space.

Click here for information about the detention facility's inmate visitation process.
 

About the Correctional Emergency Response Team (C.E.R.T.)

The Muscogee County Detention Facility has a Special Operations unit called the Correctional Emergency Response Team. C.E.R.T. utilizes a group of specially trained and equipped officers to facilitate the movement of combative inmates from a cell, housing unit, or others within the detention facility. This unit is responsible for the security and safety of the Correction Personnel and inmates at the Muscogee County Detention Facility. The Correctional Emergency Response Team is made up of four squads of officers.
 

Recorder's Court

The primary function of Recorder's Court is the processing of cases from the Columbus Police Department, Special Enforcement, Inspections and Codes, Georgia State Troopers, and Georgia Department of Motor Vehicle Safety. Recorder's Court has exclusive jurisdiction over all city ordinance violations and is additionally the court of first appearance for misdemeanor and felony cases made by the above agencies.

Recorder's Court is divided into two sections: The Finance Office and the Clerk's Office. The Finance Office is responsible for the collections and accounting of cash bonds and fines and assisting the public by providing information and assistance over the telephone and in person. The Clerk's Office is responsible for preparing court dockets, assisting the judges in the courtroom and recording information about each case into the computer system.

The hours of operation for Recorder's Court are 8:00 am until 5:00 pm Monday thru Friday for the posting of bond for traffic offense. It is also open on Saturdays and some holidays for arrest cases only. Bonds will not be accepted on the day of the scheduled hearing, weekend, or most holidays. Court is held at 8:00 am, 9:00 am, and 2:00 pm Monday thru Saturday. Environmental Court is held on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month at 9:00 am and 2:00 pm.

Recorder's Court accepts payment by cash, credit care, or local check in person. Bonds may also be mailed to Recorder's Court but must be post marked at least three (3) days prior to the scheduled hearing. Only money orders or cashier's checks are accepted by mail.

For More Information about Recorder's Court contact, call (706) 653-4256.