Here's how much it costs to make phone calls, buy items from Augusta's jail

Alexandra Koch, Augusta Chronicle
·2 min read
FILE - The Charles B. Webster Detention Center in Augusta, Ga., Thursday morning September 3, 2020.
FILE - The Charles B. Webster Detention Center in Augusta, Ga., Thursday morning September 3, 2020.

Many Augustans will never set foot in the Charles B. Webster Detention Center. However, if they were to find themselves housed there, they could expect to find some interesting items at the commissary and pay a hefty fee for phone calls.

Collect calls can last up to 15 minutes at the detention center, according to the jail website.

Local calls run inmates $2.70 per call, long distance calls in Georgia are about $4.85 per call - depending on distance, and out of state calls are a substantial $15.85 per call.

County records show the jail brought in more than $325,000 in 2021 from inmate calls alone. In 2022, the number fell to nearly $278,000, and in 2023, fell to just over $141,000.

With any money inmates have left over after talking to family or friends, they can visit the jail's commissary, which typically brings in about $500,000 each year.

Here's a look at the most interesting items, most expensive items and least expensive items at the commissary.

Most interesting items at the commissary

  • Pocket dictionary - $4.01

  • Acne treatment cream - $3.67

  • Pinochle cards - $2.51

  • Address book - $1.29

  • Fresh catch tuna - $3.27

  • Fresh catch mackerel - $2.74

  • Cajun shrimp - $1.14

Most expensive items at the commissary

  • Holy Koran - $32.69

  • Islamic hijab - $24.91

  • Holy Bible - $13.38

  • Reading glasses - $11.14

  • Women's sports bra - $11.14

  • Checkers set with board - $8.36

  • Multipurpose solution - $8.36

  • Thermal tops or bottoms - $7.80

  • Shaving cream - $6.75

  • Book of 10 stamps - $6.60

*Not including food items.

Least expensive items at the commissary

  • Small pencil - $0.10

  • Security pen - $0.27

  • Security toothbrush - $0.28

  • 5-inch comb - $0.28

  • Manilla envelope - $0.32

  • Tylenol (2 pack) - $0.61

  • Ibuprofen (2 pack) - $0.66

  • Forever stamp (from coil) - $0.66

  • Large stamped envelope - $1.02

  • Shampoo (4 oz.) - $1.10

*Not including food items.

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This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: A look at the expense of shopping at the Augusta jail's commissary