The Union County Detention Center houses an average population of up to 64 county inmates serving sentences ordered by the Magistrate or General Sessions courts for non-violent offenses. The inmates prepare meals in the center kitchen for inmates at the facility and for persons awaiting trial in the city-county jail. The center will also prepare meals for the new county jail located next door to the detention facilities. The inmates also work a garden that provides fresh vegetables for the kitchen.

The director of the detention center provides inmates work details at county buildings, the animal shelter, maintenance shop, and helping with the cleanup and collection at the green box sites throughout the county.