Navigating The Visitation Process In NC Prisons: Visitation Appointments

Why do I Need An Appointment?

Due to the North Carolina Department of Public Safety (NCDPS) implementing a new visitation policy in 2004, many facilities went to appointment-only visitation. NCDPS's new visitation policy contained stricter visitation rules in an effort to crack down on contraband coming in during visitation and to prevent individuals posing as an offender's friend or relative from entering the facility.

When the Covid-19 pandemic began impacting North Carolina prisons, all facilities went to appointment-only visitation. The appointment-only visitation allows for staff to thoroughly sanitize the visitation area after each session and ensures visitors can stay six-feet apart.

*As of March 14th, 2022 there have been no updates to the appointment-only visitation requirement in North Carolina prisons.

How Do I Schedule An Appointment?

In order to schedule a visitation appointment, you must call the facility where the offender is being housed. You will be calling the facility's main line so a phone operator will answer and ask who they can transfer you to. You will need to state that you want to schedule a visitation appointment and they will transfer you to someone who can assist with scheduling a visitation appointment. From there, they will verify that you are in the Inmate Visitation System and that you are approved for visitation--you will be in the Inmate Visitation System and approved if you have sent in an Inmate Visitation Application and were notified that you have been approved by the offender. Once they verify that you are in the system and approved for visitation, they will give you a list of times available for visitation and you will schedule an appointment.

You should call the prison the day before a scheduled visit to confirm visitation status. Visitation status is subject to change for several reasons including, but not limited to, facility security threats, medical issues with the offender, facility disease outbreaks, and if the offender is facing disciplinary action.

What Number Do I Call To Schedule An Appointment?

Each facility has a different number to call in order to schedule a visitation appointment. For your convenience, we have listed their numbers here. These numbers are current as of March 14th, 2022.

Albemarle: (704)-422-3036	Alexander: (828)-632-1331
​Anson: (704)-695-1013	​Avery-Mitchell: (828)-765-0229
Bertie: (252)-794-8600	​Caldwell: (828)-726-2509
​Carteret: (252)-223-5100	​Caswell: (336)-694-4531
​Catawba: (828)-466-5521	​Central: (919)-733-0800
​Columbus: (910)-640-1879	​Craggy: (828)-645-5315
​Craven: (252)-244-3337	Dan River: (336)-694-1583
​Davidson: (336)-249-7528	Eastern: (252)-747-8101
​Foothills: (828)-438-5585	Forsyth: (336)-896-7041
Franklin: (919)-496-6119	Gaston: (704)-922-3861
Granville: (919)-575-3070	Greene: (252)-747-3676
Harnett: (910)-893-2751	Hyde: (252)-926-1810
Johnston: (919)-934-8386	Lincoln: (704)-735-0485
Lumberton: (910)-618-5574	Marion: (828)-659-7810
Maury: (252)-653-5501	Mountain View: (828)-766-2555
NCCIW: (919)-733-4340	Nash: (252)-459-4455
Neuse: (919)-731-2023	New Hanover: (910)-251-2666
Orange: (919)-732-9301	Pamlico: (252)-745-3074
Pasquotank: (252)-331-4881	Pender: (910)-259-8735
Piedmont: (704)-639-7540	Randolph: (336)-625-2578
Richmond: (910)-281-3161	Roanoke River: (252)-826-5621
Rutherford: (828)-286-4121	Sampson: (910)-592-2151
Sanford: (919)-776-4325	Scotland: (910)-844-3078
Southern: (910)-572-3784	Tabor: (910)-653-6413
Tyrrell: (252)-796-1085	Wake: (919)-733-7988
​Warren: (252)-456-3400	​Western: (828)-259-6000
Wilkes: (336)-667-4533