North Carolina Prison & Jail Facilities
North Carolina has 515 correctional facilities, including state prisons, county jails, federal facilities, and reentry centers. Browse the full list from the facility table below, or use the search box to find a specific prison by name.
North Carolina has an imprisonment rate of 271 per 100,000 people. A total of 49,241 people are currently incarcerated in North Carolina, with 65,808 on probation and 13,419 on parole. View recent arrests in North Carolina or search the US inmate locator for individual records.
North Carolina Prison & Jail System Overview
North Carolina operates 202 correctional facilities under the state Department of Corrections. These facilities include state prisons, county jails, reentry centers, and probation offices. The state also hosts 5 federal facilities operated by the Bureau of Prisons (BOP).
The state has 6 regional and city jails, which serve as pre-trial detention centers for individuals awaiting arraignment, bail hearings, or transfer to a state institution.
North Carolina operates 4 reentry and transitional facilities — also known as halfway houses or residential reentry centers — that provide supervised housing and services to individuals transitioning from incarceration back into the community.
An additional 297 facilities in North Carolina serve administrative, probation, or specialized supervision roles.
Searching for Inmates in North Carolina
The North Carolina Department of Justice maintains a public offender search tool at their official state inmate locator. You can search by the person's full name, inmate ID number, or register number. The tool typically returns results including the inmate's name, current facility, gender, race, offense, and projected release date.
For a comprehensive search that covers all facilities and includes inmates who may have transferred across state lines, use our nationwide inmate locator, which covers 2.65 million+ federal inmate records. You can also run a full background check that searches across court records, arrest records, and public data from all 50 states.
North Carolina directory snapshot
Visual breakdown of facilities in this listing—how they roll up into broad categories (derived from security-level labels), plus the most common security classifications recorded in our database for North Carolina.
Facility mix
514 facilities classified from security-level tags (same rules as the table below).
Segment width scales with the number of facilities in each category.
Top security classifications
Counts are distinct Security_Level values in North Carolina.
Prison Population in North Carolina by Incarceration Status
The chart and table below show the distribution of the North Carolina correctional population by supervision status. 49,241 people are currently incarcerated, with 65,808 on probation and 13,419 on parole.
| Supervision Status | Population |
|---|---|
| Probation | 65,808 |
| Parole | 13,419 |
| Life Sentence | 4,171 |
| Total Incarcerated | 49,241 |
Prison Population by Gender in North Carolina
The incarcerated population in North Carolina is predominantly male. 26,890 male and 1,991 female individuals are currently incarcerated. Female incarceration has grown significantly over the past three decades, driven largely by drug-related offenses and mandatory minimum sentencing.
| Gender | Population |
|---|---|
| Male | 26,890 |
| Female | 1,991 |
How to Use the North Carolina Prison Search Tool
Finding a prison facility in North Carolina is easy with AllJailSearch.us. We have 515 facilities listed in North Carolina. Use the search box at the top of the page to find any prison by name, or browse the complete facility table below.
Each facility page provides the following information:
- Visiting Hours — Scheduled days and times for in-person visits
- Visitation Rules — Dress code, ID requirements, and prohibited items
- Phone Number — Direct line to facility administration
- Email & Fax — For correspondence and document submission
- Physical Address — With a driving directions map
- Inmate Locator — Search inmates currently held at the facility
- Send Money Instructions — State-approved methods for commissary deposits
- Phone Call Setup — Carrier information and account setup instructions
How to Contact, Visit, and Send Money to an Inmate in North Carolina
Visiting an inmate in North Carolina requires advance approval. You must be added to the inmate's approved visitor list before arriving at any facility. Most facilities allow one or two visits per week during scheduled visiting hours.
- Bring a valid, government-issued photo ID on every visit. A driver's license, state ID, or passport is accepted at most facilities.
- Review the facility's dress code before arriving. No revealing clothing, no gang-affiliated colors, and no clothing resembling inmate uniforms are permitted.
- Arrive on time — late arrivals are often turned away. Some facilities require check-in up to 30 minutes before the visit begins.
- Book your visit in advance — walk-in visits are not permitted at most state prisons. Contact the facility directly to schedule.
- Respect facility staff and rules — any violation may result in immediate termination of the visit and possible loss of future visiting privileges.
- Complete the visitor application if you have not visited before. Download the North Carolina visitor application.
Read our complete guide to visiting an inmate in prison before your first visit.
Sending Money to an Inmate in North Carolina
The North Carolina Department of Corrections allows family members and friends to deposit money into an inmate's commissary trust account. Inmates use these funds to purchase hygiene products, food, phone credits, and other approved items from the facility store. Use the following approved methods to send money to an inmate in North Carolina:
The North Carolina Department of Adult Correction uses JPay to process inmate trust fund deposits. Money deposited here lets your loved one purchase commissary items, phone time, and other approved products from within the facility.
Method 1 — JPay (Online & Mobile, Recommended)
- Visit JPay.com or download the app: Android iOS
- Enter your inmate's NC DOC offender ID number or name to locate them and proceed with the deposit.
- Funds typically post within 24–48 hours on business days.
Method 2 — JPay Phone Deposit
- Call JPay's 24/7 helpline at 1-800-574-5729 to make a phone deposit by debit or credit card.
- Have the inmate's NC DOC number and facility name available before you call.
Method 3 — MoneyGram
- Visit any MoneyGram location (Walmart, CVS, Kroger) or use moneygram.com.
- Provide the inmate's name, NC DOC number, and facility name to the agent.
- North Carolina DOC MoneyGram Receive Code: 1224
- Service fees apply at MoneyGram locations.
Method 4 — Money Order by Mail (USPS Only)
- Make the money order payable to the inmate's full committed name and include the NC DOC number on the memo line.
- Download the North Carolina deposit form and include it in the envelope.
- Mail via USPS to:
JPay
PO Box 173070
Hialeah, FL 33017 - Processing time: 5–10 business days after receipt.
Information Required
- Inmate's full committed name
- NC DOC offender ID number
- Facility name
Read our full inmate money guide for step-by-step help.
Read our full guide to sending money to an inmate for step-by-step instructions on every method.
Calling an Inmate in North Carolina
Phone calls from North Carolina correctional facilities are managed through the facility's approved phone carrier. Inmates can only make outgoing collect calls — they cannot receive incoming calls. You must set up a prepaid account with the carrier before any calls can be placed. All calls are recorded and subject to monitoring. Read our inmate phone call setup guide for full instructions.
Types of Prisons & Jails in North Carolina
The 515 facilities in North Carolina span a wide range of security levels and facility types — from minimum-security federal camps to maximum-security state penitentiaries. The table below shows the breakdown by facility type and security classification.
Complete List of North Carolina Prison & Jail Facilities
This is the complete list of North Carolina correctional facilities. Results are paginated at 20 per page. Select any facility name to view its full profile, including visiting hours, inmate locator, phone number, address, and driving directions.
Browse Prisons by County in North Carolina
North Carolina has 105 counties with correctional facilities. Select a county below to view recent arrests and facility information for that area.
Helpful Guides for Inmates & Families
Whether you are looking for an inmate, planning a visit, or trying to support a loved one through incarceration, our guides cover every step of the process.
- How to Call an Inmate — Set up a prepaid account and make your first call.
- How to Send Money to an Inmate — Approved deposit methods for every state.
- Complete Visitation Guide — Rules, dress code, and what to expect.
- How to Get Bail — Understanding bail bonds and the pre-trial release process.
- How to Hire a Criminal Defense Lawyer — What to look for and how to find representation.
- Financial Help for Prisoner Families — Government benefits, nonprofits, and emergency aid.
- Life After Prison — Reentry Guide — Employment, housing, and reintegration resources.