North Carolina State Prisons
61 facilities- Black Mountain Substance Abuse Treatment Center for Women
- Bladen Correctional Center
- Duplin Correctional Center
- Evergreen Rehabilitation Center - Edgecombe
- Evergreen Rehabilitation Center - Robeson
Federal Facilities in North Carolina
4 facilitiesNorth Carolina County Jails
98 facilities- Alamance County NC Detention Center (ICE)
- Alexander County NC Detention Center
- Alleghany County NC Detention Center
- Anson County Jail
- Ashe County NC Detention Center
North Carolina Department of Corrections
North Carolina DPS offender search allows searches by OPUS number or name. North Carolina has 100 counties, each operating its own jail for pretrial detention and short sentences. The state has 58 state prison facilities - one of the largest networks in the Southeast.
The official inmate search is available at webapps.doc.state.nc.us/opi/viewoffender.do. FCC Butner is one of the largest federal correctional complexes in the US - located in North Carolina and including FMC Butner, where Bernie Madoff died in 2021.
Visitation in North Carolina Facilities
North Carolina DPS visitor approval requires a Visitor Information Form. Processing takes 3 - 4 weeks. Background checks for adult visitors. North Carolina's 100 county jails each have their own visitor policies.
Always confirm visiting schedules directly with the facility before traveling. Find specific visitation rules on each facility's page in our North Carolina prison directory.
Sending Mail to North Carolina Inmates
North Carolina DPS mail requires the OPUS number. Standard 4x6 photos accepted. North Carolina has been transitioning some facilities to electronic mail delivery. Verify current policy for your facility.
InmateAid delivers letters and photos, postcards, and magazines to North Carolina facilities. Want to receive letters without sharing your home address? Our Letters From Inmates service scans and delivers inmate mail to your account.
Phone Calls from North Carolina Facilities
North Carolina is not currently among the states that offer free inmate phone calls. Securus Technologies holds the NCDPS contract.
Following the FCC's Martha Wright-Reed Order (effective April 6, 2026), per-minute rates for inmate calls are now federally capped at state and federal facilities. Find current carrier and rate information on each facility's page in our North Carolina prison directory.
Sending Money to North Carolina Inmates
Commissary funds let inmates purchase approved items from the facility store. Primary money transfer options for North Carolina:
- JPay (primary for NCDPS)
- Money orders at some facilities
- Lobby kiosks
See our Send Money guide or navigate to the specific facility page for current provider information.
Reentry Resources in North Carolina
Planning for release is one of the most important things a family can do. These organizations provide support in North Carolina:
- North Carolina DPS Reentry - Official reentry programs
- North Carolina Legal Aid - Free civil legal help statewide
- StepUp Ministry - Raleigh-based reentry employment services
- Criminal Justice Partnership Program - State-funded community reentry resources
Frequently Asked Questions About North Carolina Prisons
What is an OPUS number in North Carolina?
OPUS stands for Offender Public User Search - both the name of North Carolina's inmate search system and the identifier format. Every NC DPS state inmate is assigned a unique OPUS number when they enter state custody. It must appear on all mail sent to DPS facilities. Find it through the NC DPS offender search at webapps.doc.state.nc.us. County jail detainees have separate booking numbers that are not OPUS numbers. Once assigned, the OPUS number is permanent for the duration of the sentence regardless of which DPS facility the inmate is at.
What is FCC Butner?
The Federal Correctional Complex at Butner, about 25 miles north of Raleigh in Granville County, is one of the most significant federal prison complexes in the United States. It includes multiple facilities at different security levels plus FMC Butner - a federal medical center providing specialized medical and psychiatric care to federal inmates from across the country. Butner has housed some of the most high-profile federal inmates in recent history, including Bernie Madoff, who died there in 2021. If your federal inmate has been transferred to FMC Butner, it indicates a need for specialized care that their previous facility couldn't provide - FMC facilities are specifically staffed and equipped for serious medical and mental health conditions.
Does North Carolina have free prison phone calls?
No - North Carolina has not eliminated phone call fees. Securus Technologies holds the NC DPS contract. The FCC's April 2026 rate caps apply to interstate calls from state facilities, reducing costs from historical highs, but calls are not free. NC has 100 county jails with widely varying phone providers and rates. North Carolina has a very large correctional system - about 33,000 state inmates - and phone reform has not been a priority in recent legislative sessions. Set up a Securus prepaid account rather than accepting collect calls.
What is Central Prison in Raleigh?
Central Prison in downtown Raleigh is North Carolina's only maximum-security state facility, in continuous operation since 1884. It serves as both the primary intake and classification center for all new male state inmates and as the permanent housing for death row. All men entering NC DPS are processed through Central Prison, where they are assessed and assigned to a permanent facility - classification typically takes 4 - 8 weeks. If your person was recently sentenced and transferred to NC DPS custody, they will be at Central Prison before moving to their long-term assignment. Communication during this classification window can be irregular.
How do I find someone in a North Carolina county jail?
North Carolina has 100 county jails - one for each county. The NC DPS offender search covers state prison inmates only. Contact the county sheriff's office directly or check the county's online inmate roster. Most North Carolina county sheriffs maintain publicly accessible online inmate rosters. Mecklenburg County Jail in Charlotte and Wake County Detention Center in Raleigh are the largest county facilities. If you don't know which county, start with where the arrest occurred.
What is the NCDPS Prison Industries program?
NC Prison Industries (NCPI) produces goods and services using inmate labor under supervision. Products include license plates (every NC plate is made by inmates), office furniture, janitorial supplies, laundry services, and printing. Inmates in NCPI earn modest wages - well below minimum wage but meaningful within the prison economy - and gain real work experience and job skills. Program participation is generally viewed positively in case management reviews. Ask your inmate's case manager whether NCPI work assignments are available at their specific facility.