Catawba County, North Carolina Inmate Search
In Catawba County, North Carolina, the Catawba County Detention Facility serves as the central booking and holding center for individuals arrested within the county. However, if an individual has already been convicted and transferred to a state prison, they will not appear on the county roster. Instead, they will be located using North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections (NCDAC) Offender Public Information Search, which tracks inmates in state correctional facilities as well as individuals on probation or parole.
Individuals facing federal charges may also be located through the Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator. Catawba County does not operate a federal prison within its boundaries. Individuals arrested on federal charges in the area may be transferred to federal detention facilities elsewhere in the region depending on the case.
If the individual doesn’t appear on the roster, contacting the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office or detention facility directly by the phone is the fastest way to confirm custody status.
Catawba County Sheriff’s Office,
100 Government Drive,
Newton, NC 28658,
Catawba County Detention Facility,
100 Government Drive, Building E,
Newton, NC 28658,
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 385
Newton, NC 28658
Sheriff’s Office Main Line: (828) 464-5241
Detention/Inmate Inquiries: (828) 465-8999
The jail operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, while the administrative office maintains business hours during weekdays.
How to Use the Catawba County Jail Roster
Catawba County provides a publicly accessible jail roster through the county government website. The roster displays a full list of current detainees with sortable columns where individuals can sort by name, age, date confined, age, charge or other fields.
Below is a step-by-step guide to using the roster.
- Visit the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office website
- Navigate to the Sheriff’s Office, then Detention Facilities, then Who’s in Jail. Or alternatively, visit injail.catawbacountync.gov/whosinjail.
- The roster loads a full table showing the current detainees
- Scroll through the list or sort the entries by name, booking date, age, charge or other available fields.
Each entry typically displays the inmate name, age, booking date, address, charges, bond amount, court information, arresting agency and a link to view the booking photograph.
Additionally, families and victims may register for North Carolina Statewide Automated Victim Assistance and Notification (NC SAVAN), a statewide notification system that provides alerts when custody status changes for county jail inmates, state prisoners, probationers, and parolees. Notifications can be received by phone, texts or email.
What Information is Included in the Catawba County Inmate Roster
The Catawba County Jail roster provides basic identifying and custody information for individuals currently at the facility. While the roster does not include full criminal case files, it provides key details about each detainees.
Typical roster entries include the following:
- Full name of the inmate
- Address on record at the time of arrest
- Inmate identification number assigned during booking
- Age
- Date of booking
- Criminal charges or charge
- Bond amount, if available
- Court date and court docket number
- Arresting agency ( e.g Catawba sheriffs office, Hickory police department)
- Booking photograph, commonly referred to as mugshot ( accessible via the view list)
Public access to inmate records in North Carolina is governed by the North Carolina Public Records Law, particularly Chapter 132 of the North Carolina General statutes. Under this law, every person has the right to examine and inspect public records held by law enforcement agencies.
However, some information may be withheld to protect privacy or preserve the integrity of active investigations. Such as:
- Records tied to an ongoing case may be restricted
- Juvenile records are generally classified and are only released under limited circumstances
- Personal information may also be withheld to prevent privacy violations
Contact Details for Catawba County Jail or Sheriff’s Office
For additional information regarding inmate custody, records requests, or jail procedures, individuals can contact the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office or the detention facility directly.
Catawba County Sheriff’s Office
100 Government Drive,
Newton, NC 28658
Catawba County Detention Facility
100 Government Drive, Building E
Newton, NC 28658
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 385,
Newton, NC 28658
Sheriff’s Office Main Line: (828) 464-5241,
Detention/Inmate Inquiries: (828) 465-8999
Websites and Online Resources
Official Website: catawbacountync.gov
Online Roster: injail.catawbacountync.gov/whosinjail
NC SAVAN Notifications available through the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction
Contact Detail | Information |
|---|---|
Facility Name | Catawba County Detention Facility |
Physical Jail Address | 100 Government Drive, Building E Newton, NC 28658 |
Mailing Address | P.O. Box 385 Newton, NC 28658 |
Detention/Inmate Inquiries | (828) 465-8999 |
Main Sheriff Office | (828) 464-5241 |
Who’s in Jail (Online Inmate Roster) | |
Official Website | |
NC SAVAN ( Custody Alerts) | Free Victim notification service available through the NCDAC website |
Jail Facility Overview in Catawba County
The Catawba County Detention Facility is the county’s primary adult detention center and the central booking location for arrests made throughout the county. Individuals may remain in the facility while awaiting court hearings, serving short sentences after conviction, or awaiting transfer to another correctional facility. It serves as an intake point for individuals arrested by the Catawba County sheriff’s office as well as those brought in by the city police department, including the Hickory Police Department and the Newton Police Department, among other agencies.
Catawba County does not operate its own juvenile center. Juveniles arrested within the county are processed through the North Carolina Juvenile Justice Systemand may be placed in state operated juvenile facilities rather than the adult jail.
Agency | Office and Mail Address | Phone Number | Office Hours | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Catawba County Sheriff’s Office | 100 Government Drive, Newton, NC 28658 P.O. Box 385 | (828) 464-5241 | Mondays through Fridays, standard business hours | Via the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office online Contact Us portal |
Catawba County Detention Facility | 100 Government Drive, Building E Newton, NC 28658 | (828) 465-8999 | 24 hours a day, full week | It does not have a dedicated email address. Call (828) 465-8999 for detention enquiries |
How to Send Money to an Inmate in Catawba County Detention Facility
Family members and friends often deposit money into the inmate’s trust account so the detainee can purchase basic items during their stay.
Funds in an inmate’s account can be used to buy commissary items such as:
- Hygiene products
- Snack foods
- Writing materials
- Other approved personal items
Catawba County Detention Facility provides three different ways to deposit funds into an inmate’s account. They include:
In-Person Deposit
Visitors may deposit cash at the detention facility lobby located at:
100 Government Drive, Building E
Newton, NC 28658
Individuals depositing funds must provide the inmate’s full name and identification number. No personal checks are accepted at the lobby.
Online Deposits
Deposits can also be made online through JailPackStore. The process includes:
- Visit jailpackstore.com and create an account or log in
- Search for Catawba County Detention Facility and locate the inmate by name or inmate ID
- Select a deposit amount and complete the transaction using a debit or credit card. Transaction fees may apply.
Mail Deposits
Money orders may be mailed directly to the facility. Do not send cash or personal checks by mail.
Address the money order to:
Catawba County Detention
Attn: Trust Funds
P.O. Box 385
Newton, NC 28658
And include the inmate’s full name and ID number on the memo line to ensure funds are credited properly.
Telephone services at the facility are provided by Pay-tel. To set up a phone account so an inmate can call you, visit paytel.com. For more information and enquiries about account balances or deposit limits, call the detention facility at (828) 465-8999.
Inmate Search by Jail Facility
Catawba County operates one single adult detention facility, alongside an inmate roster that reflects nearly all individuals currently held in local custody. There’s no separate roster for a work release or minimum-security facility. All detainees appear in the same booking system managed by the sheriff’s office.
Individuals transferred to state prisons may be located through the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction Offender Search. Federal inmates may be located through the Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator. Juveniles processed through the court system are handled by the North Carolina Juvenile System and do not appear on the county’s public adult roster.
Facility/ Roster | Separate Search Tool | Where to Access |
|---|---|---|
Catawba County Detention Facility - Current Detainees | Yes - Available online | Via the Catawba County Sheriff Office website or injail.catawbacountync.gov/whosinjail |
N.C Department of Adult Corrections- State Inmates | Yes- State level offender search | Via the N.C Department of Adult Corrections official website |
N.C Department of Juvenile Justice- Juvenile Detainees | Not publicly Searchable | Via the N.C Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention for placement inquiries. |
Federal Bureau of Prisons- Federal Inmates | Yes- Federal portal | Via the Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator portal |
Catawba County Visitation Rules and Schedules
The Catawba County Detention Facility offers three visitation formats: onsite video visits, remote video visits, and confidential visits for legal professionals. All visits including onsite ones are conducted through the Paytel Video Visitation System. There are no traditional in-person contact visits or glass booth visits.
Visitors must create an account and schedule visits in advance through the Paytel platform.
Onsite Visits
Onsite visitsare scheduled through Paytelconnect.com. Visit windows run daily from 8:00AM to 9:00PM, though exact times vary by housing units. Each inmate receives one 15 minute visit per week. Visits should be booked at least one day in advance. Visitors who arrive late forfeit their weekly slot entirely.
Remote Visits
Remote visits are available every day from 6:00AM to 9:45PM through the Paytel platform on any internet connected device with a camera. Each session runs up to 30 minutes and is billed per minute. Inmates may complete multiple sessions daily within those hours.
Who can visit and What to bring
- Family members and approved friends aged 18 or older
- Individuals under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or a legal guardian
- Attorneys and legal professionals may request confidential visitation visit status through Paytel. Contact the facility to have your account approved and provide proof of bar or legal status.
- Valid government issued ID is required, such as a driver’s license, state ID, passport, or military ID. The name on the ID must match the account registration name.
What is unacceptable
- No revealing attire-mini skirts, low-cut necklines, or bare midriffs
- No clothing with obscene, offensive, or gang related text or markings
- No foods, drinks, or personal items in the visitation area
- Visitors are expected to conduct themselves respectfully. Disruptive behaviour may result in termination of the visit
- Visitors arriving under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances will not be permitted.
Visitation Topics | Details |
|---|---|
Who can Visit | Approved family and friends, legal professionals with confidential account approval |
ID Required | Valid government issued ID |
Dress Code | Modest clothing, no gang markings, no uniform-like attire |
Behaviour | Respect and following all staff instructions |
In-person visit length | 15 minutes, 1 visit per week, per inmate 24-hour advance booking required |
Video visit length | Up to 30 minutes per session, paid per minute with unlimited sessions |
How to Schedule Visit | Via Paytelconnect.com |
Confirm Schedule | Call: (828) 465-8999 |
Mailing and Commissary Information
The Catawba County Detention Facility processes most personal mails via a mailing scanning service. Personal mail is sent to a processing center where it is scanned and delivered digitally to the inmate. Legal mail is handled differently and must be sent directly to the facility.
Non Legal Mail Address
Personal letters, cards and photographs should be mailed to the scanning service processing address using this format:
Catawba County Detention Facility
Inmate Name, Inmate ID
Facility ID: 5029
P.O. Box 18247
Greensboro, NC 27419
The envelope must include a complete return address with the sender’s first name and last name. Mail without a return address will not be scanned. Insufficient postage will result in the mail being refused.
Legal Mail Address
Legal mail from attorneys must be sent directly to the facility, not the processing center. The envelope must be marked clearly as "Legal Mail" and must be opened in the presence of the inmate.
Catawba County Detention Facility
Inmate Name, Inmate ID
P.O. Box 385
Newton, NC 28658
Mail Requirements
- 10 pages or fewer per envelope
- Page size no larger than 8.5 inches x 11 inches
- Acceptable contents include written or typed pages, photos, drawings and greeting cards.
What Not to Send
- Cash or personal checks, except sent through the authorized means
- Stamps and envelope without mail inside
- Polaroid photos
- Glitters, stickers, or decorative items
- Books or magazines mailed from the sender’s home. These cannot go to the processing center.
- Original important documents such as birth certificates, social security cards, drivers license and green cards
- Food or snacks
- Clothing or packages
If mail is rejected both the sender and inmates may appeal through the jail internal request system. For commissary deposits, use JailPackStore to deposit cash in the facility lobby or mail money order payable to
Catawba County Detention Facility,
Attn: Trust funds
P.O. Box 385
Newton, NC 28658