Alexander Correctional Institution

Alexander Correctional Institution is a single-cell, close-custody facility for male inmates that is located in Taylorsville, North Carolina. It is managed by the North Carolina Department of Public Safety and can house approximately 1,180 offenders.

The prison employs correctional officers, registered nurses, nurse extenders, mental health providers, dental, maintenance, and administrative staff. The prison has 128 segregation cells, eight medical infirmary beds and a 252-bed minimum-security unit.

The prison operates under the management concept. Unit management is a method for managing offenders that emphasizes decentralization and delegates decision-making authority to a unit team. Offenders are assigned to one of the four units based on their work, program, or control assignment.

Blue Unit houses offenders with chronic health issues, new admissions into the institution, offenders being released from segregation or control status, and offenders assigned to unit-specific jobs. 

Green Unit houses offenders assigned to the Correction Enterprises furniture plant, institutional job, and program assignments. Red Unit houses offenders assigned to the residential mental health program, specific and segregation janitorial jobs, and outpatient mental health status. 

The segregation unit houses offenders assigned to administrative and disciplinary segregation, as well as those on intensive and maximum control.

Prison Insights

Visiting Hours and Rules

VISITATION TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED

To prevent the potential spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), prison visitation was suspended as of Monday, March 16, 2020. Visitation will resume when conditions are deemed safe.

Regular Visiting Hours

Visitation is by appointment only. Attorney, non-contact, infirmary, clergy, and media visits will occur Monday – Thursday (8:30 a.m.- 10:30 a.m., 1 – 3 p.m.).

Monday – Thursday visits must be scheduled at least 24 hours in advance of the proposed visit and no more than seven days from the visit.

Non-contact visits will last for one hour.

Attorney/media representatives must fax a letter on their appropriate letterhead stating the inmate that he/she would like to visit and the requested date and time of the visit. When approval is granted, the attorney/media representative will be notified of the time and the approximate duration of the visit.

Friday and Saturday visits will be contact visits for inmates housed on the Blue, Green, and Red units, and will be consistent with the rotating schedule already in place.

January – March                            8:30 – 10:30 a.m.                        Blue Unit
July – September                                                                                  Upper Red Unit
                                                                                                                  Green Unit – B Wing

                                                          1:30– 3:30 p.m.                            Lower Red Unit
                                                                                                                  Green Unit – B,C,D,E,F Wings

April – June                                    8:30 – 10:30 a.m.                          Lower Red Unit
October – December                                                                             Green Unit – B,C,D,E,F Wings
                                                          1:30 – 3:30 p.m.                            Blue Unit
                                                                                                                   Upper Red Unit
                                                                                                                   Green Unit – A Wing

Approved visitors must contact the Visitation Appointment Officer by 5 p.m. (Wednesday) each week to schedule a Friday visit, and by 5 p.m. (Thursday) to schedule a Saturday visit. Visitors may only schedule a Friday or Saturday visit during the week of the proposed visit.

To schedule a visit, you may contact the Visitation Appointment Officer at (828) 632-1379. If the person is not in, you may leave a message on the answering machine with your name, name of the inmate and OPUS Number of the inmate which you are requesting to visit, the day/time of the requested visit and the telephone number you can be reached at. The Visitation Appointment Officer will inform you if the visit has been approved.

A valid photo identification card must be presented by anyone 16 years or older arriving at the institution to visit with an inmate.

Visiting Application

You must complete an application and have it approved before visiting your inmate. The inmate is required to send you a blank application for each adult and minor who wishes to visit. After you complete your application, you must return it to the Alexander Correctional Institution.

Click here for more detailed information about visiting an inmate at a North Carolina correctional facility.

Dress Code

You must follow the visitors dress code or you will not be allowed to visit with your inmate. All visitors are required to wear shirts and closed-toed shoes (no flip-flops or stilettos).

• Halter tops, bare midriffs, strapless tops, tube tops, bodysuits, underwear-type T-shirts, tank tops, or sleeveless shirts or dresses that are inappropriately revealing (a sleeveless shirt or dress is considered inappropriately revealing when the female breast or lingerie can be seen), fishnet shirts, or any type of shirt or pants made with see-through fabric are NOT allowed to be worn by any visitor (male or female).
• Visitors may wear Bermuda-length shorts provided they are not more than three inches above the kneecap.
• Females may wear dresses or skirts, but they may not be more than three inches above the kneecap. Slits in skirts and dresses may not be more than three inches above the kneecap. Dresses and skirts for pre-teens may be shorter than three inches above the kneecap.
• Any shirt or other articles of clothing with a picture or language that may be considered profane or offensive by current public standards or Adult Correction standards, or considered STG (gang) related will not be allowed.
• Wave caps, doo rags, and bandanas are not allowed.
• Slacks and pants are to be worn at or above the waist.
• Spandex clothing is prohibited.

All visitors must successfully satisfy the metal detection, and pat and frisk procedures. Proper identification for adults and children must be provided. All identification cards must be current. 

Bags and purses are not allowed in the visiting room. You can bring in small denomination bills and change to purchase food and drinks from the vending machines.  

Remember to address all inmate mail so that the full name and OPUS number of the inmate appears on the envelope. For information about sending packages to an inmate, click here.

How to Call an Inmate

How to Send Money

Programs For Inmates

A Correction Enterprises plant that produces wood products items and upholstered furniture operates in the vocational space within the prison. Staff from Catawba Valley Community College conducts an instruction program that works with CE staff to train offenders in the manufacturing process. 

Instructors from CVCC also provide instruction for the offender population for basic education, GED prep, computer application, commercial cleaning, and horticulture technology.

Pictures of Alexander Correctional Institution

Careers at Alexander Correctional Institution

The North Carolina Department of Public Safety is currently hiring. If you would like to work at the Alexander Correctional Institution, you can find out more information by clicking here.