Caldwell Correctional Center

Caldwell Correctional Center is a minimum-custody reentry facility for male inmates that is located in Lenoir, North Carolina. This facility can house approximately 238 inmates and is managed by the North Carolina Department of Public Safety.

Caldwell Correctional Center was built in 1938, and a modular unit was later installed at the prison that added space for another 46 offenders. 

The prison has a 40-bed, single-cell segregation building for housing misdemeanants with serious felony charges pending and offenders in disciplinary segregation.

Caldwell CC was one of 61 field unit prisons renovated or built during the late 1930's to house offenders who worked building roads. Caldwell CC housed medium custody adult males in 1966 for one year and housed minimum custody male youth from 1977 to 1981. In the original prison, offenders were housed in a building that had two dormitories. A modular dormitory was added in 1978. Those housing units are still in use today.

Lawmakers provided two, 50-bed dormitory additions as part of the $28.5 million Emergency Prison Facilities Development program authorized in 1987. In 1990, a modular unit was installed to house a dental office that provides care for Western region offenders. Another modular unit was added in 1997 for the prison's medical department.

In 1987, a 135-seat chapel was built. It was funded by donations from community churches and individuals.

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Caldwell Correctional Center

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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 for offenders housed in Regular Population is permitted Saturday and Sunday from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. and 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. for a total of four visiting periods per week.

A total of three approved visitors will be permitted to visit an offender at a designated day and visiting period each weekend.

Offenders are assigned to visiting period groups by the first letter of their last name. The four visiting period group assignments are A through D, E through L, M through R, and S through Z. Some visiting periods may be more advantageous than others for visitors. In order to permit all visitors an equal opportunity to visit, each visiting period group assignment will be rescheduled on a monthly basis. 

When a Saturday visiting period should occur on the last day of the month and the Sunday visiting period is on the first day of the next month, both periods will be as scheduled for that month. Example: July 31 is the last day of the month and August 1 is the first day of the month. In that case, both visiting periods will occur as scheduled for July. No visiting privileges will be permitted on state-recognized holidays.

Special visits must be approved in advance by the warden or assistant warden. Please contact the facility for more visitation information.

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 Caldwell Correctional Center.

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).

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.  

  • 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.

Physical Address

Caldwell Correctional Center
480 Pleasant Hill Road
Lenoir, NC 28645

Driving Directions: https://goo.gl/maps/BYT1r6fYsmNvieT69

General Phone Number

​(828) 726-2509

Inmate Mailing Address(es)

Inmate Name, OPUS Number
Caldwell Correctional Center
480 Pleasant Hill Road
Lenoir, NC 28645

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

Inmates at the Caldwell Correctional Center can’t receive incoming calls, but they usually have access to phones during daytime hours. For complete details on how to call an inmate in North Carolina, please click here.

How to Send Money

You can send money to your inmate at Caldwell Correctional Center through JPay and MoneyGram. All North Carolina state prisons require that you be on the inmate’s approved visitor list to send funds.

The fastest way to send money with your credit or debit card is online using JPay.com. Or, download the JPay mobile app from the Apple App Store (for iPhones) or Google Play (for Android phones).

You can also send money by phone using your credit or debit card. Call (800) 574-5729 to speak with a live JPay call center agent 24/7.

Money Orders
Money orders must be made payable to JPay and sent with a deposit slip to: 
JPay
P.O. Box 173070
Hialeah, FL 33017

Money order deposit slip available in English here.
Hoja de Depósito para Giros Bancarios disponible en Español aquí.

Walk-In
To make a cash deposit, visit any MoneyGram agent location (including all Walmarts and CVS Pharmacies), and use code 1224. Visit JPay.com to get a list of nearby MoneyGram locations.

Programs For Inmates

Caldwell Community College works with the prison to provide vocational and academic classes. Offenders may take part in meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, and the department's Drug Alcohol Rehabilitation Treatment aftercare program. 

Some of the other programs provided at the facility include MAPP, Incentive Wage Positions, GED Classes, Substance Abuse Programs (AA, NA), Self-Help/Life, Character Education Enrichment, Reasoning and Rehabilitation, F.A.T.H.E.R. Accountability, Community Volunteer Program, Home Leave Program, Think Smart Program, Inmate Labor Contracts, Community Work Program, Litter Crew, Religious Life, Prison Fellowship, Chaplain Re-entry Life Planning, Formal Worship, Pastoral Counseling, Bible Studies.

Inmate work assignments at Caldwell include work release, community work squads, Department of Transportation road crews or unit assignments such as maintenance, janitors, groundskeepers, or kitchen duties.

Pictures of Caldwell Correctional Center

Careers at Caldwell Correctional Center

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

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