Central Prison

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 during scheduled times and in a non-contact setting. Visits are limited to: 1) a maximum of two adults, 2) two adults and one child, or 3) one adult and two children.

Visits are scheduled on a first-come, first-serve basis. Only approved persons on an inmate's visitation list can visit; they must schedule appointments in advance by calling 919-743-4170.  

Family Visitation Schedule

Day                 Time                                                               Units

Sundays          8:30 - 10:30 a.m. & 1:30 - 3:30 p.m.              4-Hospital, 5-Regular, 6-Mental Health

Wednesday     9:30 - 10:30 a.m. & 1:30 - 2:30 p.m.              Control Status visits only for units 1, 4, 6

Fridays            8:30 - 10:30 a.m. & 1:30 - 3:30 p.m.              3-Death Row, 4, 6

Saturdays        8:30 - 10:30 a.m. & 1:30 - 3:30 p.m.              2-Processing/Safekeeping, 3, 4, 6

Special visits: Visits for inmates in Central Prison Hospital or outside medical facilities also must be scheduled through the Visitor's Center. These visits are subject to time limitations and possibly other restrictions imposed by medical staff based on the inmate's condition.

Legal Visits: Legal visits are scheduled separately and subject to different policies than family visits. Attorneys for offenders may email their request to [email protected] or fax their required credentials to 919-743-2438 at least 72 business hours in advance of scheduling a visit. Legal visits are scheduled for Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays between 8:30 - 10:30 a.m. or 1:30 - 3:30 p.m.

Visiting Application

Before you visit your inmate, you must complete an application and have it approved by the North Carolina Department of Public Safety. The inmate is required to send you a blank application for each adult and minor who wishes to visit. Once you complete your application, you must return it to the Central Prison.

Click here for more detailed information about visiting an inmate.

Dress Code

Visitors must check in at the prison’s Visitor's Center and present a valid, authorized photo identification. Approved visitors will be issued a numbered, laminated pass to wear into the main building. Photo ID and this pass will be checked before visitors are permitted into the actual Visitation Center by elevator.

Offenders are separated from visitors by plexiglass in individual booths which provides some privacy. A correctional officer will assign visitors to one of 23 booths upon arrival and will collect the laminated passes at the end of the visit.

All bags and purses must remain in your vehicle because they are not allowed in the visiting room. You are not allowed to bring cell phones, cameras, other electronic recording devices, and glass or metal objects into the visiting room. 

You are allowed to bring small denomination bills and change to purchase food and drinks from the vending machines.  

All visitors must follow the dress code or they will not be allowed to visit. All visitors must 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.

Inmates at the Central Prison do have access to phones, but they can’t receive incoming calls. For complete details on how to call an inmate in North Carolina, please click here.

You can send money to your inmate at Central Prison 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 option is to send money with your credit or debit card online by using JPay.com or 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.

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