Forsyth Correctional Center
Forsyth Correctional Center is a minimum-security prison for male inmates that is located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. This facility can house 248 inmates, and it is managed by the North Carolina Department of Public Safety.
Forsyth was one of 51 county prisons the state assumed responsibility of with the passage of the Conner Bill in 1931. It was one of 61 field unit prisons renovated or built during the late 1930's to house offenders who worked building roads.
Offenders primarily worked on state road construction crews until 1968, when the prison became an advancement center designated to provide pre-release training. Offenders were first assigned to work release at that time. A modular dormitory erected in 1978 was expected to last 5-10 years. It remained operational until 1998, when it was replaced by a new modular unit.
Lawmakers provided a 100 bed dormitory addition at Forsyth as part of a $28.5 million emergency Prison Facilities Development program authorized in 1987.
Prison Insights
Forsyth 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, with the exception of legal and pastoral visits. Those visitors are subject to medical screening prior to entrance. Visitation will resume when conditions are deemed safe.
Regular Visiting Hours
When the visiting room is open, Forsyth Correctional Center uses a rotating visiting schedule based on the first letter of the inmate's last name. Visiting occurs on Saturdays and Sundays from 9am-11am and 2pm-4pm. Please contact the facility for an updated visiting schedule.
Visiting Application
You must complete an application and have it approved before visiting an inmate. Your inmate must send you a blank application for each adult and minor who wishes to visit. After the applications are completed, you must return them to Forsyth Correctional Center.
Click here for more detailed information about visiting an inmate at Forsyth Correctional Center.
Dress Code
All visitors must follow the dress code or they will be denied entrance into the facility. Before you are allowed to visit, you must pass through a metal detector search.
- Shirts and shoes are mandatory.
- Halter tops, bare midriffs, strapless tops, tube tops, bodysuits, underwear-type T-shirts, tank tops, 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. Dresses or skirts 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
Forsyth Correctional Center
307 Craft Drive
Winston-Salem, NC 27105
Driving Directions: https://goo.gl/maps/5vwfhRFzAGkLmfcM8
General Phone Number
(336) 896-7041
Inmate Mailing Address(es)
Inmate Name, OPUS Number
Forsyth Correctional Center
307 Craft Drive
Winston-Salem, NC 27105
Inmate correspondence should be addressed so that the full name and OPUS number of the inmate appears on the envelope. The person sending mail should be identified in the return address.
For information about sending packages to an inmate, click here.How to Call an Inmate
Inmates at the Forsyth Correctional Center can’t receive incoming calls, but they do have access to phones during daytime hours to make outgoing calls. For complete details on how to call an inmate in North Carolina, please click here.
How to Send Money
NCDPS partners with JPay to offer several options for sending money to offenders at Forsyth Correctional Center.
Online
Send money online with your credit or debit card at JPay.com. It's the quickest and easiest way to get your loved one the funds they need.
JPay Mobile App
Download the JPay mobile app from the Apple App Store (for iPhones) or Google Play (for Android phones) and send money wherever you happen to be!
Toll-Free Phone
You can 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.
All North Carolina state prisons require that you be on the inmate’s approved visitor list to send funds using JPay.
Programs For Inmates
The offenders at Forsyth Correctional Center are assigned to work release jobs, including community work squads and Department of Transportation road squads. Offenders take education courses through study release opportunities. Various on-unit jobs as janitors, maintenance workers, and kitchen help are also available.
Surry Community College works with offenders to provide vocational training, as well as educational courses, at Dobson Educational Center. Various on-unit programs include Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, the department's Drug Alcohol Recovery Treatment (DART) program, DART 24, DART pre-release, Think Smart, Character Education, and Project Re-Entry.
Forsyth features a chapel, dedicated in 1987, that was built with funds donated by 100 churches in the community. Area churches also provide three full-time chaplains who work with inmates and lead Sunday religious services that are open to offenders and their families. The prison has religious programming that includes two Bible study classes, Yokefellow, Gideons, and Muslim services.
Pictures of Forsyth Correctional Center
Careers at Forsyth Correctional Center
If you are interested in a career with the North Carolina Department of Public Safety and would like to work at the Forsyth Correctional Center, you can find out more information by clicking here.
