Rutherford Correctional Center
Rutherford Correctional Center is a minimum-custody prison for adult male inmates that is located near Spindale, North Carolina. Managed by the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, this facility can house approximately 236 inmates.
Rutherford was one of 51 county prisons established in 1931 and dedicated on August 18, 1932 under the direction of Rutherford's first superintendent and previous sheriff of Rutherford County, W.C. Hardin. The original facility, still in use today, consisted of an administrative office, kitchen and dormitory that cost $25,000.
The General Assembly provided for two, 50-bed dormitories at Rutherford as part of the $28.5 million Emergency Prison Facilities Development program authorized in 1987. Both dormitories opened in September 1988. Lawmakers approved a 50-bed dormitory in the $87.5 million prison construction program authorized in 1993.
Prison Insights
Rutherford 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
Routine visits are conducted on Saturdays and Sundays from 1 - 3 p.m. Visitation will rotate every three months alphabetically to allow the entire offenders population the opportunity to visit. The following is the yearly schedule for visitation:
January 1 - March 31: Saturday A-L; Sunday M-Z
April 1 - June 30: Saturday M-Z; Sunday A-L
July 1 - September 30: Saturday A-L; Sunday M-Z
October 1 - December 31: Saturday M-Z; Sunday A-L
To request a special visit, call 828-286-4121.
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 Rutherford Correctional Center.
Click here for more detailed information about visiting an inmate.
Dress Code
Visitors should bring proper ID, and they will be subjected to a "routine" search of their personal and possessions prior to the visit.
Bags and purses are not allowed in the visiting room. No cell phones, cameras, or other electronic recording devices, and no glass or metal objects are allowed. You can bring in small denomination bills and change to purchase food and drinks from the vending machines.
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.
Physical Address
Rutherford Correctional Center
549 Ledbetter Road
Spindale, NC 28160
Driving Directions: https://goo.gl/maps/NXT6ornQ9LiC4Ubf7
General Phone Number
828-286-4121
Inmate Mailing Address(es)
Inmate Name, OPUS Number
Rutherford Correctional Center
Box 127
Spindale, NC 28160
When you address inmate mail, make sure 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 Rutherford Correctional Center 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.
How to Send Money
You can send money to your inmate at Rutherford 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
Rutherford Correctional Center has provided offenders to work on North Carolina highways since 1932. Following recent expansions, the prison has provided additional offender highway labor in Cleveland, Polk, and Rutherford counties.
Additionally, Rutherford provides offenders to the community through the community work program. In an effort to enhance skills within the public, there are selected offenders assigned to private industry through the work release program.
The prison also provides substance abuse treatment through DART aftercare, Alcoholics Anonymous, and Narcotics Anonymous.
Pictures of Rutherford Correctional Center
Careers at Rutherford Correctional Center
The North Carolina Department of Public Safety is currently hiring. If you would like to work at the Rutherford Correctional Center, you can find out more information by clicking here.
