Sanford Correctional Center
Sanford Correctional Center is a minimum-custody prison for male inmates that is located in Sanford, North Carolina. This facility can house approximately 298 inmates, and is managed by the North Carolina Department of Public Safety.
The majority of offenders at Sanford are assigned to jobs, and many leave the prison to work off-site daily.
Sanford was one of 61 field unit prisons renovated or built during the late 1930s to house offenders who worked building roads. It was later used as a training center for officers and, in the 1970s, was converted back to a prison field unit.
The General Assembly provided two 50-bed dormitories for Sanford as part of the $28.5 million Emergency Prison Facilities Development program authorized in 1987. Lawmakers provided two additional 50-bed dormitories as part of the $87.5 million prison construction program authorized in 1993.
The prison's original dormitory is still in use. Two dormitories opened in 1987 and two more in 1993. The four new dormitories each house 63 offenders; the older unit houses 46.
Prison Insights
Sanford 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 is on a monthly rotation by the first letter of the offender's last name and is from 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. and 2 - 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. The schedule via alphabet is broken up by: A-D, E-K, L-Q, and R-Z. Please call the facility for specific times at 919-776-4325.
Special visits may be approved by the Superintendent or designee.
Visiting Application
You must complete an application and have it approved by the North Carolina Department of Public Safety before you visit your inmate.
It is the inmate’s responsibility to send you a blank application for each adult and minor who wishes to visit. After you fill out your application, return it to the Sanford Correctional Center for approval.
Click here for more detailed information about visiting an inmate at Sanford Correctional Center.
Dress Code
Be prepared to present a current photo ID (all minors are required to present a copy of their birth certificate) before entering the visiting room. You will also be subjected to a search.
Bags and purses, cell phones, cameras, other electronic recording devices, and glass or metal objects are not allowed in the visiting room. You are allowed to bring $1 bill, $5 bills, and change to purchase food and drinks from the vending machines.
The dress code is strictly followed. 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.
- No wave caps, doo rags, and bandanas.
- Slacks and pants are to be worn at or above the waist.
- No spandex clothing.
Physical Address
Sanford Correctional Center
417 Advancement Center Road
Sanford, NC 27330
Driving Directions: https://goo.gl/maps/TACGptsWw5SMLPjy8
General Phone Number
919-776-4325
Inmate Mailing Address(es)
Inmate Name, OPUS Number
Sanford Correctional Center
Box 2490
Sanford, NC 27330
The inmate’s full name and OPUS number must be on the envelope when you send inmate mail. For information about sending packages to an inmate, click here.
How to Call an Inmate
You can’t call an inmate at the Sanford Correctional Center, but they do have access to phones. 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 Sanford 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 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
Cash deposits can be made by visiting any MoneyGram agent location (including all Walmarts and CVS Pharmacies), and using code 1224. Visit JPay.com to get a list of MoneyGram locations near you.
Programs For Inmates
Offenders are assigned to one of the following jobs: Department of Transportation squads in Lee, Harnett and Moore counties, Correction Enterprises Sign Recycling plant at the old Moore Correctional Center, labor contracts with local governments, and work release jobs in Lee County. Sanford Correctional Center provides the offender workforce for the Office of Staff Development and Training located in Apex.
All other offenders work on jobs at the prison in the kitchen, or as janitors or groundskeepers. Sanford Correctional Center offers a Masonry Program through Central Carolina Community College.
Night programs include Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Yokefellow Bible study and religious services. Central Carolina Community College provides classes for adult education and preparation for GED tests.
Pictures of Sanford Correctional Center
Careers at Sanford Correctional Center
The North Carolina Department of Public Safety is currently hiring. If you would like to work at the Sanford Correctional Center, you can find out more information by clicking here.
