Wilkes Correctional Center
Wilkes Correctional Center is a minimum-custody prison for adult male inmates that is located in Wilkesboro, North Carolina. This facility can house approximately 268 inmates, and it is managed by the North Carolina Department of Public Safety.
Wilkes CC opened in 1938 and was one of 51 county prisons for which the state assumed responsibility 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. The prison's original dormitory is still in use.
Prison Insights
Wilkes 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 by the offender’s last name and will change every three months. If you are unsure about the offender's scheduled time to visit, please call the facility. Only approved persons on an offender’s visitation list can visit.
Family Visitation Schedule: Saturday, 1-3 p.m. with offender's last name starting with A-L. Sunday, 1-3 p.m. with offender's last name starting with M-Z.
Legal Visits: Legal visits are scheduled separately and subject to different policies than family visits. Attorneys for offenders may call the offender's assigned Case Manager to arrange to have their required documentation emailed or faxed prior to scheduling a visit. Legal visits are scheduled by the offender’s Case Manager.
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 Wilkes Correctional Center.
Click here for more detailed information about visiting an inmate.
Dress Code
When you arrive for your visit, you must first check in at the prison’s Visitor Center. You will be required to present a current photo ID, and all minors are required to present a copy of their birth certificate. All visitors are subjected to a "routine" search of their personal and possessions prior to the visit.
Leave all bags and purses in your vehicle because they are not allowed in the visiting room. Other prohibited items include: cell phones, cameras, other electronic recording devices, and glass or metal objects. 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
Wilkes Correctional Center
404 Statesville Road
North Wilkesboro, NC 28659
Driving Directions: https://goo.gl/maps/NDJugyiVcamGUdmE6
General Phone Number
336-667-4533
Inmate Mailing Address(es)
Inmate Name, OPUS Number
Wilkes Correctional Center
404 Statesville Road
North Wilkesboro, NC 28659
Always make sure that the inmate’s full name and OPUS number appears on the envelope when sending inmate mail. For information about sending packages to an inmate, click here.
How to Call an Inmate
Inmates at the Wilkes 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 Wilkes 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
Wilkes Correctional Center serves as a “work”/transitional unit, which means the majority of the offenders leave the facility each day for incentive wage work assignments in the Wilkes County area.
Incentive wage work assignments are also available at the prison in the food service, clothes house, janitorial, landscaping, maintenance, canteen, and recreation areas. Other offenders who are nearing their release date participate in the work release program, leaving the facility to work for businesses in the community.
Wilkes Community College partners with the prison to provide full-time Hi-Set courses that allow offenders to earn their High School Equivalency. Part-time classes in Basic Computer Skills, Thinking for a Change, Charter Education & Ethics, and college correspondence classes are available.
Offenders can attend substance abuse group therapy meetings, transitional services, father’s accountability and Bible studies, or worship services.
Pictures of Wilkes Correctional Center
Careers at Wilkes Correctional Center
The North Carolina Department of Public Safety is currently hiring. If you would like to work at the Wilkes Correctional Center, you can find out more information by clicking here.
