NCDPS – Pender Correctional Institution

NCDPS – Pender Correctional Institution basic information to help guide you through what you can do for your inmate while they are incarcerated. The facility's direct contact number: 910-259-8735

This facility is for adult inmates.

The inmates housed at Pender CI located at 906 Penderlea Hwy in Burgaw, NC are placed according to their custody level (determined by a number of factors including the past criminal history and the length of their sentence). There are ample educational and vocational training programs for all inmates, especially ones that show a willingness to learn new things that will prepare them for a better life when they are released. The mission is to promote and prepare the offender to leave in better shape than when they arrived, giving them the best chance to never come back and thus lower the state's recidivism rate.

Pender Correctional Institution has six dormitories, education buildings, recreation building, medical building, dining hall, operations center, administration building, programs building, gatehouse, and chapel.

Correction Enterprises converted the old dormitory and old recreation building on the original Pender Correctional Center to a sewing plant that manufactures uniforms for inmates, ferry workers, and correction officers. Many prisons inmates are assigned to work on facility food service, facility maintenance, janitor services or assist staff.

Cape Fear Community College works with the prison to provide vocational classes in light construction and diesel mechanics. Classes for adult education and preparation for the GED are available.

Inmates who are developmentally deficient are assigned to the horticultural therapy program that trains them for landscaping and gardening jobs. Prisoners may also be assigned to the Drug Alcohol Chemical Dependency Program (ACDP/Pender-AND90) unit. ACDP is a twelve-week term of intensive treatment for alcohol and drug addiction in a residential facility at prisons. Other self-development, treatment, and education programs are offered during evening hours and on weekends.

Pender Correctional Institution was one of the first prisons to have teleconferencing capability used for management meetings, staff training, and inmate education.

HISTORY – Ground was broken on November 30, 1990, to build the 756-bed medium security prison for adult males, adjacent to the 112-bed medium security Pender Correctional Center. The old medium-security prison was established as a one-dormitory unit in 1935 as one of 61 field unit prisons renovated or built during the late 1930s to house inmates who worked building roads.

In 1978, inmates built a 28-cell unit for placing inmates in administrative and disciplinary segregation. A recreation building was constructed by inmates in 1986.

In 1990, lawmakers provided $18 million for a new 756-bed medium security prison at Pender as part of the $75 million prison construction program authorized in July 1990. The first inmates moved into the new medium security housing area in March 1993.

• NCDPS – Pender Correctional Institution – Inmate Rule Book
• NCDPS – Pender Correctional Institution – Offender Family Services
• NCDPS – Pender Correctional Institution – Inmate Programs

Local calls will be a flat rate of $1.25
All long distance calls will be a flat rate of $3.40

visitation Info

NCDPS – Pender Correctional Institution – Visitation

A completed application must be approved by the facility staff before a visit can occur. The visiting sessions are conducted Sunday through Thursday by appointment only. Appointments may only be scheduled Monday through Thursday between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. by calling (910) 259-8740. Calls for appointments must be made at least 24 hours in advance of the requested visitation session and can be made up to two weeks in advance of the requested visitation session.

The visiting sessions will be as follows:

Sundays (5 one-hour sessions)
8:30 to 9:30 a.m.
10 to 11 a.m.
12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
2 to 3 p.m.
3:15 to 4:15 p.m.

Monday through Thursdays (3 two-hour sessions)
8:30 to 10:30 a.m.
11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
2:15 to 4:15 p.m.

Visitors should arrive 15 minutes prior to their scheduled visitation time.

TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO VISIT, YOU MUST CALL: (910) 259-8740 (BETWEEN 8-4, MONDAY THRU THURSDAY), THE ONLY NUMBER BY  WHICH APPOINTMENTS ARE TAKEN

Please remember that visiting is a privilege and not a right.  As such, BOTH inmates and visitors are subject to restriction or termination of this privilege for abuse and violations of the rules and regulations. Also, inmates may have their visitation privileges suspended on the basis of their misconduct while incarcerated.   We feel that visitation and personal contact between inmates and their relatives and friend is an important function in the correctional process.  We want your visit to be as enjoyable as possible under sometimes less than ideal conditions and circumstances.  Therefore, please cooperate with this process, obey all rules and regulations, and, when in doubt, bring your questions and concerns to the attention of the Officer-In-Charge or Institutional Management.

VISITOR APPLICATIONS – 

A completed application must be approved by the facility staff before a visit can occur.  Inmates must obtain blank application forms from the facility.  A maximum of 18 applications will be allowed per inmate.  Inmates must mail the blank applications to those persons from whom they wish to receive a visit while incarcerated.  An application for each adult and minor must be complete.  Completed applications must be returned to the facility where the inmate is currently housed.  Applications will not be accepted from inmates.  Incomplete applications will not be approved.  Each applicant age 16 and older, must choose 1 of the approved picture ID’s and attach a copy to the application.  Driver License ID and State issued ID’s must be issued by any State Division of Motor Vehicles.  Minors under 16 must have a copy of their birth certificate attached to the application.  It is the inmate’s responsibility to notify the visitor of their application status.  It is the visitor’s responsibility to update their application information, (i.e. address, phone numbers, etc.).  Incorrect application information could lead to an approved visitor becoming disapproved.  A minor under age 16 must update their application upon reaching age 16 to include a copy of a phone ID.  Clergy visitors must complete a DC-949P application and be approved prior to visiting with an inmate.  They will not be counted as part of the 18.  Any person not on the inmate’s approved visiting list will not be allowed to visit.  Visitors may be disapproved on the following grounds: (a) visitor has been disruptive during previous visits; (b) visitor has attempted to visit while under the influence of alcohol or drugs or has attempted to bring alcohol, drugs, or other contraband into the facility; (c) visitor refused to submit to a routine search or to present positive identification; (d)  visitor was a participant in the criminal activity for which the inmate is incarcerated; or, (e) visitor’s presence in the facility would undermine security considerations or corrective treatment. Also, visitors, other than immediate family members, may not be approved for visiting privileges with more than one inmate. All visitors must be identified and must present positive photo identification (i.e., driver’s license) to staff prior to admission to the facility. Visitors who refuse or fail to present identification will be denied access to the facility. Visitors must also show positive ID upon exit from the facility.   Normally, inmates will be allowed only one (1) visiting session per week (Sunday through Thursday), with a maximum duration of two (2) hours.  Visitors will be limited to a maximum of three (3) approved adult visitors per visiting session. Inmate’s children under the age of 16 years may be allowed to accompany the adults visiting, provided that they remain under the immediate supervision of the adults during visitation. All other children, who are not the inmate’s children, regardless of age, will be “counted” as an adult and must also be on the inmate’s approved visiting list.  There will be no “split” visitation allowed and once an inmate or a visitor leaves the visitation area they will not be allowed to return. Any visitor with a qualifying disability may request an accommodation or assistance from the Officer-In-Charge.  

VISITATION SCHEDULES

The visiting sessions for inmates housed at this facility will be conducted Sunday through Thursday each week by APPOINTMENT ONLY. Appointments may ONLY be scheduled Monday through Thursday between the hours of 8:00 am and 4:00 pm by calling 910-259-8740. Calls for appointments must be made at least 24 hours in advance of the requested visitation session and can be made up to 2 weeks in advance of the requested visitation session. There will be a maximum of ten (10) inmates allowed to visit during each visitation session. Once the ten slots for each visitation session are filled, no more inmates will be allowed to visit during that session and the visitor(s) must request an alternate session.  

The visiting sessions will be as follows:

• Sundays (5 one-hour sessions) – 8:30 to 9:30 am; 10:00 to 11:00 am; 12:30 to 1:30 pm; 2:00 to 3:00 pm; and 3:15 to 4:15 pm.  
• Monday through Thursdays (3 two-hour sessions) – 8:30 to 10:30 am; 11:30 am to 1:30 pm; and 2:15 to 4:15 pm.

Upon arrival, all visitors will park in the designated area of the parking lot. Visitors should arrive 15 minutes prior to their scheduled visitation time. Any visitors arriving after their designated visiting session may have their visit forfeited or delayed.  Any requested “exceptions” to our schedule (i.e., out-of-state visitors who travel extremely long distances, etc.) must be approved in advance by the Superintendent, or designee, and will be granted only on the basis of unusual, extenuating, and overriding circumstances, as determined on a “case-by-case” basis. Exceptions for the simple convenience of the visitors (i.e., to accommodate work or church schedules) will not be sufficient. There will be no visitation on holidays.  Inmates housed in the segregation unit are not allowed visits during normal visiting sessions. Their visits, “non-contact” visits with a maximum duration of one hour and with a maximum of only three visitors (adult or children), are conducted Monday through Friday during the period of 12 Noon to 1:00 p.m., also by appointment ONLY. Attorney and clergy visits are considered special visits and will be processed and handled according to the policy and procedures on attorney/clergy visitation.

RULES/REGULATIONS

All visitors will be subject to a “walk-through” metal detector and to a “routine” search of their person and possessions prior to the visit, during the visit, or at any time while in the confines of the facility. Visitors who appear to be under the influence of alcohol/ drugs will be denied entry into the institution. Visitors are prohibited from conversing with inmates through the perimeter fences while they are entering or exiting the institution. Visitors with babies will be permitted to bring a clear baby bottle and a loose diaper (not in a bag) into the visiting area.  The visiting area has been designated as a NO SMOKING area. Prior to entering the visiting area, the inmate will be required to “declare” any personal items in his possession. Visitors are not allowed to give an inmate any items or money during visitation and are not allowed to leave any funds for deposit to the inmate’s trust fund. All funds must be sent to the institution in the form of a money order or certified bank cashier’s check via U.S. Mail. Any visitor observed giving or attempting to give any inmate an item determined to be contraband (controlled substances, unauthorized items,  money, etc.) will be subject to having their visitation privileges terminated for an indefinite period of time and/or will be subject to arrest for a criminal violation of the law. For example, giving or attempting to give an inmate controlled substances (drugs), no matter how small an amount, is a FELONY under NC law and will result in the violator being arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent the law will allow!  Unauthorized funds found in the possession of inmates will be seized and forfeited.  Inmates detected to have unauthorized funds or items in their possession will have the money and items confiscated and will face disciplinary action, just as they would possessing any contraband. Also, inmates are not allowed to give items, including money or letters, to visitors directly during visitation.  No food, beverages, pocketbooks, change purses, baby carriers, strollers, cameras,  pagers, cellular phones, aerosol defense sprays (mace), weapons, including pocket knives, tobacco products, or toys are allowed to enter the facility during visitation. Inmates are not allowed to go to or use the vending machines and must remain seated in their designated seat at the table at all times. For the convenience and use by visitors, vending machines are provided in the visiting area. However, Pender Correctional Institution is not responsible for the operation of these vending machines; thus, visitors may use these machines at their own risk. Drink cans will not be allowed to leave the visiting area and must be deposited in the proper recycling receptacle.

Visiting periods will be conducted in a quiet and orderly manner. In the event any inmate or visitor becomes unduly emotional or creates a disturbance, the visit may be terminated and the participants removed from the visiting area. Excessive displays of emotion or “petting” will not be allowed. Generally, the inmate and his visitors may embrace (kiss and hug) only upon arrival and departure from the visiting area.  Inmates and visitors may be allowed to “hold hands”; however, they must do so with the hands clearly visible at all times. Any inmate or visitor who fails to follow this regulation and/or who becomes too “aggressive” in their physical contact will be warned and, upon a repeat occurrence, the visit may be immediately terminated, with the inmate facing possible disciplinary action for disobeying a lawful order to which subject.  All visitors will be expected to be dressed appropriately. “Skin-tight” clothing, extremely short dresses and shorts above mid-thigh), halter tops (unless covered by a blouse), exposed midriffs, bathing suits, low-cut tops and dresses, “see-through” shirts without an undershirt, etc. are not acceptable and will result in the visitors being denied admission into the facility and visiting area. All visitors will be required to wear shoes and male visitors must be wearing a shirt (buttoned).  Any item of clothing displaying insignia or remarks generally considered to be offensive or objectionable to any race, sex, religion, or creed will not be allowed. In addition, inmates must also be properly dressed before entering the visiting area. Inmates and visitors will not be allowed to “wander” while in the visiting area. “Horseplay”, .profanity, and inappropriate gestures will not be tolerated. Visitors may use the designated restrooms in the visiting area, which will remain locked when not in use. Inmates are required to use separate restrooms in the “shake-down” area adjacent to the visiting room. After visitation, all inmates will be strip searched prior to return to the dormitories. Normally, once the inmate or his visitors leave the visiting area, the visit is considered terminated and normally, once the inmate or his visitors leave the visiting area, the visit is considered terminated and they will not be allowed to return. Persons who choose to remain in the facility parking lot are to remain in their vehicles and should not be “wandering” around the parking lot. At no time are children to be left unattended in the parking lot, an act which could be a violation of the law. Visitors’ vehicles may be subject to search and drug canine interdiction while on the grounds of this facility.

Directions – Pender Correctional Institution is a medium custody adult facility, with armed perimeter patrol, located in Burgaw, in Pender County, at the corner of Wallace Street and Penderlea Highway.  Visitors traveling Interstate 40 should exit at the #398 Exit ramp and proceed toward Burgaw on Highway 53. At the intersection of Highway 117, proceed through the stoplight to the stop sign. Turn left on Bridger’s Street to Penderlea Highway. After approximately one mile, the facility will be on the right at the intersection of Wallace Street and Penderlea Highway. Turn right into the parking lot. Our “street” address is 906 Penderlea Highway.