Cherokee County NC Detention Center

Cherokee County NC Detention Center basic information to help guide you through what you can do for your inmate while they are incarcerated. The facility's direct contact number: 828-837-2521

The Cherokee County NC Detention Center is a medium-security detention center located at 577 Regal St Murphy, NC which is operated locally by the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office and holds inmates awaiting trial or sentencing or both. Most of the sentenced inmates are here for less than two years. Cherokee County accepts inmates from surrounding towns, municipalities, the US Marshal's Service and the Murphy Police Department who do not have their own long-term lock-up.

The Cherokee County Detention Center began operations in the Summer of 2008, leaving behind an inefficient 1922 model, only designed to hold a maximum of 43 inmates awaiting trial. However, the Detention Center expanded this capability to nearly 150 inmate beds, including separate medical, juvenile, female and male pods. The facility is designed to handle the inmates with indirect supervision and laid out with seven separate dorms:

• 1 dorm for 14 inmates that are on the work detail program or that has been court ordered work release
• 1 dorm housing 10 inmates (Maximum Security)
• 1 dorm housing 6 inmates in the Medical ward
• 2 dorms housing 28 inmates, one of which is for female inmates
• 2 dorms housing 32 inmates in each

The facility was designed to expand in the future to house an additional 100 inmates being a total 350 bed facility.

Jail Administration

Captain Patterson, Jail Administrator, is assisted in the detention operations by his second in command, Lieutenant Maureen Sharp, who assists with scheduling, inmate commissary, budget, planning, personnel issues and fiscal management.

Shifts/Divisions

Each detention shift consists of at least one female and one male officer that are respectively responsible for conducting regular rounds of the female and male cell blocks. The Division also oversees a Transport Division that is responsible for transporting both local and federal inmates to court and medical appointments, work detail assignments, Department of Corrections locations and also transports involuntary commitments to the appropriate medical facilities.

The Detention Center has an in-house Medical Division that provides health services to inmates incarcerated. These services include, but are not limited to, initial medical screenings, medical histories, physical exams, and prescription and administering of needed medications. Medical staff work with community agencies and provide care for inmates with chronic conditions, communicable diseases, alcohol and drug detox needs, dental care, mental health services, and prenatal care. The in-house Medical Division helps to minimize unnecessary inmate trips to the hospital and excessive pharmacy costs, while also improving the quality of care for inmates incarcerated at the Detention Center.

Programs

Eligible inmates can participate in Inmate Work Details, Work Release Programs, and G.E.D. Programs, and have access to speak with Jail Ministers when requested.

visitation Info

Cherokee County Detention Center – Visitation

The new Detention Center has video visitation which allows the inmates to visit with their families and friends. The inmates are allowed unlimited visits per day, depending on the volume of other inmates visiting. Visitation is 24 hours a day 7 days a week. The control tower will keep a log of the visits with the inmates name and the visitors name and time.

Visitation is at the discretion of the Sheriff’s Office and may be canceled at any time.