Craven County Detention Center

Craven County 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: 252-636-6619

This facility is for adult inmates.

The Craven County Detention Center is a medium-security detention center located at 1100 Clarks Rd in New Bern, NC. This county jail is operated locally by the Craven County Sheriff's Office and holds inmates awaiting trial or sentencing. Most of the sentenced inmates are here for less than two years. Craven County accepts inmates from surrounding towns, municipalities, the US Marshal's Service and the New Bern Police Department who do not have their own long-term lock-up.

There are new detainees delivered to the jail daily, you can see arrest records here. Some are released after putting up bail, are released to a pretrial services caseload, are placed under supervision by a probation agency, or are released on their own recognizance with an agreement to appear in court. If there is no release, the inmate must wait here at the jail for their court appearance as a guest of the County, getting a bed and three square meals.

Trustees are inmates who work in the jail as cooks, as orderlies for the staff, in the laundry or in the commissary. The trustees are paid a very small amount for their time and some jail gives the trustees a few days off their sentence in exchange for their work.

When an inmate arrives in jail they are put together in a large holding cell with other inmates in the intake. While in intake they are under heightened observation. Violent and out of control inmates are segregated.

Can I Get Work Release?

Work release is when you are released from jail during the day so that you can go to work. At the end of the day, you return to jail for the night. There are a number of requirements to be able to get into the work-release program. Most programs require your employer to fill out some paperwork. If you want to get into the work release program then apply prior to being sentenced to jail. This will minimize the amount of time you spend in jail waiting to get into the program.

Can I call my family in Jail?

Craven County Detention Center has a phone program where inmates make outbound calls only, you cannot call into jail. Since you are paying for those calls don't make it a habit of accepting collect-calls, they are over $15 each. The alternative is to set up an account through their third-party phone company which charges steep fees for each minute used. You are paying for them to call you. Click here if you are going to speak a lot and need a discount on the calls.

Remember – These phone calls are recorded and conversations can be used against you or the inmate so do not discuss your case over these phone lines.

visitation Info

Craven County Detention Center – Visitation

Onsite video visitation will be closed until further notice due to Coronavirus (COVID-19) precautions. Every inmate at Craven County Detention Facility will be allotted one free visit per week during this time. Please contact Jail Administration at (252) 636-6676 or (252) 636-6677 during normal business hours to set up a free visit.

On-Site Visitation:

Each resident is afforded one no cost 20-minutes on-site visits per week, during normal visitation hours at the Craven County Sheriff’s Office, 1100 Clarks Rd New Bern, NC 28562. All visits will be conducted by video monitors. To reserve a time you must sign up with secures using the instructions below.  You must reserve your visitation time at least 24-hours in advance.  All On-Site visitors must comply with all On-Site Regulations available at the facility. 

On-Site Hour- Normal Business Week, Excluding Weekends and Holidays:
Morning Hours Starts 9:15 am last for morning starts 11:45 am
Afternoon Hours: Start 2:15 pm last for afternoon starts 4:15 pm

Off-Site Visitation:

Off Site visitation can be completed using Cell Phones, Home Computers, Tablets, or any device that is capable of going on-line. To have the convenience of this service you must register with Securus and pay a fee for each visit.  Off-Site visitation will be conducted Mon-Sun during the hours listed below.  You must reserve all visitation time at least 24-hours in advance.  

Off-Site Hour- 7-Days a week including weekends and Holidays:
Morning Hours Starts 9:15 am last for morning starts 11:45 am
Afternoon Hours: Start 2:15 pm last for afternoon starts 4:15 pm
Evening Hours: Start 8:00 pm last for evening starts 10:00 pm

General Guidelines for All Visitors:

1. Secured area of the facility by visitors. Only a small ring of keys and ID’s will be allowed. The Craven County Judicial Center will not be responsible for any property brought into the facility by visitors.
2. All visitors must pass through a metal detector and/or be checked with a hand-held metal detector. All visitors are subject to a pat-down search as well. If you refuse any of these procedures your visits will be terminated.
3. Cash, Debit or Credit Cards may be brought to inmates. It will be put in the inmate’s personal account on the Lobby Kiosk. It will be received Monday thru Friday from 8 am to 5 pm only. Postage Stamps, undergarments, socks, paper, and pencils are purchased through the canteen.
4. Visitors must be properly attired at all times. Any clothing items considered to be provocative or revealing in nature are prohibited. Shirts and shoes are required at all times. THE LOBBY OFFICER HAS THE AUTHORITY TO REFUSE ANY VISIT DUE TO INAPPROPRIATE ATTIRE.
5. In the event of a facility “lockdown” or an emergency, all visits will be canceled and all visitors will be asked to leave the facility.
6. No child will be left unattended in the lobby area at any time.
7. Children age 1-17 must be accompanied by parent or legal guardian (proof of guardianship may be required).
8. All visitors must present a valid picture ID before being allowed to visit. Professional visitors must present proof of their professional capacity.
9. The Detention Center has the right to terminate or refuse any visit that may constitute a threat to the safety, security, or order of the facility. No items (e.g. cell phones, pagers, ipods, palm pilots, etc) can be brought into the facility.
10. You must conduct yourself in an orderly manner at all times. Any visitor who appears to be under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance will not be allowed to visit.
11. Visitation areas are subject to video surveillance at all times. Any visitors creating a disturbance or using obscene language or gestures will be asked to leave. Disorderly visitors will be subject to arrest and criminal charges.
12. Introduction of, or an attempt to introduce, contraband into the facility may result in arrest and possible criminal prosecution.