- State Prison
- North Carolina
- 910-642-3285
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NCDPS – Columbus 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: 910-642-3285
This facility is for adult inmates.
The inmates housed at Columbus CI located at 1255 Prison Camp Rd in Brunswick, 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.
Columbus Correctional Institution, near Brunswick, is a medium security prison for adult males. During the 1970s inmates under the supervision of correction's engineers built a recreation area including a 28-cell unit to house inmates who been placed under administrative and/or disciplinary segregation, also known as the SHU or "the hole".
Southeastern Community College works with the prison to provide vocational classes in computer repair, human resources/development, brick masonry, heating/air conditioning, and plumbing. Inmates can receive vocational training in HVAC, plumbing, masonry, computer repair, and human resources. Additional education courses allow inmates to earn a GED while incarcerated. Substance abuse counseling and treatment is offered through various programs for inmates. Classes for adult education and preparation for the GED are available. Inmates may take a course on substance abuse.
Inmates work in a number of jobs. They may work on Department of Transportation road crews, maintenance or kitchen help at the prison. Correction Enterprises has a sewing and tailoring plant under construction that would provide additional job assignments for inmates.
The prison employs correctional officers, registered nurses, dental, maintenance, and administrative staff.
History – The prison's original dormitory, built in the late 1930s, is still in use. In the 1970s, inmates under the supervision of correction engineers built a recreation building and a 28-cell unit to house inmates placed in administrative or disciplinary segregation.
The General Assembly provided for dormitories with 312 beds for Columbus as part of the $75 million prison construction program authorized in 1990. Another 208-bed dormitory was provided as part of the $62.1 million prison construction program authorized in April 1994. The prison employs approximately 241 people including Correctional Officers, Registered Nurses, Dental, Maintenance and Administrative staff.
Southeastern Community College works with the prison to provide vocational classes in computer repair, human resources/development, brick masonry, heating and air conditioning and plumbing. Classes for adult education and preparation for the GED tests are available. Inmates may take a course on substance abuse.
Inmates work in a number of jobs. They may work on Department of Transportation road crews or as maintenance or kitchen help at the prison.
Correction Enterprises has a sewing/tailoring plant under construction that would provide additional job assignments for inmates.
The General Assembly provided dormitories with 312 beds as part of a $75 million prison construction program in 1990. Another 208-bed dormitory was provided as part of a $62.1 million prison construction program in April 1994.
- NCDPS – Columbus Correctional Institution – Inmate Rule Book
- NCDPS – Columbus Correctional Institution – Offender Family Services
- NCDPS – Columbus 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 – Columbus Correctional Institution – Visitation
Visitation is by appointment only for all inmates. All visitors must submit a completed application, with picture identification to visit an inmate.
Registration begins 30 minutes prior to a visiting period. Visitors must be registered no later than 15 minutes prior to the visiting appointment time or the appointment will be terminated. The visitor will need to call to reschedule a visit for another day and time. And, there cannot be any more than 3 visitors per visit (including children).
A valid photo identification card must be presented by anyone 16 years and older to visit with an inmate. All visitors are required to conform to the standards of dress as described in the Visitation Rules listed in the “For Offender's Families” section of this website.
Regular Population inmate's visitation, including special visits, is by appointment Sunday through Thursday. Appointments must be made at least three days in advance and no more than 14 days ahead of the visit. The visitor must call Monday through Thursday between 9 – 10:30 a.m. or noon – 4:30 p.m. to schedule an appointment. Each inmate will be allowed only one visit per week. A maximum of three visitors (adults and children) will be permitted to visit an inmate per weekly visitation session.
Visitation on Sundays will be for one-hour blocks: 8-9 a.m.; 9:30-10:30 a.m.; noon-1 p.m.; 1:30-2:30 p.m.; 3-4 p.m. Monday – Thursday sessions are two-hour blocks: 8:30-10:30 a.m.; noon-2 p.m.; 2:30-4:30 p.m. Visitation will not occur on holidays
Special Visits: Extended visits are available by appointment with staff approval to those visitors who live more than 500 miles from Columbus Correctional Institution, and may be scheduled no more than once every six months. These visits are limited to immediate family.
Legal Visits: Legal visits will be by appointment only Monday through Thursday. The legal visitor must call Monday through Thursday between 9-10:30 a.m. or noon-4:30 p.m. to schedule an appointment. In addition, the legal visitor must provide a document on company letterhead 24 hours before the scheduled visit, indicating the name of the attorney/agency, the inmate requesting to visit, and the date and time of the visit.
Segregated Inmates/Non-Contact Visits: Inmates who are in segregation or have been restricted to non-contact visitation can visit Monday through Thursday by appointment only. The visitor must call at least 48 hours in advance to schedule an appointment. Only two adults, or one adult and one child, will be allowed to visit during a one-hour visiting session. The schedule is daily from 9-10 a.m., 1-2 p.m., and 2:30-3:30 p.m.
Contact Information: To make an appointment, all visitors should call the Visitation Office at (910) 640-1879. If the line is busy, please call back later during the scheduled visiting hours. Appointments will not be accepted by calling the main prison telephone number, and messages will not be accepted.
Inmate Mail: Inmate mail should be sent to P. O. Box 8, Brunswick, N.C. 28424. Letters to inmates should be addressed so that the full name and OPUS number of the inmate appear on the envelope. The person sending mail should be identified in the return address. Money enclosed in personal mail to an inmate should be sent by money order, cashier's check or certified check. Cash is not accepted. Cash that is enclosed in incoming personal mail will be returned to the sender with a form letter describing mail procedures.
Directions-From Highway 74/76, take U.S. 701 Bypass south towards Whiteville. Travel about 3.2 miles and turn left onto N.C. 130 east. Travel 1.6 miles to Brunswick. In Brunswick, turn right on State Road 1170 (Poplar Street). Go 1.5 miles down Poplar Street and the prison is on the left.