Avery-Mitchell Correctional Institution Visiting Hours. How to Schedule a Visit

Location and Getting There

Avery-Mitchell Correctional Institution is at 600 Amity Park Road, Spruce Pine, NC 28777. The facility sits on the Avery and Mitchell county line in the Blue Ridge Mountains, roughly an hour and a half northeast of Asheville.

Spruce Pine is a small mountain town. If you are traveling from out of the area, plan for limited dining and lodging options nearby. The nearest larger town is Burnsville, about 20 minutes away. Call ahead and give yourself extra travel time, especially in winter when mountain roads can be difficult.

For questions before you travel, call (828) 592-7200 or email [email protected].

Visiting Hours

Exact visiting hours are not published on the NC DAC website. Hours may vary by housing unit or classification level, and they can change around holidays. Always call (828) 592-7200 or email [email protected] to confirm current hours before you travel.

Step 1. Get on the Approved Visitor List

You cannot visit unless you are on the approved list. Here is how the process works:

1. The person inside requests a blank visitor application from facility staff.
2. They mail the blank form to you.
3. You fill it out completely and accurately.
4. Adults 16 and older attach a copy of a valid photo ID. Minors under 16 attach a copy of their birth certificate.
5. You mail the completed form back to the facility.
6. The facility reviews the application and notifies the person inside of the decision.

The list holds up to 18 approved visitors. If the list is full, someone must be removed before a new person can be added. The list is reviewed every 6 months, so changes can happen during those renewal periods.

Be accurate on the application. Any false information can result in removal from the list or a permanent ban.

How Many People Can Visit

Each session allows a maximum of 3 visitors. Visitors must all be on the approved list. Each approved visitor gets one session per week, and sessions run up to 2 hours.

Coordinate with other approved visitors before you arrive so you do not exceed the 3-person limit. If more than 3 approved visitors show up at the same time, some may not be allowed in.

What to Bring

Bring a valid government-issued photo ID. Do not bring anything else into the facility unless you are told to. Leave purses, bags, phones, smartwatches, AI glasses, cameras, and all personal items locked in your vehicle.

Acceptable photo IDs include:

• Driver’s license or state-issued ID
• U.S. Passport or Passport Card
• U.S. Military ID

If you have metal implants: Bring an original physician’s statement explaining the implant. Staff will use this to process you through security with an alternative screening method. A statement from your doctor is required in advance.

One small item for infants: If you are bringing a nursing infant, one pacifier may be permitted. Ask staff ahead of time to confirm.

Security Screening

All visitors go through security before entering the visitation area. Expect:

• Magnetometer (metal detector) screening
• Pat search
• Possible canine search

Do not bring cell phones, smartwatches, cameras, or AI-enabled glasses into the facility. These will not be allowed past the entry point. Leave them in your car.

Visitors who appear to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs will not be allowed to enter and will be required to leave facility property.

NC DAC Dress Code for Visitors

Avery-Mitchell follows NC DAC’s statewide visitor dress code. Wearing prohibited clothing means you will be turned away. Plan your outfit before you go.

Not allowed:

• Halter tops, tube tops, strapless tops, tank tops
• Bare midriffs or tops that expose the stomach
• Fishnet or see-through clothing
• Shorts, skirts, or dresses more than 3 inches above the kneecap
• Wave caps, doo rags, or bandanas
• Spandex or form-fitting leggings
• Pants worn below the waist
• Clothing with gang symbols, profane language, or drug and alcohol advertising

For skirts and dresses: The hemline must fall no more than 3 inches above the kneecap. Anything shorter will get you turned away.

For underwear: An underwire bra is not permitted. You must wear a bra, but it cannot have metal underwire. Non-underwire bras, sports bras, and soft-cup bras are acceptable.

When in doubt, choose plain, modest clothing in solid colors with no slogans or graphics.

Rules for Minors Visiting

Children under 18 may visit but must follow additional rules:

• A minor must be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or approved adult who is also on the visitor list.
• If someone other than the child’s parent is bringing the minor, bring a notarized letter of permission from the non-incarcerated parent or legal guardian, along with the child’s birth certificate.
• The facility cannot notarize documents. Have any required forms notarized before you arrive.
• Children must stay in the visitation area at all times and must be supervised by the accompanying adult.
• Children must be properly dressed following the same NC DAC dress code requirements.

Minors under 16 who applied for the visitor list: A copy of their birth certificate must have been submitted with their visitor application.

Conduct During the Visit

Visitors must behave respectfully at all times. Staff can end a visit early if:

• A visitor or inmate violates facility rules
• Conduct causes a disturbance to other visitors or staff
• Any prohibited exchange of items takes place

You cannot give anything to the person or accept anything from them unless staff has approved the exchange in advance. This includes food, money, letters, or any other item. Violations can result in removal from the approved visitor list.

What’s Not Allowed

Contraband: It is a felony to bring illegal drugs, alcohol, weapons, or unauthorized items onto prison property. Anyone caught trying to introduce contraband will be arrested and prosecuted.

Cell phones and electronics: No cell phones, smartwatches, cameras, or AI glasses are allowed inside.

Exchanges: You cannot hand anything to the person or take anything from them during the visit without prior staff approval.

Video Visits

If you cannot make it in person, video visits are available through the Getting Out Visits app, operated by ViaPath/GTL. Set up an account at sso.gtlconnect.com. You must be on the approved visitor list to schedule a video visit. Video visits are a good option for family members who live far away or cannot travel to the mountains.

Medical Accommodations

If you use a wheelchair, cane, or oxygen equipment, or if you have a medical condition that affects how you move through security, call ahead to (828) 592-7200. Staff can make arrangements. Bring any relevant medical documentation, especially if you have metal implants that affect magnetometer screening.

Confirming Before You Go

Because visiting hours are not posted publicly, always confirm before you travel. Call (828) 592-7200 or email [email protected]. Also use the NC OPI inmate search to verify the person is still at Avery-Mitchell before making the drive. As a reentry facility, some residents may be on inter-facility job assignments or in transition to another location.