Buncombe County Detention Facility Inmate Search. Find Someone in Asheville NC

How to Search the Roster

Go to buncombecountyso.policetocitizen.com/Inmates/Catalog and enter the person’s first and last name. The roster shows everyone currently in custody at Buncombe County Detention Facility.

The search is free and does not require you to create an account. Results typically show the person’s name, booking date, charges, and booking number. Save the booking number. You’ll use it for every deposit, letter, and visit request.

What the Search Results Show

A result typically includes:

• Full name as entered at booking
• Booking date showing when they were brought in
• Charges listed at the time of booking
• Booking number (also called the ID number) used for all correspondence and deposits

The charges shown are at booking only. They may not reflect updates that happen after the initial arrest.

Why County Jail Searches Are Different

Buncombe County Detention is a county jail, not a state prison. County jails have much faster population turnover than prisons. People move in and out daily: some bond out within hours, others are transferred to state custody after sentencing, and some are released on their own recognizance.

This means:

• Someone booked at 2 a.m. may not appear in the roster until later that day
• Someone released may still appear for a short window after leaving
• A person transferred to a state prison will no longer appear here

If you know someone was recently arrested but they don’t show up, wait a few hours and try again. If they were sentenced and transferred, contact the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction to find their new location.

If You Can’t Find the Person

Try these steps before assuming they’re not there:

1. Check the spelling. Try a partial last name or first name alone.
2. Try a nickname or legal name. Some people book under a different name than the one you know.
3. Wait and try again. If they were just booked, give it a few hours.
4. Call the jail. Dial (828) 250-4503 and ask for the detention desk. Staff can confirm custody status over the phone.

If they were recently sentenced and transferred out, call the NC Department of Adult Correction to find out where they were sent.

After You Find Them

Once you have their booking number, here’s what to do next:

• Send money: Go to InmateCanteen at team3.inmatecanteen.com (see the send money guide)
• Schedule a visit: Call (828) 250-4610 or (828) 250-4557 (see the visitation guide)
• Set up phone calls: Create a Paytel account at paytel.com (see the phone calls guide)
• Send mail: Address letters through TextBehind (see the mail guide)

Confirming Before You Travel

Always check the roster before making the drive to Asheville for a visit. County jails have constant movement. Someone who was there yesterday may have bonded out, been transferred, or been released. A quick search takes less than a minute and could save you an unnecessary trip.