Catawba County Detention Facility Visiting Hours. Video Visits On-Site and From Home

Two Ways to Visit

Catawba County Detention Facility offers two types of video visits. Both run through Pay Tel Communications. Know which one fits your situation before scheduling.

On-site video visits happen at the facility at 100 Government Drive in Newton. You come to the lobby and use a Pay Tel kiosk. These visits are 15 minutes. Each inmate is allowed one on-site visit per week.

Remote video visits happen from your own home or anywhere with internet. You connect through the Pay Tel app or paytelconnect.com on a smartphone, tablet, or computer. Remote visits are available daily from 6:00 AM to 9:45 PM and cost $3.50 per 15 minutes.

On-Site Video Visit Hours

Day	On-Site Visit Hours
Sunday	8:00 AM to 4:30 PM
Monday	2:00 PM to 4:30 PM
Tuesday	2:00 PM to 4:30 PM
Wednesday	2:00 PM to 4:30 PM
Thursday	2:00 PM to 4:30 PM
Friday	2:00 PM to 4:30 PM
Saturday	No on-site visits

The schedule may vary by housing unit. Call (828) 465-8999 before traveling to confirm the schedule has not changed.

How to Schedule an On-Site Visit

All on-site visits must be scheduled at least one day in advance through paytelconnect.com.

1. Go to paytelconnect.com and create a Pay Tel account if you do not have one.
2. Search for Catawba County Detention Facility in Newton, NC.
3. Select the person you want to visit from the available inmate list.
4. Choose a date and time within the on-site visiting window for that day.
5. Confirm your booking.

Arrive at the facility at least 10 minutes early for check-in. Bring a valid photo ID.

A no-show forfeits the weekly on-site visit for that inmate. If you cannot make the appointment, cancel it in advance through paytelconnect.com.

On-Site Check-In: What to Expect

When you arrive at Catawba County Detention Facility for an on-site video visit:

• Present a valid, government-issued photo ID at check-in. Acceptable IDs include a state driver’s license, state ID card, U.S. passport, or military ID.
• You will be directed to a Pay Tel kiosk in the lobby.
• The visit connects via video to the person inside the facility.
• The visit is 15 minutes. When time is up, the session ends.

Visits are monitored. Do not bring bags or large personal items into the visitation area. Leave them in your vehicle.

Visitors Under 17

Visitors under age 17 must be listed in the Pay Tel system and accompanied by an authorized adult who is 18 or older. Contact the facility at (828) 465-8999 to confirm current requirements before bringing a minor for an on-site visit.

Remote Video Visits from Home

Remote video visits give you more flexibility. You do not need to travel to Newton.

Schedule and hours: Remote visits are available every day from 6:00 AM to 9:45 PM. Sessions can be up to 30 minutes. There is no published limit on how many remote sessions you can book per day.

Cost: $3.50 per 15 minutes. A 30-minute session costs $7.00.

What you need:

• A registered Pay Tel account at paytelconnect.com
• A smartphone, tablet, or computer with a working camera and microphone
• A funded Pay Tel account to pay for the session
• A scheduled visit booked at least one day in advance

How to start:

1. Go to paytelconnect.com or download the Pay Tel app.
2. Create or log in to your account.
3. Find Catawba County Detention Facility and select the person you want to visit.
4. Book a remote video visit for a date and time that works for you.
5. Join the session at the scheduled time from your device.

The person inside must be available and not in a restricted status for the visit to connect.

Attorney and Clergy Visits

Attorney and clergy who need confidential visits should:

1. Create a Pay Tel account at paytelconnect.com.
2. Call the facility at (828) 465-8999 to request confidential status on the account.
3. You may need to provide your bar card number (for attorneys) or credentials (for clergy) to complete the process.

Confidential visits are handled differently from standard visits and are not recorded or monitored in the same way. Contact the facility for current requirements.

All Visits Are Monitored

All standard visits at Catawba County Detention Facility, both on-site and remote, are monitored and recorded. This is standard policy for county detention facilities. Do not share sensitive personal or legal information during a standard visit.

What’s Not Allowed During Visits

• Sharing illegal or prohibited content during the video session
• Recording or screenshotting the visit
• Including third parties in a personal visit without prior authorization
• Visiting while under the influence of alcohol or drugs

Violations can result in your visit being terminated and your visiting privileges suspended.

If the Visit Does Not Connect

If you have trouble connecting for a remote visit:

1. Check your internet connection and that your camera and microphone are working.
2. Confirm the visit was scheduled and not canceled.
3. Make sure the person inside is not in a restricted status.
4. Contact Pay Tel support at paytel.com or 1-800-729-8355 for technical help.

For on-site issues, speak with facility staff at (828) 465-8999.

Getting to the Facility

Catawba County Detention Facility is at 100 Government Drive in Newton, NC 28658. Newton is in Catawba County in the NC Foothills region, roughly 45 minutes northeast of Asheville and 45 minutes west of Charlotte. Parking is available on-site.

Before driving, check the inmate roster at injail.catawbacountync.gov/WhosInJail/ to confirm the person is still in custody and not out for court. See the inmate search guide for details.