Craven CI Visiting Hours. How to Get Approved and Schedule a Visit

Before Your First Visit: Getting on the Approved List

You cannot visit Craven CI without being on the approved visitor list. The process works like this:

1. The person inside requests blank visitor application forms from the facility.
2. They mail the blank forms to you.
3. You fill out the form completely and return it to: 600 Alligator Road, Vanceboro, NC 28586.
4. Adults 16 and older must attach a copy of a valid photo ID. Minors under 16 must attach a copy of a birth certificate.
5. The facility reviews and approves or denies the application.
6. Once approved, you can schedule a visit.

Do not mail your completed application before the person inside has requested the forms. The facility tracks requests by inmate, and unsolicited applications may be returned.

The approved visitor list holds up to 18 people. Changes to the list can be made every 6 months from the person’s admission date. If you need to be added and the 6-month window has not opened yet, contact the facility to ask about exceptions.

Visiting Hours

Visiting hours at Craven CI are not published online. Call (252) 244-3337 or email [email protected] to get the current schedule and to book your appointment before you travel.

Hours can change around holidays and during facility lockdowns or security events. Always call to confirm before making the drive.

Visit Limits

Rule	Details
Max approved visitors	18 total on the list
Visitors per session	Max 3
Sessions per week	1
Max visit length	2 hours

How to Schedule a Visit

Once you are on the approved list, call (252) 244-3337 or email [email protected] to schedule your appointment. Do not arrive without an appointment. Walk-in visits are not accepted.

When you call, have the person’s full name and OPUS Number ready. The OPUS Number is from the NC OPI inmate search. See the inmate search guide if you need it.

What to Bring

Bring a valid government-issued photo ID. Acceptable forms include:

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

If you have a metal implant such as a pacemaker or surgical hardware, bring an ID card from your doctor confirming the implant. This helps screening staff process you through the metal detector without a lengthy delay.

Leave everything else in your car. Do not bring cell phones, smartwatches, cameras, or AI-enabled glasses into the facility. These are not allowed inside.

Dress Code

Craven CI enforces a visitor dress code. A visit may be denied or cut short if you are not dressed appropriately.

Not allowed:

• Halter tops, tube tops, strapless tops, tank tops, or bare midriffs
• Fishnet or see-through clothing
• Spandex
• Shorts, skirts, or dresses more than 3 inches above the kneecap
• Wave caps, doo rags, or bandanas
• Pants worn below the waist
• Clothing with gang or STG insignia, profanity, or drug/alcohol references

Dress modestly. When in doubt, choose plain, loose-fitting clothing that covers your shoulders, chest, and legs.

Security Screening

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

• Metal detector walk-through
• Pat search

Cell phones, smartwatches, cameras, and AI-enabled glasses are not allowed past the entrance. Leave them in your vehicle or at home. If you have a metal implant, present your doctor’s ID card at screening.

Minors Visiting

Children under 16 can visit, but they must be listed on the approved visitor list and must have a copy of their birth certificate on file with the facility at the time the application is submitted.

Minors must be accompanied by an approved adult at all times during the visit. Talk to the person inside about whether bringing children is appropriate given the current visit conditions at the facility.

Video Visits

If you cannot make the drive to Vanceboro, video visits are available through the GettingOut Visits app (GTL/ViaPath) at sso.gtlconnect.com. You must be on the approved visitor list to use video visits, the same list used for in-person visits. Create an account, find Craven Correctional Institution, and follow the prompts to schedule.

Legal and Attorney Visits

Attorneys and other legal representatives visiting an incarcerated person at Craven CI should email [email protected] to arrange the visit. Legal visits are handled separately from the standard visitor approval process.

What’s Not Allowed

Contraband: Bringing drugs, weapons, or other contraband onto facility property is a felony under North Carolina law. Anyone caught attempting to introduce contraband will be arrested, removed from the approved visitor list, and prosecuted.

Exchanges during visits: You may not hand anything to the person inside or accept anything from them during a visit unless it has been pre-approved by facility staff.

Phones and electronics: Cell phones, smartwatches, cameras, and AI-enabled glasses are prohibited inside the facility. Anything confiscated may not be returned immediately.

A Note on Craven CI as an Intake Facility

Craven CI is one of NC’s primary processing centers. If your loved one just entered the state prison system from a county jail, they may be at Craven temporarily, typically 3 to 4 weeks, before NC DAC assigns them to a permanent facility. Check the NC OPI at webapps.doc.state.nc.us/opi/offendersearch.do?method=view to confirm they are still at Craven before traveling. See the inmate search guide for details on what to do if you find them listed at a different facility.

Getting to Craven CI

Craven Correctional Institution is at 600 Alligator Road, Vanceboro, NC 28586, in Craven County. Vanceboro is a small town roughly 20 miles west of New Bern. There is no public transportation to the facility. Plan to drive, and confirm the address before you leave. For questions, call (252) 244-3337.