Forsyth Correctional Center Visiting Hours. How to Schedule a Visit

Location and Directions

Forsyth Correctional Center is located at 307 Craft Drive, Winston-Salem, NC 27105, in Forsyth County. The facility sits in the northwestern Piedmont region of North Carolina.

Call (336) 896-7041 for directions or questions about travel to the facility. If you are coming from out of town, Winston-Salem has several hotel options within a short drive of Craft Drive.

Visiting Hours

Forsyth Correctional Center does not publish its visiting schedule online. Hours can change based on facility operations, holidays, or other circumstances.

Before you travel, call (336) 896-7041 or email [email protected] to confirm current visiting days and times.

This step protects your trip. Showing up without a confirmed appointment will result in a denied visit.

Step 1. Get on the Approved Visitor List

You cannot walk up to Forsyth and visit someone. The approval process works like this:

1. The person inside requests a blank NC DAC visitor application form from facility staff.
2. They mail the blank form to you.
3. You fill out the form completely and return it to the facility for review.
4. The facility runs a background check and approves or denies the application.
5. Once approved, your name goes on the person’s approved visitor list.

Up to 18 people can be on the approved visitor list at one time. The list is reviewed and updated every 6 months. If you were previously approved but have not visited in a while, confirm your status is still active before making the trip.

Step 2. Schedule Your Visit

Once you are on the approved list, contact the facility to schedule a specific day and time. Call (336) 896-7041 or email [email protected] to set up the appointment.

Do not skip this step. Approved visitors who arrive without a confirmed appointment may still be turned away if the visit was not scheduled in advance.

Who Can Visit and How Often

NC DAC visiting rules for Forsyth Correctional Center:

• Maximum visitors per session: 3
• Sessions per week: 1
• Session length: Up to 2 hours

Children under 16 can visit but must be accompanied by an approved adult visitor. If a minor is coming with someone other than a parent or legal guardian, check with the facility about any additional requirements.

What to Bring: Identification

Adults 16 and older must show valid photo ID. Acceptable IDs include:

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

Minors under 16: Bring a birth certificate. Social Security cards, insurance cards, and credit cards are not valid forms of identification.

Dress Code for Visitors

NC DAC has a facility-wide dress code that applies to all visitors at Forsyth Correctional Center. Your visit can be denied or cut short if you arrive out of compliance. Do not wear:

• Halter tops, tube tops, strapless tops, or tank tops
• Tops that expose the midriff or bare stomach
• Fishnet or see-through clothing
• Shorts, skirts, or dresses more than 3 inches above the kneecap
• Spandex or skin-tight clothing
• Wave caps, doo rags, or bandanas
• Pants worn below the waist
• Clothing with gang-related symbols, profane language, or drug and alcohol promotion

Dress modestly and practically. When in doubt, call the facility before you leave home.

Security Screening

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

• Metal detector screening
• Pat search if flagged by the metal detector or staff
• No cell phones, smartwatches, cameras, or AI-enabled glasses allowed inside

Leave personal electronics locked in your vehicle. You will not be able to bring them in, and storing them with staff is not guaranteed.

Medical Accommodations

If you have a medical condition that prevents you from passing through a metal detector, such as a pacemaker or metal implants, bring a physician’s statement to the visit. Contact the facility in advance so staff can make arrangements.

Video Visits: Getting Out Visits App

If you cannot make it in person or want to connect between scheduled visits, Forsyth Correctional Center offers video visits through the Getting Out Visits app, powered by ViaPath/GTL.

How to set it up:

1. Download the Getting Out Visits app or go to sso.gtlconnect.com.
2. Create a free account using your real name and contact information.
3. Search for Forsyth Correctional Center and submit a visit request.
4. Wait for the visit to be approved, then connect at the scheduled time.

Video visits are a good option if you live far from Winston-Salem or if your in-person schedule is limited.

Sunday Chapel Services

Forsyth Correctional Center has an on-site chapel built in 1987, funded by 100 local Winston-Salem churches. Those same churches provide three full-time chaplains. Sunday services at the chapel are open to both residents and their families.

This is a separate opportunity from the regular scheduled visit process. If you are in Winston-Salem on a Sunday, contact the facility to find out whether families can attend that week’s service and what the arrival process looks like.

What Is Not Allowed

• No contraband of any kind. Bringing drugs, alcohol, or weapons into the facility or onto NC DAC property is a felony.
• No tobacco products on facility grounds.
• No exchanging items with the person inside during the visit unless approved in advance by facility staff.
• No bringing in food, beverages, or gifts without prior approval.

Anyone who appears to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs will be denied entry and required to leave.

If Your Visit Is Denied or Terminated

Visits can be denied at the door for dress code violations, missing identification, failure to have a confirmed appointment, or arriving under the influence. A visit in progress can be terminated for conduct that disrupts other visitors or violates facility rules.

If your visit is denied and you believe it was in error, contact the facility after the fact to discuss next steps.

Confirm Before You Travel

Forsyth Correctional Center is a working correctional facility. Hours, schedules, and rules can change on short notice around holidays, staffing events, or facility lockdowns.

Always call (336) 896-7041 or email [email protected] to confirm your appointment is still on before you make the drive.

Also confirm the person is still at Forsyth with the NC OPI inmate search before you travel. Minimum-custody residents can be transferred or moved to work release placements with limited notice.