Forsyth County Detention Center Visiting Hours. Walk-In Visits and Video Visits

Location

The Forsyth County Detention Center is at 201 North Church Street in downtown Winston-Salem, NC 27101. The 11-story twin tower facility is near the Forsyth County Courthouse. Parking is available near the building. Call (336) 917-7600 for directions or to confirm current parking options.

Visiting Hours

Three sessions run every day except Friday:

Session	Hours
Morning	9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Afternoon	1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Evening	5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

No visits happen on Fridays for any housing unit. Plan accordingly if Friday is the only day you can travel.

Arrive at least 30 minutes before the session ends. Arriving close to the cutoff time may mean you do not get in for that session.

Which Days Are Available by Housing Unit

The days you can visit depend on which housing unit the person is assigned to. No visits happen on Fridays regardless of unit.

Unit	Visiting Days
2A, 2B	Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday
2C	Monday, Wednesday, Saturday
2D	Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday
4A, 4C	Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday
4B, 4D	Monday, Wednesday, Saturday
6A, 6C, 8A, 10A, 10C	Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday
6B, 6D, 8B, 10B, 10D	Monday, Wednesday, Saturday
8C	Monday only
8D	Tuesday only
8E	Thursday only
8F	Sunday and Saturday

Before you drive to the facility, call (336) 917-7600 to confirm which unit the person is in. Housing unit assignments can change, and a visit on the wrong day means a wasted trip.

Video Visits from Home

If you cannot make it in person or Friday is the only day you have, Pay Tel Connect lets you visit by video from anywhere.

How it works:

1. The person inside sends you an initial video visit invite through their Pay Tel tablet.
2. You create an account at paytelconnect.com.
3. Upload a photo of your government-issued state ID and a selfie.
4. Wait for your account to be approved.
5. Once approved, log in and schedule a session.

Video visits are available any day of the week, not just on days when in-person visits are allowed for that housing unit. This is one of the most flexible ways to stay connected, especially for families who live far from Winston-Salem.

Attorney and Legal Visits

Attorneys may visit 7 days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Attorney visits fall outside the standard walk-in visitation schedule and are not subject to the unit-based day restrictions.

What to Bring

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

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

Leave personal items in your vehicle when possible. You should not bring bags, large purses, or items that could slow down security screening.

Security Screening

All visitors go through security before entering the visitation area. Expect a magnetometer scan and possibly a pat search. Officers may conduct additional checks at their discretion.

Do not attempt to bring any prohibited items into the facility. Introducing contraband, including drugs, weapons, or alcohol, is a felony under North Carolina law.

Dress Code

Wear modest, appropriate clothing. The facility may deny entry or end a visit if you are not dressed appropriately. General guidelines:

• No revealing or see-through clothing
• No clothing that displays offensive language or images
• Wear appropriate footwear

When in doubt, dress as you would for a courthouse appearance. The detention center is attached to or near the Forsyth County Courthouse complex, and staff apply similar standards.

Rules During the Visit

Visits are conducted in a supervised setting. Do not pass any items to the person inside or accept anything from them unless staff have given prior approval. Doing so is a violation of visitation rules and may result in your visit being terminated and your visitation privileges being suspended.

Visitors who appear to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs will not be permitted to visit.

What’s Not Allowed

• No contraband of any kind (drugs, weapons, alcohol, tobacco)
• No exchanging items with the person inside without prior staff approval
• No visiting on Fridays
• No visiting during a session if you arrive fewer than 30 minutes before it ends

Visits for Minors

If you are bringing a child under 18, confirm the facility’s current requirements for minors before you visit. Call (336) 917-7600. Requirements can include proof of relationship or a notarized consent form from the non-attending parent. Rules around minor visitors can vary and may change, so verify directly with the facility.

What to Do If the Person Is Not Found

Before making the trip, confirm the person is still at the Forsyth County Detention Center. Use the inmate roster at forsythsheriffnc.policetocitizen.com/Inmates/Catalog or call (336) 917-7600. People can be transferred, released, or moved to a different facility without notice to family.

See the inmate search guide for step-by-step instructions on using the roster.

After Your Visit

If you want to stay connected between visits, the best options are phone calls and messaging through Pay Tel or letters through inteleSCAN. See the phone calls guide and the mail guide for details.