Confirm they are at Mountain View and get the OPUS number you need for everything else.
Find your loved one and start staying in touch - photos, letters, and calls.
To find someone at Mountain View Correctional Institution, use the NC Offender Public Information (OPI) search at webapps.doc.state.nc.us/opi/offendersearch.do?method=view. This is the state’s free, official lookup tool for everyone in NC DAC custody. Once you confirm the person is at Mountain View, write down their OPUS number. You will need it to visit, send money, and mail letters.
Go to webapps.doc.state.nc.us/opi/offendersearch.do?method=view and enter the person’s first and last name. The tool searches all of NC DAC’s current custody records, including Mountain View Correctional Institution.
The search returns a list of matching names. Click the correct person to see their record, which will show their current facility location, OPUS number, sentence details, and other information NC DAC makes public.
OPUS stands for Offender Population Unified System. It is the unique ID number NC DAC assigns to each person in their custody. You will need it for:
Write the OPUS number down and keep it somewhere safe. Using the wrong number on a deposit or letter can cause delays or returns.
The NC OPI record typically includes:
Not all fields are always populated, and some information may be withheld for security reasons.
If you search and do not find the person, a few things could explain it:
If you still cannot find them after trying different spellings and waiting a day, call Mountain View at (828) 592-3000.
Before you drive to Spruce Pine or make a deposit, always confirm the person is still at Mountain View. NC DAC moves people between facilities based on classification changes, program needs, or space. The OPI search reflects their current location, so check it before any trip or transaction.
Use the visitation guide to learn how to schedule a visit once you confirm their location. Use the send money guide to make a deposit through ConnectNetwork.
If the OPI search shows a different facility than Mountain View, update your records and contact that facility for information on visits, mail, and deposits. Money sent to the wrong facility account can be delayed.
6 of 12 questions
The NC Offender Public Information (OPI) search at webapps.doc.state.nc.us/opi/offendersearch.do?method=view. It is run by the NC Department of Adult Correction and is free to use.
Inmate SearchOPUS stands for Offender Population Unified System. It is the unique ID number NC DAC assigns to each person in their custody. You need it for money deposits, mail, and the visitor application.
Inmate SearchThey may have been admitted or transferred recently and the record has not updated yet. Try a different name spelling, wait a day, and search again. If they are in a county jail rather than a state prison, they would not appear in this database. Call Mountain View at (828) 592-3000 if you still cannot find them.
Inmate SearchThe search shows the person's current facility, OPUS number, offense information, sentence length, projected release date, and custody level. Some fields may be withheld for security reasons.
Inmate SearchYes. People in the Intensive Control unit at Mountain View are still in the NC DAC system and should appear in the OPI search. If you cannot find them, call (828) 592-3000 to confirm their status.
Inmate SearchThey may have been transferred. Contact the facility shown in the search results for updated information on visits, mail, and deposits. Do not send money or mail to Mountain View if they are no longer there.
Inmate SearchYes. The NC Offender Public Information search is a free public tool provided by NC DAC.
Inmate SearchThe database updates regularly, but transfers and new admissions can take a day or more to appear. If you just learned someone was moved to Mountain View, wait 24 hours and search again.
Inmate SearchThe NC OPI search supports name searches. If you already have the OPUS number, you can use it as part of your search to confirm the exact person. Check the search tool's current options for available fields.
Inmate SearchWrite down their OPUS number. Use the send money guide to deposit funds through ConnectNetwork, the visitation guide to schedule a visit, and the phone calls guide to set up your ConnectNetwork account so they can call you.
Inmate SearchNo. The NC OPI search covers people in NC DAC state prison custody. People held in county jails before sentencing appear in county records, not the NC DAC system. Mountain View holds state-sentenced people only.
Inmate SearchCall (828) 592-3000. Staff can confirm whether the person is at Mountain View and may be able to help if the OPI search does not resolve your question.
Inmate SearchUse the OPUS number to deposit funds through ConnectNetwork.
View ArticleSchedule a visit. Call (828) 592-3000 or email [email protected].
View ArticleSet up a ConnectNetwork account so the person can call you.
View ArticleThe TextBehind address and what to put on every envelope.
View ArticleSearch for your loved one and start sending photos, letters, and messages today.
Search for Your Loved OneFree Inmate Search
All information on this page comes directly from official government and facility sources. How we verify information › Last verified July 7, 2026.