Confirm they are at Swain County and get the SO number you need for commissary and mail.
Find your loved one and start staying in touch - photos, letters, and calls.
To find someone at Swain County Detention Center, use the official online roster at apps.myocv.com/share/a156328713. This is the Swain County Sheriff’s Office’s official booking database, powered by myOCV. It’s free and available around the clock. Once you locate the person, write down their SO number (booking number). You need it to order commissary through Inmate Canteen and to address mail correctly. You can also check VINELink NC or call (828) 488-0159 any time, day or night.
Go to apps.myocv.com/share/a156328713. This link opens the Swain County Sheriff’s Office booking roster directly. The page is a live database updated as people are booked in and released.
Step 1. Type the person’s first and last name in the search field. Step 2. Review the results. If multiple people share the same name, check the offense and arrest date to confirm you have the right person. Step 3. Write down the SO number (also called the booking number or Sheriff’s Office number). This is a unique ID assigned at booking.
The roster shows:
The SO number is the key piece of information you need beyond the person’s name. Here’s where it matters:
The myOCV system shows the person’s name, SO number, charges, arrest date, and projected release date. Projected release dates are estimates based on the sentence or bond conditions. They can change if the person is sentenced, transferred, or has additional charges filed.
The system does not show real-time cell assignments or housing unit information. It confirms the person is in custody at Swain County and gives you the number you need for everything else.
VINELink NC at vinelink.vineapps.com/search/NC/Person is a statewide notification tool primarily used by victims and family members who want to receive alerts when someone is released or transferred. You can also use it to search by name.
VINELink pulls from county jail and state prison records. If you register for notifications, you will receive an alert by phone, text, or email when the person’s custody status changes.
There are several reasons someone might not appear in the roster:
Recently booked. Booking takes time. After an arrest, it can take 1 to 48 hours for the record to appear in the database. If you know someone was arrested in the last day or two, wait and try again.
Transferred. If the person was recently sentenced to state prison or moved to another facility, they may no longer appear in the Swain County roster. Check the NC Department of Adult Correction offender search at doc.nc.gov to see if they are in the state prison system.
Released. If they were bonded out, released on their own recognizance, or completed their time, they will not appear as currently in custody.
Name variation. Try alternate spellings. If someone goes by a nickname or middle name, the database uses the legal name on file.
If none of these explanations fit, call (828) 488-0159. The 24-hour inmate information line can confirm custody status directly.
If you need to review charges, hearing dates, or case status, North Carolina court records are available online at portal-nc.tylertech.cloud/Portal/. This is the official NC court records portal. Search by name or case number to see what is scheduled.
If the person was recently arrested and you want to know what it takes to get them released, call (828) 488-0159 and ask for the bail amount. Swain County accepts cash, credit, money order, or a bail bondsman. A bondsman typically charges 10 to 15 percent of the total bail as a fee, which is non-refundable.
Once you confirm the person is at Swain County and have their SO number, here are your next steps:
6 of 12 questions
The official roster is at apps.myocv.com/share/a156328713. It is run by the Swain County Sheriff's Office and shows booking number, charges, arrest date, and projected release date. You can also use VINELink NC or call (828) 488-0159.
Inmate SearchSO stands for Sheriff's Office. It is the unique booking number assigned to each person when they are booked into Swain County Detention Center. You need it for commissary orders through Inmate Canteen and to address personal mail correctly.
Inmate SearchThey may have been booked recently and the record has not updated yet (allow 24 to 48 hours). They may have been transferred to state prison or released. Try a different spelling. If still not found, call (828) 488-0159.
Inmate SearchThe myOCV roster shows the person's full legal name, SO number, offense or charges, arrest date, and projected release date. It does not show housing unit or cell assignments.
Inmate SearchCheck the NC Department of Adult Correction offender search at doc.nc.gov. If the person was sentenced to state prison, they will appear there and not in the Swain County jail roster.
Inmate SearchYes. Register on VINELink NC at vinelink.vineapps.com/search/NC/Person to get automatic alerts by phone, text, or email when the person's custody status changes.
Inmate SearchCall (828) 488-0159. Swain County accepts cash, credit, money order, or a bail bondsman. A bondsman typically charges 10 to 15 percent of the total bail as a non-refundable fee.
Inmate SearchNorth Carolina court records are at portal-nc.tylertech.cloud/Portal/. Search by name or case number to see hearing dates, charges, and case status.
Inmate SearchIt can take 1 to 48 hours for a new booking to appear in the database. If you know someone was arrested recently, wait a day and try the search again. Call (828) 488-0159 if you cannot wait.
Inmate SearchYes. The myOCV roster at apps.myocv.com/share/a156328713 and VINELink NC are both free to use. Registering for release notifications on VINELink is also free.
Inmate SearchYes. Call (828) 488-0159. It is a 24-hour inmate information line and someone can confirm whether a person is in custody.
Inmate SearchWrite down their SO number. Then schedule a video visit through NCIC, order commissary through Inmate Canteen, set up NCIC for phone calls, and send letters to the Longview, TX mailing address. Each guide on this site walks through one of those steps.
Inmate SearchSchedule a free on-site visit or a remote visit from home.
View ArticleOrder food and goods. You need the SO number to complete the order.
View ArticleSet up an NCIC account so the person can call you.
View ArticleThe correct mailing 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.