Swain County Detention Center Visitation: Video Visits Through NCIC

Important: No In-Person Visits

If you were expecting to sit across from someone in a contact visit room, Swain County Detention Center works differently. The facility uses video visitation only. Every visit, whether you head to Bryson City in person or log in from your couch in Asheville or Charlotte, happens on a screen through NCIC’s InTouch system.

This is not uncommon for smaller county jails in North Carolina. The upside is that you can visit from home on any day of the week.

Your Two Visit Options

Option 1: On-Site Video Visit at the Jail

Go to 95 Brendle Street in Bryson City, sit at one of the video terminals at the facility, and connect over video with the person inside.

Hours: Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Cost: Free. Length: 20 to 30 minutes per session. Guest limit: Up to 2 visitors. A third guest is allowed if the extra person is a child 6 years old or younger.

You must schedule the visit at least 24 hours in advance. Walk-ins are not accepted.

Option 2: Remote Video Visit from Home

You schedule a visit and connect from any device with a camera and internet connection. No trip to Bryson City required.

Hours: Every day, Sunday through Saturday, 9:00 AM to 8:30 PM. Cost: Approximately $7.50 (at $0.25 per minute for a 30-minute session) plus a $2.00 connection fee. Fees are charged to your NCIC account. Length: 30 minutes.

Remote visits are a practical option for families who live far from Bryson City. Swain County is in the mountains of far western NC, and getting there from Raleigh or Charlotte takes 3 to 4 hours each way.

How to Schedule a Visit

1. Go to intouch.ncic.com and create a free NCIC account with your name, email, and a password.
2. Select Swain County Jail from the facility list.
3. Find the person you want to visit by name or ID number.
4. Choose on-site or remote, pick a date and time slot, and confirm.
5. You will get a confirmation. The person inside is notified.

You must schedule at least 24 hours before the visit. Last-minute scheduling is not available.

Visit Frequency

Each person inside is allowed up to 2 video visits per week. If your family has multiple people who want to visit, coordinate so the person inside does not use both weekly slots before everyone gets a chance.

Guest Rules for On-Site Visits

On-site visits at the jail terminal allow:

• Up to 2 adults, or
• 1 adult plus 1 child, or
• 1 adult plus 2 children if one of them is 6 years old or younger

ID requirements for on-site visits: The Swain County Sheriff’s Office has not published specific ID requirements online. Call (828) 488-0159 before you visit to confirm what identification you need to bring to the facility.

Preparing for a Remote Visit

For remote visits from home, you need:

• A computer, tablet, or smartphone with a working camera and microphone
• A reliable internet connection
• The NCIC InTouch app (available for iOS and Android) or a desktop browser at intouch.ncic.com
• An NCIC account with enough funds if you are paying for the visit

Test your camera and microphone before your scheduled time. If you have technical problems during a visit, contact NCIC support. The visit fee may not be refunded for technical issues on your end.

What Happens During the Visit

Video visits are monitored. Keep conversations appropriate. The same rules that apply to in-person visits at most facilities apply here: nothing illegal, no sharing of personal account information, no attempts to pass messages that violate facility rules. Visits that violate rules can be terminated and may result in visiting privileges being suspended.

What to Do If the Visit Does Not Connect

If your scheduled visit fails to connect:

1. Check your internet connection and camera settings.
2. Make sure you are logged into the right NCIC account.
3. Confirm the visit was not cancelled by the facility. Visits can be cancelled if the person inside is in lockdown, has a court date, or is being moved.
4. Call NCIC customer support for billing issues.
5. Call Swain County Detention Center at (828) 488-0159 if you think the visit was cancelled on the facility’s end.

Suspension of Visits

Visiting privileges can be suspended if a person inside violates facility rules. If you have tried to schedule and cannot locate the person on the NCIC system, call (828) 488-0159 to ask about their current status. They could also have been transferred to another facility. Use the inmate search guide to confirm where they are before scheduling.

Attorney and Legal Visits

Attorneys and legal representatives should contact the Swain County Detention Center directly at (828) 488-0159 to arrange legal visits. Legal visits are typically handled separately from standard video visits and may have different scheduling rules.

Contact Information

• Swain County Detention Center: (828) 488-0159 (24 hours)
• Fax: (828) 488-0481
• Office hours: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday
• NCIC scheduling: intouch.ncic.com
• NCIC customer support: 800-943-2189