Wilkes Correctional Center Visiting Hours. How to Schedule a Visit

Location

Wilkes Correctional Center is at 404 Statesville Road, North Wilkesboro, NC 28659 in Wilkes County. For directions or visit questions, call (336) 667-4533.

A Note About This Facility

Wilkes is a minimum custody reentry prison. Most residents hold work release jobs with employers in Wilkes County and return to the facility each evening. On weekdays, a resident may not be on facility grounds during business hours.

Before making the drive, confirm two things with the visitation team: the current visiting schedule and whether the resident will be on grounds during your planned visit time. Reach them at (336) 667-4533 or [email protected].

Visiting Hours

Current visiting hours are not published on the facility website. Contact the facility directly to get the current schedule:

• Phone: (336) 667-4533
• Email: [email protected]

Hours can shift around holidays and during facility operations. Always confirm before you travel.

How to Get on the Visitor List

Step 1. The Resident Requests the Application

Ask the person inside to mail you a blank visitor application form. NC DAC facilities do not send forms directly to visitors. The form comes from the resident.

Step 2. Complete and Return the Application

Fill out the application with accurate information for each adult visitor: full name, address, date of birth, relationship to the resident, and photo ID type and number. Return the completed form to the facility by mail or as directed.

Step 3. Wait for Approval

The facility reviews each application. Once approved or denied, the resident is notified and passes the information along to you. The approved list holds up to 18 people. List updates happen every 6 months, so plan ahead if you need to add or swap a name.

Step 4. Confirm Before You Visit

Once you are on the approved list, call or email the visitation team to confirm the current visiting days and times and to make sure the resident will be on facility grounds when you arrive.

Visit Limits

Category	Limit
Visitors per session	Max 3
Sessions per week	1
Session length	Up to 2 hours
Approved list size	Up to 18 people
List update frequency	Every 6 months

What to Bring

Bring only what you need. Leave personal bags and belongings locked in your vehicle.

Required ID:

• Adults 16 and older: valid government-issued photo ID (driver’s license, state ID, U.S. passport, military ID)
• Minors under 16: birth certificate

Medical accommodations: If you have a metal implant or pacemaker and cannot pass through a metal detector without triggering it, bring a physician statement or your implant card. Staff will process you through an alternative screening.

Leave in your car: purses, bags, cell phones, smartwatches, cameras, AI glasses, and other electronics. Check with the facility on whether small amounts of cash for vending are permitted.

Security Screening

All visitors go through security at the entrance before entering the facility. Expect:

• Metal detector screening
• Pat search if the detector alarms or if selected by staff
• Bag check or inspection of any allowed items

Visitors who appear to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs will not be admitted and will be asked to leave.

Dress Code

NC DAC enforces a visitor dress code at all facilities. You may be turned away if you arrive out of compliance. The following are not allowed:

• Halter tops, tube tops, strapless tops, or tank tops
• Bare midriffs or exposed midsections
• Fishnet or see-through clothing
• Shorts, skirts, or dresses more than 3 inches above the kneecap
• Spandex or body-hugging material
• Wave caps, doo rags, or bandanas
• Pants worn below the waist
• Clothing with STG (Security Threat Group/gang) symbols or profanity

When in doubt, wear plain, modest clothing. Call the facility if you are unsure whether a specific item is acceptable.

Visitors with Minor Children

Children under 16 need a birth certificate. Visitors 16 and older need a photo ID.

If the child’s parent or legal guardian is not one of the adult visitors accompanying them, the facility may require a notarized permission form. Call (336) 667-4533 before bringing a child to confirm what documentation is needed.

Children must stay with the approved adult visitor at all times during the visit.

Video Visits

If you cannot get to North Wilkesboro in person, video visits are available through the Getting Out Visits app, a ViaPath/GTL service. Go to sso.gtlconnect.com to create an account. You must be on the resident’s approved visitor list to schedule a video visit. Video visits are especially useful on days when the resident may be at a work assignment and unavailable for in-person scheduling.

What’s Not Allowed

Do not bring contraband onto facility property. Attempting to bring in drugs, alcohol, or weapons is a felony in North Carolina. You will be arrested, and the resident’s visiting privileges may be suspended or revoked.

Do not pass anything to or accept anything from the resident during a visit without prior staff approval.

If the Visit Is Denied or Terminated

A visit can be denied if:

• You are not on the approved visitor list
• You do not have the required ID
• Your clothing does not meet the dress code
• Staff have reason to believe you are impaired

A visit can be ended mid-session if conduct becomes disruptive or facility operations require it. Follow all staff instructions at all times.

Confirming Before You Travel

Because most Wilkes residents hold outside jobs, the most important step before making the trip is confirming:

1. The current visiting schedule (days and hours)
2. Whether the resident will be on facility grounds at your planned visit time

Both of these questions can be answered by calling (336) 667-4533 or emailing [email protected].