New Hanover County, North Carolina Inmate Search

An inmate search is a public tool (often called a jail roster) that helps individuals look up inmates currently held in a county jail, state, or federal prison. In New Hanover County, the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office manages jail custody operations through its Detention Division.

In New Hanover County, requesters may conduct an inmate search using the "Inmate Inquiry" search, accessible through the Sheriff’s Office "Sheriff to Citizen" (Sc2) website. By clicking on the Inmate Inquiry search tool, requesters can obtain details such as an inmate’s name, age, race, booking photograph, charges, arrest date, release date, and next court dates, as well as the name of the arresting agency. Searches also return results on an inmate’s status (e.g., awaiting trial, under sentence, or released by court), docket number, and bond amount per charge (if applicable).

For individuals in state-managed facilities, requesters may perform inmate searches using North Carolina’s Offender Public Information Search/Offender Locator. This search tool allows users to locate persons incarcerated in North Carolina Department of Adult Correction prisons, including the New Hanover Correctional Center in Wilmington. At the national level, the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) provides an inmate locator for federal inmates.

Although some city police departments, especially in larger or incorporated cities, may run their own jail rosters, this is not the case in New Hanover County. Prominent police departments, such as the Wilmington Police Department and the Carolina Beach Police Department, do not operate separate public jail rosters. These police departments typically book arrested persons into the county jail. Therefore, the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Inmate Inquiry represents the best public starting point for finding who is in custody.

How to Find an Inmate in New Hanover County Jail

Requesters may locate inmates currently detained in the New Hanover County Jail through the "Inmate Inquiry" portal. This is the official search tool maintained by the Hanover County Sheriff’s Office for locating persons detained in the county jail. Interested parties may access this tool via the "inmate Inquiry" link on the New Hanover Sheriff’s Office "Sheriff to Citizen" website.

In Hanover County, the Sheriff’s Detention Division handles detention operations. For further information, contact the Sheriff’s Office or Detention Division at the following address:

New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office

3950 Juvenile Center Road

Castle Hayne, NC 28429

Main phone (Sheriff’s Office/Detention): 910-798-4200

How to Use the New Hanover County Jail Roster

1. To use the New Hanover County jail roster, visit the Sheriff To Citizen (SC2) website of the County Sheriff’s Office.
2. On the page (S2C), visitors may click on Inmate Inquiry or scroll down to the option using the Quick Links feature on the site.
3. Click on the Inmate Inquiry to generate a comprehensive list of individuals currently housed in the county detention facility. Then, click on Filter Inmate List to refine the search result using an inmate’s name (first and last name), age, sex, race, primary charge, arrest date, and booking agency.
4. Click on a person’s record (if available) to view basic booking and custody information. Searches typically return information such as an inmate’s name, age, race, booking photograph, charges, arrest date, release date, and next court dates; the arresting agency name; inmate’s status; docket number; and bond amount per charge (if applicable).
5. If unable to find the person, try common-sense checks, including double-checking spelling and searching by last name only. Please note that it may take some time for individuals who have been recently arrested to appear on the list.

In instances where the roster is inaccessible online, contact the Sheriff’s Office at the following address:

New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office/Detention Division

3950 Juvenile Center Road

Castle Hayne, NC 28429

Phone (main): 910-798-4200

What Information is Included in the New Hanover County Inmate Roster

The New Hanover County inmate roster typically contains inmate details, such as:

• Inmate Name: The full legal name of an individual currently detained, as recorded during the booking process.
• Docket Number: This is a court-assigned case identifier that tracks a specific criminal case as it progresses through the court system (hearings, motions, dispositions).
• Booking Photograph: A booking photograph (also referred to as a "mugshot") provides visual confirmation of identity and reflects the individual’s appearance at the time of booking.
• Age, Sex, and Race: These basic demographic details typically help distinguish one person from another and support accurate identification. This is the date on which an individual was taken into custody by law enforcement.
• Arrest Date: This is the date on which an individual was taken into custody by law enforcement.
• Booking Agency: The law enforcement agency (e.g., a police department or sheriff’s office) that completed the jail intake (booking) process for the individual.
• Status: This refers to the inmate’s current legal or custody position within the criminal justice process. This often indicates whether the person is awaiting court proceedings, serving a sentence, has been released by court order, or is being held on behalf of another agency.
• Charge Information: This includes the general offense name, charge type (e.g., misdemeanor or felony), and descriptions of the charges filed against the inmate.
• Release Date (if applicable): This information applies to individuals who have been released already or have an estimated release date.
• Next Court Date: This is information on upcoming court appearances, if captured and available through the jail system.
• Bond Amount: The amount set for bonds (if any), shown in dollars.

Note: Juvenile records, medical files, active investigations, victims’ information, security operations, or sealed cases are inaccessible to the public under the North Carolina Public Records Act (Chapter 132 of the NC General Statutes).

Contact Details for New Hanover County Jail or Sheriff’s Office

Individuals seeking official confirmation, assistance locating an inmate, or general information about jail operations may contact the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office. The New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office runs the county jail (New Hanover County Detention Facility) through its Detention Division. The contact details of the Sheriff’s Office and its Detention Division are as follows:

New Hanover County Jail (Detention Division)

3950 Juvenile Center Rd

Castle Hayne, NC 28429

Main phone (Sheriff’s Office/Detention Division): 910-798-4200.

Fax (Detention Division): 910-798-4163

Sheriff’s Office

3950 Juvenile Center Road

Castle Hayne, NC 28429

Main phone: 910-798-4200

Fax: 910-798-4212

Statewide-automated information, such as inmate sentences and projected release dates, may be obtained by calling 877-627-2826 (877-NCSAVAN).

Inmate Full Name

Inmate ID Number

Contact	Address	Phone	Notes/Directory
New Hanover County Detention Division (Jail)	3950 Juvenile Center Rd, Castle Hayne, NC 28429	910-798-4200	Listed in the county staff directory under "Detention Division." https://newhanoversheriff.com/Directory.aspx?did=96
New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office	3950 Juvenile Center Road, Castle Hayne, NC 28429	910-798-4200	Sheriff’s Office "Contact Us" page and county directory listing. https://www.nhcgov.com/795/Sheriffs-Office

Jail Facility Overview in New Hanover County

The New Hanover County Detention Facility is the county’s primary jail, operated by the County Sheriff’s Office through its Detention Division. Located on Juvenile Center Road, the facility is a 672-capacity jail that houses men and women awaiting trial as well as those serving short sentences.

Agency	Office and Mail Address	Phone Number	Office Hours	Email
New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office	3950 Juvenile Center Road, Castle Hayne, NC 28429	(910) 798-4200	Not posted on the Sheriff’s Office contact block (call the main line).	No single general email is listed on the Sheriff’s Office contact block. For written inquiries, the county offers an official "Contact Us" form.
New Hanover County Detention Facility (Detention Division)	3950 Juvenile Center Rd, Castle Hayne, NC 28429 (Detention Division listing)	(910) 798-4200 (Detention Division contact)	Booking/intake staffed 24 hours a day (per Detention Division description).	The Detention Division page provides official "Email" links for detention leadership rather than a single public inbox.

How to Send Money to an Inmate in New Hanover County Jail?

Individuals wishing to send money to Inmates at the New Hanover County Detention Facility may use the following deposit methods:

• On-Site Lobby Kiosks: Individuals using this option may deposit cash for inmates via the automated kiosks located in the front lobby. To fund an inmate’s account, the depositor is expected to have the inmate’s name/ID if required
• Send money online: Depositors may send money to an inmate through the McDaniel Supply Company (state-authorized third-party vendor) website or the "Send Money to an Inmate" link on the Sheriff’s Office official resources page. To send money, visit the McDaniel Supply Company/jail pack store to search and select New Hanover County Detention Facility. Next, enter the inmate’s identifying information (typically name; some systems also require an ID), and pay by card on the portal.
• Mail a money order: The county’s official Detention Division page provides specific instructions for mailing money orders. Money orders mailed to the inmate are expected to be made payable to New Hanover County. Depositors must insert the inmate’s name in the "memo" section; otherwise, the money order may be placed in the inmate’s property instead of their spendable account.

Inmate Search by Jail Facility

The New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office, through its Detention Division, operates the County Jail, which is searchable through a single online inmate search system. This means that all inmates’ information is stored in the same database.

In New Hanover, the County’s Sheriff-to-Citizen (P2C) website possesses an "Inmate Inquiry" function, which serves as the public jail roster for individuals housed in the New Hanover County Detention Facility.

Requesters might not find a direct link to the online roster on the Sheriff’s Office homepage. They are expected to go to the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office P2C site and use the menu option labeled ’Inmate Inquiry.’

New Hanover County Visitation Rules and Schedules

The visitation rules and schedules for individuals wishing to visit inmates at the New Hanover County Detention Facility are as follows:

Who Can Visit

• Each inmate may have up to two adult visitors per visit.
• Visitors under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
• Inmates choose who they want to see and schedule the visit themselves

Visitor ID and Approval Requirements

• Visitors are expected to provide approved photo identification upon arrival.
• Visitors also need a valid photo ID to enter the facility.
• Inmates require the full name, address, and date of birth of potential visitors to schedule visits.

Dress Code and Behavior Expectations

• Shorts and shirts must come to the right above the knee.
• No clothing with inappropriate pictures, logos, or words.
• Shoes must be worn.

Visit Duration and Schedule

• Visits last 45 minutes, and visitors must arrive at least 15 minutes early to check in.
• Each inmate is allowed two visits per week (the new week begins Monday).
• Visitation hours are 1:00 PM to 9:00 PM daily (by appointment).

Mailing and Commissary Information

Sending Money to an Inmate

As of December 1, 2025, the Detention Division requires families and friends to mail correspondence to inmates in the format below:

New Hanover County Detention Facility

P.O. Box 591

Longview, TX 75606

The mail must include the inmate’s name, ID number, and a return address (sender’s address).

Accepted Mail Requirements

• Only 8.5" x 11" mail is accepted.
• Limit: no more than 5 pages (more than 5 pages will be returned).
• Mail is scanned on the front side only; writing on the back can cause it to be returned.
• Maximum of one (1) photo per mailing (If included)
• If more than one photo is mailed, the entire letter may be returned.
• The county notes inmates may receive "appropriate original 4" x 6" photographs."
• Money orders

Mail not allowed

• Greeting cards
• Anything on cardstock or colored paper
• Copies of photographs
• Cash, stamps, stickers
• Blank paper or blank envelopes
• Padded/bubble mailers
• Publications/books (e.g., books, magazines, newspapers, legal or medical mail)

Depositing Funds for Commissary Use

The three main options for sending money to inmates are as follows:

• Online (Commissary Funding): Depositors may use the McDaniel Supply Company option listed on the Detention Division page to send money.
• Money Order (By mail): Depositors may send money orders to inmates by mail. These money orders must be made payable to New Hanover County and contain the inmate’s name in the memo section. Money orders without the inmate’s name in the memo section may be stored in the inmate’s property.
• Cash deposit kiosk (in person): Individuals may also deposit cash at the automated kiosk in the facility’s front lobby.