What to Expect in the First 48 Hours and Why Phone Access Varies at Churchill Detention Center

Churchill County Detention Center opened in December 2017 and sits inside the Churchill County Sheriff's Office. The facility primarily houses adults, though it can accept juveniles who have been adjudicated as adults and remanded by the courts. Most people held here are pre-trial inmates, meaning they stay at the facility while awaiting trial or until they make bail. The detention center is rated for 120 beds, but day-to-day operational capacity typically fluctuates between 65 and 80 based on inmate classification.

If your loved one was just booked, expect very limited contact at first. Churchill County Detention Center locks newly booked inmates down in their cells for the first 48 hours after booking. That lockdown is the main reason families often don't hear from someone right away, even if the person has your phone number memorized and wants to call.

After the first 48 hours, phone access can still feel unpredictable. The facility places inmates on a tier rotation that assigns either morning or evening out-of-cell time for basics like phone calls, showers, and TV. If your loved one lands on an evening rotation, you may not get a call until later in the day. The timing can also shift from what you expected based on earlier calls.

You might feel stuck when you try calling the facility for help with timing. Staff at Churchill County Detention Center will not share an inmate's tier rotation, and they will not pass messages to inmates. That policy is frustrating, but knowing it upfront helps you plan around it instead of waiting for information the facility simply won't provide.

Need to know whether someone is still in custody, was moved, or was released? Nevada VINE is the tool the county points people to. The system lets victims of crime and others register for telephone and email notifications when an offender's custody status changes. You can register by phone using the Nevada VINE toll-free number: (888) 268-8463.

For other non-emergency county questions, Churchill County lists a general inquiries number: (775) 423-2266. County administration hours are weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., so if you call outside that window you'll need to try again on the next business day.

Practical Steps

• ✓ Register with Nevada VINE for custody-status notifications (phone and e-mail). Toll-free number: (888) 268-8463.
• ✓ Expect a slow start after booking. Newly booked inmates are locked down for the first 48 hours.
• ✓ Plan for limited phone opportunities during intake. During that 48-hour period, phone calls are available only one hour per day.
• ✓ After intake, be ready for uneven call timing. Phone access can depend on whether someone is on a morning or evening tier rotation.
• ✓ Do not rely on staff to coordinate contact. Staff will not share tier rotations and will not pass messages to inmates.
• ✓ Use the county’s general inquiries line for appropriate administrative questions: (775) 423-2266 (weekday hours listed: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.).

For the first two days, the realistic expectation is that contact will be limited, even in the best-case scenario. After that, calls can still come at odd times because out-of-cell time is tied to tier rotation (morning versus evening), and the facility won't confirm those rotations or relay messages. If you're trying to catch a call, keep your phone nearby at different points in the day instead of only waiting at one "usual" time. This is especially true during the first week.