Who to Call About an Inmate at Cleveland County Detention: 9-1-1 vs. the Non-Emergency Line

Call 9-1-1 for emergencies in Cleveland County. If someone's life or safety is at risk, don't hesitate - dial 9-1-1 immediately. Don't try routing it through a non-emergency number first.

• ✓ You believe someone is in immediate danger right now
• ✓ You believe there is a medical emergency happening right now
• ✓ You need an emergency response and time matters

For non-emergency Sheriff's Office matters, call 704-484-4822. This is your go-to when you need help with something that isn't urgent - like figuring out who to talk to about an inmate issue when there's no immediate danger.

Cleveland County's E-9-1-1 Communications Center has 20 full-time telecommunicators, 6 part-time telecommunicators, and two administrators. Captain Chris Hutchins serves as E-9-1-1 Director, and the center's contact number is 704-484-4875.

The center runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week, fielding both emergency and non-emergency calls for Police, Fire, and EMS. They answer roughly 130,000 calls per year - about 64,000 of those are for law enforcement. That high volume explains why calls move quickly. You'll get better results by saving 9-1-1 for true emergencies and using the non-emergency line for everything else.

Cleveland County runs two detention facilities - 407 McBrayer Street and 100 Justice Place in Shelby - both staffed around the clock. That's good to know when you're worried about a loved one. But the phone rule stays the same: emergencies go to 9-1-1, non-urgent questions go to the non-emergency line.

The Detention Division employs 68 full-time detention officers. The supervisory chain includes a Major, a Detention Administrator (Captain), an Assistant Detention Administrator (Lieutenant), four Deputy Sheriff Sergeants, and twelve Detention Corporals. Dedicated staff handle day-to-day facility operations - but the communications center and phone lines remain the best way to get your concerns to the right person.

Can't find a detention-specific phone number? You're not alone. The Sheriff's Office detention page doesn't list a direct line - instead, it directs visitors to click a button for inmate contact information and instructions on adding money to an inmate account.

1. Check the detention page button options - Use the button on the detention page for inmate contact information and for instructions on how to add money to an inmate account.
2. Call the non-emergency line for direction - If you still need to be pointed to the right contact for a non-urgent detention-related question, call the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office non-emergency line at 704-484-4822.