Gaston Correctional Center, NC

Before visiting Gaston Correctional Center, you'll need to complete a visitor application and get approved by facility staff. The offender must request blank application forms from the facility and give them to you. Each offender can have up to 18 approved visitors (official visitors register separately and don't count toward this limit). In-person visits are by appointment only. Schedule your visit, then call or email the day before to confirm. Normally, each offender gets one visiting session per week for up to two hours, with a maximum of three visitors per session (though the warden can make exceptions). People in administrative or disciplinary segregation, or control status (except protective control), are limited to non-contact visits by appointment. Expect a strict dress code and metal detector screening. Leave electronics outside: no cellphones, smartwatches, cameras, recording devices, or smart/AI glasses.

Gaston Correctional Center provides in-cell tablets and communication services through an NCDAC contract with ViaPath/GTL. These tablets support phone calls, texts, secure mail, education, and entertainment. Keep in mind that state and federal taxes are added to all phone calls, so you'll see those charges reflected in the billing. For tablet entertainment, people in custody purchase minutes at the prison canteen using funds from their institutional trust account. Communication services run through third-party vendors, so families typically set up an account through the provider's app or web portal to add funds and manage calling or video options. Follow the vendor's workflow for billing and setup rather than going through the facility directly.

Gaston Correctional Center accepts money through NCDAC's contracted vendors. You can deposit funds online, through the mobile app, by phone, or at walk-in locations. For the smoothest processing, stick to the designated vendor channels. Sending money by mail? It must be a money order in U.S. dollars, with a maximum of $300 per money order. Follow the vendor's mailing instructions and include the required deposit slip. Mailed money orders typically become available within ten business days, though TouchPay tries to process them faster when possible. One important restriction: only approved visitors can deposit into an offender's trust account. Deposits from anyone else get rejected. For online or mobile payments, set up a ConnectNetwork account. Questions? Call ViaPath at 877-650-4249. If you're making a Western Union cash deposit, use the payment code "NCDAC TRUST".