Scheduling Your First Visit at New Hanover County Detention: What to Know
Your first visit goes smoother when you know the two big rules up front: visits are appointment-only, and the incarcerated person schedules them—not you. Here's how the hours, visit limits, and housing-unit restrictions affect your plan.
At New Hanover County Detention, you can't just show up. Visitation is by appointment only, and the inmate has to schedule it. Hours run daily from 1:00 PM to 9:00 PM, so start by coordinating a time within that window.
Heads up: The inmate - not the visitor - has to schedule the appointment, so you’ll need to coordinate with them before you make the trip.
Each visit lasts 45 minutes. One facility posting says inmates get two 45-minute visits per week; a later notice (effective Monday, June 14 in that posting) says only one per week. The two don't match. Don't assume you can book twice in the same week until you've confirmed what's actually being enforced.
Plan for the stricter limit: Until you confirm otherwise, assume you’ll only get one 45-minute visit that week so you don’t get turned away at the door.
Visitor limits depend on where the inmate is housed. For Housing Units F, H, J, K, L, M, N, and S, the rule is one visitor per visit. Units Q, R, and T also allow just one visitor, but the wording is "one visitor per time slot" because those visitation rooms are smaller. For Q/R/T, visits happen at specific hourly slots: 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, and 9 PM.
Time-slot units (Q/R/T): When you’re coordinating the appointment, pay close attention to the listed hour (1, 2, 3, 7, 8, or 9 PM) so you’re aiming for the right time slot.
Since the inmate schedules the visit, your job is coordination. Planning around work, childcare, or a long drive? Get the exact day and time from your loved one first - don't guess. If something changes on their end, they'll need to reschedule through the facility.
- ✓ Ask your loved one to schedule the appointment (visits are appointment-only, and the inmate must schedule).
- ✓ Confirm the exact day and time they scheduled before you leave home.
- ✓ Ask which housing unit they’re in so you can plan around any one-visitor limits tied to that unit.
- ✓ Plan to bring approved photo ID for check-in.
A quick verification step can save you a wasted trip. The posted rules include housing-unit-specific visitor limits (with special time-slot rules for Q, R, and T), and the weekly visit limit has appeared in two different versions. If you're planning your first visit, assume the stricter limit until you've confirmed what's currently in effect for your loved one's unit.
- Call to confirm the current visitation rules and the appointment details - Use 910-798-7311 to verify the day/time and any housing-unit limits that apply.
- Bring approved photo ID - You’ll be required to show approved photo identification when you arrive.
- If you’re bringing a minor, bring an adult with them - Guests under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Don’t skip this: Bring approved photo ID, and make sure any visitor under 18 is accompanied by an adult.
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