Lenoir County, North Carolina Inmate Search
Lenoir County inmate searches are done through law enforcement records and archives. This involves using law enforcement records to find someone who is detained. When an arrest is executed in the county, the arrestee is booked and housed at the Lenoir County Detention Center, which is managed by the Lenoir County Sheriff's Office. The sheriff’s office maintains the details recorded during the booking stage, which include full name, alleged offenses or charge, booking date, investigating agency, booking photograph, booking number, and bail or bond details. These records allow the public to check a detainee’s detention status and to find individuals currently in detention.
Unlike state or federal prisons that handle offenders on long-term sentences, the county detention center focuses on temporary or short sentences, usually below a year. Lenoir County does not host any federal or state prison within its borders. Local law enforcement agencies in the county, such as police departments, do not keep long-term custody rosters. The Kinston Police Department and the La Grange Police Department serve the two largest cities in Lenori County and can make arrests. However, they do not publish a public jail roster as bookings are mainly done by the sheriff’s office. This office can be accessed at:
Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office & Detention Center
130 South Queen Street
Kinston, North Carolina 28502
(252) 559-6100 - Main Line
How to Find an Inmate in Lenoir County Jail
Lenoir County inmate records can be accessed by the public using records requests. Members of the public can make free inquiries about individuals in custody, provided that they are simple inquiries such as confirming a booking or custody status. The Lenoir County Detention Center is managed by the sheriff’s office and houses inmates held temporarily, such as for trials or individuals sentenced to short prison terms.
Public access is also available for simple inquiries over the phone by calling the sheriff’s office at (252) 559-6100. This phone line doubles as the jail line, and simple phone inquiries are available for free. The sheriff’s office does not maintain an online searchable platform, but informs the public that the VINELink platform is a viable alternative. It provides statewide access to inmate information, which you can filter for Lenoir County inmates. Individuals who prefer in-person access can locate the sheriff’s office and county jail at:
Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office & Detention Center
130 South Queen Street
Kinston, North Carolina 28502
(252) 559-6100 - Main Line
Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office - La Grange Satellite Division
La Grange, North Carolina
(252) 559-6100 - Main Line
How to Use the Lenoir County Jail Roster
Members of the public will need an internet-enabled device and a good internet connection to use the online jail roster. Offline access is available at the sheriff’s office, where you can provide details of the detainee for a search. The sheriff’s office does not have its own online jail roster. However, the agency officially relies on the VINELink platform for providing online inmate records access. Follow these steps for how to use the Lenoir County jail roster:
- Start by loading the VINELink website on your device.
- On the main page, there will be four boxes; select the Search for Someone box. The next page will provide the filter and search options. Begin by selecting that you are looking for an offender. Under it, you will select the state of North Carolina and Lenoir County for more specific results.
- You can choose between a search by name or a search by ID Number. Select the preferred option based on the details of the detainee that you have.
- Input the relevant detail in the text box that appears after selecting the search option.
- After entering the information, the search link will appear. Click the link and wait for the results.
What Information is Included in the Lenoir County Inmate Roster
Inmate rosters contain basic booking details about a detainee at the Lenoir County Detention Center. These details are recorded during the booking process at the county jail. Some of the information you will find in the Lenoir County inmate roster includes:
- Booking number - This refers to an inmate’s unique identifier assigned after being processed into the facility. It is one of the details requesters use for an inmate search.
- Full name - This includes the inmate’s first, middle, and last name. The middle name or initial will help with narrowing down an inmate when there are common names.
- Arrest or booking date - This is the date the arrest was executed and the date the booking was done. Booking date may differ from arrest date in situations where the inmate was not transferred to the county jail on the arrest date.
- Alleged offenses - The inmate roster will contain a brief description of the charges filed. It will be restricted to the general terms of the offense, while the arrest report will contain more details.
- Bond amount - This is the amount set by the court for the inmate’s conditional release pending trial.
- Court date - This is the court schedule for the inmate’s arraignment or continued hearing, if available.
Inmate rosters are restricted to publicly accessible information about incarcerated individuals. According to North Carolina's Public Records Law (N.C. Gen. Stat. Chapter 132), there are sensitive and private inmate details that are not included in the public jail roster. Juvenile records and expunged records are not accessible through the inmate roster.
Members of the public will also get better information about sex offenders from the North Carolina Sex Offender Registry than from the inmate roster. According to North Carolina General Statutes § 132-1.4, records from active investigations that could expose a confidential witness or information are also restricted. These include witness statements, evidence logs, and detective notes, which will be withheld until the trial is over.
Contact Details for Lenoir County Jail or Sheriff’s Office
Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office & Detention Center
130 South Queen Street
Kinston, North Carolina 28502
(252) 559-6100 - Main Line
Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office - La Grange Satellite Division
La Grange, North Carolina
(252) 559-6100 - Main Line
| Agency | Address | Phone | Hours & Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lenoir County Sheriff's Office & Detention Center | 130 South Queen Street, Kinston, NC 28502 (mail: P.O. Box 3289, Kinston, NC 28502) | (252) 559-6100 | Admin. hours Mon.–Fri., 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.; Detention Center operates 24/7 |
| Sheriff's Office — La Grange Satellite Division | La Grange, NC | (252) 559-6100 | Serves the western part of the county; call the main line for current hours |
Jail Facility Overview in Lenoir County
The Lenoir County Detention Center is the county’s only jail facility and is operated by the sheriff’s office. The detention center has a capacity of 285 beds and houses temporary detainees. These are detainees who are awaiting trial or are sentenced for misdemeanor-level offenses under the state’s Statewide Misdemeanant Confinement Program. The county detention center houses male and female offenders and will transfer detainees given state sentences to the state prison when their cases are resolved. The detention center does not house juvenile offenders, as there is a separate arrangement for them. The county hosts the Lenoir Youth Development Center, which is a state-run facility.
It is a secure residential facility managed by the North Carolina Department of Public Safety through its Division of Juvenile and Delinquency Prevention. This facility houses male juvenile offenders who have been adjudicated delinquent and committed by a court order. The facility relaunched in a newly renovated building in 2017 with a capacity of 44 beds to replace the Dobbs Youth Development Center that operated since 1947. Beyond the youth center, Lenoir County does not host any adult state or federal prison facility.
| Facility | Address | Operated By | Population | Beds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lenoir County Detention Center | 130 South Queen Street, Kinston, North Carolina 28502 | Lenoir County Sheriff's Office | Adult men & women; pretrial and misdemeanant | 285 |
| Lenoir Youth Development Center | 3055 Dobbs Farm Road, Kinston, North Carolina 28504 | NC Dept. of Public Safety (Juvenile Justice) | Male juveniles committed by court order | ~44 |
How to Send Money to an Inmate in the Lenoir County Detention Center?
Family and friends of inmates at the Wayne County Detention Center can send money to inmate accounts for commissary purchases. The detention center’s commissary and trust account system is handled through various third party entities. Members of the public can make deposits in person using the jail’s lobby kiosk. This self help terminal allows depositors send funds using a debit or credit card. It sometimes allows cash deposits and the amount reflects in the inmate’s balance as soon as the transaction is completed.
Deposits can also be made online or over the phone. Members of the public can call (866) 345-1884 to make a deposit over the phone with a transaction fee of $3.95. Online deposits using a credit or debit card carries a transaction fee of $2.95 while in-person deposits at the lobby kiosk carries a transaction fee of $3,00. There is no stated maximum deposit limit but online third party packagers such as the Access Securepak for care packages can enforce individual program caps such as $80 maximum per product order. The jail does not accept deopsits by mail using cash, checks, or money orders.
Inmate Search by Jail Facility
Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office does not maintain an inmate search platform. This office refers the public to the VINELink platform as a great alternative for online searchable inmate roster. Members of the public can use the sheriff’s office for in person searches while the VINELink platform provides updated inmate information at convenience. These access points do not contain any details about juvenile offenders in custody. Municipal law enforcement agencies, such as the La Grange Police Department, also do not manage an online searchable inmate roster.
| Facility / Custody Type | Separate Search Available? | Where to Look |
|---|---|---|
| Lenoir County Detention Center | No, there is no county level online inmate roster. | Call (252) 559-6100, or check the Sheriff's Office website. |
| Lenoir Youth Development Center (juvenile) | No, no publicly searchable roster — juvenile records are confidential under state law. | Contact the Clerk of Superior Court or a family law attorney. |
Lenoir County Visitation Rules and Schedules
Lenoir County inmates at the detention center can be visited by friends and family, provided that they schedule the visit and are on an approved visitor list. Adults are allowed inmate visits as well as minor children accompanied by a parent or guardian. It is important to call the facility at (252) 559-6100 ahead of each visit to confirm the schedule.
Visitors will need a valid government-issued ID for each visit. The facility expects modest dressing. Visitors must avoid any clothing that is overly revealing, resembles an inmate uniform, or has gang-associated colors or symbols. Items like cellphones, outside drinks and food, and weapons are not allowed in the visitation areas and must be left behind in your vehicle. Each visit lasts for 15 minutes, with video visitation duration varying.
No yelling or loud talking during visits, and cursing or vulgar language is not allowed. The facility does not allow the showing of private genital areas, lingerie, or undergarments. Shoes, pants or shorts, and shirts are required at all times. Other items that are prohibited include tube tops, swimsuits, see-through clothing, clothing with profanity or sexually explicit language, and shorts or skirts that expose a person’s posterior. Here is the Visitation schedule for Lenoir County Detention Center:
| Visitor / Visit Type | Days | Hours | Slot Duration | Scheduling & Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Public Visitation | Monday – Friday (except holidays) | 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM | 15 Minutes | • Occurs during inmate's recreational time • First come, first served • ID required for 18+ • Minors must be with a parent/guardian |
| Attorney & Professional Visitation | Monday – Friday (except holidays) | 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM | Varies | • Appointment required • Call (252) 559-6100 ext. 6194 to schedule |
Mailing and Commissary Information | Lenoir County Jail
Commissary funds are used for purchasing items like snacks, writing materials, or toiletries. Friends and family make deposits into an inmate's trust fund, which becomes accessible as soon as the transaction is done. Commissary funds can also be used for purchasing phone credit for messaging. Inmates at the Lenoir County Detention Center can also communicate with their loved ones outside the facility by exchanging mail. Members of the public can send letters to inmates via mail.
The mail package must show the inmate’s full legal name as it is written in the booking records, along with their booking number. The facility generally allows personal letters, a limited number of photos per mail, and cards. The photos must be plain paper prints and not polaroids, and content that is sexually explicit, gang-related, or deemed a security risk will be restricted. Items that are not allowed include glitter, lipstick, perfume, tape, glue, metallic ink, or lamination. Books or magazines sent to inmates must be sent through an approved retailer or publisher and not an individual sender. Paper clips, staples, and greeting cards that have electronic parts are usually rejected outrightly. Here is the mail address for an inmate at the Lenoir County Detention Center:
Inmate’s Full Legal Name, Booking Number
Lenoir County Detention Center
130 South Queen Street
Kinston, North Carolina 28502