Located in Boone, Watauga County, North Carolina, the Watauga County Detention Center is a 106-bed facility. You can call them anytime for inmate information at 828-265-7614.
This facility handles offenders arrested for misdemeanors and felonies, who are brought here for booking and processing. Depending on their charges, inmates may remain in custody until they are either bonded out, released on recognizance, or held until their trial is completed.
The inmate search tool can be used to view the jail's roster and find out who is in custody.
Offenders sentenced to less than one year will serve their time at this jail, while those with longer sentences will be transferred to either the North Carolina State Prison System or the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
This page provides information on a range of inmate services, including the visitation schedule, inmate account funding, sending mail, phone calls, voicemail, emailing and texting, tablet rentals, bail bonds, and commissary purchases.
It’s a good idea to keep the inmate’s jail ID or booking number for future communication needs. If it’s not available online, call Watauga County Detention Center at 828-265-7614 for further assistance.
Phone: 828-265-7614
Physical Address:
184 Hodges Gap Road
Boone, NC 28607
Mailing Address (personal mail):
Inmate's Full Name & Inmate ID#
Watauga County Detention Center
184 Hodges Gap Road
Boone, NC 28607
Mailing Address (legal mail or subscriptions):
Inmate's Full Name & Inmate ID#
Watauga County Detention Center
184 Hodges Gap Road
Boone, NC 28607
Other Jails and Prisons
To search for an inmate in the Watauga County Detention Center, review their criminal charges, the amount of their bond, when they can get visits, or even view their mugshot, go to the Official Jail Inmate Roster, or call the jail at 828-265-7614 for the information you are looking for. You can also look up an offender's Criminal Court Case information online, including the daily court dockets for Watauga County.
Watauga County Detention Center Inmate Search
The Watauga County Detention Center maintains an average of 106 offenders in custody on any given day. The Watauga County Detention Center has a monthly turnover of 40% of their inmate population, another 30% turnover every 90 days, another 20% every six months, and approximately 10% stay incarcerated between six and twelve months. Every year Watauga County law enforcement agencies arrest and detain approximately 2,120 offenders.
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Housing both the Watauga County Sheriff’s Office and the 106-bed Watauga County Detention Center, this building with colored brick and concrete grey, is built to house both felony and misdemeanor arrests until the trial or for only short periods of a sentence.
To determine the status of an inmate the online database is updated frequently or you may call the staff at 828-265-7614.
Upon arrival inmates are booked and provided with a phone call to update family, friends, employers, or their attorney to make arrangements for bail or missed work. Those who are incarcerated will have access to necessary medical care and will be able to access mental health care.
Meals are provided three times each day, along with laundry, recreation time, social opportunities, and opportunities to continue communication with both friends and family who are not currently incarcerated.
Inmates will also receive support through deposits to their account for commissary and other uses. and they are able to access phones for prepaid or collect calls.
Visits are scheduled on Saturday 8:30am-5:40pm and Sunday 12:30pm-4:30pm, with specific times in those periods set for each housing unit. To determine the correct time and day for you to visit, contact Watauga County Detention Center at 828-265-7614.
Watauga County is located in western North Carolina in the Appalachian Mountain chain. The center is in Boone. The center was built in 1994 and can hold 106 inmates comfortably.
How do I find out if someone has been arrested and booked into the Watauga County Detention Center?
What happens during booking in Watauga County?
What is the booking process like at the Watauga County Detention Center?
What kind of questions are asked during booking?
How long does the Watauga County Detention Center booking process take?
What happens with an offender’s personal property during booking?
To find out if someone you know has been recently arrested and booked into the Watauga County Detention Center, call the jail’s booking line at 828-265-7614.
There may be an automated method of looking them up by their name over the phone, or you may be directed to speak to someone at the jail. Sometimes the jail staff may ask you the offender’s date of birth to ensure privacy of the offender’s status.
Keep in mind that after an arrest, the information on an offender may not be publicly available for several hours.
If you don’t want to check up on an offender by calling the jail, you can also try looking up people recently booked online.
Watauga County Detention Center Booking Roster
After being arrested and taken into custody, and after being read their Miranda Rights, an offender will next be transported to the local police or department or the Sheriff’s Department in Watauga County for booking.
Booking is very involved and requires multiple steps in the process, however, keep in mind that most attorneys will advise that an offender remain silent and not offer any additional information about the crime they have been arrested for because anything they do say may be recorded and may very well be used against them in court.
Booking includes having their photo (mugshot) and fingerprints taken, as well as being asked a lot of questions about their personal history and state of mind. If it’s a serious felony, their DNA may also be taken. They will also be checked for warrants in Watauga County and other North Carolina and USA jurisdictions.
If the offender was arrested for a DUI offense, and has refused a breathalyzer test, they may also be forced to have blood drawn by a doctor or nurse.
It is also very likely that the offender will undergo a humiliating full body search while in the nude. This includes bending over, spreading their cheeks in the direction of an officer, and coughing. They will also be walked through a metal detector or x-ray machine, like those used at an airport.
The arresting jurisdiction will ask about gang affiliations, tattoos, medical conditions, prescribed medication they are taking, recreational drugs they are on or addicted to, allergies, if they are suicidal, and other relevant information that will help with determining their cell assignment and special needs.
During the arrest and booking process an offender will also have all their personal property confiscated and held for either their release from jail, or with the offender’s approval, released to a friend or family member.
Personal property includes the clothing they are wearing, money, wallets, purses, cell phones, jewelry, body rings, earrings, watches, and even glasses if they are deemed a security risk. If they are allowed to keep their shoes or sneakers, the laces are removed.
If the offender remains in jail for any length of time, the Watauga County Detention Center will allow a friend or family member to pick up the inmate's property if the offender gives written authorization for a named person to do so.
To find out the days and times for picking up an inmate's property, and what you will need to bring to verify your identity, call the jail at 828-265-7614 during business hours.
Booking can take anywhere from an hour to 24 hours or more. It all depends on the number of people that are awaiting processing, the number of staff on duty at the time, and the behavior of the offender.
If the offender is heavily intoxicated and/or violent, the Booking Officer may decide to stick the offender in a holding cell for several hours until they become more manageable.
At this point the offender will be allowed to make a free phone call to a person of their choice to notify them of their arrest, and/or arrange a bond or bail for their release.
If the offender is being detained and housed while awaiting arraignment, the Watauga County Detention Center will provide a jail garment and slip-on shoes, a blanket, sheets, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, and a towel.
Often, before they are dressed in the jail outfit and brought to their housing location, they will be forced to take a shower and undergo a disinfectant treatment for body and hair lice, scabies or other pests that may be residing on their person.
However if you don't want to use a bail bond agent:
Call 828-265-7614 to find out the exact bond (plus other fees) amount, or look it up online by looking up the information on the Watauga County inmate locator.
How Do You Visit an Inmate in the Watauga County Detention Center? What is the Schedule?
184 Hodges Gap Road
Boone, NC 28607
828-265-7614
ON SITE VISITATION SCHEDULE - ALWAYS CALL 828-265-7614 TO CONFIRM VISITATION SCHEDULE!
| DAY | TIMES |
| SUNDAY | 12:30 P.M. and 4:30 P.M. |
| SATURDAY | 8:30 A.M. to 5:40 P.M. |
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Watauga County Detention Center’s Inmate Visitation Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 828-265-7614 for further assistance.
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Can I Use My Computer or Phone to Have a Remote Video Visit with an Inmate in the Watauga County Detention Center?
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Watauga County Detention Center’s Video Remote Visitation Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 828-265-7614 for further assistance.
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How Do You Deposit Money for an Inmate in the Watauga County Detention Center?
Instructions on purchasing commissary items for an inmate:
NOTE: Watauga County Detention Center may only allow online deposits for local commissary purchasing.
1. Register or Log in to your account at Inmate Canteen.
2. Select the facility where the inmate is located and the inmate you wish to purchase commissary items for.
3. Select the "Purchase Items" option.
4. Follow the prompts on screen to purchase items for an inmate.
For all information, tips and to see the hundreds of available items for shipping Commissary packages to an inmate in Watauga County Detention Center, or to see how deposit money so that your inmate can purchase their own commissary, check out our Commissary Instructions Page for Watauga County.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Watauga County Detention Center’s Inmate Money and Trust Fund Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 828-265-7614 for further assistance.
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How Do I Receive Phone Calls from an Inmate in the Watauga County Detention Center?
To receive phone calls from inmates in Watauga County, or to assist them in making phone calls to other people, follow these steps:
For all the information regarding phone calls with Watauga County inmates; rules, policies, phone calling times, limits and more visit our Inmate Phone Page.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Watauga County Detention Center’s Inmate Phone Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 828-265-7614 for further assistance.
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How do I Mail an Inmate in the Watauga County Detention Center, and what can I send them?
Postcards
The Watauga County Detention Center allows inmates to receive pre-metered postcards like the type purchased from the post office. They may also allow certain photo postcards as long as they have not been tampered with or contain images that may be considered to be obscene or violent in nature. It is best to only use blue or black ink. Always include your name and return address.
Envelopes
The Watauga County Detention Center also allows envelopes to be mailed to inmates. It is best to only use blue or black ink.
Postcards and envelopes MUST HAVE the sender's full name and return address on the envelope.
Postcards and envelopes MUST be mailed to the following address:
Inmate's Full Name & Inmate ID#
Watauga County Detention Center
184 Hodges Gap Road
Boone, NC 28607
Legal Mail
Send all Legal Mail to this Address:
Inmate's Full Name & Inmate ID#
Watauga County Detention Center
184 Hodges Gap Road
Boone, NC 28607
Newspapers
Newspapers may also be mailed to an inmate as long as they are shipped directly from the publisher.
Magazines
News, special interest or sports magazines may also be mailed to an inmate as long as they are shipped directly from the publisher. Any magazines that contain profanity, weapons, pornography or other content that is adult in nature will be confiscated by the jail staff and will NOT be delivered to the inmate.
Books
The Watauga County Detention Center allows books to be mailed directly to the jail from a reputable source such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble or Books-A-Million. You can order them directly from your computer and have them shipped to the inmate at the address noted.
Books must NOT contain images or content that are considered excessively violent, pornographic or obscene. Any book that does not meet the Watauga County Detention Center standards will be disposed of.
Hard cover books will not be accepted by the jail due to their potential to be used as a weapon.
All newspapers, magazines and books are to be shipped to:
Inmate's Full Name & Inmate ID#
Watauga County Detention Center
184 Hodges Gap Road
Boone, NC 28607
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Watauga County Detention Center’s Inmate Mail Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 828-265-7614 for further assistance.
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Can I purchase Commissary Online for an Inmate in the Watauga County Detention Center, and what can I purchase?
Instructions on purchasing commissary items for an inmate:
1. Register or Log in to your account at Inmate Canteen.
2. Select North Carolina, then Watauga County Detention Center, and then the inmate you wish to purchase commissary items for.
3. Select the "Purchase Commissary Items" option.
4. Follow the prompts on screen to purchase items for an inmate.
5. Maximum spend is $125.00.
Inmate Canteen has a selection of hundreds of items available to purchase for inmates in Watauga County.
The items range from candy, snacks, coffee and other drinks, undergarments, stationary supplies and more.
To send a commissary carepack (food, snacks and goods) directly to an inmate in Watauga County Detention Center follow these steps:
For all information, tips and to see the hundreds of available items for shipping Commissary packages to an inmate in Watauga County Detention Center, or to see how deposit money so that your inmate can purchase their own commissary, check out our Commissary Instructions Page for Watauga County.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Watauga County Detention Center’s Commissary Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 828-265-7614 for further assistance.
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How Can I Communicate with an Inmate in the Watauga County Detention Center using an Online Messaging Service?
To send a secure email message to an inmate in Watauga County Detention Center follow these steps:
For all information on how to Text/Email an Inmate in Watauga County Detention Center, the costs, rules, policies and more check out our Secure Messaging Guide for Watauga County.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Watauga County Detention Center’s Text and Email Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 828-265-7614 for further assistance.
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Do Inmates in the Watauga County Detention Center have Access to Tablets or Computers?
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Watauga County Detention Center’s Tablet Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 828-265-7614 for further assistance.
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What are the other Jails in the Neighboring Counties surrounding Watauga County?
This facility, known as "Watauga County Detention Center" is also known as Watauga County Jail, Watauga County Jail , Watauga County Jail , North Carolina, Watauga.
