Mecklenburg County, North Carolina Inmate

An inmate search is typically an online query conducted with tools provided by public or private entities to help locate inmates detained or incarcerated in a correctional facility and obtain details about the inmate, case, and release, if applicable.

In Mecklenburg County, the Sheriff's Office manages the primary jail facility, i.e., the Mecklenburg County Detention Center (MCDC), also known as the county jail. Police departments in the county, including the Charlotte-Mecklenburg PD, may arrest offenders and do the initial processing. However, adult suspects are actually detained in the county jail. So, persons arrested in the county may be booked into the MCDC regardless of the arresting agency.

The Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) offers the public an inmate search tool to help find current and recently released inmates in the county jail within the past three years. Each offender's profile in the system may include basic identifying information, mugshot, case summary, and other available housing or release details. For further information, persons may contact:

How to Find an Inmate in Mecklenburg County Jail

To find out if someone is detained or incarcerated in the Mecklenburg County Detention Center or to obtain information on persons recently housed in the facility, visit the Sheriff's Office website and use the inmate inquiry tool. For additional information or assistance, persons may also contact the facility or the Sheriff's Office in charge of jail operations at:

Note: The Juvenile Detention Center in Mecklenburg closed in 2022, and juveniles are housed in Youth Development Centers or Juvenile Detention Centers run by the North Carolina Department of Public Safety.

How to Use the Mecklenburg County Jail Roster

To perform online searches with the MCSO inmate inquiry tool, persons may follow these steps:

• Visit the MCSO website. Click on "Arrest Search" in the main page menu. This will lead you to the search portal. You may also go directly to the search page.
• Once there, select "Inmate Inquiry Search".
• Provide basic identifying details like last name, first name, jail ID, or positive ID (assigned after fingerprinting), if known.
• Screen results will show only active inmates by clicking on the "Actives Only" box. Also, screen results by prisoner type (state, federal, ICE, or general).
• Select search.
• View matches and click on a result to view or print the inmate's summarized profile.

For application issues, email mcsowebsite@mecknc.gov. Individuals seeking additional case information should direct their queries to the court where the proceedings occurred.

What Information is Included in the Mecklenburg County Inmate Roster

Users may find similar matches when conducting inmate searches on the MCSO system. Clicking on a result shall lead users to the inmate's jail profile, which typically includes the following details, if available:

• Full name, known alias, and date of birth
• Mugshot
• Arrest number
• PID (Positive Identification Number assigned based on fingerprint analysis) and JID (Jail Identification Number or booking number)
• Prisoner type (federal, state, ICE, etc.)
• Physical descriptions like height, weight, race, and sex
• Booking or commitment date and time
• Release date and time
• Charge and sentence details with court date and reference numbers.

The MCSO inmate roster only releases information that is considered to be public records. Additionally, the site only provides data within a 3-year duration. Hence, information on inmates released over 3 years ago may not be available online. Furthermore, the Sheriff's Office may expunge certain records before this expiry date if a judge grants a former inmate an expunction order.

Note: Since the MCSO system includes data on inmates awaiting trial, the summary details may not serve as proof of conviction.

Contact Details for Mecklenburg County Jail or Sheriff's Office

Individuals seeking additional records or information regarding the county jail or inmates may visit the Sheriff's website or address their queries to the Mecklenburg County Detention Center or Sheriff's Office. The contact details are as follows:

Jail Facility Overview in Mecklenburg County

The Mecklenburg County Detention Center (MCDC) is the county's primary jail and the largest municipal detention center in the state (as of September 2025). Located in Charlotte, this county jail has a capacity of over 1,900 inmates. Additionally, this center features the first jail psychiatric unit in the state, which is located in a separate area of the facility.

The MCDC is mostly a pretrial facility, but may house male and female inmates serving shorter sentences for low-level offenses in the county. It also houses prisoners arrested by other agencies, like the U.S. Marshals, ICE, and BOP, awaiting transfer.

The Juvenile Detention Center in Mecklenburg County closed in 2022, and juveniles are now housed in state-run facilities, such as the DPS Youth Development Centers or Juvenile Detention Centers.

How to Send Money to an Inmate in Mecklenburg County Detention Center?

Upon booking into the Mecklenburg County Jail, inmates get a resident trust account to keep money during intake, receive money, or use it to pay for medical charges or products purchased from the commissary.

Account information is only provided to the inmate, and persons who wish to send money to inmates must receive payment details directly from the inmate. Senders may also need the inmate's Positive ID number, full name (spelled as he/she was placed in the facility), and date of birth to send money to inmates.

To fund an inmate's account, family and friends may mail cashier's checks or money orders (NO CASH), make online deposits through the approved vendor (Touchpay), call the vendor's toll-free line (1-866-232-1899), or use the kiosk at the jail lobby.

All checks and money orders should be made payable to the name assigned to the resident upon admission to the facility. Mailed payments should also include the sender's name and return address. Send the envelope to:

(This address is only for inmate payments and not personal mail).

For additional information on sending money to inmates, visit the Sheriff's website or call (980) 314-5165 from 8 am to 5 pm.

Note: The maximum amount allowed in an inmate's account is $300.

Inmate Search by Jail Facility

There is only one primary jail facility in Mecklenburg County, the Mecklenburg County Detention Center, which the Sheriff's Office operates. Individuals arrested by the Sheriff's Office and city police departments are typically booked into this facility, and the jail also houses prisoners with other custodial agencies (ICE, BOP, etc). The Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office offers a search tool that allows individuals to find different kinds of prisoners in the facility. There are no separate rosters.

Mecklenburg County Visitation Rules and Schedules

Inmates in the MCDC may receive visits from family, friends, clergy, and an attorney, except when privileges have been suspended for disciplinary reasons or the inmate refuses the visit. Visits may be in person (non-contact) or via video through an acceptable channel. Interested persons may register for and schedule visits online through applications recommended by the Sheriff's Office or at the facility lobby.

An inmate may receive a visit on any day, at the following hours:

• 8:00 am - 11:00 am
• 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
• 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm

All visitors must keep the MCSO visitation rules, which include:

• Visits must be scheduled at least 24 hours beforehand, but not more than one week ahead
• Automatic cancellation of visits if persons do not arrive within 10 minutes of the scheduled time
• Visitors are required to present a valid and undamaged government-issued identification, like a driver's license, state-issued ID, or passport.
• Inmates may receive free minutes of video calls per week, but other or longer video calls may be charged.
• Visitors must be decently dressed.
• Visits may last up to 25 minutes, but may be shorter due to lockdowns, emergencies, or disciplinary sanctions.
• Only one adult and two children or two adults and one child may conduct visits through the MCSO Work Release and Restitution Center.
• All visits are subject to recording.

For inquiries concerning scheduling difficulties, call (855) 208-7349.

Mailing and Commissary Information

Persons may send mail to residents in the Mecklenburg County Detention Center or send packages or gifts through the commissary. However, these must align with the facility's rules and guidelines. For instance, mail must contain the inmate's first name, last name, PID number, and return address. The mail address should also be in the following format:

All mails are subject to inspection and shall be returned if they contain unacceptable content. However, legal mail is exempt and shall only be opened in the presence of the inmate to check for contraband. Some unacceptable items include:

• Food
• Money
• Inappropriate photos
• Glass, metals, staples, wood, and other banned materials
• Illegal substances
• Restricted publications.

Inmates usually also purchase products from the commissary with the money in their trust accounts. However, persons may order products through an online system provided/accepted by the facility. Users may need the inmate's name, ID, and facility name. Registration is also required.