North Carolina Department of Correction

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Columbus Correctional Institution, near Brunswick, is a medium security prison for adult males.

The prison's original dormitory built in the late 1930s is still in use. In the 1970's, inmates under the supervision of correction engineers built a recreation building and a 28-cell unit to house inmates placed in administrative or disciplinary segregation.

The General Assembly provided for dormitories with 312 beds for Columbus as part of the $75 million prison construction program authorized in 1990. Another 208-bed dormitory was provided as part of the $62.1 million prison construction program authorized in April 1994.  The prison employs approximately 254 people including Correctional Officers, Registered Nurses, Dental, Maintenance and Administrative staff. 

Southeastern Community College works with the prison to provide vocational classes in computer repair, human resources/development, brick masonry, heating and air conditioning and plumbing. Classes for adult education and preparation for the GED tests are available. Inmates may take a course on substance abuse.

Inmates work in a number of jobs. They may work on Department of Transportation road crews or as maintenance or kitchen help at the prison.

Correction Enterprises has a sewing/tailoring plant under construction that would provide additional job assignments for inmates.

Visitation:
Visitation is by appointment only for all Inmates.  All visitors must submit a completed application, with picture identification to visit the inmate they desire to visit.

*Visitation on Sundays will be for one hour blocks and Monday – Thursday sessions are two hour blocks. Visitation will not occur on holidays

A valid photo identification card must be presented by anyone (16 yrs. or older) arriving at the institution to visit with an inmate. All visitors are required to conform to the standards of dress as described in the Visitation Rules listed in the “For Offender’s Families” section of this website.

Special Visits:
Extended Visits are available by appointment and with staff approval to those visitors who live over 500 miles from Columbus Correctional Institution, and may be scheduled no more than once every six (6) months. These visits are limited to immediate family.


Legal Visits:
Legal visits will be by appointment only Monday through Thursday. The legal visitor must call, Monday through Thursday between the hours of 9 to 10:30 a.m. or noon to 4:30 p.m. to schedule an appointment. In addition, the legal visitor must provided a letterhead document 24 hours before the scheduled visit, indicating the name of the attorney/agency, the inmate requesting to visit, and the date of time of the visit.


Segregated Inmates / Non –Contact Visits:
Inmates who are in segregation or have been restricted to non contact visitation can visit Monday through Thursday also by appointment only. The visitor must call at least 48 hours in advance to schedule an appointment. Only two adults, or one adult and one child will be allowed to visit during a one hour visiting session. Schedule - is daily from 9 to 10 a.m., 1 to 2:00 p.m., and 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.


Contact Information:
To make an appointment to visit, all visitors should call (910) 640-1879.  This is a direct line to the visitation office.  If the line is busy please call back later during the scheduled visiting hours.  Appointments will not be accepted by calling the main telephone number of 910-642-3285. Messages will not be accepted on the telephone answering machine.

Inmate Mail:
Mail to inmates should be sent by U.S. Postal service to P. O. Box 8 Brunswick N.C. 28472.  Letters to inmates should be addressed so that the full name and OPUS number of the inmate appears on the envelope. The person sending mail to an inmate should be identified in the return address space on the envelope. Money enclosed in outside personal mail to an inmate should be sent by money order, cashiers check or certified check. Cash will not be accepted. Cash that is enclosed in incoming personal mail shall be returned to the sender with a form letter describing mail procedures.

Directions:
From HWY 74/76 take U.S. 701 by-pass south towards Whiteville, travel approx. 3.2 miles and turn left onto N.C. 130 east. Travel 1.6 miles to Brunswick. In Brunswick, turn right on State Road 1170 (Poplar Street). Go 1.5 miles down Poplar Street and the prison is on the left.

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