Jackson County Detention Center and Inmate Search

The Jackson County Detention Center is responsible for housing male and female inmates who are awaiting trial, facing court ordered contempt charges, or serving sentences. The facility also temporarily houses inmates for the North Carolina Department of Corrections. It can hold up to 72 inmates including those in solitary confinement. Captain Patrick McCoy oversees the entire facility with the help of Lieutenant Tiffany Paul. The Jackson County Detention Center can be found at 399 Grindstaff Cove Road in Sylva, North Carolina.

How to Send Mail or Package

Family members and friends may send mail to inmates housed in the Jackson County Detention Center. All incoming mail will be inspected for contraband with the exception of legal mail. Mail that does not include the sender’s complete name and return address will not be accepted. To send mail to an inmate, please follow the format below:

Inmate’s Complete Name
Jackson County Detention Center
399 Grindstaff Cove Road
Sylva, NC 28779

Funds can be deposited into an inmate’s account by family members and friends by using the ATM located in the lobby of the jail. You may also deposit funds online by visiting the JailATM website.

Visitation Hours

Inmates housed in the Jackson County Detention are allowed visitation. All visitors must be on the approved visitation list provided by the inmate. Visits are held on Sundays from 9am to 11:30am and from 1pm to 4:30pm. If you want to know more about the visitation policy at this facility, you may call the detention center at 828-586-2458.

The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office maintains a database of all the inmates currently housed in its facility. The list is available online in the Sheriff’s Office website.

Jackson County Sheriff Information

The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office is the chief law enforcement agency in the county. It provides various services to the communities within its jurisdiction. It consists of several divisions including Patrol, Administration, Investigations, and Civil Process. The head of the Sheriff’s Office is Chip Hall. His second-in-command is Chief Deputy Matt Wike.

Jackson County Sheriff’s Office Address:
399 Grindstaff Cove Road
Sylva, North Carolina 28779

Jackson County Sheriff’s Office Phone Number:
(828) 586-4355

Jackson County is located in the western region of North Carolina. Its county seat is Sylva while the largest community is Cullowhee. The estimated population is 43,410 based on the 2021 census. The total area of the county is 495 square miles.

2018 Annual Average Violent Crimes: 89
Data Source: North Carolina County Health Rankings

Jackson County Public Records Information

Requests for public records in Jackson County requires the submission of a written form to the correct department or government agency. While certain records such as incident reports need to be requested directly from the Sheriff’s Office, most records are held by departments that report to the County Manager. To submit a request to the County Manager, you may fax the written request to 828-631-2266 or via email at [email protected]. You may also submit the request via mail to the following address:

Jackson County Government
Public Records Request
401 Grindstaff Cove Road
Sylva, NC 28779