Most people convicted of a Level 3, Level 4 or Level 5 DWI sentence in North Carolina are faced with the decision of whether to resolve their North Carolina DWI charge through court ordered community service or by serving a twenty-four to seventy-two
Jame K. Minick
hour jail sentence. (This is not the same as a prison sentence!) The following information provided by the jail staff from each county listed below will help you make an educated decision on which route is best.
Buncombe County Jail
What to bring: You should bring a copy of your sentencing order from court with you. No personal property is allowed in the jail. Individuals will be provided with the necessary toiletries, bedding, and clothing by the jail.
What about prescription medication? Individuals should bring only necessary prescription medication. The prescription medication must be in the original bottle with the individual’s name and information on it. The prescription medication will be given to the infirmary, which will be responsible for administering the medicine.
Can I bring a book or other reading material? No, individuals cannot bring their own book or reading materials with them into the jail. However, the jail does have a library, which the individual may have access to.
Will I be required to take a shower? Yes, every inmate is required to take a shower after being processed into the jail.
Will I be eating meals with the other inmates? Yes, all inmates (separated by gender) that are serving the same type of sentence, eat meals together. However, inmates with special dietary needs may be given different food if they provide a letter from a doctor that shows that different food is necessary.
Will I be sleeping in the same room/cell as other inmates? Yes, all inmates (separated by gender) sleep in the same room or cell. However, individuals who are only serving 24-hour sentences typically are held in the booking area with many other inmates.
Will I be in the same room/cell as other inmates? Yes, all inmates (separated by gender and sentence length) share the same room/cell.
Cleveland County Jail
What to bring: You should bring a copy of your sentencing order from court with you. No personal property is allowed in the jail. Individuals will be provided with the necessary toiletries, bedding, and clothing by the jail.
What about prescription medication? Individuals should bring only necessary prescription medication. The prescription medication must be in the original bottle with the individual’s name and information on it. The prescription medication will be given to the infirmary, which will be responsible for administering the medicine.
Can I bring a book or other reading material? No, individuals cannot bring their own book or reading materials with them into the jail. However, the jail does have a library, which the individual may have access to.
Will I be required to take a shower? No, a shower is optional for individuals who are only serving a 24 hour sentence.
Will I be eating meals with the other inmates? Yes, all inmates (separated by gender) regardless of sentence length, eat meals together.
Will I be sleeping in the same room/cell as other inmates? Yes, all inmates (separated by gender), regardless of sentence length, sleep in the same room or cell.
Will I be in the same room/cell as other inmates? Yes, all inmates (separated by gender), regardless of sentence length, sleep in the same room or cell as other inmates.
Gaston County Jail
What to bring: You should bring a copy of your sentencing order from court with you. No personal property is allowed in the jail. Individuals will be provided with the necessary toiletries, bedding, and clothing by the jail.
What about prescription medication? Individuals should bring only necessary prescription medication. The prescription medication must be in the original bottle with the individual’s name and information on it. The prescription medication will be given to the infirmary, which will be responsible for administering the medicine.
Can I bring a book or other reading material? No, individuals cannot bring their own book or reading materials with them into the jail. However, the jail does have a library, which the individual may have access to.
Will I be required to take a shower? Yes, every inmate is required to take a shower after being processed into the jail.
Will I be eating meals with the other inmates? Yes, all inmates (separated by gender) regardless of sentence length, eat meals together.
Will I be sleeping in the same room/cell as other inmates? Yes, all inmates (separated by gender) sleep in the same room or cell.
Will I be in the same room/cell as other inmates? Yes, all inmates (separated by gender) share the same room/cell, regardless of sentence length.
Haywood County Jail
What to bring: You should bring a copy of your sentencing order from court with you. No personal property is allowed in the jail. Individuals will be provided with the necessary toiletries, bedding, and clothing by the jail.
What about prescription medication? Individuals should bring only necessary prescription medication. The prescription medication must be in the original bottle with the individual’s name and information on it. The prescription medication will be given to the infirmary, which will be responsible for administering the medicine.
Can I bring a book or other reading material? No, individuals cannot bring their own book or reading materials with them into the jail. However, the jail does have a library, which the individual may have access to.
Will I be required to take a shower? No, individuals have the option to take a shower, but it is not required.
Will I be eating meals with the other inmates? Yes, all inmates (separated by gender) regardless of sentence length, eat meals together.
Will I be sleeping in the same room/cell as other inmates? Yes, all inmates (separated by gender) regardless of sentence length, sleep in the same room/cell.
Will I be in the same room/cell as other inmates? Yes, all inmates (separated by gender) share the same room/cell, regardless of sentence length.
Henderson County Jail
What to bring: You should bring a copy of your sentencing order from court with you. No personal property is allowed in the jail. Individuals will be provided with the necessary toiletries, bedding, and clothing by the jail.
What about prescription medication? Individuals should bring only necessary prescription medication. The prescription medication must be in the original bottle with the individual’s name and information on it. The prescription medication will be given to the infirmary, which will be responsible for administering the medicine.
Can I bring a book or other reading material? The only reading material that an individual is allowed to bring is a copy of the Bible.
Will I be required to take a shower? Yes, every inmate is required to take a shower after being processed into the jail.
Will I be eating meals with the other inmates? Yes, all inmates (separated by gender) regardless of sentence length, eat meals together.
Will I be sleeping in the same room/cell as other inmates? Yes, all inmates (separated by gender) sleep in the same room or cell.
Will I be in the same room/cell as other inmates? Yes, all inmates (separated by gender) share the same room/cell, regardless of sentence length.
Jackson County Jail
What to bring: You should bring a copy of your sentencing order from court with you. No personal property is allowed in the jail. Individuals will be provided with the necessary toiletries, bedding, and clothing by the jail.
What about prescription medication? Individuals should bring only necessary prescription medication. The prescription medication must be in the original bottle with the individual’s name and information on it. The prescription medication will be given to the infirmary, which will be responsible for administering the medicine.
Can I bring a book or other reading material? No, individuals cannot bring their own book or reading materials with them into the jail. However, the jail does have a library, which the individual may have access to.
Will I be required to take a shower? Yes, every inmate is required to take a shower after being processed into the jail.
Will I be eating meals with the other inmates? Yes, all inmates (separated by gender) regardless of sentence length, eat meals together.
Will I be sleeping in the same room/cell as other inmates? Yes, all inmates (separated by gender) regardless of sentence length, sleep in the same room/cell.
Will I be in the same room/cell as other inmates? Yes, all inmates (separated by gender) share the same room/cell, regardless of sentence length.
Lincoln County Jail
What to bring: You should bring a copy of your sentencing order from court with you. No personal property is allowed in the jail. Individuals will be provided with the necessary toiletries, bedding, and clothing by the jail.
What about prescription medication? Individuals should bring only necessary prescription medication. The prescription medication must be in the original bottle with the individual’s name and information on it. The prescription medication will be given to the infirmary, which will be responsible for administering the medicine.
Can I bring a book or other reading material? No, individuals cannot bring their own book or reading materials with them into the jail. However, the jail does have a library, which the individual may have access to.
Will I be required to take a shower? Yes, every inmate is required to take a shower after being processed into the jail.
Will I be eating meals with the other inmates? Yes, all inmates (separated by gender) regardless of sentence length, eat meals together.
Will I be sleeping in the same room/cell as other inmates? Yes, all inmates (separated by gender) sleep in the same room or cell.
Will I be in the same room/cell as other inmates? Yes, all inmates (separated by gender) share the same room/cell, regardless of sentence length.
Macon County Jail
What to bring: You should bring a copy of your sentencing order from court with you. No personal property is allowed in the jail. Individuals will be provided with the necessary toiletries, bedding, and clothing by the jail.
What about prescription medication? Individuals should bring only necessary prescription medication. The prescription medication must be in the original bottle with the individual’s name and information on it. The prescription medication will be given to the infirmary, which will be responsible for administering the medicine.
Can I bring a book or other reading material? No, individuals cannot bring their own book or reading materials with them into the jail. However, the jail does have a library, which the individual may have access to.
Will I be required to take a shower? Yes, every inmate is required to take a shower after being processed into the jail.
Will I be eating meals with the other inmates? Yes, all inmates (separated by gender) regardless of sentence length, eat meals together.
Will I be sleeping in the same room/cell as other inmates? Yes, all inmates (separated by gender) regardless of sentence length, sleep in the same room/cell.
Will I be in the same room/cell as other inmates? Yes, all inmates (separated by gender) share the same room/cell, regardless of sentence length.
Madison County Jail
What to bring: You should bring a copy of your sentencing order from court with you. No personal property is allowed in the jail. Individuals will be provided with the necessary toiletries, bedding, and clothing by the jail.
What about prescription medication? Individuals should bring only necessary prescription medication. The prescription medication must be in the original bottle with the individual’s name and information on it. The prescription medication will be given to the infirmary, which will be responsible for administering the medicine.
Can I bring a book or other reading material? No, individuals cannot bring their own book or reading materials with them into the jail. However, the jail does have a library, which the individual may have access to.
Will I be required to take a shower? Yes, every inmate is required to take a shower after being processed into the jail.
Will I be eating meals with the other inmates? Yes, all inmates (separated by gender) regardless of sentence length, eat meals together.
Will I be sleeping in the same room/cell as other inmates? Yes, all inmates (separated by gender) sleep in the same room or cell.
Will I be in the same room/cell as other inmates? Yes, all inmates (separated by gender) share the same room/cell, regardless of sentence length.
McDowell County Jail
What to bring: You should bring a copy of your sentencing order from court with you. No personal property is allowed in the jail. Individuals will be provided with the necessary toiletries, bedding, and clothing by the jail.
What about prescription medication? Individuals should bring only necessary prescription medication. The prescription medication must be in the original bottle with the individual’s name and information on it. The prescription medication will be given to the infirmary, which will be responsible for administering the medicine.
Can I bring a book or other reading material? No, individuals cannot bring their own book or reading materials with them into the jail. However, the jail does have a library, which the individual may have access to.
Will I be required to take a shower? No, a shower is optional for individuals who are only serving a 24 hour sentence.
Will I be eating meals with the other inmates? Yes, all inmates (separated by gender) regardless of sentence length, eat meals together.
Will I be sleeping in the same room/cell as other inmates? Yes, all inmates (separated by gender) sleep in the same room or cell. However, individuals who are only serving 24-hour sentences typically share a room or a cell with other individuals who are also only serving 24-hour sentences. There could be up to three people per room or cell.
Will I be in the same room/cell as other inmates? Yes, all inmates (separated by gender) share the same room/cell, regardless of sentence length.
Polk County Jail
What to bring: You should bring a copy of your sentencing order from court with you. No personal property is allowed in the jail. Individuals will be provided with the necessary toiletries, bedding, and clothing by the jail.
What about prescription medication? Individuals should bring only necessary prescription medication. The prescription medication must be in the original bottle with the individual’s name and information on it. The prescription medication will be given to the infirmary, which will be responsible for administering the medicine.
Can I bring a book or other reading material? Yes, individuals can bring a book or magazine for reading material.
Will I be required to take a shower? Yes, every inmate is required to take a shower after being processed into the jail.
Will I be eating meals with the other inmates? Yes, all inmates (separated by gender) regardless of sentence length, eat meals together.
Will I be sleeping in the same room/cell as other inmates? Yes, all inmates (separated by gender) regardless of sentence length, sleep in the same room/cell.
Will I be in the same room/cell as other inmates? Yes, all inmates (separated by gender) share the same room/cell, regardless of sentence length.
Rutherford County Jail
What to bring: You should bring a copy of your sentencing order from court with you. No personal property is allowed in the jail. Individuals will be provided with the necessary toiletries, bedding, and clothing by the jail.
What about prescription medication? Individuals should bring only necessary prescription medication. The prescription medication must be in the original bottle with the individual’s name and information on it. The prescription medication will be given to the infirmary, which will be responsible for administering the medicine.
Can I bring a book or other reading material? No, individuals cannot bring their own book or reading materials with them into the jail. However, the jail does have a library, which the individual may have access to.
Will I be required to take a shower? No, A shower is optional at the jail for individuals serving a 24-hour sentence.
Will I be eating meals with the other inmates? Yes, all inmates (separated by gender) regardless of sentence length eat meals together.
Will I be sleeping in the same room/cell as other inmates? Yes, all inmates (separated by gender) sleep in the same room or cell.
Will I be in the same room/cell as other inmates? Yes, although at the Rutherford County Jail, individuals who are serving 24-hour sentences are typically put in the same room/cell as other individuals who are also serving 24-hour sentences.
Swain County Jail
What to bring: You should bring a copy of your sentencing order from court with you. No personal property is allowed in the jail. Individuals will be provided with the necessary toiletries, bedding, and clothing by the jail.
What about prescription medication? Individuals should bring only necessary prescription medication. The prescription medication must be in the original bottle with the individual’s name and information on it. The prescription medication will be given to the infirmary, which will be responsible for administering the medicine.
Can I bring a book or other reading material? The only book or reading material allowed in with an individual is a copy of the Bible.
Will I be required to take a shower? Yes, every inmate is required to take a shower after being processed into the jail.
Will I be eating meals with the other inmates? Yes, all inmates (separated by gender) regardless of sentence length, eat meals together.
Will I be sleeping in the same room/cell as other inmates? Yes, all inmates (separated by gender) regardless of sentence length, sleep in the same room/cell.
Will I be in the same room/cell as other inmates? Yes, all inmates (separated by gender) share the same room/cell, regardless of sentence length.
Transylvania County Jail
What to bring: You should bring a copy of your sentencing order from court with you. No personal property is allowed in the jail. Individuals will be provided with the necessary toiletries, bedding, and clothing by the jail.
What about prescription medication? Individuals should bring only necessary prescription medication. The prescription medication must be in the original bottle with the individual’s name and information on it. The prescription medication will be given to the infirmary, which will be responsible for administering the medicine.
Can I bring a book or other reading material? No, individuals cannot bring their own book or reading materials with them into the jail. However, the jail does have a library, which the individual may have access to.
Will I be required to take a shower? Yes, every inmate is required to take a shower after being processed into the jail.
Will I be eating meals with the other inmates? Yes, all inmates (separated by gender) regardless of sentence length, eat meals together.
Will I be sleeping in the same room/cell as other inmates? Yes, all inmates (separated by gender) regardless of sentence length, sleep in the same room/cell.
Will I be in the same room/cell as other inmates? Yes, all inmates (separated by gender) share the same room/cell, regardless of sentence length.
