North Carolina's state prisons use ViaPath/GTL (ConnectNetwork) under a statewide contract with the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction (NCDAC). North Carolina's 100 counties each operate their own jails with independent phone contracts.
Note on terminology and agency: North Carolina prisons were formerly operated under the NC Department of Public Safety (NCDPS) Prisons division. The separate NC Department of Adult Correction (NCDAC) was established and now operates the state prison system. NCDAC uses "offenders" throughout its official materials.
PART 1 - NCDAC STATE PRISONS
Phone and tablet vendor: ViaPath/GTL (ConnectNetwork)
The NCDAC Telephone & Tablet Services page states: "The North Carolina Department of Adult Correction has a contract with ViaPath/GTL to provide tablet services for offenders to communicate with families and friends."
Communication options available:
- Electronic tablets (phone calls, text messages, digitized mail, educational content, entertainment)
- Electronic kiosks
- Wall phones
How NCDAC phone calls work
Offenders place outgoing calls only. They cannot receive incoming calls. The offender calls from a facility phone, kiosk, or tablet to numbers on their approved calling list. All calls are monitored and recorded.
Call length: All offender calls are timed for 15 minutes. Calls to cell phones that are disconnected prematurely will not be reimbursed.
Setting up a ConnectNetwork account
Online: connectnetwork.com (24/7)
Toll-free phone: 1-800-483-8314 (create or add funds to AdvancePay account)
Mobile app: ConnectNetwork app - available on Apple App Store and Google Play
Western Union: payments at any Western Union location
Mail: check or money order to AdvancePay Service Department, PO Box 911722, Denver, CO 80291-1722
International customers: 1-888-216-7423 or AdvancePayInternational@gtl.net
Account types:
AdvancePay (prepaid collect): You fund an account tied to your phone number. When the offender calls your number, charges are deducted from your balance. Works for all phone types including cell phones.
PIN Debit: You deposit funds directly to the offender's phone debit account. Once funded, the offender can call any allowed number. The offender can check their balance when a call begins. Deposit at connectnetwork.com.
Cards accepted: Visa, MasterCard, Discover (credit and debit cards).
Monthly statements: Not mailed automatically. Request by contacting ConnectNetwork customer service.
Calling rates
| Call Type | Rate |
|---|---|
| Local and Long Distance (all domestic) | $0.10 per minute |
A 15-minute call costs $1.50. All calls are timed to 15 minutes.
State and federal taxes apply on top of the per-minute rate.
International call rates: Available at dac.nc.gov (international rates document)
Ancillary fees
| Fee Description | Amount |
|---|---|
| Automated credit/debit card payment processing | $3.00 per use |
| Live operator payment | $5.94 per use |
| Paper bill/statement | $2.00 per use |
| Third-party money transmitter (MoneyGram, Western Union, credit card processing, trust account transfers) | Exact third-party fee, no markup |
Tablets and entertainment content
Electronic tablets allow offenders to communicate (calls, texts, digitized mail) and access educational and entertainment content. Minutes for tablet entertainment options are purchased through the prison canteen using trust account funds - not through ConnectNetwork. For information on sending funds to someone's trust account, see the NCDAC Send Money page.
NCDAC facilities
NCDAC operates approximately 53 prison facilities across North Carolina ranging from minimum to close custody levels.
Prison facility list: dac.nc.gov/our-organization/adult-correction/prisons/prison-facilities
Offender search: dac.nc.gov/dac-services/criminal-offender-searches
(Also accessible at doc.state.nc.us)
NCDAC contact:
Street: 214 West Jones St., Raleigh, NC 27603
Mailing: 5201 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-5201
Phone: 919-733-2126 | Relay/TTY: 919-866-3665
Offender Information line: 800-368-1985
Prison Records: 919-716-3200
PART 2 - NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY JAILS (100 counties)
North Carolina has 100 counties, each operating its own jail. County jails contract phone services independently from NCDAC. Common vendors include Securus Technologies, ViaPath/ConnectNetwork, and ICSolutions. Rates and procedures vary by county.
How to find the current vendor for a county jail: Go to the county's official website or the county sheriff's website and look for "Inmate Telephone" or "Jail Services." Call the facility directly if not posted online.
Notable examples (verify before relying on this information)
Mecklenburg County Jail (Charlotte): North Carolina's largest county jail system. Verify current vendor at the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's website.
Wake County Detention Center (Raleigh): Verify current vendor at the Wake County Sheriff's website.
Guilford County Jail (Greensboro): Verify current vendor at the Guilford County Sheriff's website.
What to do before the first call
For an NCDAC state prison:
1. Find the offender's ID and current facility at dac.nc.gov/dac-services/criminal-offender-searches
2. Ask the offender to add your phone number to their approved calling list
3. Set up a ConnectNetwork AdvancePay account at connectnetwork.com or call 1-800-483-8314
4. Fund the account; note the $0.10/min rate and 15-minute call limit
5. Wait for the offender to initiate the call
For a North Carolina county jail:
1. Find the individual through the county jail's website or inmate search
2. Identify the current phone vendor
3. Create an account with that vendor
4. Add funds
5. Wait for the individual to call
Frequently asked questions
Who provides phone calls at North Carolina state prisons?
ViaPath/GTL (ConnectNetwork). Setup at connectnetwork.com or call 1-800-483-8314.
What is the rate?
$0.10/min for all domestic calls (local and long distance). A 15-minute call costs $1.50 before taxes.
What is the call time limit?
15 minutes for all offender calls. After 15 minutes the call ends automatically. Calls to cell phones that disconnect early are not reimbursed.
What account type should I use?
AdvancePay if you want to receive calls on your specific phone number. PIN Debit if you want the offender to be able to call from funds in their own account.
Can I mail in a payment?
Yes. Send a check or money order to AdvancePay Service Department, PO Box 911722, Denver CO 80291-1722.
What happened to NC DPS Prisons?
North Carolina split its public safety functions and the prison system is now operated by the NC Department of Adult Correction (NCDAC), established as a separate agency. The ViaPath/GTL vendor relationship continued.
Do county jails use ViaPath/ConnectNetwork?
Some do. Others use Securus or ICSolutions. Always verify the specific county jail's vendor before creating an account. ====================================================================
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