Lee County Jail – Sanford, NC

Lee County Jail is in Lee County and is the primary jail for this county. Are you looking for someone in jail at Lee County Jail? This guide will tell you information about anything you might need to know about Lee County Jail: Find an inmate at Lee County Jail. How to view Lee County Jail mugshots. The jail’s phone number and address. How to post bail. Lee County Jail intake procedures. Court records. And lots more.

The prospect of getting arrested and going to jail is a scary prospect, not only for the person who gets locked up, but also their family, friends, and loved ones. This guide is meant to give advice and information that you’ll need to make going to jail a lot easier. If you have a specific question, please feel free to ask it, and please leave any feedback or comments that would help others will be much appreciated.

Do you have a family member, loved one, or friend that is locked up and want to find them?

Do you know a friend or family member who’s been arrested and you don’t know how to find them?

In order to see who is in jail at Lee County Jail you will have to click on their web site and do an inmate search.

The Lee County Jail Inmate List has information on persons who have been arrested and are in jail, including status, how much their bail is, and schedule for visitation. Also, you can find information about anyone arrested and booked or released within the last 24 hours. Prisoners are listed alphabetically by last name. You can get the information quicker if you enter their full name, date of birth, or inmate ID.

If the person you are looking for is in a different jail you will want to look here: Other County Jails in North Carolina

A mugshot, also known as a jail intake picture, is the picture that the jail takes during jail intake processing. They take one and a side-view photo. Your full name and jail booking number will appear on the mugshot, and they’re kept on file at the jail.

Mugshots of people who have been arrested are on the website, or you can see them at the Lee County Jail. When you search for mugshots on the website you need to input the inmate’s first and last name, and a booking date, if you know it.

Do you want to get your mugshot taken down from the Lee County Jail site? This is difficult, as your mugshot is public record. You must file a Petition to Expunge with the court. Basically, this means that all of your arrest records will be sealed, so no one will be able to see them. It is difficult to do this, and you will most likely need the services of a lawyer.

To learn more about getting your mugshot removed, the various mugshot sites, and the websites that offer to remove your mugshot for you: Mugshot Removal

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Obviously, if you are incarcerated, your primary thought is about when and how you will get out. After you’ve gone through booking, your bail amount is determined either through a preset bail schedule or a magistrate. If no bail is set this can mean that you will either be released on your ‘own recognizance’ until your court date, or you must remain in jail until your trial.

If you do bail out you are required to promise to be there for your court date, and in the meantime you won’t be allowed to travel out of the county.

In most cases, prisoners at Lee County Jail can earn early release in exchange for good behavior if they respect the rules and area a good inmate while in jail.

If you follow the rules, you may be granted work release. You will be required to stay the jail each day after work, or you could be permitted to move to a halfway house instead of the jail.

Bail is the amount of money that you are required to pay in order to be released from jail until your trial. The amount you will be required to pay depends on the seriousness of your crime. Someone you know will need to put up ten percent of the total that was set in order to get out of jail. If you don’t show up for your scheduled court date, whoever put up your bail money won’t get the bail money back.

You need to call the jail or the county courthouse. If know the person’s information, such as name, address and date of birth, they will let you know what their bail is set at. Also, you can find out how much their bail is on the Lee County Jail website.

Posting bail to get out of jail is never fun, but thankfully, it’s really easy. First of all, you have to find out if they have a Cash Only Bond. If this is the case, you will not be able to use the services of a Bail Bondsman. Take cash only to the jail – they will not take a personal check. Once the cash bond has been paid, the prisoner will get released. If this person doesn’t violate any of the terms of their release, the bail money you posted will be returned to you.

If their bail has been set too high, or you just can’t afford to pay it, you should use a bail bondsman. Bondsmen will usually charge a fee of 10-15% of the total amount of bail set by the magistrate, and usually charge a minimum of $100. This is non-refundable and is typically cash only. If the bail is exceptionally high, the bail bondsman will in most cases ask to use your assets as collateral in addition to the fee they charge.

You can find a local bail bondsman visit our page about: How to find a bail bondsman

Have you ever used the services of Bail Bondsman for yourself, a family member or friend? If so, please leave a comment below and tell about your experience and let us know how it worked out.

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• Time Off For Good Behavior
• Get Out on Work Release
• Get Out For Time Served
• Get Out on a Pre-Trial Release Program
• House Arrest
• Own Recognizance

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The jail intake process is made up of each of these steps:

• You will get put in a holding cell. If there are a lot of arrests, you will have to wait a while to get processed.
• First, have to answer some simple questions, like what is your legal name, address, date of birth and a contact person.
• You will also be asked about your mental and medical history.
• You will be given an inmate number.
• You will be fingerprinted.
• You will have your mugshot taken.
• All of your personal property will be taken away from you and will be stored until you are released.
• You will be allowed to use the phone so you can contact a member of your family, friend, or bondsman to arrange bail.
• If you are expected to be released quickly, you might be allowed to keep wearing street clothes, but if you are not expected to make bail quickly you will be given a jail jumpsuit.

Have you been arrested and gone through jail intake? If you have, please tell your story so other people can learn from your experience. How long did it take to get processed? Were you treated fairly? Can you share any tips that might help other people make it through the procedure?

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When you finally post bail, you will be allowed to go home after you get discharged. This process may take between 30 minutes to quite a few hours. So, the quicker you post bail, the faster you will get out of jail. It also might depend on whether or not you’ve been given a cash bond amount or if the judge has to decide on how much your bail will be. For a minor offense, you will get booked and get released without having to post bail. When you have completed your jail sentence and have a date of your release, expect to be discharged in the morning.

If you have a, or if you have to start your sentence, it is highly advisable that you do the right thing and go down to the jail and turn yourself in. In the case of an outstanding warrant, go to the jail intake center, and let them know that believe that there could be an outstanding warrant for your arrest. They will do a check to find out if there is an arrest warrant for you, and if you do, you will be taken into custody. If you are reporting to serve out your sentence, go to the jail at the time and date that the sentence order states. Ensure that you are not late to report. Only bring things that are allowed when you go to jail, such as your driver’s license or your ID, any prescription medication you might take, as well as a sentencing order.

In order to have visitors, inmates have to provide information about each visitor to the jail in advance of any visit. Your visitors will go into a Visiting log for the inmate that requested the visitor. Each visitor will have to provide a photo ID when visiting. Any visitors that gets to visitation or that does not have a visitation order will not be able to attend visitation.
Visitation procedures are always changing, so we suggest that you review the official jail site before you go to the jail to visit.

The only phone calls that inmates are allowed to make are with a pre-paid phone card or account, or are collect calls . Phone calls made in jail are a lot more expensive than phone calls made outside of jail. Inmates are able to make phone calls, with restrictions on how often you can use the phone, but inmates should keep in mind lots of people want to use the phone – so you have to share. If you are disciplined for an infraction, an inmate’s ability to use the phone might get reduced or totally denied.

The Lee County Jail phone number is: 919-775-5531

All mall sent to inmates is required to be sent using the actual US Postal Service, and not courier or delivery, or hand delivered. You shouldn’t use any other type of delivery. You must write or type the inmate’s name, inmate number, and jail address on the letter that you send. Don’t send a box, envelope with padding, plastic bag, or an envelope with metal in it. Any mail sent to inmates will be opened and inspected and read by staff, and the mail will get sent back if it can’t be delivered.

If you would like to send a letter to an inmate at Lee County Jail, use this address:

Lee County Jail
1401 Elm Street
Sanford, NC 27331

Here is how you should address the letter:

[INMATE’S FULL NAME]
[INMATE ID]
Lee County Jail
1401 Elm Street
Sanford, NC 27331

The mail policy at Lee County Jail is always changing, so we suggest that you check the site before you send a letter.

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If you have been arrested, you should know you still have rights, one of these is that you have the right to request a lawyer. You won’t get many phone calls in jail, so you would be wise to have a friend or family member find an attorney when you call. You may be thinking ‘why do I need a lawyer?’ You are not required to have an attorney for some criminal charges, an attorney will advise you about your rights, protect your interests and show you the way through the complicated legal system in your county. The sooner you hire a lawyer to represent you and work on your situation, the better your chances.

For more information on the benefits of hiring a lawyer, click: Find a Lawyer

If you can’t afford a lawyer, you will be assigned a public defender. Also, the Public Defender has a number of staff such as private investigators, crime scene and forensics experts as well as case workers. All Public Defenders are full-fledged lawyers that are admitted to the State Bar and are legally licensed to handle your case.

Have you or someone you know had to use the services of a Public Defender? What was your experience?

Lee County court records are a matter of public record. They have a file with a sheet called a docket sheet and all documents and motions filed during your court case. You can access your court records via the website, or by going to the Clerk’s office of the Court where the case was filed.

The Clerk of Court is an official part of the court that maintains the records. The Clerk of Court also administer the oath for anyone testifying in court, and also read the jury’s verdict. All records, documents, and evidence from your case are kept and available to you at the office of the Clerk of Court.

Court fees are the charges and fees from your case, which include filing fees, motion and claim fees, and court charges. If you can’t afford to pay these fees and have court appointed legal counsel or a Public Defender, you may not have to pay the fees.

A Magistrate acts as the judge that presides on your court case. Magistrates do a number of different things, which include setting bail amounts, issuing warrants, and presiding over preliminary court hearings and detention hearings.

A pre-sentencing report is completed with information about the arrestee’s background and details of the arrestee’s life and public history, which the magistrate judge will review when decide your sentence. Information and personal details will be solicited from the defendant, his or her family members, and if necessary the victim. Bear in mind that you should ask to receive a copy of this report prior to sentencing, and make sure that you correct the mistakes.

After you are convicted of a crime, you will then get sentenced. The presiding judge in your case will weigh several options when determining your sentence, including community service, house arrest, and probation, to prison or jail time. Depending on how serious your crime was, you will either be immediately taken into custody, or you could receive a date that you must report to jail to serve your jail term according to your sentence.

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Are you trying to find out if someone is in jail, or has gone to jail in the past?

This is pretty easy to do, simply just go to the Lee County jail website, and search by:

• Name.
• Birth date.
• Their booking date.
• or inmate ID.

If you’re not sure if your friend or family member is in jail, you can call the jail get confirmation.

If you think you might have an outstanding warrant, you can access court records online or you are able to call the jail directly. You have to have their first and last name. Or, you can just go down to the jail and ask one of the officers. You should be clear that if you do have an outstanding warrant, you should be prepared to get taken into custody immediately.

If you know the person’s name, as well as their arrest date, contact the jail, by phone, go there in person, or find out online. An arrest is public record and this information is accessible to anyone.

Civil processes are when you are served with legal papers, such as court orders. You can find these by going to the Lee County Sheriff’s office, either by phone or through their website.

All people registered as sex offenders are required to be listed and registered on the sex offender databases required by the area they live in. Those listed on these databases have been tried by jury and convicted in a court of law of a sex or kidnapping crime. You can access these listings on the internet, but remember that you can’t find the precise address, but rather the address block that they live on.

Court Records are public, and are accessible by anyone. These records include a case file containing a court docket and any documents and filings filed in your court case. You are able to access the court records on their website, or at Clerk of Court office where the case was filed.

Each state keeps a record of someone’s criminal past. These online databases are all linked so you can track criminal histories from another state. You can go to the Lee County Courthouse and inquire in person, or you can check the website. It helps to know the county, and if the crime was in a different state, you may have to pay a fee for a more comprehensive search.

When you look up someone’s criminal record you will find out if a person has ever been arrested, charged or convicted for these crimes:

• DUI or DWI.
• Drug crimes like possession or trafficking.
• Kidnapping.
• Rape or other sexual assault.
• Violent crimes.
• Theft.

If you do a criminal records check, you will not see if that person has had any moving violations, like:

• Speeding tickets.
• Drivers license suspended or revoked.
• Traffic accidents.
• Minor infractions or moving violations.
• Parking Tickets.

To get this kind of information, you must do a driving history search.

Have you ever had to search for criminal records of someone you know? Was it a difficult process? Did you search online or did you have to make a phone call to the local courthouse? Was the information correct? There are plenty of reasons that people look up criminal backgrounds and records, and your feedback may help other people that are in the same situation.

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Most Wanted

For Federal crimes, the FBI has a listing of the Ten Most Wanted Fugitives. In Lee County, the Sheriff keeps their own list of most wanted criminals and fugitives.

FBI Top Ten Most Wanted List


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Life In Jail / What Its Like

Daily Life

Everyone knows that spending time in Lee County Jail is very scary, soon you will get used to the daily routine. You will get an alarm to wake up at 6:00 AM, and next you’ll have roll call. Then you will get breakfast. When you finish eating breakfast you will be required to work in the program that has been assigned to you. This could be working in the kitchen, laundry, or some sort of manufacturing job. While this may seem tedious, it may help you when you leave jail, as you are gaining experience in a certain field of work. Other inmates go to school, while some take part in mandated treatment programs. After lunch, there will be another roll call, then back to work. Your evening will be spent either in your cell or a common room. During this time dinner is served and you will be expected to take a shower. After another roll call, it’s lights out. Even though you will be confined to your cell, there may be enough light to read or write letters. Then again, most inmates welcome lights out, and try to get as much sleep as they can.

Most people are frightened at the idea of jail because they don’t know what to expect. If you have spent any time in Lee County Jail, your experiences would be welcomed, if it can help another person to deal with it.

Dress Code

When incarcerated, all inmates are expected to wear the Lee County Jail uniform. This is normally a jumpsuit or scrubs. Of note to anyone visiting an inmate – you must be properly dressed. Any clothing considered inappropriate will not be permitted.

How To Send Money to an Inmate

You will have your own ‘bank account’ while in jail. This money is used to purchase items from the Commissary. Family and friends can deposit money into this account for you, and any money you earn while in prison will also be deposited into your account. Outside money can be paid in to your account via a money order, cash or check. If someone sends a check or money order, make sure that they write your inmate ID on it. The maximum amount you are allowed in your account is $290 per month.

The process for sending funds to inmates at Lee County Jail might change, so check the site before you send funds to an inmate there.


Commissary

The commissary is the jail store. You can purchase a number of things here, such as toiletries, snacks and writing supplies. Bear in mind that you will probably want to use the commissary daily, and any infractions will get that privilege taken away from you.

Inmate Medications

If you are on any type of prescription medication, you will be allowed to continue taking it while in jail. When you are first processed, you will be asked what medication you take. You will then be referred to the jail nurse or doctor who will be in charge of monitoring your health and prescribing your medication.

Meals

You will get three meals a day: breakfast, lunch and dinner. As expected, they are very basic, but healthy. A typical breakfast might be cereal, toast, coffee and fruit. Lunch might be spaghetti, salad, bread and milk. Dinner could be chicken casserole, rice, vegetables, dessert and milk. Contrary to popular belief, prison food has greatly improved over the years, and you might find that it’s not much different from what you would eat at home.

Pods / The Yard

The jail is designed in a ‘pod’ layout, with self-contained housing arranged around an outdoor yard. Each pod has a central control station and a common room, and the inmates take turns in using the yard. The jail is designed this way to keep certain inmates together, and others away from the general population.

Gangs

As with life in general, gangs are a part of prison life. Obviously it is best to avoid becoming a part of this environment as it will only lead to trouble. When you first enter prison, you might find yourself being ‘primed’ to join a gang, or worse, you might get their attention in a negative way. The best thing to do is keep your head down and don’t get involved.


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News and Media

News

Photos / Pictures

Videos


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Jobs

Types of Jobs at Lee County Jail

The Deputy Sheriff is the second in command at the Lee County Jail, overseeing the day to day operations and administration of the jail. An inmate is unlikely to have much interaction with the Deputy Sheriff, unless they have committed an infraction. Detention Officers are responsible for the custody and care of the inmates. They maintain order in the jail, and handle security. A Detention Officer is assigned to a certain pod, and therefore is responsible for the same inmates each day. They get to know the inmates on a certain level and are well equipped to handle any problems that may occur.

Apply for a Job at Lee County Jail

Requirements:

• You must be over the age of 21.
• You must possess a High School Diploma or GED
• You must be a US Citizen.
• You must pass a Criminal, Credit and Driving History background check.
• You must pass a drug test.
• You must have a good level of fitness.
• You must be in good health.
• You must have a valid Driver’s License
• An applicant for Deputy Sheriff must possess a Law Enforcement Certification.


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Family Resources

There are resources for families of both the perpetrator of the crime and the victim. The social and emotional impact of crime is far reaching, affecting many. Families can receive professional counseling, court related assistance, social services assistance and help in navigating the criminal justice system.

If you are a family member, which resources did you find to be particularly helpful? Please let us know, as this will be helpful to other families in the same situation.

Click here to comment


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Victim Resources

Important Note: If you, or someone you know, are in immediate danger, call 911.

Victim’s Rights

The Victim Rights Act grants victims the following rights:

• Victims have the right to protection from the accused.
• Victims have the right to notification.
• Victims have the right to attend proceedings.
• Victims have the right to speak at criminal justice proceedings.
• Victims have the right to consult with the prosecuting attorney.
• Victims have the right to restitution.
• Victims have the right to a speedy trial.
• Victims have the right to be treated with fairness, dignity and respect.

The definition of victim includes:

• Spouses and children of all victims.
• Parents and guardians of minor victims.
• Parents, guardians and siblings of mentally or physically incapacitated victims or victims of homicide.
• Foster parents or other caregivers, under certain circumstances.

There are a number of services and programs designed to help victims and their families. You can find out about these services by contacting the courthouse, or local law enforcement agency.

Victim Notification

The Department of Justice Victim Notification System (VNS) is a system that provides victims with information pertaining to their case and/or any defendants in the case. You will receive a Victim Identification Number (VIN) and a Personal Identification Number (PIN) that will allow you to access VNS via the internet or by phone. Here, you will find information about future court hearings, historical court events, and detailed information about the defendant. This will include criminal charges filed, the outcome of charges, sentence imposed, custody location, projected release date and any other release information. The VNS website is updated daily. You will also receive any ongoing information by mail or email.

Have you, a family member or friend ever used the Victim Notification System? If so, was it effective? Did you get the information in a timely manner? Was the system difficult to use? We would like to hear from you, so please post any comments here.

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Sex Offender Information and Search

All people registered as sex offenders are registered on either a national or state sex offender database. The people on these databases have been convicted of a sex or kidnapping crime. You can access this information online, but bear in mind that you will not get the exact address, rather the block that they live on.

Domestic Violence

If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, there are services to help you. Your county will have a Domestic Violence Services office. They provide free and confidential services, such as emergency shelter information, legal advocacy, support groups and domestic violence education. They will work to help you create a safe and violence-free life, and heal from the trauma of abuse.

Important Note: If you, or someone you know, are in immediate danger, call 911.


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Reviews

Reviews of this Jail

Have you ever been an inmate in Lee County Jail? Do you know anybody that spent time there? Have you ever been to visit an inmate at this jail?

If so, then you should tell us about it. Tell us about your experience because others will know what to expect.

What to put in what you write:

• Conditions at the jail.
• Jail, yard and pod facility and layout
• Jail staff and Guards
• Food and commissary
• Having Visitors
• Inmates.
• Inmate safety
• Jail gangs
• Prisoner activities and programs


Write a review about Lee County Jail

Tell Your Story

Everbody that’s been incarcerated has some stories to tell about the whole experience. Why’d you get arrested? Were you mistreated? How was life in jail? What were the other inmates like? How did getting locked up affect your life?

Click here to share your story about when you did time in Lee County Jail

Send a Message to Your Cell Mate

Make some good friends in jail? Trying to get in touch with a friend from jail? Then send them a message by posting a comment below.

Say Hello to Lee County Jail


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2011