If someone was arrested in Durham, they are being held at the Durham County Detention Facility, 219 S. Mangum St., and the magistrate who sets their release conditions works in that same building. The Durham County Courthouse is also downtown, at 510 S. Dillard St. This page tells you where to go, where to park, how to reach your loved one inside, and how to find the court date.
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Where Is the Durham County Jail?
The Durham County Detention Facility is at 219 S. Mangum St. in downtown Durham, and its phone number is (919) 560-0912. The Durham County Sheriff’s Office runs the jail, so once someone is booked there, they are in the Sheriff’s custody, no matter which agency made the arrest.
The Durham County Magistrate’s Office is inside the jail. According to the City of Durham, its public entrance is on the Mangum Street side of the building, and there is free parking in the gravel lot across the street from that entrance, between Vivian and Pettigrew streets.
What Happens After an Arrest in Durham
Durham keeps the first steps under one roof, which can make the process easier to follow than in counties where the jail and the magistrate are in separate buildings.
- Arrest and Transport: Whether the arrest was made by the Durham Police Department, the Sheriff’s Office or another agency, the person is taken to the Durham County Jail on Mangum Street.
- The Magistrate Sets Conditions: At the jail, a magistrate decides the conditions of pretrial release, including whether a secured bond is required and how much it is. For some charges, North Carolina law requires a judge to set conditions instead, which can take longer.
- Held Until the Bond Is Posted: If a secured bond is set, the person stays in the Durham County Jail, in the Sheriff’s custody, until it is posted.
- We Post the Bond: Give us your loved one’s full name, date of birth and where they’re being held. We’ll confirm the charges and bond amount with you, complete the paperwork and post the bond.
- Release and Court: The jail processes the release, and the timing varies. The person must then appear at the Durham County Courthouse on every scheduled court date.
Durham County Jail and Court Directory
- Durham County Detention Facility: 219 S. Mangum St., Durham. (919) 560-0912
- Durham County Magistrates (criminal): Inside the detention facility, public entrance on Mangum Street. Magistrate on duty: (919) 560-6826
- Durham County Courthouse: 510 S. Dillard St., Durham. Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Clerk of Superior Court: (919) 808-3000. For criminal or traffic court dates and courtrooms, go to Room 1300 on the 1st floor (District Criminal and Traffic Records).
- Durham County Sheriff’s Office main office: 510 S. Dillard St., Durham. (919) 560-0897
Official sources: Durham County Sheriff’s Office locations, NC Judicial Branch Durham County contact directory, Durham County Courthouse, City of Durham FAQ.
Information last verified: October 2026.
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Going to the Durham County Courthouse
If you’re going to court with your loved one, or going to look up a court date in person, here’s what to know before you arrive:
- Entrance: All entry is through the main entrance at 510 S. Dillard St. Ramp access is available from the Mangum Street (west) side of the building.
- Parking: There is a parking deck next to the courthouse with accessible spaces on each level. Accessible entry to the courthouse is from the deck’s third level.
- Security: Everyone goes through security. Weapons, knives of any size, scissors and other sharp objects, and pepper spray are not allowed, and you can’t leave them at the door. Leave them at home or in your vehicle.
- Court dates: District Criminal and Traffic Records, on the 1st floor in Room 1300, handles criminal and traffic court dates and courtrooms.
Visiting or Sending Money to Someone in the Durham County Jail
The Durham County Detention Facility offers both in-person and video visits. You have to register before scheduling either one, either online or at the kiosk in the jail lobby.
- In-person visits: Schedule at least 2 days, but no more than 7 days, in advance, and arrive at least 30 minutes early. Visitors 18 and older need valid ID. An inmate may have up to 2 in-person visits per month, with up to 3 visitors per visit. Visits are held by housing unit on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and are not available on Durham County holidays.
- Video visits: Free, and scheduled the same way as in-person visits. Video visits are offered Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, from 9 a.m. to noon and 4 to 7 p.m.
- Money, any time: Deposits go through TouchPay, which is available 24 hours a day online, by phone at 866-232-1899, or at the kiosk in the jail lobby. You’ll need the facility number, 227701, and the inmate’s ID number, which you can get by calling the jail. A service fee applies to each deposit.
- Money by mail: Cashier’s checks or money orders only, sent to DCSO Money Intake, P.O. Box 544, Durham, NC 27702. The jail’s walk-up Money Intake window is no longer open.
The Sheriff’s Office notes that the visitation schedule can change without notice, so check the Sheriff’s visitation page before you go. Deposit details are on the Sheriff’s inmate funds page.
What a Bail Bond Costs in North Carolina
North Carolina law (N.C. Gen. Stat. 58-71-95) sets the most a bail bondsman can charge: a premium of no more than 15% of the bond’s face amount. A bondsman may also ask for reasonable collateral, and the law requires that collateral to be returned within 15 days after liability on the bond ends. The person who co-signs is agreeing to help make sure the defendant goes to court, so we’ll explain exactly what that means before you sign.
FAQs
1. Where is the Durham County jail?
The Durham County Detention Facility is at 219 S. Mangum St. in downtown Durham. Call (919) 560-0912. The Magistrate’s Office is in the same building, with its public entrance on the Mangum Street side.
2. Can I talk to the magistrate in person?
The Durham County Magistrate’s Office is open to the public inside the jail, through the Mangum Street entrance, and the City of Durham lists free parking in the gravel lot across the street, between Vivian and Pettigrew streets. You can also call the magistrate on duty at (919) 560-6826. Calling first can save you a trip.
3. Durham police won’t tell me anything. Who do I call?
Call the jail. After an arrest, the person is taken to the Durham County Jail, and once they’re there, they are in the custody of the Durham County Sheriff’s Office, not the police department. The Detention Facility’s number is (919) 560-0912, or you can call us and we’ll help you track down where things stand.
4. How do I find a Durham court date?
Search the person’s name or case number with the NC Courts court date search. Durham County is on the statewide eCourts system, which has covered all 100 counties since October 2025. You can also ask in person at District Criminal and Traffic Records, Room 1300 on the courthouse’s 1st floor, or call the Clerk of Superior Court at (919) 808-3000.
5. Did North Carolina change its bail rules?
Yes. Iryna’s Law (Session Law 2025-93) took effect on December 1, 2025. Release on a written promise to appear is no longer an option, and for certain charges and criminal records, the law allows release only on a secured bond or house arrest with electronic monitoring. An attorney can tell you how the changes affect a particular case.
6. Once the bond is posted, how soon will they be released?
It depends on the jail’s workload and on the case, so release timing varies. We don’t promise a specific number of hours, but we’ll keep you updated until your loved one is out.
Our Durham Service Area
At Martin’s Bail Bonds, we are proud to serve Durham and its surrounding areas. Please refer to the map below for our service area.
Someone You Love Is at 219 S. Mangum St.? We Can Help.
If your loved one is in the Durham County Jail, call Martin’s Bail Bonds any time, day or night. Our bond experts will help you confirm the charges and the bond the magistrate set, explain what you’d be signing, and post the bond so the release can begin.
Also serving nearby: bail bonds in Morrisville and bail bond services in Pittsboro.
We are not attorneys and this is not legal advice.
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