Cary does not have a jail. When someone is arrested in Cary, they are taken into the Wake County jail system in Raleigh, and their case is heard at the Wake County Justice Center downtown. If the arrest happened in the small part of Cary that sits in Chatham County, the case belongs to Chatham County in Pittsboro instead. This page walks you through where your loved one is, who sets the bond, and how to find the court date.
Martin’s Bail Bonds has written bonds for families across Wake County since 2006. We answer the phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Call 24/7: (919) 602-4722
Where Do People Arrested in Cary Go?
- Wake County Detention Center: 3301 Hammond Road, Raleigh, roughly halfway between Raleigh and Garner. Phone: (919) 773-7930
- John H. Baker Jr. Public Safety Center: 330 S. Salisbury St., downtown Raleigh. Phone: (919) 856-5952
Families are often unsure which of the two buildings to call. If one facility can’t find your loved one, call the other. If neither has a record, the person may not be booked yet, or the arrest may have happened outside Wake County (see the Chatham County section below).
Wake County Jail and Court Directory
Jails
- Wake County Detention Center, 3301 Hammond Road, Raleigh: (919) 773-7930
- John H. Baker Jr. Public Safety Center, 330 S. Salisbury St., Raleigh: (919) 856-5952
Bond and Release Conditions
- Wake County Magistrates (call for location and hours): (919) 792-4900
Courts and Clerk
- Wake County Justice Center (all criminal cases), 300 S. Salisbury St., Raleigh: (919) 792-4000
- Clerk for traffic, misdemeanors and felonies: (919) 792-4300
- Wake County Public Defender, Justice Center 5th Floor: (919) 792-5400
Visitation
- Video visitation scheduling, Wake County Detention Center: (919) 857-9103
Official sources: Wake County Sheriff’s Office Detention Division, NC Judicial Branch Wake County contact directory, Wake County Justice Center.
Information last verified: October 2026.
Arrested in the Chatham County Part of Cary?
Nearly all of Cary is in Wake County, but a small area on the town’s western edge lies in Chatham County. Criminal cases are heard in the county where the alleged offense happened, so an incident in the Chatham County portion of Cary is a Chatham County case, handled by the Chatham County courts in Pittsboro. The person may be held at the Chatham County Detention Center rather than in Raleigh.
If you live near the county line and can’t find your family member in Wake County’s system, call Chatham County next:
- Chatham County Detention Center: (919) 545-7802
- Chatham County Magistrates, business hours: (919) 545-3519
- Chatham County Magistrates, after hours: (919) 542-2911
- Chatham County Clerk of Superior Court: (919) 545-3500
Not sure which side of the county line the arrest happened on? Call us and we will help you figure out where to look. For more on Chatham County’s jail and courts, see our page on bail bond services in Pittsboro.
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What Happens After an Arrest in Cary, Step by Step
After an arrest, the person is booked into the Wake County jail system, a judicial official sets the conditions of release, and the person goes home once those conditions are met. Here is how that sequence usually unfolds for Western Wake families.
- Arrest and Transport: Whether the arrest was made by Cary Police or another agency, the person is taken to a Wake County detention facility in Raleigh.
- Conditions of Release Are Set: A Wake County magistrate (or, for certain charges, a judge) decides the conditions of pretrial release, including whether a secured bond is required and how much it is. The Wake County Magistrates’ office can be reached at (919) 792-4900.
- The Bond Is Posted: If a secured bond is set, a licensed bail bondsman like us can post it so your loved one does not have to stay in custody while the case moves forward.
- Release and the First Court Date: Once all conditions are met, the person is released and must appear on their court date at the Wake County Justice Center in downtown Raleigh.
Release timing varies. Bond decisions for some charges can take longer than others, so we never promise release within a set number of hours.
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Which Courthouse Will a Cary Case Be In?
Criminal cases from the Wake County side of Cary are heard at the Wake County Justice Center, 300 S. Salisbury St. in downtown Raleigh. The NC Judicial Branch states that all criminal matters in Wake County are handled at the Justice Center, while civil matters go to the separate Wake County Courthouse on Fayetteville Street.
- Which door to use: Court visitors enter through the Salisbury Street entrance. The McDowell Street entrance is for county offices.
- Where to park: Wake County directs Justice Center visitors to the Wake County Parking Deck at 216 W. Cabarrus St.
- Security: Everyone goes through a security checkpoint. Weapons and items such as mace, scissors and knives are not allowed.
- Hours: The Justice Center is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The criminal district court clerk is on the 1st floor.
How to Find the Court Date
You can find a North Carolina court date online by searching the defendant’s name or case number on the NC Judicial Branch website. Every county in the state, including Wake and Chatham, has been on the eCourts system since October 13, 2025, so one search covers both sides of the county line.
Use the NC Courts court date search. If the date isn’t showing yet, call the Wake County Clerk’s criminal line at (919) 792-4300.
Visiting and Sending Money to Someone in the Wake County Jail
All visits with someone held in the Wake County jail are by video at the Wake County Detention Center on Hammond Road, even if the person is housed at the downtown Public Safety Center. Visits must be scheduled at least 24 hours ahead.
- Schedule a visit: Call (919) 857-9103, Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Visiting days and hours: Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 4 to 6:30 p.m. No visits on county holidays.
- Visit limits: One 30-minute visit per person each week, with up to two visitors at the same time. Visitors 16 and older need a government-issued photo ID.
- Leaving money: Cash kiosks are available at both facilities Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. At Hammond Road, the kiosk is at the 1st-floor visitation glass window. Cash deposited at a kiosk is available to the person right away.
How Bail Bonds Work in North Carolina
A bail bond premium in North Carolina can’t be more than 15% of the bond amount under N.C. Gen. Stat. 58-71-95. A bondsman may also ask for reasonable collateral, which the law requires to be returned within 15 days after liability on the bond ends.
The person who signs for the bond (often a family member) takes on responsibility for making sure the defendant goes to every court date. Call us and we will explain exactly what signing involves before you commit to anything.
Why Western Wake Families Call Martin’s Bail Bonds
We have been writing bail bonds in Wake County since 2006. When you call, we will help you figure out which building your loved one is in, explain what the magistrate set, and walk you through each step from arrest to release. We work quickly, keep things discreet, and treat every family with respect.
Talk to a Bondsman: (919) 602-4722
Questions Cary Families Ask Us
Is there a jail in Cary?
No, Cary does not have a jail. Adults arrested in Wake County are held at the Wake County Detention Center on Hammond Road or the John H. Baker Jr. Public Safety Center on Salisbury Street, both in Raleigh.
Where do people arrested in Cary go?
People arrested on the Wake County side of Cary go to one of Wake County’s two detention facilities in Raleigh. If they’re not at one, call the other: Hammond Road at (919) 773-7930 or the Public Safety Center at (919) 856-5952.
My family member was arrested in the Chatham County part of Cary. Where are they?
An arrest in the Chatham County portion of Cary is a Chatham County case, and the person may be held at the Chatham County Detention Center, (919) 545-7802. Chatham’s magistrates can be reached at (919) 545-3519 during business hours or (919) 542-2911 after hours.
Who sets the bond after an arrest in Cary?
A Wake County magistrate usually sets the conditions of release, including any bond amount, for arrests on the Wake side of Cary. For certain charges, North Carolina law requires a judge to set conditions instead. The Wake County Magistrates’ office is (919) 792-4900.
How do I find their court date?
Search the person’s name on the NC Courts court date search at nccourts.gov/court-dates. All 100 North Carolina counties use eCourts, so the same search works for both Wake and Chatham cases.
Did the bail rules change in North Carolina?
Yes. Iryna’s Law (Session Law 2025-93) took effect December 1, 2025, and removed the written promise to appear as a release option. For some charges and some criminal histories, the law now requires a secured bond or house arrest with electronic monitoring. Ask an attorney how it applies to a specific case.
Can you recommend a lawyer?
No. North Carolina law (N.C. Gen. Stat. 58-71-95) does not allow a bail bondsman to suggest or name a particular attorney. If you have questions about a court-appointed lawyer in a Wake County case, the Wake County Public Defender’s Office is at (919) 792-5400.
Our Cary Service Area
At Martin’s Bail Bonds, we are proud to serve Cary and its surrounding areas. Please refer to the map below for our service area.
Someone You Love Is in a Wake County Jail Tonight. We Can Help.
Whether your loved one is at Hammond Road, the Public Safety Center downtown, or across the county line in Pittsboro, call our bondsmen any time, day or night. We will help you find them, explain the bond, and get the process started.
Also serving nearby: bail bonds in Apex and bail bonds in Morrisville.
We are not attorneys and this is not legal advice.
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