Wilkes Correctional Center

Wilkes Correctional Center serves as a work/transitional unit, which means the majority of the offenders leave the facility each day for work assignments in the Wilkes County area. Offenders nearing their release date participate in the work release program, leaving the facility to work for businesses in the community. Incentive wage work assignments are also available on-site in food service, clothes house, janitorial, landscaping, maintenance, canteen and recreation areas.

Wilkes Community College partners with the prison to provide full-time Hi-Set courses that allow offenders to earn their High School Equivalency. Part-time classes in Basic Computer Skills, Thinking for a Change, Charter Education & Ethics and college correspondence classes are available.

Offenders can attend substance abuse group therapy meetings, transitional services, father’s accountability and Bible studies, or worship services.

Wilkes CC was one of 51 county prisons for which the state assumed responsibility with the passage of the Conner Bill in 1931. It was one of 61 field unit prisons renovated or built during the late 1930's to house offenders who worked building roads. The prison's original dormitory is still in use.