Moore County Detention Center Inmate Bail & Bonds
How bail works in Moore County: Carthage and Southern Pines
Moore County is home to Pinehurst and the Sandhills. Arrests in Carthage, Southern Pines, Pinehurst, Aberdeen, Whispering Pines, Robbins, Vass, Cameron, Taylortown, Foxfire, and Pinebluff end at Moore's jail: the Moore County Detention Center, 302 South McNeill Street, Carthage, NC 28327. Phone: (910) 947-2980. Inmate search: Moore County Inmate Search.
Where is the Moore County Detention Center?
It is at 302 S. McNeill Street, Carthage, NC 28327, (910) 947-2980. The Moore lockup is rated for 272 people.
What about arrests during a golf tournament in Pinehurst?
Arrests in Pinehurst or Southern Pines go to a Moore County magistrate and the Carthage jail. Visitors from out of state should be ready to show home and travel details to get an unsecured bond.
Judge or magistrate: who sets Moore bonds?
In Carthage, the Carthage magistrate usually does. By law, Moore keeps 6 or more magistrates (NC law, G.S. 7A-133). The Moore defendant stays in the Moore County Detention Center meanwhile. Pinebluff officers bring arrestees to the Carthage magistrate (NC law, G.S. 15A-511; NC law, G.S. 15A-532). The Moore judge or the Carthage clerk may too.
Which bond types does Moore County use?
The Moore magistrate has four Carthage choices (NC law, G.S. 15A-534, part a).
• A Moore secured bond uses cash, land, or a Carthage surety.
• In Moore, an unsecured bond costs Carthage families nothing up front. If Carthage court is skipped, your Carthage loved one owes it.
• House arrest keeps the Moore defendant home in Taylortown. Moore adds a secured bond.
• With custody release, a Moore program supervises. Your Moore family member can choose a Carthage secured bond instead.
A written promise ended in Moore on December 1, 2025.
When must Moore County use a money bond?
Non-violent Carthage cases begin with no-money options in Moore (NC law, G.S. 15A-534, part b).
If the Moore defendant may skip Carthage court, a Moore secured bond follows. The Carthage magistrate weighs harm risks too. Carthage's magistrate also weighs threats to Moore witnesses.
Three Moore Class 1 convictions in 10 years? Moore then requires a secured bond (NC law, G.S. 15A-534, part b). A new Moore felony on probation means a Carthage danger finding (NC law, G.S. 15A-534, part d2).
Does Moore County have a bail schedule?
Moore has no fixed price list in Carthage. District 29's senior judge writes Moore's policy (NC law, G.S. 15A-535). Moore's chief district judge weighs in for Carthage. The Moore policy suggests Carthage amounts.
Carthage's magistrate weighs the charge and record (NC law, G.S. 15A-534, part c). Past no-shows hurt a Moore defendant. Ties to Foxfire help.
First small Moore misdemeanors often get unsecured bonds in Carthage. Trafficking charges in Moore go higher in Carthage. Moore felony bonds often reach thousands in Carthage. In Carthage, misdemeanor bonds may reach thousands in Moore.
Who can sign as surety for a Carthage bond?
The Carthage magistrate takes Moore bonds. With no official present, the Moore County Detention Center can accept it (NC law, G.S. 15A-537). Call (910) 947-2980 first.
Pay a Carthage bond in cash, land, or a Moore surety (NC law, G.S. 15A-531). A Cameron relative can sign unpaid with enough Moore property. A Moore surety may be a Carthage bail agent.
Bondsman fees in Carthage top out at 15% (NC law, G.S. 58-71-95). Collateral reaches Moore families within 15 days. Carthage officers can't sign as Moore sureties, except for family (NC law, G.S. 15A-541). Verify any Moore bondsman at the NC Department of Insurance bondsman lookup.
In Moore County, which charges skip the magistrate?
Only a Moore County judge decides release for these Moore charges (NC law, G.S. 15A-533, part b and c): capital crimes; first-degree arson; human trafficking; first-degree burglary; armed robbery; shooting into an occupied building or car; kidnapping; assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill causing serious injury; murder or attempted murder; forcible rape and many sex crimes; sex crimes against a child 15 or younger.
For them, Moore presumes no Carthage release is safe. A Carthage judge can still allow release in Moore. Repeat Carthage gang cases in Moore also match (NC law, G.S. 15A-533, part d through g).
How are violent charges from Carthage handled?
In Carthage, since December 1, 2025, violent Moore charges face a presumption against Carthage release (NC law, G.S. 15A-534, part b1). In Carthage, people say Iryna's Law in Moore.
Forceful felonies charged in Carthage count in Moore (NC law, G.S. 15A-531, part 9). Moore registration felonies count too in Carthage. So do Carthage attempts and some Moore fentanyl trafficking.
A first violent Moore charge needs a secured bond or Carthage monitor. Carthage's magistrate must write reasons (NC law, G.S. 15A-534, part d). Moore defendants charged twice get a Carthage monitor.
After a Carthage domestic violence arrest, what happens?
In Moore, domestic cases go to the Moore judge first (NC law, G.S. 15A-534.1, part a). Moore threats against a Carthage spouse count. Breaking a Moore 50B order in Carthage counts.
The Moore County Detention Center may hold your Carthage loved one up to 48 hours (NC law, G.S. 15A-534.1, part b). Then a Moore County magistrate acts in Carthage. Carthage judges often order Moore no-contact terms.
What other charges in Moore County mean a longer wait?
Moore families should know these:
• Carthage mass-violence threats: a Moore County judge acts within 48 hours (NC law, G.S. 15A-534.7).
• Carthage DWI: a sober Moore adult may take the Robbins detainee sooner (NC law, G.S. 15A-534.2).
• Threatening a Carthage officer: a Moore County judge acts within 48 hours (NC law, G.S. 15A-534.9).
• Meth labs in Moore: Carthage release may be presumed unsafe (NC law, G.S. 15A-534.6).
• Children harmed in Carthage: Carthage's magistrate orders no contact (NC law, G.S. 15A-534.4).
• Looting in Carthage: a Carthage judge decides within 24 hours (NC law, G.S. 15A-534.8).
Someone on a Moore bond got arrested again. Now what?
A new Moore charge goes to a Moore County judge (NC law, G.S. 15A-533, part h). Simple Carthage traffic charges don't count in Moore. The Moore County Detention Center may hold the Moore defendant 48 hours. After that, the Carthage magistrate steps in for Moore.
In Moore, the new bond may double in Carthage (NC law, G.S. 15A-534, part d3). A doubled Moore bond is $1,000 or more in Carthage. For good cause, Moore can revoke Carthage release (NC law, G.S. 15A-534, part f).
How soon does someone held in Moore County see a judge?
Within 72 hours, the Moore defendant sees a Carthage judge (NC law, G.S. 15A-601). If Moore courts close long, the Carthage limit is 96 hours. The next Carthage session may come first in Moore. Moore district court also sits in Southern Pines.
Before that, the Moore magistrate can change it in Carthage (NC law, G.S. 15A-534, part e). The Moore judge may change it at the Carthage hearing.
Still denied? Write to a Moore superior court judge (NC law, G.S. 15A-538). Moore prosecutors may ask too (NC law, G.S. 15A-539).
Can a Moore County bond be forfeited?
A willful Carthage no-show is its own crime in Moore (NC law, G.S. 15A-543). Misdemeanor no-shows in Moore are Class 2 in Carthage. For Moore felonies, it is Class I in Carthage.
The Moore court forfeits the full Carthage bond (NC law, G.S. 15A-544.3). Moore sureties get 150 days to ask the Carthage clerk (NC law, G.S. 15A-544.5). The Carthage clerk mails notice within 30 days (NC law, G.S. 15A-544.4). Only listed Moore reasons work, like Carthage surrender.
On day 150, a Moore final judgment and Carthage lien follow (NC law, G.S. 15A-544.6). Picked up again, your Carthage loved one faces a doubled Moore bond (NC law, G.S. 15A-534, part d1).
Can I get off someone's bond in Carthage?
Before a missed Carthage date, a Moore surety may surrender the Taylortown detainee (NC law, G.S. 15A-540, part a). Then the Carthage clerk releases the Moore surety. Once Moore court is missed, a Carthage surety may arrest the Vass detainee (NC law, G.S. 15A-540, part b). New Moore terms follow from Carthage's magistrate (NC law, G.S. 15A-540, part c).
Otherwise, a Moore bond lasts until Carthage judgment (NC law, G.S. 15A-534, part h). A Carthage deferral can end it in Moore.
Which court will hear a case from Cameron?
Criminal court for Moore County is held in Carthage. District court also sits in Southern Pines. Moore shares judges with Hoke.
Moore misdemeanors stay in Carthage district court (NC law, G.S. 7A-133). After indictment, Moore felonies go to Carthage Superior Court 29 (NC law, G.S. 7A-41). Moore prosecutors handle Carthage cases (NC law, G.S. 7A-60).
Can someone arrested in Carthage get a free lawyer?
There is no Moore public defender office in Carthage. The Moore judge appoints a state-paid Moore lawyer. Request one in Carthage at first appearance (Indigent Defense Services directory). If convicted, the Robbins detainee may repay Moore County's costs to the state.
Do Carthage 16- and 17-year-olds go to adult jail?
Carthage juvenile court handles most Moore under-18 cases (NC law, G.S. 7B-1501). Moore added 17-year-olds in Carthage in 2019. A Moore detention hearing comes within 5 Carthage days (NC law, G.S. 7B-1906). Serious Moore felonies can move to Carthage adult court. Moore juveniles face no money bail in Carthage.
Which federal court covers Moore County?
Moore is in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina (28 U.S.C. 113). Court meets in Durham, Greensboro, and Winston-Salem. The clerk: Greensboro, L. Richardson Preyer Federal Building, 324 W. Market St., 336-332-6000. A federal judge sets Moore release. Crimes on the Fort Bragg and Camp Mackall parts of Moore County go to the Eastern District instead.
Who can confirm a Moore County bond amount?
Phone the Moore County Detention Center: (910) 947-2980. Have your Moore family member's birth date ready for Carthage staff. The Carthage clerk can also help Carthage families on weekdays.
Moore County bail contacts
- Jail
- Moore County Detention Center, 302 South McNeill Street, Carthage, NC 28327; (910) 947-2980
- Courts
- Moore County Courthouse, Carthage
- Districts
- District Court 29; Superior Court 29; Prosecutorial 29
- Inmate search
- Moore County Inmate Search
Judges and magistrates set release terms case by case. Nothing here is legal advice.
How do Bail Bonds work at Moore County Detention Center
The Moore County Sheriff recommends that you might want to use a bail bond agent licensed to do business in Moore County.
However if you don't want to use a bail bond agent:
- You can always pay a cash bond yourself, or use your home in Moore County, or in some cases the state of North Carolina, but the benefit of using a bail bond agent is that they take responsibility for making sure the inmate shows up for court in Moore County, and if they don't, then they take the financial responsibility.
- The typical fee for a bond in North Carolina is between 10-20% of the bail amount; usually 15% or less. So if an offender has a bail of $10,000.00, their bond will be $1500.00.
- Pay by cash, cashier's check, money order or credit card at the Moore County Detention Center, or the courthouse in Moore County where the offense took place.
Call 910-947-2980 to find out the exact bond (plus other fees) amount, or look it up online by looking up the information on the Moore County inmate locator.
Moore County Detention Center
Address:
302 S McNeil Street
Carthage, NC 28327
Phone:
910-947-2980
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Moore County
What kind of bonds are accepted in Moore County?
Who can set bail in Moore County?
When is bail set in Moore County North Carolina?
Does Moore County have bail?
Yes, Moore County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Moore County?
Moore County recognizes being released own recognizance, unsecured bail, secured bail or surety bonds.
Who can set bail in Moore County?
Bail is determined by a magistrate. Magistrates are persons who are trained in court and legal procedures. A magistrate does not have to be an attorney but helps move the process by performing some of the routine court functions such as issuing arrest warrants, setting bail and accepting guilty pleas for minor misdemeanors.
When is bail set in Moore County North Carolina?
Bail is determined by a magistrate at your first court appearance. This court appearance, also known as first appearance, usually occurs within 48 hours of arrest.
What is Bail?
Bail is what the arrested in Moore County must pay or do to stay out of jail until the first court appearance.
The agreement to bail acts as a promise that the arrested will return to court for court dates and trial. Bail usually refers to a dollar amount, but bail can also mean something that has to be done, or a condition such as reporting to an officer of the court, a curfew, restraining orders or attending a treatment program.
Bail is usually a significant enough amount of money and/or condition that the person will be negatively impacted and has incentive to return to court and not flee. A flight risk usually means that the person would flee the area, and not necessary that they are going to take an airplane.
If a judge in North Carolina feels that the arrested will return to court for further proceedings, the arrested could be released under a conditional release without needing to pay bail money. This is called Released on Own Recognizance, or ROR.
Conditions for ROR might be to obey all court orders and laws, maintain contact with the lawyer, report changes in residence or have no contact with the victim. Family support will show the court that there are people who will make sure that the defendant makes it to court.
If the judge or bail schedule determines that the defendant would be a danger to the public if they were released, bail can be denied, and the person will be detained in the Moore County Detention Center until the case is resolved or goes to trial.
Bail can be denied if the defendant did not comply with bail conditions from a previous arrest. Bail is usually denied in cases of violent offenses.
What is the difference between Bail and Bond?
Bail and bond are used interchangeably to mean the same thing but technically, they are different. The bail is the amount to be paid and a bond is a signed document promising payment of the bail amount with certain conditions. Think of a bond as a loan to pay for the bail.
The bond payment is always written to the court in your municipality, Moore County or district directly and does not go through the defendant. Chances of obtaining a bond from a bond company or clerk of court are better if family is involved.
The thought of being in jail can cause the arrested to panic and try to secure a bond immediately.
DO NOT panic and take the time to understand all the options.
More courts are now trying to work with defendants to make bail work and might provide non-monetary options or even reduce the bail.
Payments to a bond company are not refundable. It is a long process to get back property title or money that was given to the clerk of court or bondsperson to secure the bond. This could put your loved ones into a difficult financial situation.
Another reason not to unnecessarily rush into securing a bond is that if the court notes that you came up with the money to pay a bond company, they may assume you have resources to pay a defense attorney and decline public defense.
On the other hand, as anyone who has ever been involved in their criminal defense understands, fighting your case while ‘out on the streets’ gives you a much better chance of either winning, or getting a more favorable sentence.
What are the different types of bonds in Moore County?
Based on a review of information from the arrest, the judge or bail officer will determine and notify the accused of which types of bonds are available to them.
To describe the types of bonds, let’s use an example of buying your neighbor’s car. Your neighbor decides the price of the car and how they would be paid.
Similarly, the court (meaning a police or bail officer, clerk of court, bail magistrate or judge) determines the bail amount and how it would be paid.
Here are different options that the seller of the car or the court might consider:
You could pay full asking price for the car in cash. This is similar to paying cash bail. The full amount of bail would be paid to the town or county clerk or at the jail. Cash, cashier’s checks and credit cards are usually accepted.
You could sign an agreement on your own or with another person to pay for the car at a future date knowing that your neighbor would know where to find you if you stopped payment. This would be similar to a cash bond or a personal recognizance (PR) bond which are bonds to where someone representing the defendant signs paperwork promising to pay the bail amount if the defendant does not show up to court. There is no money due up front.
If the defendant does not show up, the full amount of the bail will be due to the court and the people who signed the paperwork will be responsible for paying the court and the court will send the sheriff’s department to arrest you.
Cash bonds and PR bonds are types of unsecured bonds because you are not securing it with any money down. In bond terms, a surety is a person who will be responsible for making sure that you will show to court and will be responsible to pay the bond if the arrested person does not show up.
Surety can be family, friend or a bondsperson. Your attorney cannot act as a surety.
You can put a deposit down for your neighbor’s car and sign an agreement that the car will be paid off at a later date. Cash percentage in lieu of bonds is when the defendant pays a percentage of the bail amount, usually 10%, to the court which then holds the money until the case is over.
The amount is returned to the person who paid the 10% after the case is over. In most cases, the full amount is not returned if there are court fees or fines due. This is a type of surety bond if another person signs the bond paperwork.
You could sign an agreement that if the car were not paid off, that your neighbor would get your house or something of value.
A property bond is a bond that the courts might consider in which the bond is pledged in land or home real estate (mobile homes are not accepted).
Usually, the property must be in the same state as the courts, and it must be worth at least 1 ½ - 2 times the amount of the bond.
There are multiple court fees involved to execute a property bond with the courts and a tedious process to get the property deed back. This is another type of surety bond if another person or a bond company is used to secure the bond.
You could also go to a local bank and take out a car loan offering property or anything of value for collateral. You may get someone to co-sign on the loan and offer their property. The bank charges fees, interest and could keep your property if you did not pay the loan back, or even on time.
A professional bondsperson makes money, at least 10% of the bond amount by providing you with a “loan” called a bond. The percent that they charge is fixed by the state and cannot be negotiated. The defendant or surety does not get that 10% or more back even if the terms of the bail are met.
With a property bond, the property deed would need to be signed over to the bondsperson and everyone on the deed would need to be involved.
Since the bondsperson signed off, to be responsible that you show to court as your surety, they can send a bounty hunter to bring you to court if you flee. A bondsperson does not have to give you a bond if the defendant seems to be too much of a risk.
Ask the bondsperson to explain all the costs: percentage, fees or court fees. There is never a reason to rush through signing the paperwork with a bond company. Make sure that everything told to you is in writing and that you understand what you are signing. Ask questions, and if you feel rushed or don’t understand the contract with the bond company, you might want to call another one.
(There have been phone scams where a bond company calls and informs a person that their family member has been arrested and they ask for financial information. A bondsperson will not call asking for money without involvement of the arrested.)
Does Moore County have bail?
Yes, Moore County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Moore County North Carolina?
Moore County recognizes being released own recognizance, unsecured bail, secured bail or surety bonds.
Who can set bail in Moore County?
Bail is determined by a magistrate. Magistrates are persons who are trained in court and legal procedures. A magistrate does not have to be an attorney but helps move the process by performing some of the routine court functions such as issuing arrest warrants, setting bail and accepting guilty pleas for minor misdemeanors.
When is bail set in North Carolina?
Bail is determined by a magistrate at your first court appearance. This court appearance, also known as first appearance, usually occurs within 48 hours of arrest.
Can I get the bail or bond reduced in Moore County North Carolina?
Yes, your attorney can file a motion for bail reduction.
In Moore County North Carolina, who can pay bail for me?
The person posting bail should be a relative or close friend, called a surety, because they are promising and taking responsibility that you will return to court to get their money back.
A surety is not responsible for court fees or paying off personal debts for the defendant. A professional bondsperson who is approved by the State of North Carolina could be the surety and execute a bond to the court on your behalf.
Can bail be paid online in Moore County North Carolina?
Yes, North Carolina does offer online bail payment. Please contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail: Go to the Moore County Detention Center for more information about the jails in Moore County.
What options are there to pay bail in Moore County North Carolina?
Most all jail and courts accept cash, a cashier or bankers’ check. Some accept a credit card with fees. Please contact the jail for specific information on what methods of payment are accepted: Go to the Moore County Detention Center for more information about posting bail in Moore County.
Will I get all my bond money back in North Carolina?
Bail money is returned to the person who paid the bail; in whole or in part once the case is finished. There may be fees, restitution (money to pay for damage caused by the crime) or fines that come out of that amount. If you used a bondsperson, you would not get your 10% back. Property is returned by the court or bondsperson after the appropriate requests and formal paperwork are completed with the court.
Can I get bail or a bond with no money down in Moore County?
The judge or officer who sets bail determines which kind of bail will be an option for you, but a cash bond and PR bonds usually do not require cash down, though you might have to pay court fees.
A cash bond or a personal recognizance (PR) bond are bonds where someone representing the defendant signs paperwork promising to pay the bail amount if the defendant does not show up to court. There is no money due up front.
If the defendant does not show up, the full amount of the bail will be due to the court and the people who signed the paperwork will be responsible for paying the court and the court will send the sheriff’s department to arrest you.
Cash bonds and PR bonds are types of unsecured bonds because you are not securing it with any money down. In bond terms, a surety is a person who will be responsible to make sure that you will show to court and will be responsible to pay the bond if the arrested person does not show up. A surety can be family, friend or a bondsperson. Your attorney cannot act as a surety.
What are the least expensive and affordable bail bonds in North Carolina?
The Moore County Detention Center or court in this jurisdiction can provide you with a list of approved and licensed bond companies, but they cannot recommend a specific company. You are not obligated to use the first company available and can call several companies to compare what kind of bonds that the bondsperson is willing to execute.
The percentage of bail that the bond company can charge is set, usually at 10%, by the state and cannot be negotiated.