Pitt County Detention Center Inmate Bail & Bonds
Pitt County bail help for families in Greenville and Winterville
Pitt County is home to Greenville and East Carolina University. From Greenville, Winterville, Ayden, Farmville, Grifton (part), Bethel, Fountain, Grimesland, Falkland, and Simpson, Pitt arrestees are booked into the Pitt County Detention Center, 124 New Hope Road, Greenville, NC 27834. Phone: (252) 902-2910. Inmate search: Pitt County Inmate Search.
1. Where is the Pitt County Detention Center?
It is at 124 New Hope Road, Greenville, NC 27834, (252) 902-2910. The Pitt lockup is rated for 596 people.
2. What if an ECU student is arrested in Greenville?
An arrest by ECU Police or Greenville Police goes to a Pitt County magistrate and the county jail. The university can also bring its own conduct case. Parents from out of town can post bond through the magistrate in Greenville.
3. After an Ayden arrest, who decides the bond?
Usually the Greenville magistrate sets it in Greenville. The Greenville clerk or the Pitt judge can also act in Pitt. Pitt must have at least 13 magistrates (NC law, G.S. 7A-133). The Pitt defendant stays in the Pitt County Detention Center meanwhile. After a Grimesland arrest, police see a Pitt County magistrate (NC law, G.S. 15A-511; NC law, G.S. 15A-532).
4. What release can a Pitt magistrate order?
A Pitt County magistrate has four Greenville choices (NC law, G.S. 15A-534, part a).
• In Pitt, an unsecured bond costs Pitt families nothing up front. If Greenville court is skipped, the Bethel detainee owes it.
• Custody release means a Farmville person supervises. The Greenville detainee may pick a Pitt secured bond instead.
• Post cash, land, or a Pitt surety for a Greenville secured bond.
• A Pitt electronic monitor means house arrest. In Greenville, it comes with a secured bond.
A written promise ended in Pitt on December 1, 2025.
5. Does a Greenville defendant start with no-money options?
For non-violent Pitt charges, the Pitt magistrate starts with no-money options (NC law, G.S. 15A-534, part b).
If the Simpson detainee may skip Greenville court, a Pitt secured bond follows. The Greenville magistrate weighs harm risks too. A Pitt County magistrate also weighs threats to Pitt witnesses.
With 3 such Pitt convictions in 10 years, the Pitt magistrate must use a secured bond (NC law, G.S. 15A-534, part b). A new Pitt felony on probation means a Greenville danger finding (NC law, G.S. 15A-534, part d2).
6. Who guides bond amounts for Pitt County?
Greenville has no set Pitt price list. The Pitt policy suggests Greenville amounts. District 3's senior judge writes Pitt's policy (NC law, G.S. 15A-535). Pitt's chief district judge weighs in for Greenville.
In Greenville, evidence and record matter (NC law, G.S. 15A-534, part c). Past no-shows hurt a Pitt defendant. Ties to Fountain help.
First small Pitt misdemeanors often get unsecured bonds in Greenville. Trafficking charges in Pitt go higher in Greenville. Felony bonds in Pitt often start in the thousands in Greenville. In Greenville, misdemeanor bonds may reach thousands in Pitt.
7. What does a Pitt County bail bondsman charge?
Post a Pitt bond with Greenville's magistrate. Call (252) 902-2910 first. With no official present, the Pitt County Detention Center can accept it (NC law, G.S. 15A-537).
Pay a Greenville bond in cash, land, or a Pitt surety (NC law, G.S. 15A-531). A Pitt surety may be a Greenville bail agent. A Bethel relative can sign unpaid with enough Pitt property.
Bondsman fees in Greenville top out at 15% (NC law, G.S. 58-71-95). Greenville officers can't sign as Pitt sureties, except for family (NC law, G.S. 15A-541). Pitt collateral returns within 15 days of Greenville closure. Verify any Pitt bondsman at the NC Department of Insurance bondsman lookup.
8. In Pitt County, which charges skip the magistrate?
In Pitt, these need a Greenville judge (NC law, G.S. 15A-533, part b and c): sex crimes against a child 15 or younger; capital crimes; armed robbery; kidnapping; murder or attempted murder; forcible rape and many sex crimes; shooting into an occupied building or car; first-degree arson; human trafficking; first-degree burglary; assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill causing serious injury.
For them, Pitt presumes no Greenville release is safe. A Greenville judge can still allow release in Pitt. Some repeat Pitt gun cases match (NC law, G.S. 15A-533, part d through g).
9. What changed for violent Pitt County charges in 2025?
Pitt now presumes a violent Greenville defendant stays jailed (NC law, G.S. 15A-534, part b1). In Greenville, people say Iryna's Law in Pitt.
In Pitt, Class A-G felonies with force count (NC law, G.S. 15A-531, part 9). Sex-offender registration felonies count in Greenville. So do Greenville attempts and some Pitt fentanyl trafficking.
A first violent Pitt charge needs a secured bond or Greenville monitor. Pitt defendants charged twice get a Greenville monitor. A Greenville judge writes reasons for Pitt (NC law, G.S. 15A-534, part d).
10. Can a Pitt magistrate set bond on a domestic charge?
In Pitt, domestic cases go to the Pitt judge first (NC law, G.S. 15A-534.1, part a). A Greenville 50B order violation counts in Pitt. Stalking a Farmville partner counts in Pitt.
Pitt allows up to 48 hours in the Pitt County Detention Center (NC law, G.S. 15A-534.1, part b). Then Greenville's magistrate acts in Greenville. Greenville judges often order Pitt no-contact terms.
11. What special holds can a Pitt arrest bring?
Pitt families should know these:
• School threats in Pitt: a Pitt County judge decides within 48 hours (NC law, G.S. 15A-534.7).
• Looting in Greenville: the Pitt judge decides within 24 hours (NC law, G.S. 15A-534.8).
• DWI in Pitt: an impaired Greenville defendant may wait 24 hours (NC law, G.S. 15A-534.2).
• Meth labs in Pitt: Greenville release may be presumed unsafe (NC law, G.S. 15A-534.6).
• Threatening a Greenville officer: a Greenville judge acts within 48 hours (NC law, G.S. 15A-534.9).
• Pitt child victims: Greenville stay-away orders are required (NC law, G.S. 15A-534.4).
12. Someone on a Pitt bond got arrested again. Now what?
A new Pitt charge goes to the Pitt judge (NC law, G.S. 15A-533, part h). The Pitt County Detention Center may hold your Pitt family member 48 hours. After that, the Pitt magistrate steps in for Pitt. Simple Greenville traffic charges don't count in Pitt.
In Pitt, the new bond may double in Greenville (NC law, G.S. 15A-534, part d3). Pitt's minimum is $1,000 here in Greenville. For good cause, Pitt can revoke Greenville release (NC law, G.S. 15A-534, part f).
13. How soon does someone held in Pitt County see a judge?
A Pitt district judge sees your Greenville loved one within 72 hours (NC law, G.S. 15A-601). If Pitt courts close long, the Greenville limit is 96 hours. The next Greenville session may come first in Pitt. Pitt district court also sits in Ayden, Farmville.
Before that, a Pitt County magistrate can change it in Greenville (NC law, G.S. 15A-534, part e). A Pitt County judge may change it at the Greenville hearing.
Still denied? Write to a Pitt superior court judge (NC law, G.S. 15A-538). The Pitt DA can seek Greenville changes too (NC law, G.S. 15A-539).
14. Can a Pitt County bond be forfeited?
Skipping Pitt court on purpose is a Greenville crime (NC law, G.S. 15A-543). For Pitt felonies, it is Class I in Greenville. Misdemeanor no-shows in Pitt are Class 2 in Greenville.
The Pitt judge enters a full forfeiture in Pitt (NC law, G.S. 15A-544.3). The Greenville clerk mails notice within 30 days (NC law, G.S. 15A-544.4). Pitt sureties get 150 days to ask the Greenville clerk (NC law, G.S. 15A-544.5). Only listed Pitt reasons work, like Greenville surrender.
After 150 days, the Pitt clerk dockets a Greenville judgment (NC law, G.S. 15A-544.6). The next Greenville bond is usually doubled in Pitt (NC law, G.S. 15A-534, part d1).
15. Can I get off someone's bond in Greenville?
Before a missed Greenville date, a Pitt surety may surrender the Falkland detainee (NC law, G.S. 15A-540, part a). Then the Greenville clerk releases the Pitt surety. After a missed Pitt date, a Greenville surety may bring your Pitt family member in (NC law, G.S. 15A-540, part b). New Pitt terms follow from Greenville's magistrate (NC law, G.S. 15A-540, part c).
A Greenville bond normally runs to Pitt judgment (NC law, G.S. 15A-534, part h). Pitt dismissal or probation can end it in Greenville.
16. Which court will hear a case from Ayden?
Criminal court for Pitt County is held at the courthouse in Greenville. District court also sits in Ayden and Farmville.
Greenville misdemeanors stay in Pitt District Court 3 (NC law, G.S. 7A-133). Pitt felonies move to Greenville superior court after indictment (NC law, G.S. 7A-41). Pitt prosecutors handle Greenville cases (NC law, G.S. 7A-60).
17. Can someone arrested in Greenville get a free lawyer?
There is one. The District 3 Public Defender covers Pitt County: 212 S. Greene Street, Greenville, 252-695-7300. Request one at first appearance in Greenville. A Pitt County judge reviews income (Indigent Defense Services directory).
18. How does juvenile court work in Pitt County?
Most Pitt teens under 18 start in Greenville juvenile court (NC law, G.S. 7B-1501). Juvenile court in Greenville has no Pitt money bail. Some Greenville cases move to Pitt superior court. Since 2019, that includes Pitt 16- and 17-year-olds in Greenville. The Pitt judge decides detention within 5 days (NC law, G.S. 7B-1906).
19. Which federal court covers Pitt County?
Pitt falls under the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina (28 U.S.C. 113). Court meets in Elizabeth City, Fayetteville, Greenville, New Bern, Raleigh, Wilmington, and Wilson. The clerk: Raleigh, Terry Sanford Federal Building, 310 New Bern Ave., 919-645-1700. Pitt bondsmen don't work there. The Eastern District holds court in Greenville.
20. Who can confirm a Pitt County bond amount?
Phone the Pitt County Detention Center: (252) 902-2910. Give the Pitt officer your Greenville loved one's birth date. The Greenville clerk can also help Pitt families on weekdays.
Pitt County bail contacts
- Jail
- Pitt County Detention Center, 124 New Hope Road, Greenville, NC 27834; (252) 902-2910
- Courts
- Pitt County Courthouse, Greenville
- Districts
- District Court 3; Superior Court 3; Prosecutorial 3
- Public defender
- District 3 Public Defender; 252-695-7300
- Inmate search
- Pitt County Inmate Search
Judges and magistrates set release terms case by case. Nothing here is legal advice.
Paying an Inmate's Bail or Bond in Pitt County
The Pitt County Sheriff recommends that you might want to use a bail bond agent licensed to do business in Pitt 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 Pitt 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 Pitt 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 $1,500.00.
- Pay by cash, cashier's check, money order or credit card at the Pitt County Detention Center, or the courthouse in Pitt County where the offense took place.
Call 252-902-2850 to find out the exact bond (plus other fees) amount, or look it up online by looking up the information on the Pitt County inmate locator.
Pitt County Detention Center
Address:
124 New Hope Road
Greenville, NC 27834
Phone:
252-902-2850
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Pitt County
What kind of bonds are accepted in Pitt County?
Who can set bail in Pitt County?
When is bail set in Pitt County North Carolina?
Does Pitt County have bail?
Yes, Pitt County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Pitt County?
Pitt County recognizes being released own recognizance, unsecured bail, secured bail or surety bonds.
Who can set bail in Pitt 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 Pitt 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 Pitt 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 Pitt 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, Pitt 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 Pitt 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 Pitt County have bail?
Yes, Pitt County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Pitt County North Carolina?
Pitt County recognizes being released own recognizance, unsecured bail, secured bail or surety bonds.
Who can set bail in Pitt 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 Pitt County North Carolina?
Yes, your attorney can file a motion for bail reduction.
In Pitt 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 Pitt 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 Pitt County Detention Center for more information about the jails in Pitt County.
What options are there to pay bail in Pitt 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 Pitt County Detention Center for more information about posting bail in Pitt 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 Pitt 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 Pitt 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.