Topics Related to DPS Dispatch

Tougher consequences now await offenders in North Carolina’s prison system who assault staff members, as the Division of Prisons takes another step to provide the safest working and living environment for staff and offenders. 

With security and safety in the state’s 55 prisons a top priority, effective immediately, Prisons has elevated the severity of consequences associated with staff assaults.

On August 7, when law enforcement officers across the state joined their local communities for National Night Out events, NCDPS officers were there, as well. This annual community-building initiative connects law enforcement across all 50 states with the neighborhoods they serve in to help promote healthy relationships between the police community and the public.

The North Carolina Wing (NCWG) of Civil Air Patrol (CAP) conducted a statewide SAREX (Search and Rescue Exercise) from 16-21 July 2018. The week-long exercise began with days of planning and preparation and culminated in a weekend of actual and notional taskings. The SAREX scenario focused on after-storm damage assessment, missing persons and missing aircraft training.

The exercise was overseen by Capt Scott Stevens, the NCWG’s Director of Emergency Services (DOS), and his advisor, Lt Col John May, former NCWG DOS. Approximately 100 NCWG members participated in the SAREX. 

Society today oftentimes judges programmatic success from data and trend lines, but when it comes to Juvenile Justice, focusing purely on analytics and spreadsheets makes it easy to forget the Section’s mission to intervene and shape tangible change in the lives of REAL people. Presenting young people with opportunities to experience confidence-building success helps reduce factors that create adult offenders out of North Carolina’s best resource – our children.

Normally, a correctional officer focuses on performing duties that protect prison employees, the public, and even inmates when the situation arises. But there are situations that call on the officers to take the additional steps to save an inmate’s life.

This year, correctional officers at Lumberton Correctional Institution and Caledonia Correctional Institution have had to take extra steps to prevent inmate deaths, but not for what you may normally think. 

Governor Roy Cooper proclaimed the week of May 6-12, 2018 to be Employee Recognition Week and May 9 as Employee Appreciation Day in North Carolina. To show appreciation for their hard work and dedication, employees have been spotlighted on social media all week long. Throughout the week, managers in the DPS family have personally hosted numerous ice cream socials, pizza parties and employee appreciation luncheons.

Each May, the nation recognizes National Nurses Week culminating on the birthday of Florence Nightingale, recognized as the founder of modern nursing. In North Carolina, Juvenile Justice looks to celebrate the positive impact our nurses provide to the youth they serve -- and to recognize the collaborative work of professionals across our system to support juvenile success.  It seems an appropriate time, as we prepare to celebrate National Nurses week (May 6-12), to highlight an example of the ongoing, daily contributions of Juvenile Justice nurses.

The Juvenile Justice Section, in partnership with the Administrative Office of the Courts, Governor’s Crime Commission and Juvenile Jurisdiction Advisory Committee, convened a day-long conversation about the intersection of school safety, juvenile justice, law enforcement and the criminal justice system on April 25 in Cary.

As Reentry Week comes to a close, we must pay tribute to the important work being accomplished toward helping juvenile justice-involved children return to their communities following assignment to out-of-home residential placements in Juvenile Justice facilities. Two exciting initiatives related to reentry began in April.

When a group of us set out for Greensboro this week to work alongside other volunteers assisting with clearing debris in a neighborhood ravaged by a tornado, I’m not sure everyone knew what to expect. Many often see pictures or video on the news of areas hit by tornadoes, but when we saw the damage in the Woodbriar Estates neighborhood hit hard by nature’s wrath on Sunday, April 15, it was mind-blowing and heartbreaking. At the same time, it was heartwarming to see volunteers hard at work trying to help the neighborhood start the awesome task of cleaning up and repairing their homes.