Topics Related to Adult Correction

From the mountains to the sea, law enforcement officers from across North Carolina gathered today at a memorial service for the 30 uniformed men and women who died in the line of duty over the past year.

For Asian-American and Pacific Islander Month, the health care team at N.C. Correctional Institution for Women has recognized seven members of its nursing staff.
 
Prisons' nurses have proven themselves many times over during the pandemic, said Dr. James Alexander, NCCIW healthcare facility administrator. "It goes without saying that the past year and more of COVID has been exceedingly difficult," Alexander said, "and it has been nurses such as our Asian-American and Pacific Islander family that have enabled us to be as successful as we have."
 

With new COVID-19 cases on the decline, prisons providing vaccinations to all incarcerated individuals who want the vaccine; and  vaccines now widely available in communities across the state; the N.C. Department of Public Safety is wrapping up a project that provided quarantine space to recently released offenders who may have been exposed to COVID-19 prior to release. This group would have otherwise been homeless or didn’t have a stable home to go to following completion of their sentences.

Rapid molecular testing is anticipated to save Prisons time and money

N.C. Prisons has invested in a newly approved COVID-19 testing platform, eliminating the need for outside labs to test for the virus.

Prisons leadership this week honored several employees – including North Carolina’s Warden of the Year - for their outstanding work, tireless dedication and extraordinary achievements in the past year.

“These men and women represent the best of our best from across the state,” said Todd Ishee, Commissioner of Prisons. “They are hard-working, innovative and deeply committed to their jobs, their colleagues and to the care of the men and women in our custody. They deserve recognition and accolades, particularly during this year of pandemic.”

The vaccines have been a game-changer

It’s been a year since the pandemic first hit our state prison system.

We’ve endured an awful year of heartbreak, surprises, adaptation, perseverance and the most logistically complicated mass-vaccination initiative since the polio vaccine was rolled out in the 1950s.

Every year, thousands of people complete their sentences in one of North Carolina’s correctional institutions and return to their community. 

Preparing offenders for their return home is a nine-month process. Case managers review the home plan with the offender to ensure they will have a stable place to live, they help the offender get new identification and documents they may need and help the offender connect with resources for employment, transportation and other assistance.

The ongoing pandemic temporarily halted in-person educational programs in every state prison due to restrictions placed on outside visitation by instructors, as well as community colleges stopping classes. But it did not stop the N.C. Field Minister Program from moving forward into its fourth year at Nash Correctional Institution.

The Division of Prisons works tirelessly to train offenders for life back in the community. Educational and job training opportunities abound in the state’s 50-plus facilities through Correction Enterprises and other avenues, but the majority of those opportunities benefit male offenders.

Thanks to its continuing partnership with The College at Southeastern in Wake Forest, a program geared toward female offenders is now in place at the North Carolina Correctional Institution for Women in Raleigh.

Updated 3-3-2021: Requirements for the ELC program were recently ammended. Offenders with projected release dates in 2021 will be reviewed for possible participation in ELC. A review does not guarantee participation.Navigating the uncharted waters of a modern-day pandemic has been difficult and challenging for everyone, particularly for people working and living in congregate housing settings.