Press Releases

Pandemic Prompts Department of Public Safety to Transition Some Offenders to Supervision in the Community

In response to the unprecedented crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the North Carolina Department of Public Safety today announced it is taking an extraordinary measure to help reduce the spread of the virus in prison facilities.

North Carolinians Urged to be Ready for Severe Weather

Governor Roy Cooper is urging North Carolinians to be prepared for severe weather and the possibility of power outages overnight and into Monday afternoon, as a strong cold front moves across the state. 

Governor Cooper Signs Order to Tighten Social Distancing Measures, Strengthen Long-Term Care Rules and Streamline Unemployment Benefits Process

Governor Roy Cooper took action to address the spread of COVID-19 by issuing stronger social distancing requirements and speeding up the process to get benefits to people out of work through Executive Order No. 131.

FEMA Approves North Carolina Request to Stand Up Shelters That Follow Social Distance Guidelines

Today, Governor Roy Cooper announced that North Carolina has received approval from FEMA to provide housing alternatives, such as hotels, motels, and dormitories, for North Carolinians with unstable housing who may need to quarantine in response to or are at high-risk for severe illness from COVI

New Mental Health Supports for All North Carolinians, Including Health Care Workers and Their Families

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has two new mental health resources to support North Carolinians throughout the COVID-19 crisis. 

Governor Cooper Provides Emergency Flexibility to Expand Hospital Beds, Equipment and Personnel during the Pandemic

Governor Roy Cooper took action to provide more access to health care beds and get more medical workers to respond to the rising demand due the COVID-19 pandemic.

NCDHHS to Provide Financial Support to Essential Workers and Child Care Providers

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) is providing financial assistance to help essential workers afford child care and bonuses to child care teachers and staff who provide care during the COVID-19 crisis. 

Governor Cooper Orders Flexibility in Law Enforcement Training and Certification

Today, Governor Roy Cooper issued an Order that creates more flexibility in law enforcement training schedules during the state of emergency so that people training for new positions can pause their training and resume at a later date.

Prisons Enacts 14-Day Moratorium on New Offenders and Most Transfers

To stop the spread of coronavirus, the North Carolina Division of Prisons will not accept offenders from the county jails and will dramatically reduce the transfers of offenders within the prisons for the next 14 days, effective at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, April 7.

North Carolina COVID-19 Modeling Shows Social Distancing Necessary to Slow the Spread and Preserve Hospital Capacity to Save Lives

A collection of North Carolina experts today released a composite modeling forecast looking at how COVID-19 could affect North Carolina in the coming months.