Press Releases

State Highway Patrol Joins Governor Cooper to Address Teen Driving Fatalities

The State Highway Patrol opened its annual “Operation Drive to Live” initiative with a press event today in Nash County. The week long initiative is designed to bring attention to the loss of life suffered from teen driving fatalities across our state.

Statement from Director of Prisons Kenneth Lassiter on Attack at Lanesboro Correctional Institution This Morning

This morning at approximately 8:30, an inmate assaulted another inmate at Lanesboro Correctional Institution. Correctional officers responded to the situation and one of the inmates turned and assaulted one of the officers.

MEDIA ADVISORY: State Highway Patrol Announces 2018 Operation Drive to Live Kick Off Event

N.C. State Highway Patrol, Governor Roy Cooper, and officials from the Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools kick off “Operation Drive To Live”, an initiative to reduce teen driving crashes in North Carolina

Safety and Security Improvements Prompt Mission Changes for Several Prison Facilities

The NC Division of Prisons today announced mission changes at several facilities to address safety, security and operational needs.

Inmate Dies in Apparent Suicide

Inmate Jermaine Johnson (#0812684) died Saturday at Marion Correctional Institution after an apparent suicide. He was found unresponsive in his cell at 8:58 p.m. Prison medical staff and local paramedics responded and worked to resuscitate the inmate but were unsuccessful.

MEDIA ADVISORY: State Highway Patrol Holds Public Information Session

The State Highway Patrol is proud to announce the arrival of a team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) on Monday, Apr. 2 to examine aspects of the organization’s policy and procedures, management, operations, and support services.

UPDATE: Juvenile Back in Secure Custody Following Failure to Return from Home Visit

State law enforcement officials have apprehended a juvenile who on March 17 failed to return to secure custody at the Lenoir Youth Development Center, following a home visit.

First Prison Reform Advisory Board to Meet Tuesday

The Department of Public Safety has announced the first meeting of the Prison Reform Advisory Board will be Tuesday, March 20. Secretary Erik A. Hooks has appointed retired Army Maj. Gen. Elizabeth (Beth) Austin as chairperson for the board.

State Starts New Unit to Combat Cyberattacks

The N.C. Department of Public Safety is partnering with the N.C. Department of Information Technology to combat the growing threat of cyberattacks.

UPDATE: Gaston Correctional Center Inmate Thomas Walker Back in Custody

Gaston Correctional Center minimum custody inmate Thomas Walker (#0421574), who was reported missing from the facility Thursday night, turned himself in to prison authorities Friday at 9:25 p.m. Walker was last seen near the facility at 11:21 p.m. on Thursday.