Press Releases

Limited Prison, Juvenile Justice Facility Visitation Resumes with COVID-19 Precautions

The Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice will resume limited visitation at all the state’s prisons and in its juvenile justice facilities effective Oct. 1 with significant restrictions due to the pandemic.

Newly Committed State Prison Offender Dies after Testing Positive for COVID-19

This news release has been updated to clarify the circumstances of the offender’s incarceration.

A newly committed offender with pre-existing medical conditions, who tested positive for COVID-19, has died at a hospital.

Offender in State Prison Custody Dies of COVID-19

An offender housed at Scotland Correctional Institution who tested positive for COVID-19 has died at the hospital as a result of pre-existing conditions complicated by COVID-19.

Offender Captured after Walking Away from Prison Job

A minimum custody offender was captured today at a hotel in High Point, three days after he walked off his prison job assignment.

Wake Correctional Center offender Michael Lee Willis-Rockett (#1297881) was taken into custody around 9 a.m. by Department of Public Safety officials.

Scotland Correctional Offender Dies in Fight with Other Offenders

An offender at Scotland Correctional Institution died this morning, and two others were sent to the hospital, after a fight involving seven offenders in a single housing unit cell.

Alexander Correctional Offender Dies of Apparent Suicide

Offender Tommy R. Goins (#0148783) died Saturday morning at Alexander Correctional Institution after an apparent suicide.

Offender Sought After Walking Away from Prison Job Assignment

State correctional and local law enforcement officers are seeking Wake Correctional Center minimum custody offender Michael Lee Willis-Rockett (#1297881), who was reported missing from his prison job assignment this morning.

Huneycutt Named Warden at Avery-Mitchell Correctional

The Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice has named Ronnie “Lane” Huneycutt as warden at the Avery-Mitchell Correctional Institution in Spruce Pine. Huneycutt, 50, had been the associate warden at Caldwell Correctional Center in Lenoir since 2015.

Offender Dies in Apparent Suicide

Offender Edward S. Parker (#0311615) died Aug. 13, 2020 at Johnston Correctional Institution after an apparent suicide. 

Offender in State Prison Custody Dies of COVID-19

An offender housed at Caldwell Correctional Center who tested positive for COVID-19 has died at the hospital as a result of pre-existing conditions complicated by COVID-19.