Press Releases

An additional 31 asymptomatic offenders at Caswell Correctional Center have tested positive for COVID-19, as part of a mass testing operation conducted on Friday by the Division of Prisons.

Department of Public Safety Secretary Erik A. Hooks has named Paul Sherwin to be the new director of Private Protective Services. Sherwin has been serving as that agency’s deputy director since last year. 

To protect staff and offenders, Division of Prisons officials today initiated the testing of all 420 offenders at Caswell Correctional Center, as well as continuing to provide testing access and to encourage staff to be tested.

The N.C. Department of Public Safety today announced it will extend until July 31 an initiative that provides voluntary COVID-19 testing to employees in its Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice (ACJJ).

The Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice has named Jennifer Walsh as warden of the Columbus Correctional Institution in Whiteville. She had served as associate warden for custody and operations at the prison since 2010.

A minimum custody offender who escaped yesterday from Wake Correctional Center was caught today in the act of trying to steal a car, according to the Chapel Hill Police Department.

Yesterday, state and local officials shut down two illegal bars in Greensboro resulting in arrests, charges and seizures. 

The State of North Carolina and FEMA are announcing more than $6.7 million to reimburse Town of Spring Lake Hurricane Florence-related expenses.

State correctional and local law enforcement officers are seeking Wake Correctional Center minimum custody inmate Gerrhon D.

The Division of Prisons has resumed a limited number of transfers of offenders to make room for other offenders sentenced to state prison.

A North Carolina public utility affected by Hurricane Dorian has been approved for disaster assistance funding from the State of North Carolina and FEMA.

The State of North Carolina and FEMA have approved more than $2.2 million to reimburse Dare County for debris removal costs following Hurricane Dorian.

Following testing earlier this week, children at two state juvenile justice facilities have tested negative for COVID-19; testing of juveniles at a third facility will take place today.

As the summer vacation season fast approaches, the State Highway Patrol is encouraging motorists to keep safety at the forefront throughout Memorial Day weekend. Increased travel could potentially be seen across the state as restrictions associated with COVID-19 continue to ease. 

NOTE: For more details see NCDHHS Expands Measures to Prevent and Respond to COVID-19 in Long-term Care Facilities