Excellent Security Work

Kudos are due for some excellent security work by a Nash Correctional Institution gatehouse lobby officer. A staff member was caught trying to bring this frozen lasagna dinner into the facility. That might have been okay, except the box was concealing about 40 ounces of tobacco and rolling papers intended for delivery to an inmate. The employee has been arrested and charged on a criminal warrant. This might serve as a good reminder to all prison staff to be aware of Division of Prisons entrance/exit policies on bringing contraband into the facilities and to be vigilant about possible creative methods that might be used to smuggle items into the prisons. It is a Class 1 misdemeanor to provide tobacco or cell phones to inmates.

Probation, Parole and Community Superivision Officers' Week

If you see a probation officer this week, be sure to thank them.   

Governor Perdue has proclaimed this week (July 18-24) as Probation, Parole and Community Supervision Officers Week to recognize the work of more than 1400 probation/parole officers who supervise offenders across North Carolina.   Read the Governor's proclamation. 

NCCE Janitorial Plant works toward cleaning and greening our world

Since 2008, Correction Enterprises (NCCE) Janitorial Plant has partnered with Mission PACT, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving hygiene to curtail the threat of disease in third world countries, to produce soap products.


In early spring 2010, Mission PACT contacted Correction Enterprises and explained that they had seen pictures of women in third world countries washing clothes in the river using Mission PACT bath soap manufactured by Correction Enterprises. They asked if NCCE could develop a more versatile bar soap that could be used for multiple purposes – washing clothes, washing dishes and bathing.  READ MORE

Warren Correctional Institution has new leader

Joyce Kornegay is the new superintendent of Warren Correctional Institution, a prison that has approximately 975 inmates and a staff of 395.

Previously superintendent at Durham Correctional Center, Kornegay succeeds the retired George “J” Haynes.

Beginning her corrections career as an accountant in 1983 at the N.C. Correctional Institution for Women in Raleigh, Kornegay advanced to superintendent at Umstead Correctional Center in Butner in 2006. Kornegay had been superintendent at Durham Correctional Center since December 2009.

An education major, Kornegay graduated from St. Augustine’s College in Raleigh. She has completed the department’s Correctional Leadership Development Program and Warden Training.

Governor visits Tyrrell Prison Work Farm

Governor Bev Perdue visited Tyrrell Prison Work Farm on July 13. Her tour included meeting staff, visiting inmate areas, medical facilities and programs. Shown, from left, are Dalen Holmes, assistant superintendent of program, Governor Perdue, Rep. Bill Owens, Sgt. David Williams, Eastern Regional Director Danny Safrit, Fentress Bryant, assistant superintendent of custody and operations, Lt. David Carl Tarkington, and Superintendent David Elliott.

Prison organizational changes take effect

Several prison organizational changes went into effect with the beginning of the new fiscal year on July 1.

The Female Command, announced earlier in 2010, is formally established. It shifts the management structure for all of the Division of Prisons’ facilities housing women.

All facilities housing the female inmate population are under the Female Command, and are no longer under the DOP’s five regional operations. This management model brings female units into one centralized supervision structure, similar to the existing five regions.

When the re-established command was announced earlier, DOP Director Bob Lewis said, “This concept will enhance our efforts to be more consistent operationally and improve our efforts to stay current nationally as it relates to female issues and best practices on the state and national level.”

Lewis noted that the number of female offenders the entering prison system continues to increase, presenting a variety of unique and complex population management challenges.

“The re-establishment of the Female Command structure will be of major assistance as we continue to deal with these challenges,” Lewis said.

Region changes

With the re-establishment of the Female Command, DOP adjusted the five male facility regions to balance inmate population numbers and mission within the five regions.

Wayne Correctional Center and Neuse Correctional Institution have been moved organizationally from the Eastern Region to the Central Region, and Harnett Correctional Institution has been moved from the South Central Region to the Piedmont Region.

Additionally, because of recent prison consolidations, Anson and Rowan correctional centers are no longer considered as individual minimum custody facilities. Anson is a satellite unit of Brown Creek Correctional Institution, and Rowan is a satellite of Piedmont Correctional Institution.

Orr Wins Order of the Long Leaf Pine

Judicial District Manager Barbara Orr was recognized in the Richmond County Daily Journal when she retired on July 1 after 31 years service to DCC.  Read story HERE.

A Good Fit

Dog trainer Yvonne Fehr of Charlotte has found a good fit for her talents by working with New Leash on Life programs at North Carolina prison facilities.  Read the complete story HERE.

Dan River prison has new superintendent

Rudy Foster has been named the new superintendent at Dan River Prison Work Farm.  See complete story HERE.

Wake Correctional Center has new superintendent

Kenneth Royster, a 22-year Division of Prisons veteran, is the new superintendent at Wake Correctional Center.  Read the story HERE.

Randolph prison volunteers featured in National Enquirer

For 40 years, Ruby Hall, 85, and her husband Rayborn, 97, have been volunteering and ministering to inmates at Randolph Correctional Center in Asheboro.  They're featured in this week's National Enquirer for their "Acts of Kindness."

Read the story here.

State budget restores 39 community work crews

The budget that Governor Perdue signed yesterday restores $1.62 million to the Department of Correction to  re-establish 39 Community Work Program officer positions.

With the passage of last year’s state budget, DOC lost 127 officers responsible for supervising community work crews. Many cities, towns, schools and other government agencies relied on those inmate crews to perform all sorts of work - from painting and repair to cleanup and landscaping. Using inmate labor helped these municipalities and agencies achieve considerable savings. When the popular program was eliminated last summer, the letters and phone calls poured in to DOC and legislative offices, asking lawmakers to reconsider.

The Division of Prisons is working now to determine how it will deploy those 39 crews across the state - and we know that many cities, towns and county governments will be glad to have those inmates back on the job.