Inmates earn degrees from Shaw University and donate to help restore campus

  Eleven inmates at the North Carolina Correctional Institution for Women (NCCIW) were awarded their degrees from Shaw University on Thursday, May 26th in a graduation ceremony held in the prison’s chapel. Two inmates earned bachelor of arts degrees and nine earned associates degrees.

   Gwendolyn Chunn, a nationally known juvenile justice expert and former president of the American Correctional Association, spoke to the graduates.

  At the end of the graduation ceremony, inmates who are members of the NCCIW Women’s Club and the NCCIW Recreation Club presented a check for $1,000 to Shaw University officials to help in the repair and cleanup of the Shaw campus, which was hit hard by a tornado last month.

  “Within 4 or 5 hours after the storm passed through, I had inmates asking what they could do for Shaw,” said Warden Bianca Harris. “You might not expect that coming from here, but that’s how these ladies are."

  Fifty-seven inmates from NCCIW and the neighboring Raleigh Correctional Center for Women are currently enrolled in classes through Shaw University’s Center for Alternative Programs in Education.

Secretary Keller Stresses Education

Secretary of Correction Alvin Keller (center of photo) and Secretary of Crime Control and Public Safety Reuben Young addressed honors students today at Richmond County High School in Rockingham.

The address to the 12^th grade U.S. government class was part of Governor Perdue’s Education Works program in which she and members of her cabinet are visiting classrooms in public schools and community colleges around the state and talk to teachers, students and local leaders about the importance of education in our economic recovery.

Secretary Keller said education plays a significant role in North Carolina’s correctional system and that “we can plainly see the impact of education – or the lack of it – in the people entering our prison and probation systems.”

He told the students that lack of education is a factor that can contribute to criminal behavior.  People with jobs are less likely to become involved in crime –  and those without a decent education are more likely to be without a job.

He said a strong education system translates into successful students, fewer offenders coming to prison and probation, and fewer dollars that need to be spent on corrections. 

He urged the students to continue their education and to develop skills they will need for good paying careers.  

The Secretary didn’t miss an opportunity to do some recruiting.  He encouraged students to consider jobs in law enforcement or corrections.

2011 N.C. Torch Run for Special Olympics

The North Carolina Law Enforcement Torch Run® for Special Olympics unites officers from law enforcement agencies and corrections departments across the state in an effort to raise funds and awareness for Special Olympics North Carolina

Each summer, law enforcement officials carry the Flame of Hope across the state in The Torch Run Final Leg, culminating in the lighting of the cauldron to officially open the Special Olympics North Carolina Summer Games in Raleigh. The 2,000-mile, 15-day Torch Run Relay involves more than 2,500 law enforcement officers and personnel representing more than 200 law enforcement agencies across North Carolina.

Kicking off the leg from Wilmington to Kenansville are, left to right, Capt. Jim Hock of the Pender County Sheriff’s Department, Wilmington Deputy Police Chief James Moore, Deputy Chris Stewart of the New Hanover Sheriff’s Department and Ricky Rivenbark, assistant superintendent of custody and operations at Pender Correctional Institution.

Officer Edwin Simpson (left), the Wilmington leg coordinator, and Wilmington Deputy Police Chief James Moore with the torch.



Maury inmates help tornado victims

Maury Correctional Institution’s Inmate Service Club made a donation of $300 to the American Red Cross to assist with tornado relief. Inmates learned of the destruction in the Snow Hill area from local media reports and decided they wanted to help the local community. Inmates raised their money by selling family photos during visiting sessions.

Employees at Maury also conducted fundraisers for their co-workers affected by the recent tornadoes. The funds raised were divided between four Maury CI staff members.

Pictured, left to right, are: Summer Woodard, Executive Director of the Pitt County Chapter of the American Red Cross; Chariesse Boyd, Hope Williams, Wade Walston, all of Maury staff; John Herring, assistant superintendent for custody and operations; Michelle Abate and Angela Hunter of Maury staff; Maury Administrator Dennis Daniels; Autumn Hektor of Maury staff; Annette Fullen, administrative services manager; Brad Fields, Maury staff; and Belinda Dudley, assistant superintendent for programs.

Inmates help feed the hungry

Johnston Correctional Institution and Johnston Community College are partnering in a program to raise fruits and vegetables to help feed the hungry. Twenty-four inmates at the Division of Prisons facility in Johnston County started planting seeds this week which will be harvested and donated to the Plant A Row for the Hungry organization.

Inmates plant seeds to help feed the hungry

Plant A Row is a public service program of the Garden Writers Association and the GWA Foundation. Gardeners are asked to plant an extra row of produce each year and donate their surplus to local food banks, soup kitchens and service organizations to help feed America’s hungry.

Phil Beaumont, a horticulturist with Johnston Community College, supervises the project along with prison programs supervisor Annie Reid. Inmates began planting such vegetables as beans, squash, corn, melons, carrots, peas and other vegetables along with some fruits.

All funds for the project supplies are donated from the Inmate Welfare Fund.

DOC assisting with storm clean-up, security and supply delivery



From probation officers helping law enforcement at road blocks to inmate crews clearing debris, the Department of Correction is responding to a variety of needs as part of recovery efforts in areas devastated by tornados.

Probation officers are helping with traffic control at road blocks; providing security in areas heavily damaged by the storms; and delivering supplies to victims. Currently, the officers are providing assistance in Lee and Bertie counties.
Inmate work crews from various minimum security facilities are assisting with debris removal in Bertie, Robeson and Greene counties. So far inmate crews from Pasquotank Minimum Custody Unit and Tyrrell Prison Work Farm have been deployed to clear debris in Colerain. Robeson Correctional Center inmates removed debris at a school in Rowland and crews from Duplin Correctional Center are removing debris in areas around Snow Hill.

Inmates assigned to the work crews are in minimum custody and are screened prior to being placed on jobs outside the prison facility. The inmate crews are supervised by correctional staff. Any work completed at schools is done when they are closed.

In addition, the department has provided one of its trucks and a driver to deliver supplies to Emergency Operation Centers in Johnston and Bladen counties. The driver will be delivering pallets of water and roofing tarps.

DOC raises $135,000 for Special Olympics

Special Olympics North Carolina CEO Keith Fishburne recently visited the Shore Building to thank NCDOC employees for their 2010 fundraising efforts for the Special Olympics.  Through the Law Enforcement Torch Run and many local efforts DOC raised more than $135,000 last year.

Chief of Security Scott Poole, who coordinates the Division of Prisons Torch Run involvement, accepted a plaque from Fishburne to recognize the NCDOC contribution.

Top fundraisers among DOC facilites were Marion Correctional Institution with $4,590, Columbus Correctional Institution with $4,300 and Lumberton Correctional Institution with $3,092.

To get involved with 2011 Special Olympics fundraising, don't miss the plane pull at RDU International Airport this Saturday April 16.  Come out and cheer on the DOC teams as they try to pull an airliner across the line in the fastest time!!  The Western Region PERT team will be looking to defend their championship from last year!!

Employees recognized as Governor's Award nominees

James Baker and Turner South with members
of the NCDOC executive team.

During the past two weeks the Department has been recognizing employees who were nominated for the 2010 Governor's Award for Excellence.

Marion Correctional Institution classification coordinator Turner South was a winner of the award.  He was recognized at the Division of Prison management team meeting on April 5 along with these nominees: Correctional Officer James Baker or Morrison CI, Sgt. Brian Eason of Pasquotank CI and Correctional Officer Cassie Fueston of Pasquotank CI. 

 Shown left to right are: Secretary Alvin Keller, Division of Prisons Director Bob Lewis, Baker, Chief Operating Officer Jennie Lancaster, South, and Deputy Secretary James French.  Not pictured are nominees Brian Eason and Cassie Fueston. 



Wrenn Patterson - DACDP

 Wrenn Patterson, the clinical director for the Division of Alcoholism and Chemical Dependency Programs, was also a nominee for the Governor's Award and was recognized at a recent DACDP leadership meeting by Assistant Secretary Virginia Price.

DCC director Tim Moose and Secretary Keller with Jennifer Glover,
Rodney Trogdon and Lauren Pittman.

At the Division of Community Corrections, Director Tim Moose and Secretary Keller recognized award winner Rodney Trogdon, Chief PPO in Randolph County along with probation/parole officers Jennifer Glover and Lauren Pittman who were nominees.

Secretary Keller reads to children



N.C. Secretary of Correction Alvin W. Keller, Jr. reads to students at Alger B. Wilkins Elementary School in Fayetteville Wednesday morning as part of the Read Across America program.

Supported by Gov. Bev Perdue, the initiative sends state leaders into classrooms across the state. Read Across America is an annual program of the National Education Association that coincides with the birthday of Dr. Seuss, one of America’s best-loved authors of children’s books. The NEA calls for every child from pre-school to high school to be reading in the company of a caring adult.

Oates named 2011 Superintendent of the Year



Asst. Director of Prisons Ricky Anderson (l)
2011 Superintendent of the Year Ennis Oates
Director of Prisons Bob Lewis (r)

RALEIGH - Ennis Oates, superintendent of Neuse Correctional Institution in Goldsboro, has been named Superintendent the Year for 2011 announced North Carolina Division of Prisons Director Bob Lewis.

“Mr. Oates’ experience and ability to handle one of the more complex institutions in the Division of Prisons is indicative of why he is a worthy candidate and nominee for Superintendent of the Year,” Lewis said.

Oates began his 35-year career with the North Carolina Department of Correction in 1975 as a Correctional Officer at Central Prison. He was promoted to sergeant in 1981 at New Hanover Correctional Center and promoted to lieutenant in 1983 at Eastern Correctional Institution. He served as assistant superintendent for operations at New Hanover Correctional Center and superintendent at Wayne and New Hanover Correctional Centers. .

Oates has worked with at-risk youth and currently serves as a member of the Men of Distinction, a group of community volunteers consisting of business men, lawyers, judges, etc. who work with male high school students encouraging away from gang and drug related activities. He has participated in the One-on-One Program spending time reading to students in middle school.

He is a graduate of Smithfield Selma High School and served in the U.S. Army. He and his wife have two children.

Neuse Correctional Institution an 828-bed processing institution that processes all misdemeanor and some felon inmates into the North Carolina prison system and receives male inmates from all 100 counties. Over 7,500 inmates are processed each year at Neuse