Brandeshawn (Brande) Harris serves as the Chief Deputy Secretary for Operations at the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction. In this role, she provides executive oversight of several key divisions, including Community Supervision, Correction Enterprises, Emergency Preparedness, and the state prison system.
Harris joined the North Carolina Department of Public Safety in November 2019 as the Assistant Commissioner of the Division of Prisons, where she was responsible for managing state prison operations. She later served as Interim Commissioner of Prisons from June 2022 to January 2023, further demonstrating her leadership and operational expertise.
Prior to her tenure in North Carolina, Harris built a distinguished career with the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction. She began her service in 1995 as a Correction Officer and rose through the ranks, holding positions such as Lieutenant, Investigator, Warden’s Assistant, Deputy Warden, and Warden. Her leadership experience spans both state and county systems, including oversight of a female reintegration center and a large close-custody male facility.
Harris holds an associate degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Akron, a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Tiffin University, and a master’s degree in Management from Indiana Wesleyan University. She has completed advanced training through the National Institute of Corrections and remains active in the field as a member of the American Correctional Association (ACA). She currently serves on the ACA Board of Governors, representing the area of probation or post-release supervision for adults, and chairs the ACA’s Women Working in Corrections Committee.
Deeply committed to empowering women in the corrections profession, Harris actively mentors and supports the development of female professionals across the field. She believes women bring a unique and valuable perspective to corrections, contributing to safer, more humane, and more effective environments for staff, incarcerated individuals, and those under community supervision.