Press Releases

The N.C. Housing Opportunities and Prevention of Evictions (HOPE) Program marked its Oct. 15 one-year anniversary with more than a half-billion dollars in pandemic relief funds awarded to North Carolina landlords and utility companies on behalf of vulnerable families.

On Oct. 21, millions of people across the globe, including more than 250,000 school children in K-12th grade, have pledged to participate in the world’s largest earthquake drill. In this part of our nation it’s known as the Great Southeast Shakeout, and we’re expecting more than 1.5 million across the Southeast to participate -- this includes nearly 300,000 North Carolinians.

After several homicides, drug violations and numerous calls to the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office, the Gheen Road community will soon see long-awaited changes. On October 14, 2021, Superior Court Judge Tim Gould signed a consent judgment in a public nuisance action brought against the owners and occupants of the property located at 1270 Gheen Road in Rowan County.

The Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice has named Steven Niday as the new warden of the Forsyth Correctional Center in Winston-Salem. Niday had been the associate warden for operations at Randolph Correctional near Asheboro.

Department of Public Safety Interim Secretary Casandra Hoekstra has named Caroline Farmer as the next executive director of the Governor’s Crime Commission. She will begin her new duties Monday, Oct. 18. “Caroline has brought level-headed leadership to the table throughout her professional career,” said Caroline Valand, DPS deputy secretary for Partnership Engagement. “She brings meaningful experience and seasoned professionalism to the GCC mission.”

The N.C. Housing Opportunities and Prevention of Evictions (HOPE) Program continues to rank No. 2 in the nation for number of households served and No. 6 for spending of federal Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) Program funding.

The names of five North Carolina prison facilities will change effective Oct. 4 in an effort to update them to 21st century cultural standards. “These changes are being made to better reflect the diversity of modern-day society,” said Todd Ishee, Commissioner of Prisons. “In this day and age, it is unacceptable to maintain facility names with negative historical connotations.”

RALEIGH — New medical research from North Carolina’s prison system supports the use of alternative treatment for mentally ill offenders.

The Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice has named Jeffrey McGhee as the new warden of the Lincoln Correctional Center in Lincolnton. McGhee had been the security coordinator in the Western Region Office.

Today, Governor Roy Cooper appointed Eddie Buffaloe to lead the Department of Public Safety as Secretary. "Eddie Buffaloe’s experience, vision, leadership, management skills and strong law enforcement credentials make him ready for this critically important role and I’m grateful he is willing to take it on," said Governor Cooper. "As an officer, he has walked the beat on our streets and in our prisons and as a Chief of Police his leadership has shown that he understands the importance of building trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve."