Press Releases

In accordance with Gov. Roy Cooper’s Executive Order 145, NCDPS is proactively working to promote positive relationships between law enforcement and communities to create a safer North Carolina. To that end, the department will host a community forum entitled: Partnering with Our Communities – Together We Will Create a Safer North Carolina. State and local law enforcement and community leaders will participate in the forum. People in the Fayetteville community are invited to participate virtually or by sending in questions to the panel.

A Pender Correctional Institution offender with pre-existing medical conditions, who tested positive for COVID-19, has died at a hospital. “His death is tragic, and we continue working hard to mitigate the impact of this virus in our prisons,” said Todd Ishee, Commissioner of Prisons. “The health and safety of the staff and offenders is our top priority.” The offender tested positive for COVID-19 on Sept. 24 and was hospitalized on Sept. 29. His condition worsened and he died at the hospital on Oct. 19.

The Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice has named Stephen B. Waddell as the new warden of the Greene Correctional Institution in Greene County. Waddell, 48, had been the deputy warden at Central Prison in Raleigh since 2014.

Governor Roy Cooper announced today that applications are now being accepted for the N.C. Housing Opportunities and Prevention of Evictions (HOPE) Program, which will assist eligible low- and- moderate-income renters experiencing financial hardship due to COVID-19. The new program seeks to promote housing stability during the ongoing pandemic by providing rent and utility assistance to prevent evictions and utility disconnections.

The Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice is actively seeking an offender serving a portion of his active sentence outside of prison who has walked away from his respective residential location. The offender had been participating in the Extending the Limits of Confinement (ELC) initiative. 

Update: The State Highway Patrol has identified the driver in Saturday night's pursuit that occurred in Cumberland County.  A trooper attempted to stop Mr. Chy-eem Dreqwon Bobbitt, 28, of  Brookhaven, PA for a speeding violation on Cumberland Rd. Mr. Bobbitt attempted to elude the trooper and was involved in a single vehicle collision on Roxie Ave. As a result of the crash, Mr. Bobbitt succumbed to his injuries at the scene. 

The Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice - Prisons will test all staff at three prisons in a pilot project aimed at improving staff health and safety, as well as reducing the potential for spread of COVID-19 at the facilities. “This is another strategy to curb the introduction of the virus into our prisons,” said Todd Ishee, Commissioner of Prisons. “Staff safety during this pandemic is a top priority. This will help to keep them healthy, their families safer from the virus, and will better protect the offender populations.”

One week from today is the annual ShakeOut earthquake drill. The Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drill is a worldwide earthquake safety movement involving 17.1 million people throughout 2020 (and counting). Most participate in ShakeOut by registering to practice "Drop, Cover, and Hold On," and many do much more.

Two offenders participating in Extending the Limits of Confinement (ELC) and who walked away from their transitional housing have been captured. Officers from the Department of Public Safety’s Special Operations and Intelligence Unit (SOIU) captured Delbert K. Furman, 67, Thursday, Oct. 8. Furman had been serving a sentence for Felony Breaking & Entering. He is currently in Central Prison.

A Greene Correctional Institution offender with pre-existing medical conditions, who tested positive for COVID-19, has died at a hospital. “His death is saddening, and we are continuing the hard work to mitigate the impact of this awful virus in our prisons,” said Todd Ishee, Commissioner of Prisons. “The health and safety of the staff and the offender population is our top priority.” The offender was hospitalized on Sept. 24 and tested positive for COVID-19 on Sept. 26. His condition worsened and he died at the hospital on Oct. 7.