Press Releases
State correctional and local law enforcement officers are seeking Wake Correctional Center minimum custody offender Michael Lee Willis-Rockett (#1297881), who was reported missing from his prison job assignment this morning.
He was last seen wearing green pants and either a grey or white tee-shirt around 9:50 a.m. at the Department of Public Safety’s Correction Enterprise warehouse in Apex, where the offender worked a prison job loading trucks of supplies for the prison system.
The Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice has named Ronnie “Lane” Huneycutt as warden at the Avery-Mitchell Correctional Institution in Spruce Pine. Huneycutt, 50, had been the associate warden at Caldwell Correctional Center in Lenoir since 2015.
“Warden Huneycutt is a terrific addition to our team of wardens,” said Todd Ishee, Commissioner of Prisons. “He is a professional with more than 20 years of experience, in-depth knowledge of prison operations, and he has excellent organizational skills and leadership qualities.”
Airmen and Soldiers from across the country gathered at the North Carolina National Guard Joint Force Headquarters in Raleigh, North Carolina, to witness Capt. Stephen Scott, and Chief Warrant Officer 4 Eric Carver, both of the 1-130th Attack Reconnaissance Battalion (1-130th ARB) receive the Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor award on August 18, 2020.
Governor Roy Cooper has declared August as North Carolina Preparedness Month, encouraging individuals, families, schools and businesses to review their emergency plans and update their emergency supply kits.
“Facing a hurricane, a deadly tornado and an earthquake in the same week reminds us that North Carolinians need to be prepared for all kinds of emergencies, especially as we continue fighting COVID-19,” Governor Cooper said.“Be sure to go over your family’s emergency plan and include cloth face masks for each member of your family in your emergency supply kit.”
Offender Edward S. Parker (#0311615) died Aug. 13, 2020 at Johnston Correctional Institution after an apparent suicide.
The North Carolina Department of Public Safety, Division of Emergency Management and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today announced a new, expedited reimbursement program that aims to expand non-congregate sheltering options in communities across the state.
An offender housed at Caldwell Correctional Center who tested positive for COVID-19 has died at the hospital as a result of pre-existing conditions complicated by COVID-19.
“His death is saddening, and we are continuing our efforts to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 in our prisons,” said Todd Ishee, Commissioner of Prisons. “The health and safety of the staff and the offenders in our custody remains our top priority.”
The State of North Carolina and FEMA have approved more than $25.9 million to reimburse the North Carolina Department of Transportation for Hurricane Florence-related debris removal and road repair costs.
More than $23.1 million covers the removal of hurricane-related debris in Beaufort, Bladen, Carteret, Columbus, Craven, Cumberland, Harnett, Jones, Lenoir, Pamlico, Pitt and Robeson counties. A combined total of than 192,900 tons of hurricane-related debris was cleared from NCDOT roads and public property.
State prison officials have completed COVID-19 tests of all offenders in state prisons and the results show 2.1 percent were positive for the virus in a six-week mass testing operation.
Of the 29,062 offenders who were tested during mass testing, a total of 619 tested positive. This positivity percentage of 2.1 percent is much lower than in prison systems in other states.
An offender who tested positive for COVID-19 at Lumberton Correctional Institution has died at the hospital as a result of pre-existing conditions complicated by the virus. This is the ninth coronavirus death of an individual in custody at a North Carolina state prison.
“His death is a sad event, and we are continuing to work hard to limit the spread as much as possible and reduce the impact of COVID-19 in our prisons,” said Todd Ishee, Commissioner of Prisons. “The health and safety of the staff and the offenders in our custody is priority one.”