Press Releases

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.

At the request of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, the North Carolina National Guard has restarted COVID-19 relief operations supporting food banks and rapid testing for COVID-19. This effort includes more than 170 personnel from both the North Carolina Army and Air National Guard. Guardsmen will remain on duty supporting food banks through Dec. 17, 2020, and on COVID-19 duty until Nov. 30, 2020.  

After a long history of fights, drug violations, and countless calls to the Davie County Sheriff’s Office, a Mocksville neighborhood can feel a little safer. 

The Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice is actively seeking three offenders serving a portion of their active sentences outside of prison who have walked away from their respective residential locations. The three had been participating in the Extending Limits of Confinement (ELC) initiative. 

Read the 2020 N.C. Resiliency Week proclamation.

A Central Prison offender with pre-existing medical conditions, who tested positive for COVID-19, has died at a hospital. “His death is tragic, and we continue to work hard 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 offender population is our top priority.” The offender tested positive for the virus on Aug. 22. He was hospitalized several times in the ensuing weeks. His conditioned worsened and he died in the hospital at Central Prison on Oct. 2.

A Pender 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 working hard 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 offender population is our top priority.” The offender tested positive for the virus when he was hospitalized on Sept. 22. His conditioned worsened and he died on Oct. 1.