N.C. Department of Correction--Correction News--May 1998

News Briefs

Intensive Surveillance Officer Commended by SBI

Intensive Surveillance Officer Jerry Spencer was recently commended by the State Bureau of Investigation for going "beyond his responsibility and official capacity" while helping the SBI with a police shooting investigation.

Spencer provided the SBI with crucial information consisting of addresses, telephone numbers and the identification of witnesses. In addition, he also located pawn shop records showing the purchase of a .22 caliber rifle which was used to shoot Norlina Police Officer Derrick Morris. These records were not computerized and Spencer had to manually search gun records covering a period of two years before finding this critical purchase.

Most impressively, Spencer located and interviewed a female friend of the suspect who observed the suspect with a rifle the night of the police shooting. This information was especially important because it placed the suspect in possession of the rifle used to shoot the police officer.

Spencer’s work enabled the SBI to successfully put together their investigation.

Lincoln Correctional Staff Inspire Students

Staff at Lincoln Correctional Center are active participants in the "Adopt-A-School" program, supported by the Lincoln County school system. The primary goal of the program is to assist boys and girls who have special needs. Staff members have been volunteering their time at Battleground School since August 1997 through the Child Involvement Leave Program. Officers meet with students each week and inspire them to put forth greater effort in their work and their attitudes.

Employee of the Quarter Selected

Audrey Casper, accounting clerk IV, has been named Employee of the Quarter by the Controller’s Office for the period December 1997 through February 1998.

Hilda Painter and Wesley Taylor selected Casper for the award for her good demeanor at work and for her excellent job performance.

Controller Sam Newman said Casper’s dependability and dedication to her job sets an example for all to follow. He said Casper’s conscientiousness in doing a good job frequently drives her to work overtime to accomplish tasks when circumstances beyond her control create obstacles for her.

Pow Wow Held at NCCIW

The North Carolina Correctional Institution for Women recently held DOC’s first in-house Native American pow wow. Thirty-nine volunteers, under the leadership of John Blackfeather of the Occaheechi Band of the Sapori Nation, gathered with 25 inmates for a day of dancing to the drum of the Easter Bull Singers. Members of the Native American Women’s Prison Project of North Carolina worked with the inmates for nine months in preparation for the event. The prison plans to make the pow wow an annual event and to offer other Native American activities throughout the year.

NCCA’s Northeastern Region Raises Money for Stewart

The North Carolina Correctional Association’s Northeastern Region recently raised $1,750 for Stanley Stewart, assistant superintendent at Neuse Correctional Institution, who was severely injured in an accident. Members in the northeastern region held a barbecue chicken cookout to raise the money. Purdue Incorporated, Hyde Correctional Institution and Fountain Correctional Center all helped with the cookout.

Richard T. Duke, Jr., chairman of the northeastern region, said he was amazed by the success of the cookout. "The size of our region is relatively small, and this could have been an obstacle when trying to organize such a fund raiser," he said. "Our group has been really interested in helping our fellow correction professionals when in need. We wish Mr. Stanley the very best for a quick and full recovery."

George Richardson, acting assistant superintendent at Neuse Correctional Institution, said Stanley’s condition is improving, but he is still undergoing intensive rehabilitation.

Piedmont’s Vocational Classes Benefit Community

Inmates in Piedmont Correctional Institution’s vocational classes recently built cabinets for the Granite Quarry police department. The police chief contacted John Seaford, vocational teacher for Piedmont Correctional Institution, and requested that the inmates build cabinets for the police department. Under Seaford’s guidance, the inmates designed and constructed the cabinets which were built from birch materials and trimmed in oak. The inmates’ work saved the Town of Granite Quarry several thousand dollars. Inmates in the vocational program also built all the computer workstations and workspace cabinets for the employees at Piedmont Correctional Institution.

Goldsboro Inmates Save Taxpayers Money

Inmates from Goldsboro Correctional Center recently saved taxpayers more than $90,000 by providing the labor to build a new office building at the N.C. Department of Agriculture Center for Environmental Farming Systems.

The 3,000-square-foot building will be used daily by researchers from N.C. State University and N.C. A&T University for meetings and training sessions.

Goldsboro Correction Superintendent John Crawford provided the NCDA with enough inmates to complete the project. With the assistance and supervision of NCDA employees, the inmates laid off and leveled the building site, roughed in the plumbing, framed, shingled, installed vinyl siding, installed electrical wiring, installed plumbing, built vanities, hung and finished sheetrock, stippled ceilings, installed doors and windows and painted walls and floors.

"The estimated cost of this building is $60,000 or $21 per square foot," said Rex Sasser, superintendent manager at the center. "In comparison, a contractor would have charged at least $150,000 or $53 per square foot. It is evident that this was a great savings."

Crawford said inmates from his facility have already begun working on another construction project for the NCDA. u

NC DOC Correction News- May 1998
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