Beverly Eaves Perdue
Governor

Alvin W. Keller Jr.
Secretary

North Carolina Department of Correction

Statement from Secretary Alvin Keller on actions taken following
averted escape attempt at Scotland Correctional Institution

Both Governor Perdue and I pledged transparency at the beginning of this administration.  Last week, correctional officers caught an inmate within the confines of Scotland Correctional Institution, who was in the process of making an escape attempt.

During the investigation that has followed, it has become apparent that internal procedures for routine inmate counts were not being properly followed.

The first job of this department is public safety and this kind of lapse in protocol is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.

As a result, the prison’s administrator has been reassigned while our investigation proceeds.   I also ordered that appropriate disciplinary action with other employees involved be taken as the investigation would warrant.

I have alerted all prison managers and other top corrections personnel that I am taking these matters seriously and will demand high expectations and personal accountability.  In addition, I have taken steps to assure a strict adherence to internal protocols system-wide to reduce the chance this occurs again.

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North Carolina Department of Correction
Public Information Office     4202 Mail Service Center     Raleigh NC 27699-4202
Phone (919) 716-3700      Fax: (919) 716-3795     www.doc.state.nc.us