II. Prison Section

The Division of Prisons

The Division of Prisons is charged with the direct care and supervision of inmates. Currently, the division operates 84 prison institutions and units and has other institutions under construction. Additionally, inmates are housed in several contractual facilities operated by North Carolina counties, private, non-profit entities, and other states.

The Division receives felons and misdemeanants sentenced by the court to a period of active incarceration ranging from a minimum of 90 days for certain misdemeanors to life imprisonment for serious crimes such as murder or rape. Classification within the system depends upon such factors as the seriousness of the crime, the willingness of the inmate to obey rules and regulations, and the perceived potential for escape.

The Division provides control as well as rehabilitative programming for inmates who have demonstrated that they are prepared for these privileges. Programming within prison units is targeted to the needs of the population, while accounting for the risk inmates pose to other inmates and society as a whole.

Close custody inmates need extra security but because of their conviction or behaviour indicating them to pose a greater threat. Basic education, counseling and work programs are available to inmates in close custody.

Medium custody units have all programs and activities operating within the unit under the supervision of armed personnel, except for certain work assignments. Programs available to inmates include academic and vocational education, drug and alcohol abuse treatment, psychological and other counseling programs, and varied work assignments.

Minimum custody units provide a wide variety of programs for inmates ranging from on-site academic and vocational schools to off-site work or study release. Minimum custody inmates are misdemeanants and those selected felons that have either little time remaining on their sentence or who have been determined not to present a high security or escape risk. These units do not have manned gun towers or other security devices. Selected inmates are allowed to work outside prison confines in the community for the prevailing wage. They help their families by sending money home, pay taxes and otherwise lessen the financial burden of incarceration.

Cost of Incarceration

The cost of incarcerating an inmate is a combination of the cost of supervision required for the type of inmate in an institution and the cost of providing programs and activities for those inmates. The average daily cost of incarcerating one inmate is $57.35. The average reflects a range from $47.89 for a minimum custody inmate up to $75.79 for a close custody inmate.

Note: These cost figures are based on Fiscal Year 1995-96 expenditures.

"Maximum" is actually a security control status instead of a custody level; therefore, it has been omitted as a custody level.

In addition to the 92 facilities operated by the Division of Prisons, inmates are housed in contractual housing. Location and number of inmates in contractual housing on June 30, 1996, is provided in the table:

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NC Dept. of Correction.
Research & Planning.
Revised: October 07, 2002.