North Carolina Department of Correction -- Polk YI Quick Facts

North Carolina Department of Correction

Polk Youth Institution

The new Polk--Quick Facts

It cost $43 million to build.
The prison includes the administration building, four dormitories and three single-cell housing units.
There are 166 acres at the site and 43 fenced acres make up the prison compound.
The prison will have 538 employees.
Polk will house 948 to 1,076 inmates. The prison has a standard operating capacity of 900. Its three housing units have 88,856 square feet. There will be a total of 1,076 beds including all housing and segregation areas.
Inmates will be ages 18-21.
The prison will serve as a diagnostic processing center, will assign 324 inmates to work and programs, will provide education programs and will provide Drug Alcohol Recovery Treatment.

The old Polk--Quick Facts

The state obtained the land in 1920 to establish a prison farm.
In 1963, many of the present buildings were erected and education programs were established.
There are 20 acres at the site and 14 fenced acres make up the prison compound.
The prison has 330 employees.
The prison has more than 20 different buildings including eight modular units. Inmates are housed in the Main building (2 dorms), 100 building (2 dorms), 300 building (10 dorms) and segregation building (18 cells).
The prison houses 381 male youth age 19-21.
Polk was the last North Carolina prison to end the practice of triple bunking. (March 1994)
Polk was the first North Carolina prison to implement the cashless canteen system and remove the use of cash by inmates. (May 1991)