NEWBRIEFS

An anonymous correctional officer wrote to Secretary Mack Jarvis asking about one of the news briefs in the July edition of Correction News. The story mentioned the annual conference of the National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice and the different seminars and training sessions offered. The reader expressed concerns that the conference was for only one group of people. To the contrary, the conference and training sessions were open to anyone who wanted to attend. Any criminal justice professional, regardless of race, sex, religion or national origin was welcome to attend. At the July meeting in Charlotte, the attendees, trainers and speakers were of different races and crossed cultural, gender and ethnic lines. NABCJ is affiliated with the American Correctional Association. The Department of Correction is proud to support NABCJ and its members. Secretary Jarvis, a NABCJ member, welcomed the conference to North Carolina. A full story will be in next month's edition of Correction News.

Chapel Hill - For the fourth consecutive year, DOC’s public information office received recognition during the N.C. Association of Government Information Officers annual seminar in June. PIO staff received first place for its superior writing and high volume of news releases about inmates working. The staff also received honorable mention for the DOC web page.

Smithfield - Correctional Officer Raymond Dean Duehring of Johnston Correctional Center was awarded the Advanced Certificate by the N.C. Criminal Justice Education Standards Commission in May. It is the highest professional certificate awarded to law enforcement and criminal justice officers in N.C. To qualify for the Advanced Certificate, officers must complete a combination of professional training and relevant education and meet minimum experience requirements.

Brevard - Probation Parole Officer Don Houts was commended by Judicial District Manager Randy Eggen for assisting Transylvania County sheriff deputies in June.The sheriff’s department requested assistance in arresting one of Houts probationers for first degree murder. After making one check at the offender’s residence, Houts returned about an hour later and was able to get the probationer out of his home while other law officers stood concealed in the backtground. Two small children were in the home and there was concern that the offender would create a hostage situation. Deputies took the offender by surprise outside the home and without incident. The offender had allegedly ambushed another man and shot him in the back of the head. Despite the personal risk to Houts, he agreed to help deputies prevent a possible hostage situation.

Hickory - Catawba Correctional Center Chaplain Reggie Longcrier was recently elected chairman of the Hickory Area Ministerial Association. Longcrier is well-known and respected in the community for moving up from an inmate to a respected member of the community. A local minister, Longcrier spends most of his time helping others.

Kinston - A road squad officer from Wayne Correctional Center was working in rural Lenoir County when he noticed marijuana plants growing near a wooded area. Officer Jeff Minchew immediately notified Lead Officer Lawyer Stewart who contacted local law enforcement officers.

DOC personnel officer Nancy Wilder’s son, Paul, was one of the top draft picks for the new major league baseball club, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. He’s an outfielder on their minor league club, the Princeton, West Virginia Devil Rays. The Devil Rays will field a AAA-affiliate in Durham next year as well as their first major league club.

NC DOC Correction News- August 1997
NC Department of Correction News
NC Department of Correction Homepage