Michael Peterson in Department of Correction custody

Michael F. Easley Governor		Theodis Beck Secretary
North Carolina Department of Correction

For Release: IMMEDIATE	Contact: Pamela Walker
Date: October 10, 2003	Phone: (919) 716-3700

Michael Peterson in Department of Correction custody RALEIGH – Durham County sheriff’s deputies transported Michael Peterson to Central Prison in Raleigh shortly after 2 p.m. today. This morning, Judge Orlando Hudson sentenced Peterson to life in prison after a jury found him guilty of first-degree murder. Central Prison serves as the admission point into the state prison system for male felons with sentences of 10 years or longer. At Central Prison’s diagnostic center, inmates undergo a physical exam, psychological screening, substance abuse screening, IQ test, aptitude test and interviews. Central prison staff gather this information to best determine the management needs of inmates while in the prison system. Diagnostic Center processing can take a couple of weeks or more. After completing testing at Central Prison's diagnostic center, Peterson will receive a more permanent assignment. Inmates with life sentences are initially classified into close custody and are housed in one of the state’s high security prisons. Inmate behavior, sentence length and continuing risk assessments by prison staff determine the inmate’s progression through the various custody levels. Prison managers give all inmates job assignments or assign them to rehabilitative self-improvement programs. # # #