The Division of Prisons requires inmates to perform work assignments, and also allows inmates to participate in other rehabilitative programs, some of which are provided by other operational divisions of the Department of Correction. Except for work assignments, participation in these activities is generally voluntary. Through its own programs and external resources, the Division of Prisons offers a wide range of work, educational, and rehabilitation programs. Each of these programs is explained in detail in this section.
Because of the method of storing information about inmate program assignments, the Department is only able to present information about a point in time, that is, on one day. For the purposes of this report, the number of inmates in assignment on December 31, 1995, will be listed after the program description. This will correspond to the date of all resident population numbers published in Section II.
Food Service - In each prison facility, a certain number of inmates are assigned to work in the kitchen preparing and serving food to the other inmates. This is beneficial to the inmates in that it provides a relevant job skill and beneficial to the prison system because it reduces the cost of operating the facilities. Inmates are paid an incentive wage, which is set by statute, for working in food service.
Inmates assigned to Food Service on 12/31/95 -- 2064
Housekeeping - Prison inmates are utilized in keeping their surroundings clean. Inmates working in the Housekeeping detail are paid an incentive wage.
Inmates assigned to Housekeeping on 12/31/95 -- 2527
Correction Enterprises - Correction Enterprises is a separate division of the Department of Correction which administers industries on prison sites. Correction Enterprise units produce many different kinds of goods. The division publishes an annual report which contains full details of Enterprise activities and production. For a full overview of the work of Correction Enterprises, please refer to the Correction Enterprises Annual Report.
Inmates assigned to Correction Enterprises on 12/31/95 -- 2119
Prison Maintenance - Prison inmates are also involved in large maintenance projects including roofing, plumbing, wiring, and other unit improvements. These projects provide inmates with marketable job skills and incentive wages.
Inmates assigned to Prison Maintenance on 12/31/95 -- 841
Road Squads - Inmates work in road construction and road cleanup projects under contract with the Department of Transportation. This type of work provides inmates with the incentive wage.
Inmates assigned to Road Squads on 12/31/95 -- 1865
Construction - In addition to cleaning and maintaining prisons, some inmates are assigned to new prison construction projects. Inmates are generally chosen based on pre-existing skills in the construction industry. As with the other categories of work, this experience gives inmates valuable work experience for their release and helps to reduce the cost of new construction.
Inmates assigned to Construction on 12/31/95 -- 189
Work Release - Inmates who have proved themselves worthy of limited release from custody are allowed to leave the prison unit for jobs. North Carolina started the first work release program in the country in 1957. Inmates on work release receive prevailing market wages from their employers, but must pay a room-and-board fee to the prison unit.
Inmates assigned to Work Release on 12/31/95 -- 1328
Study Release - Qualified inmates who have demonstrated minimal potential for risk in the community are allowed daily release to participate in educational programs in local community colleges, technical schools, colleges, or universities.
Inmates assigned to Study Release on 12/31/95 -- 32
Academic Program - Inmates who are not involved in degree programs in local colleges are still able to participate in educational programming while in the prison setting. The Division of Prisons has worked with the Community College system to provide a full range of academic programs in prison.
Inmates assigned to Academic Program on 12/31/95 -- 1952
Vocational Program - Some inmates who do not have appropriate job skills are assigned to vocational training programs such as brick masonry, cooking, electrical wiring, etc. Participation in these programs can help inmates get Enterprise jobs or work release assignment.
Inmates assigned to Vocational Training on 12/31/95 -- 1680
DART - The Drug/Alcohol Recovery Treatment program is administered by the Division of Alcohol and Chemical Dependency. It consists of 12 prison based-programs and 3 private bed facilities. These treatment programs address the chemical dependency problems of inmates. The prison-based programs are intended to serve inmates at the beginning of their sentences. This continuum involves approximately 35 days of residential treatment followed by eight weeks of Aftercare programming, then by attendance at Alcoholics Anonymous and/or Narcotics Anonymous meetings. The private bed facilities are also residential programs lasting anywhere from three to twelve months. They are designed to treat minimum security inmates at the end of their sentence. The residential portion of the chemical dependency treatment is considered a full-time activity whereas Aftercare is considered part-time.
Inmates assigned to DART on 12/31/95 -- 1677
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NC Dept. of Correction.
Research & Planning.
Revised: October 07, 2002.
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