State prisons prepared for extreme temperatures

As temperatures climb into the high 90s this summer, the N.C. Department of Adult Correction has taken measures to ensure the safety of people incarcerated in state prisons and the staff that supervise them.

RALEIGH

Jun 26, 2024

As temperatures climb into the high 90s this summer, the N.C. Department of Adult Correction has taken measures to ensure the safety of people incarcerated in state prisons and the staff that supervise them.

While two-thirds (66%) of the state correctional system's beds are now in air-conditioned spaces, DAC is installing air conditioning systems in buildings containing the remaining one-third (34%) of beds. Installation of air-conditioning is currently underway at 12 prison facilities:

• Albemarle Correctional Institution - Badin
• Anson Correctional Institution - Wadesboro
• Caswell Correctional Center - Yanceyville
• Columbus Correctional Institution - Whiteville
• Dan River Prison Work Farm - Yanceyville
• Davidson Correctional Center - Lexington
• Franklin Correctional Center - Bunn
• Greene Correctional Institution - Maury
• Harnett Correctional Institution - Lillington
• Lumberton Correctional Institution - Lumberton
• N.C. Correctional Institution for Women - Raleigh
• Sampson Correctional Institution - Clinton.

Construction timelines for this summer anticipate cooling for 426 beds to be completed by the end of this month, another 475 beds by the end of July, and 757 more in August. DAC expects to have all housing areas in the state prison system air-conditioned by early 2026.

Buildings containing more than 1,100 beds have been air conditioned since work started last year, with work now complete at Orange and New Hanover correctional centers.

In the non-air-conditioned spaces, staff are making ice water available and running industrial-sized fans, following DAC's Heat Stress Management Plan. All facilities are using caution for outdoor activities and taking steps to educate and monitor for signs of heat stress.

The air-conditioning project involves work on more than 140 buildings at 40 state prisons. Besides cooling systems, the upgrades include fire alarm improvements and installation of USB power outlets, which will allow easier charging of the electronic tablets used by offenders.

Construction has required the temporary closure of some housing units and transfer of offenders, either to other prisons or to other available beds at the same prison.

DAC construction projects provide rehabilitative vocational opportunities for offenders interested in learning construction trades. More than 200 offenders are currently working and learning at the 12 sites. The Construction Apprenticeship Program (CAP) prepares offenders to obtain journey-level trade certification upon release from prison

Keith Acree

[email protected]