Why NC's prisons can't pay bills or keep staff

About this episode

The episode discusses the challenges facing North Carolina's prison system, including staffing shortages and budget constraints.

North Carolina’s prison system is struggling with hundreds of vacant positions as the starting pay remains stuck around $18 an hour. Correctional officers are leaving in droves for better pay elsewhere. There’s not enough money to pay the bills for basic operations. And the state’s 55 prison facilities have more than a billion dollars in deferred maintenance needs, from air conditioning systems to fire alarms. Much of the problem stems from the legislature's inability to pass a budget, and Gov. Josh Stein is asking for "critical needs" funding to begin addressing the problems. To better understand the issues, WUNC News Capitol Bureau Chief Colin Campbell sat down with Secretary Leslie Dismukes at the headquarters of the N.C. Department of Adult Correction in Raleigh.

People in this episode

Host: Colin Campbell

Guest: Leslie Dismukes

Topics covered

• prison system
• staffing issues
• budget problems
• correctional officers
• deferred maintenance
• state funding

Keywords

• North Carolina
• prisons
• staffing
• budget
• correctional officers
• deferred maintenance
• Josh Stein

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: N.C. Department of Adult Correction

Places: North Carolina

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