If you still call it the North Carolina Department of Corrections, you’re technically a few years behind the curve. In late 2021, the state decided to rip the adult correction division out of the massive Department of Public Safety (NCDPS) and let it stand on its own two feet. Now officially known as the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction (NCDAC), the agency began independent operations on January 1, 2023.
It was a huge move. Basically, the state wanted more accountability and a laser focus on rehabilitation rather than just "warehousing" people. But honestly, as of January 2026, the department is staring down some of the most "dire and dangerous" challenges in its history. That’s not my phrasing—that’s the word from Secretary Leslie Cooley Dismukes.
Managing roughly 32,000 people in prison and another 84,000 under community supervision (probation or parole) is a massive lift. Especially when you’re doing it with one hand tied behind your back because of a massive staffing crisis.
The North Carolina Department of Adult Correction Staffing Crisis
Let’s be real: nobody is lining up to work in a prison for $37,000 a year. That’s the starting salary for correctional officers in North Carolina right now, and it's currently the second lowest in the United States.
Because the pay is so low, the vacancy rate is through the roof. Governor Josh Stein recently pointed out that over one-third of all correctional officer positions are currently unfilled. In some facilities, like Craggy or Pender, the vacancy rate has actually spiked past 50% or 60%. Imagine trying to run a secure facility when half your team just isn't there. It leads to a vicious cycle. The staff who do stay are forced to work insane amounts of overtime—the department spent over $67 million on overtime in a single fiscal year recently—which leads to burnout, which leads to more people quitting.
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Secretary Dismukes recently told lawmakers that while they hired over 2,600 people last year, they lost nearly 2,500 in the same period. It’s essentially a treadmill. This isn't just a budget problem; it’s a safety problem. When there aren't enough officers, prisons have to go on "modified operations." This means educational programs, vocational training, and even recreation time get canceled because there aren't enough eyes to keep things safe.
Why This Matters to You
You might think, "I don't know anyone in prison, why should I care?" But here’s the kicker: 95% of people in NC prisons are eventually going to be released. If they spend their time locked in a cell because there aren't enough guards to lead them to a classroom, they come back to your community with zero new skills and a lot of pent-up frustration.
Rehabilitation and Reentry: The 2030 Goal
Despite the staffing mess, North Carolina is actually trying some pretty progressive stuff. They’ve joined an initiative called Reentry 2030. The goal is basically to make sure people don't come back to prison once they leave.
Specifically, the state wants to see a 75% increase in the number of high school and post-secondary degrees earned by incarcerated individuals by the year 2030. They also want to make sure everyone has a "Game Plan for Life."
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Just this month, in January 2026, the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction was selected for a national project called "Fair Chance to Advance." They’re getting $2.1 million in funding to help justice-impacted people get into better jobs. Governor Stein’s logic is pretty simple: if someone has a job and a place to live, they’re way less likely to commit another crime.
- Local Reentry Councils (LRCs): There are currently about 23 of these councils serving 31 counties. They help people find housing, clothes, and jobs the minute they walk out of the gate.
- Education Access: With the return of Pell Grants for incarcerated students, more people in NC facilities are taking college courses through the community college system.
- Healthcare Continuity: The department is working with DHHS to make sure people have Medicaid or health benefits lined up before they are released, so they don't have a gap in mental health or addiction treatment.
Common Misconceptions About NC Prisons
People often think North Carolina prisons are all the same, but they vary wildly. The department operates everything from "Close Custody" facilities (high security) to "Minimum" units where people actually leave during the day for work-release programs.
Another big myth? That the prison population is exploding. Actually, it’s stayed relatively stable around the 32,000 mark for a few years. The real "explosion" is in the cost of care. The daily cost to house someone in a "Close" facility has jumped to about $174 per day. That adds up fast when you have an annual budget of over $2 billion.
What’s Happening with "Caitlyn’s Courage"?
You might have heard about electronic monitoring for domestic violence offenders. A pilot program known as "Caitlyn’s Courage" has been a big deal in the news. But as of early 2026, the funding is drying up. The department is asking for $4 million a year to keep it going, but because the legislature is in a budget stalemate, the program might have to scale back from 1,400 units to just 400. This is the kind of stuff that happens behind the scenes of the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction that directly impacts public safety.
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How to Navigate the System
If you have a loved one in the system, or you're just trying to find information, the NCDAC website is actually surprisingly decent. They have a tool called "Offender Public Information Search" where you can look up anyone by name or ID number.
But honestly, the best way to stay informed is to watch the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee meetings. That’s where the real "tea" gets spilled about how dangerous the staffing levels are and where the money is actually going.
Next Steps for Staying Informed:
- Check the Strategic Plan: The NCDAC 2025-2029 Strategic Plan is public. It outlines exactly how they plan to spend your tax dollars over the next four years.
- Contact a Local Reentry Council: If you want to help, these councils are always looking for employers willing to give people a "fair chance" hire.
- Follow the Budget Debates: The 2026 legislative session in Raleigh will decide if correctional officers get that 6.5% raise they’ve been promised. If they don't, expect more facility closures and "temporary suspensions" of prison beds.
The North Carolina Department of Adult Correction is at a crossroads. It’s trying to move toward a future of "rehabilitation and innovation," but it’s being held back by a staffing crisis that won't go away until the state decides to pay people a living wage to do one of the hardest jobs in the world.
Actionable Insight: If you're looking for records or trying to locate someone, use the NCDAC Offender Search. For those interested in policy changes, keep an eye on the "Reentry 2030" progress reports which are updated quarterly to show if these education and employment goals are actually being met.