New unit aims to improve safety at NC prisons

Last year was the deadliest year in the history of the state prison system, with five corrections officers and prison employees killed and many more seriously injured.

A federal probe at Pasquotank Correction Institution showed problems with chronic understaffing. But it also found that prison employees at Pasquotank and at other prisons were not following safety procedures.

The new unit at the Division of Prisons aims to change that.

About two dozen instructors will be a part of a new Security Accountability Unit established in December in the Division of Adult Corrections and Juvenile Justice.

Prisons currently use peer audits, but last year's violent attacks prompted agency leaders to add another layer of oversight.

Assistant Director Loris Sutton says the unit will train prison staff on safety policies and will travel around doing audits of facilities to make sure those policies are being followed.

"Obviously, as you can see, the structure is pretty sound, but we want to make sure that the internal workings of the facility are spot on, so to speak. So, the security audit helps keep people accountable for their actions," Sutton said.

The Department of Public Safety is also allowing more corrections officers to carry batons and plans to provide them with stab-resistant shirts, but officers say what they need most is sufficient staffing.