Press Releases

A Central Prison offender with pre-existing medical conditions, who tested positive for COVID-19, has died at a hospital. “We are working hard in our ongoing efforts to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 in our prisons. The health and safety of the staff and the offenders is our top priority,” said Todd Ishee, Commissioner of Prisons. “We strongly encourage all offenders to elect to be vaccinated. It’s very important.” The offender tested positive for COVID-19 on April 28.  He was hospitalized on May 3. His condition worsened, and he died on May 7.

A Caledonia Correctional Institution offender with pre-existing medical conditions, who tested positive for COVID-19, has died at a hospital. “We are working hard in our ongoing efforts to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 in our prisons. The health and safety of the staff and the offenders is our top priority,” said Todd Ishee, Commissioner of Prisons. “We strongly encourage all offenders to elect to be vaccinated. It’s very important.” The offender tested positive for COVID-19 on March 21. He was hospitalized on March 26. His condition worsened, and he died on May 8.

WHAT: Juvenile Justice Hiring Event WHEN: Tuesday, May 11, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. WHERE: Dillon Regional Juvenile Detention Center                 100 Dillon Dr.                 Butner, NC 27509

RALEIGH — Lucketchia Boston, associate warden for operations at Tyrrell Prison Work Farm in Columbia, won the state prison system’s 2021 Manager Award. Boston accepted the award May 6 alongside 10 other Prisons honorees in various categories. The ceremony coincided with national Correctional Officers and Correctional Employees Week.

RALEIGH — Correctional Officer Dawnelle Gee of Caledonia Correctional Institution was named the state prison system’s top new employee. Gee accepted the 2021 Newcomer Award on May 6 alongside 10 other Prisons honorees in various categories. The ceremony coincided with national Correctional Officers and Correctional Employees Week.

RALEIGH — Cindy Haynes has won the state prison system’s 2021 Programs Award. Haynes, program director at Marion Correctional Institution, accepted the award Thursday alongside 10 other Prisons honorees in various categories. The ceremony coincided with national Correctional Officers and Correctional Employees Week. “She represents the best of our best from across the state,” said Commissioner of Prisons Todd Ishee. “Our award winners are hard-working, innovative and deeply committed to their jobs, their colleagues and to the care of the men and women in our custody.”

RALEIGH -- Case manager/educational-vocational coordinator Mahogani Thompkins has won this year’s Education Award for her outstanding work to make Sampson Correctional offenders eligible to attend classes during the pandemic. “She is a thinker, an outside-the-box person,” said Sarah Cobb, Prisons director of rehabilitative services. The classes with Sampson Community College are socially distanced, with other pandemic health protocols, but taking classes is an important effort to prepare soon-to-be-released offenders for their returns to their communities.

RALEIGH — Lead nurse supervisor at Craven Correctional Institution James Menke has won this year’s Innovations and Teams Award for his creation of a sophisticated medication tracking and recovery system at the prison. “He has done a tremendous service,” said Valerie Langley, Prisons director of nursing. “When they were misplaced, he worked very hard and very diligently to recover them.” On taking the role of lead nurse supervisor at Craven Correctional Institution, he quickly proved he was willing to go the extra mile.

RALEIGH -- When Sanford Correctional Center was chosen to be the first state prison to seek American Correctional Association accreditation last year, Sgt. Mindil Kennedy-Lindsey was tapped as the liaison. She worked seven days a week including working “ridiculous hours into the night, and on holidays,” said Sanford Warden Melanie Shelton.

RALEIGH — An administrative officer at Pender Correctional Institution in Burgaw has won Prisons Support Service Award for her extraordinary work to streamline COVID-19 testing of the staff at the prison. Catherine Whaley’s deep knowledge of the facility and agency’s COVID-testing protocols contributed to her being an excellent example of a top-notch administrative officer.