Our mission is to reduce crime and enhance both public and staff safety. This is executed with a multi-faceted proactive intelligence approach of enforcing federal and state laws, as well as collecting, evaluating and analyzing intelligence to provide actionable recommendations to the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction and law enforcement. Special Operations and Intelligence is responsible for identifying appropriate security goals, objectives, standards, strategies, and technologies used.  

SOIU is responsible for operational procedures and the processing of intelligence that impacts the general public, staff and offenders. Additional responsibilities include identifying appropriate goals, objectives, standards, strategies and technologies used; coordinating and directing activities of both Prisons and Community Supervision staff, and overseeing the collection, analysis and sharing of intelligence.

Investigations

The Investigations section works closely with various agencies and partners to provide support in both internal and external investigations. The section also oversees the Security Risk Group program for Adult Correction and serves as the hub for all things SRG related. Another key element of the section is the production, analysis, and dissemination of criminal intelligence on a local, state and national level.

  • Security Risk Groups: Special Operations and Intelligence is responsible for monitoring and managing male and female offenders who have been identified as having affiliations with Security Risk Groups members. It provides training to Department staff, law enforcement agencies and maintains databases used to track and identify gang members who are incarcerated and/or under supervision within the community. Special Operations and Intelligence is responsible for establishing procedures to gather, monitor, coordinate and track intelligence information necessary to counter planned criminal activities by offenders and to manage offender SRG efforts.

Special Operations Investigators/Federal Agencies/NCISAAC

Sworn investigators are partnered with state and federal agencies where resources are utilized of those agencies to assist the field. SOIs coordinate warrant round-ups; investigate and arrest violent offenders working jointly with state, local, and federal law enforcement agencies; investigate claims/complaints of individuals or groups with suspected ties to international terrorist organizations; investigate all white collar and public corruption matters including human trafficking, fraud, and civil rights matters; investigate violations of state and federal law regarding narcotics and other controlled substances, and state and federal law regarding firearms; participate in undercover operations; gather intelligence on street gangs, prison gangs and outlaw motorcycle gangs; and is a liaison to multiple partner agencies.

Investigators work with:

  • United States Marshals Service;
  • Federal Bureau of Investigation;
  • Drug Enforcement Agency;
  • Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Agency;
  • Department of Homeland Security, and
  • North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation-NCISAAC (North Carolina Information Sharing and Analysis Center). NCISAAC is an intelligence center where local, state and federal resources are combined and shared to fight against criminal activity and terrorism. Go to https://www.ncsbi.gov/NCISAAC for more information.


Canine Unit 

The canine unit is responsible for enhancing public safety throughout North Carolina by providing canine support for law enforcement and assistance with locating prison escapees. The unit is comprised of six handlers and their canines trained in narcotics detection, gun detection, tracking, and handler protection. All Special Operations and Intelligence canines are IPWDA (International Police Work Dog Association) certified.

Drone Program

Special Operations and Intelligence is the first in the nation to deploy Skydio drones in the corrections field. Special Operations and Intelligence has designated nine drone pilots to become certified through the NC Department of Transportation and obtaining licensure through the Federal Aviation Administration.

GANGNET

GangNet administration was moved from the State Highway Patrol in July 2020, making it the primary administrative authority for the North Carolina GangNet database. This allows Internal Affairs and Intelligence to manage and track gang-related intelligence both inside and outside of Adult Correction, as well as provide a more centralized location for all the state’s gang intelligence.

GangNet is a web-based platform that allows certified users to enter and/or view information on gang suspects and members that have been validated as such using standardized criteria. Users must be employed in a law enforcement capacity and be certified to enter or view information contained within the database. Certification includes thorough knowledge of the laws and protocols required for gang member entry.

Once entered, GangNet allows certified officers and agencies the ability to share non-discoverable and non-evidentiary information on validated gang members and affiliates. The system is governed by state and federal regulations that dictate the use of the information in intelligence databases. For assistance with GangNet, please email SOIU_Gangnet@dac.nc.gov. 

Communications

The Communications section oversees the Division of Criminal Information Section, the Communications Center, the Inmate Phone Investigator Section, and the Extradition/Fugitive Section. 

  • The Division of Criminal Information Section enters and maintains approximately 13,000 warrants on fugitive probation and parole absconders. In addition, this section process background checks for employment and criminal justice purposes as well as the NC National Guard, NC Emergency Management, NC Department of Information Technology, and several other sections within the Department of Adult Correction and the Department of Public Safety. 
  • The Communications Center provides two-way radio support for DAC probation/parole officers and Federal probation/parole officers, as they conduct potentially dangerous field contacts with probation and parole offenders. Based inside the DCI Center, the Communications Center telecommunicators provide pertinent information to officers regarding offenders and dispatch emergency services in the event of an incident.
  • The Inmate Phone Investigator Section receives requests from the Prisons section, as well as outside law enforcement agencies, to monitor offender phone recordings from prisons to determine if illicit activity has occurred. These investigations can be detailed and lengthy but are a major part of maintaining the integrity within the state prison system.
  • The Extradition/Fugitive Section coordinates all extradition assignments for the Department of Adult Correction, as well as those requesting extradition and state reimbursements for district attorneys and local law enforcement agencies in all 100 counties. The Department of Adult Correction must ensure that there are a sufficient number of Community Supervision officers trained in extradition procedures to efficiently and effectively complete extradition transports. The office must process appropriate paperwork to coordinate extraditions, keep track of completed extraditions and communicate with proper authorities.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Special Operations and Intelligence Unit
2020 Yonkers Road
MSC 4251 
Raleigh, NC 27699-4251
Phone: 919-838-3565