At a Correctional Leaders Association Southern Region meeting in Charlotte, Governor Josh Stein addressed North Carolina’s ongoing correctional officer staffing issues and urged the General Assembly to take action on recruitment and retention.
“Correctional officers keep North Carolinians safe every day, but their work goes mostly unseen,” said Governor Josh Stein. “Starting pay for North Carolina’s correctional officers is the second lowest in the nation, and more than one-third of all positions are unfilled. Without enough correctional officers, staff and the public are put at risk. That’s why I continue to call on the General Assembly to pass a comprehensive public safety package that gives law enforcement, including correctional officers, a pay raise and makes North Carolina safer.”
Secretary of the Department of Adult Correction Leslie Dismukes also spoke about the situation. “Our staff is working hard to operate prisons in a safe and effective manner, but staffing levels are critically low,” Dismukes said. “We need the General Assembly to invest in meaningful pay increases that reflect the essential role correctional officers play in public safety.”
Governor Stein has continued efforts toward advancing a public safety package while pointing out that over one-third of correctional officer positions remain vacant and starting salaries for these roles rank among the lowest nationwide.
Stein’s proposed 2025-2027 biennium budget includes $195 million for public safety initiatives. The proposal targets law enforcement and correctional officer shortages with salary increases and bonuses aimed at recruitment and retention. It also features plans to prevent violence in schools and communities as well as measures addressing fentanyl and opioid misuse.
The Office of the Governor of North Carolina dates back to 1776 as its oldest public office, responsible for enforcing state laws, managing the state budget, appointing officials, issuing pardons, leading both the Council of State and the North Carolina National Guard, according to its official website. The governor serves as chief executive for all residents across North Carolina (source).
Josh Stein currently serves as the 76th governor of North Carolina (source). The office influences state policy by directing budgets and granting pardons (source) while overseeing governance operations throughout the state (source).
