GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1993

S	2 

SENATE BILL 243
Government Performance Audit Select Committee Substitute Adopted 5/6/93

Short Title:  GPAC/Prison Consolidation.	(Public)
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Sponsors:
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Referred to:  Appropriations.
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February 18, 1993

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO IMPLEMENT A RECOMMENDATION OF THE GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE AUDIT COMMITTEE TO ESTABLISH A PLAN TO CONSOLIDATE THE STATE'S SMALLEST PRISONS, AND TO IMPROVE ORGANIZATIONAL FUNCTIONS AND REDUCE STAFF IN AREA OFFICES OF THE DIVISION OF PRISONS.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  The General Assembly finds that:
(1) 	North Carolina has the eighth highest corrections staffing level in the nation, and the State's prison efficiency is low as measured by inmates per correction officer in prisons in the southeastern United States;
(2)	Other states manage an equivalent number of inmates with one-third less staff;
(3)	North Carolina has four to six times as many prisons as the national state average;
(4)	The average state prison holds more than two and one-half times more inmates than the average North Carolina prison;
(5)	Over one-third of North Carolina's prisons have standard operating capacities that are inefficient and costly;
(6)	The number of small prisons and a lack of autonomy in prison superintendents creates excessive layers of management, inefficiencies, unnecessary paperwork, and a reduction in accountability;
(7) 	The Eastern and Western Commands of North Carolina's Division of Prisons have approximately 330 staff in their area offices that provide supervision and centralized support to 66 small and medium prisons.
Sec. 2.  The Department of Correction shall develop a plan to consolidate the States's numerous smaller prisons into a reduced number of larger facilities.  By July 1, 1993, the Department shall identify an appropriate site for a pilot program to be conducted, which shall consolidate at least five smaller  facilities in one or more of the Division of Prisons areas, into a larger facility.  The Department shall also consider various options for use of the vacated facilities, including:
(1)	Halfway houses;
(2)	Local correctional facilities;
(3)	Boot camps;
(4)	Special rehabilitation facilities;
(5)	Probation and parole detention centers;
(6)	Day reporting centers.
Sec. 3.  In developing the plan mandated by this act, the Department of Correction shall consult with affected local governments and other State agencies such as the Department of Human Resources and the Department of Community Colleges to insure proper coordination of efforts and to address local concerns, to the extent possible.  The Department of Correction shall report to the General Assembly on the status of the plan by May 1, 1994.
Sec. 4.  The Division of Prisons of the Department of Correction shall redraw its area command regions in conjunction with the plan of consolidation required by this act. The Division shall develop new policies to minimize approval and review functions at the area command. Central support services shall be consolidated under the area boundaries.
Sec. 5.  The Division of Prisons of the Department of Correction shall reduce its staff in a manner consistent with and as a part of the plan of consolidation mandated by this act. 
Sec. 6.  This act becomes effective July 1, 1993.