The Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office announced plans to reopen the Mecklenburg County Detention Center North, also known as Jail North, to address the overcrowding at the existing facility, Mecklenburg County Detention Center Central. The current plan is to accommodate the adult resident overflow from Detention Center Central, but there have been ongoing discussions about the possible inclusion of juveniles.
History of Jail North and Juvenile Detention
Jail North previously served as a juvenile detention center with 72 beds but closed in May 2022 due to staff shortages at the adult jail. The North Carolina Division of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention has been pushing for the return of juveniles to the county.
The sheriff’s office is focused on addressing the overcrowding at Detention Center Central, which has a population of 2,080 inmates, exceeding its capacity of 1,791. The facility has been experiencing overcrowding, with 323 inmates staying in overflow areas and using “stack-a-bunk” sleeping arrangements.
Logistics of Reopening
The sheriff’s office aims to hire up to 50 detention officers for the new facility and offer a $7,500 sign-on bonus. The facility will accommodate adult residents, but the possibility of housing juveniles in the future has not been ruled out.
Original reporting: Carolina Public Press — read the source article.
