RALEIGH, N.C. — As low pay continues to contribute to severe staffing shortages in North Carolina prisons, the state has launched a pilot program aimed at speeding up hiring for correctional officers.
Currently, North Carolina ranks 49th in starting salary for corrections officers, the N.C. Department of Adult Correction (DAC) stated.
“Right now, we’re asking people to put themselves in a very demanding job — and asking their families to sacrifice on our behalf — so they can earn less money than they can working at a Costco,” said Gov. Josh Stein. “And yet, courageous and public-spirited people are taking these critically important jobs. Through this pilot initiative, people get hired, onboarded and paid quickly so we don’t lose talent to places that could get them started faster. We need to keep improving the hiring processes, and at the same time, we need the General Assembly to raise correctional officer pay so we can provide competitive salaries for these challenging jobs.”
The pilot program, launched by the DAC and the Office of State Human Resources, is being tested at three state prisons. Under a contingent hiring model, candidates can begin working in other roles while they complete certification steps.
State officials said the approach is designed to fill vacancies faster and keep applicants from taking other jobs while waiting for the hiring process to be completed. The three pilot locations have nearly met their staffing goals, according to DAC officials.
“Significant raises for all of our staff are critical to our ability to recruit and retain, and to work our way out of our critical staffing shortage,” DAC secretary Leslie Dismukes said. “Many of our employees are working second jobs or hours of overtime — just to make ends meet.”
Stein’s recommended budget for Fiscal Year 2026-2027 includes a 15% pay raise over the biennium for all state correctional officers. It also includes hiring bonuses for basic law enforcement training graduates, and out-of-state transfers joining state and local law enforcement agencies.
Would a 15% pay raise be enough to keep you in corrections? Why or why not?
Corrections1 readers respond:
- If the pay raise does not extend to corrections pay grades above officers, there will be a large number of supervisors and managers who will look to give up those positions and return to the level of correctional officer. The officers will make the same, and in some cases more, than the supervisors and managers, all the while having to deal with less responsibilities. The department will have to mandate a freeze on the supervisory level staff to prevent a gap in the leadership chain. This would make the second consecutive raise given to only one level of corrections staff.
- This is undoing all the safeguards that were put into place after the killing of Sgt. Megan Callahan. It also doesn’t address the real issue which is poor leadership at the institutional and regional levels. People aren’t leaving because of pay or the inmates. They are leaving due to being treated like nothing more than a post order. Policy is enforced when it’s convenient for management and weaponized against staff.
- Yes. As long as the 15% is for all DAC employees.
- Retention is the issue. The job has to be more than counting heads and turning keys. 21st century training, guaranteed step raises, 20/50 pensions, full medical, and a switch to dynamic security from the current static paramilitary system. Thats a start but #1 ASK THE OFFICERS!
- Over the past two decades there has been 10 years without a raise. Also, a raise below inflation is not a raise.
- Yes, that would be a good start all DAC staff and supervisor 15% but also get the mentality of everything we do wrong is an 18 month write up every once and awhile tell us we are doing a good job just no negative.
- No, 15 % is hardly enough to gap the cost of living in NC. Need more to make it above cost of living. Also 15% will just be taken up when the insurance premium goes up next year.
- In our jail we make much less than a factory job. We don’t get bonuses or recognition. We get expose to our safety, mental health and emotional well being. Other jails around our area get pay up to $10 more per hour on a sergeant’s pay.
- Pay needs to match be equal to State Police. We deal with the same criminals only at the jail. There will always be a shortage until you give these officers the same pension as State Police!
- How about maintenance staff that are short staffed. We are also behind the fence around the inmates. I’m a 23 year employee who has for several years been looked over when pay raises are decided. maintenance staff are essential employees also and have been called in late at night and on off days.
- For now, yes. Because we have not had a raise since 2023. Inflation has hit us just like it hit everybody else. I am part of the upper management, but we need a raise, also. Correctional officers shouldn’t be making more than the sergeants. A change is needed. We shouldn’t have to beg for a raise every year.
- For the most part it is still not enough for management and program staff. We are doing program work and filling in as custody staff. I came from management to programs and took a huge pay cut, but it would help a little.
- Raises should include all correctional staff , not just Officers. Sergeants should be included, with out the Sergeants staff would have no immediate supervision. Food for throught.
