Major Progress in Air Conditioning Installation Across North Carolina Prisons
In an impressive stride towards better living conditions within state prisons, North Carolina’s Department of Adult Correction (NCDAC) has completed air conditioning projects at Warren Correctional Institution and Wilkes Correctional Center, bringing comfort to nearly 90% of the state’s 39,000 prison beds.
Adult Correction Secretary Leslie Dismukes emphasized the significance of this development, stating, “Having air conditioning during hot North Carolina summers provides more comfortable living spaces for those in our custody and better working conditions for our employees.” She further expressed optimism about the completion of this initiative by 2027, contingent on the allocation of $12.48 million as requested in the governor’s budget.
The ongoing air conditioning installations, which are currently active at nine facilities, are anticipated to cover almost all prison sites by the end of 2026, leaving only four prisons without full air-conditioning by then.
Launched in 2022, the NCDAC’s mission to air-condition all prison housing areas has substantially reduced the number of non-air-conditioned beds, from 15,000 to approximately 2,700. This achievement results from a collaborative effort involving both vendor-managed projects and contributions from the NCDAC Construction Apprenticeship Program, where staff and offenders work together. More details about this program can be found on their official website.
To manage heat stress effectively, NCDAC has in place a Heat Stress Management Plan, which is annually reviewed and updated to ensure safety protocols are observed during high temperatures.
Progress updates about the air conditioning installations, including details on the status of various facilities, are made available on the NCDAC’s AC project website.
Comprising work on over 140 buildings across 40 state prisons, the air conditioning program involves not just cooling systems but also improvements in fire alarm and life safety systems, along with the installation of USB power outlets. These additions facilitate the charging of electronic tablets used by inmates, further enhancing their quality of life.
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