North Carolina Prisons Near Full Air Conditioning as Major Milestone Achieved
In a significant development for the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction (NCDAC), 90% of the state’s prison beds are now housed in air-conditioned facilities. This milestone follows the recent completion of air conditioning installations at Warren Correctional Institution and Wilkes Correctional Center.
“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,” noted Adult Correction Secretary Leslie Dismukes. She further expressed optimism about the future, aiming for all prison housing areas to be air-conditioned by 2027, contingent on the approval of a $12.48 million budget request included in the governor’s proposed budget.
As of now, air conditioning projects are actively underway in nine prison facilities, with a target to have all but four prisons fully air-conditioned by late 2026. The initiative began in 2022, addressing a significant gap where only 63% of beds were air-conditioned, leaving over 15,000 inmates in non-air-conditioned environments. Currently, around 2,700 beds remain without air conditioning.
The air conditioning upgrades are a collaborative effort utilizing both vendor-managed projects and in-house work through the NCDAC Construction Apprenticeship Program, involving staff and offenders alike.
Beyond air conditioning, the projects have expanded to include enhancements like fire alarm and life safety system upgrades, along with the installation of USB power outlets for easier charging of electronic tablets used by inmates. In total, the program covers over 140 buildings across 40 state prisons.
To ensure safety during extreme temperatures, NCDAC has established a Heat Stress Management Plan, which undergoes an annual review and update. This plan provides guidelines for prison staff to maintain safety during high heat conditions.
Updates on the air conditioning initiative are regularly shared on the NCDAC’s AC project website, detailing the progress and status of installations across the state’s prisons.
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