How and why North Carolina counties determine to build or expand jails, the costs of those decisions and possible alternatives.

Illustration by Mariano Santillan / Carolina Public Press

Many Northward Carolina counties are betting their futures on bigger jails, guided by consultants who could profit from designing them. Counties don't e'er weigh the long-term costs of putting their money on bigger jails instead of other options. Relying on revenue from  housing inmates for other governments could cost counties more than they earn, especially if that revenue stream dries up. But advocates for reform are pointing to legislative and policy alternatives that could eliminate the need for repeatedly edifice more cells. Raising Jails is fabricated possible in part with support from the Fund for Investigative Journalism, a national foundation that supports the investigative reporting efforts of contained journalists and news organizations, and through the support of readers like you. Y'all can support nonpartisan in-depth and investigative journalism in North Carolina from our nonprofit newsroom by becoming a member today.

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NC counties base of operations jail decisions on controversial consultant work
Next cells at the Catawba County Detention Heart in Newton, which were undergoing renovations in September. Jordan Wilkie / Carolina Public Press

NC counties base of operations jail decisions on controversial consultant work

Recommendations to build bigger jails oftentimes come from aforementioned firms that state jail pattern contracts. Consultant methods may stack deck in favor of big investments in jail construction.

NC counties look for alternatives to spending millions on bigger jails
Heavy equipment prepares a Dobson site for a new Surry County jail. Jordan Wilkie / Carolina Public Press

NC counties wait for alternatives to spending millions on bigger jails

With costs of repeatedly expanding jail beds mounting, some counties willing to bet some of their funding on hope of anti-addiction efforts and other programs.

NC jails paid to house other governments' detainees face tricky math, policy questions
Bladen County Sheriff James A. McVicker follows jail administrator David Shaw into the new Bladen County jail on Oct. 6 in Elizabethtown. Melissa Sue Gerrits / Carolina Public Press

NC jails paid to house other governments' detainees face up catchy math, policy questions

Revenues from housing federal, state or other counties' inmates don't e'er add up to profits for NC counties.

Beyond jails: Exploring policy changes to reduce need for bigger jails in NC
From left, Kathy Greggs, Serena Johnson and Paul Taylor protest Oct. 5 in front of the Cumberland County Courthouse in Fayetteville, demanding the county finish evicting people. They come across criminal justice reforms tied to other social policy changes and advocate for money currently spent on the jail to be reinvested in public housing or violence intervention programs. Hashemite kingdom of jordan Wilkie / Carolina Public Press

Beyond jails: Exploring policy changes to reduce demand for bigger jails in NC

Many urban counties take cutting jail populations through reforms, but rural counties have seen increases in inmates.

Resource: A look at data on building jails in North Carolina

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Contributors

This serial is produced by the news team of Carolina Public Press.
Reporting by Hashemite kingdom of jordan Wilkie.
Photos by Anthony Crider, Melissa Sue Gerrits, Colby Rabon and Jordan Wilkie.
Illustration by Mariano Santillan.
Graphics past Anna Deen.
Editing by Frank Taylor and Laura Lee.