Sheriff McFadden responds to the State’s request to reopen Jail North as “unrealistic”

MECKLENBURG COUNTY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — The North Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice has requested that the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office reopen the Juvenile Detention Center, also known as Jail North. A request that Sheriff McFadden feels is “unrealistic” and “requires real investment.”

Jail North closed in 2022 due to COVID-related staffing issues. MCSO said it will have to recruit, hire, and train the staff necessary to reopen the detention center. Officials note that at the time it closed, it housed an average of 51 inmates every day, which “places an undue strain on the existing recruiting efforts at MCSO,” Sheriff McFadden said in a released statement.

The request from the state is not a requirement for the MSCO, Sheriff McFadden clarified. However, the sheriff’s office is already engaged in recruiting and training efforts for their own detention officers and future deputies to be enrolled in their Basic Law Enforcement Training Academy.

Sheriff McFadden feels that it is an “unrealistic” expectation to reopen Jail North when the state is also dealing with staff concerns.

“Not to mention, the state’s request comes as it has its own challenges in maintaining staffing levels within its facilities, including the Cabarrus County Juvenile Detention Center, which is currently operating at approximately 40% vacancy. The expectation that the MCSO should take on additional state responsibilities without statutory obligation or adequate support is not only unrealistic but could compromise our ongoing efforts to strengthen our staffing levels and safety within our facilities. Reopening Jail North requires more than writing a check or using the word ‘resources’ as a catch-all solution.”

Sheriff McFadden goes on to say that the state must invest in people, not promises, if they are serious about wanting MCSO to reopen Jail North.

“That means developing a strong recruitment campaign and a dedicated team to help our staff hire, train, and prepare qualified juvenile detention officers. Only then can we have a real, honest discussion about reopening the facility. Anything less would simply repeat the same mistakes and conversation of the past,” McFadden said.

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Sheriff McFadden: “unrealistic” to reopen Jail North