Lenoir County Sheriff addresses transparency following inmate death
Lenoir County Sheriff Jackie Rogers addressed concerns regarding transparency and safety measures in the wake of a recent inmate death at the Lenoir County Detention Center.
The Sheriff's Office confirmed that a female inmate passed away at approximately 7:15 a.m. on Saturday. The State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) is currently investigating the incident. Due to the ongoing investigation, Rogers stated, “I’m unable to make any comments about that incident.”
Sheriff Jackie Rogers held a press conference in the wake of an inmates death. Photo: Danny Perez/Neuse News.
Rogers provided an overview of the facilities and their management. “There are three jail facilities on the site of the Lenoir County Courthouse,” explained Rogers. The original jail, dating back to the 1930s, is currently closed, while the other two facilities, built in 1982 and 2012, are operational.
Rogers emphasized the efforts to ensure inmate and staff safety, stating, “We work extremely hard to prevent our inmates from getting injured or dying in our facility.”
Following an inmate death last year, the Sheriff’s Office took measures like replacing blankets and sheets with sleeping bag material to reduce injury risks. Detention officers conduct physical checks on inmates twice an hour at irregular intervals to ensure their well-being.
Sheriff Jackie Rogers held a press conference in the wake of an inmates death and provided a tour of the facilities. Photo: Danny Perez/Neuse News.
Addressing disciplinary policies and staff recruitment, Rogers informed, “We have a progressive disciplinary policy in effect to address employee deficiencies that are found.” He also highlighted the recent efforts in staffing, “As of today, we have filled all available deputy positions and are concentrating hiring efforts on vacancies in the detention center.”
The Sheriff acknowledged the increase in inmate deaths in North Carolina, attributing part of the rise to the opioid crisis. “From 2015 to 2022 jail inmate deaths in North Carolina more than doubled,” Rogers noted. The Lenoir County Detention Center is set to implement Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) starting January 29, 2023, in collaboration with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. This initiative aims to address the needs of inmates with substance use issues.
Sheriff Jackie Rogers held a press conference in the wake of an inmates death and provided a tour of the facilities. Inmates have access to tablets that they can use to take classes, read, and communicate with family. Photo: Danny Perez/Neuse News.
Rogers concluded with a commitment to ongoing evaluation and improvement, “We are in a constant process of determining what we do right, what we do wrong, and what we can do better.”
The Lenoir County Sheriff's Office remains dedicated to maintaining transparency and safety within its facilities.