DPS Prisons

Emergency Preparedness and Response
-Division of Adult CorrectionPresented by Zachary Kendall, Prisons Security Specialist
Overview of Prisons and
Community Corrections
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66 correctional facilities statewide
17,632 total Prisons positions (13, 766 certified
positions)
Approximately 38,500 inmates overall
Community Corrections has 2,036 certified
positions and supervises approximately 104,000
offenders. Probation officers can supplement
law enforcement in serious emergencies.
Advantages and Strengths
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Large in size; public safety oriented; focused on
preventing problems and responding quickly and
capably when they occur.
Special Teams and other Specialized Resources
Secure, self-contained facilities can be largely selfsufficient during emergencies
Significant Communication and Transportation
capabilities
Wide Geographic Diversity of Facilities and Resources
Experience with real emergencies each year
Preparation for Emergencies
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The primary mission of Prisons is to protect the
general public by keeping offenders safely and
securely housed in our facilities. Because
correctional facilities are 24/7/365 operations,
we take specific measures to prepare for
anticipated emergencies such as hurricanes. By
ensuring our own readiness for uninterrupted
operations, we enhance our ability to respond to
the needs of other agencies and the public when
an emergency or major disaster occurs.
Prisons Disaster Preparations
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Fully stock facility food supplies
Ensure that all vehicles are fully fueled
Generators fully fueled and tested
Effects on personnel and staffing considered
Evacuation & COOP plans reviewed
Management and SERT begin briefings
Command Post established
Maintain close communication with NCEM
Resources to Assist the Public
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Transportation: 83 Buses; and approximately 1800
other vehicles under agency control statewide.
Inmate Litter Crews: Minimum Custody inmates under
supervision of a correctional officer are mobile, flexible,
and effective for debris cleanup. There are currently 51
crews statewide.
Prison Emergency Response Team (PERT) 450+
highly trained staff and 35 Bloodhounds for search
efforts.
Additional Resources as Requested
Hurricane Irene(2011): Selected NCDPS / Prisons Labor Projects
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2 crews from Pasquotank worked in the town of Columbia cleaning up town
properties. 480 inmate hours, 80 hours staff labor. Completed on 9/2.
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1 crew from Pasquotank worked in the town of Winton cleaning up town properties.
400 inmate hours, 40 hours staff labor. Completed on 9/2.
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1 crew from Duplin CC worked in the town of Snow Hill cleaning up town properties.
192 inmate hours, 24 hours staff labor. Completed on 9/6.
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1 crew from Carteret CC worked for Div. of Marine Fisheries picking up 500+ tires
from Atlantic Beach. 64 hours inmate labor, 8 hours staff labor. Completed on 8/29.
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2 extra inmates have been assigned to work at the Pasquotank Co. landfill to
supplement the 4 inmates that already work out there, to deal with increased debris
coming into the site.
Recommendation
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Consider increasing the number of inmate labor
crews. This could be accomplished by reinstating the Community Work Crew (CWC)
Program, which provided supervised inmate
labor for short-term projects to towns, county
and local governments, school systems, and
other public agencies throughout the year. This
program also gave Prisons significant and
widespread disaster relief and cleanup
capabilities following emergencies.
November 21, 2012 New York Times Article (Excerpts)
“Jailed and Jailers Pitched in Help After Storm”
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MOBILIZED A GROUP OF CORRECTION OFFICERS TO DELIVER
TRUCKLOADS OF CANNED AND DRIED GOODS FROM THE
ISLAND’S FOOD SUPPLY AND TO USE EMERGENCY RELIEF
SUPPLIES FROM THE JAIL’S WAREHOUSES, INCLUDING BOTTLED
WATER AND BLANKETS. THE AGENCY ALSO DELIVERED
CLOTHING TO RELIEF CENTERS IN THE CITY, INCLUDING
JACKETS KEPT FOR INMATES.
OFFICERS TOOK GENERATORS AND BACKUP LIGHTS FROM
VARIOUS JAILS TO BREEZY POINT, QUEENS, AND OTHER
LOCATIONS. CORRECTION DEPARTMENT BUSES AND VANS
TRANSPORTED EVACUEES ON STATEN ISLAND AND SHUTTLED
RECOVERY WORKERS IN BROOKLYN.
CAPT. RICHARD POLAK, WHO HELPS OVERSEE THE LAUNDRY AT
RIKERS, ACCOMPANIED OTHER CORRECTION OFFICERS TO PICK
UP SHEETS, BLANKETS, TOWELS AND CLOTHES FROM A DOZEN
SHELTERS IN STORM-STRUCK PARTS OF THE CITY. THE ITEMS
WERE RETURNED LAUNDERED WITHIN HOURS. IT WAS THE
FIRST TIME RIKERS’S LAUNDRY WAS USED TO HELP IN A
CITYWIDE EMERGENCY, THE CORRECTION AGENCY SAID.
Thank You
Zachary R. Kendall
Security Specialist
NCDPS / Prisons Security Services
zachary.kendall@ncdps.gov