Inmates transferred to local center to help with COVID-19 outbreak at NC prison

BURKE COUNTY, N.C. — More than 100 inmates were transferred to a local confinement center to help with a COVID-19 outbreak at another North Carolina prison.

The inmates were moved to the Burke Confinement in Response Center south of Morganton from Johnston Correctional in Smithfield, which was temporarily closed so that its staff could help with the outbreak.

Offenders housed at the Burke CRV center for parole technical violations were moved to Foothills or Morrison correctional institutions or released on supervision.

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Channel 9 learned the decision to transfer the inmates was made to free up staff to help at Neuce Correctional in Goldboro, where 13 staff members and 330 inmates are infected with the virus.

98% of the cases at Neuce aren’t showing symptoms and nearly 200 more results are still pending.

According to officials, none of the inmates who were transferred tested positive for COVID-19.

Prison leaders said the staff at Neuce have been working in the toughest conditions since the outbreak began and desperately needed the support from the moves made statewide.

Eyewitness News reporter Dave Faherty was at the Burke Confinement in Response Center Monday morning. He said detention officers could be seen wearing masks, but inmates were not.

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Inmates were also not practicing social distancing while in the outdoor area at the center.

The North Carolina Division of Prisons said that everyone is being encouraged to practice social distancing.

Residents who live near the CRV center told Channel 9 they aren’t opposed to relocating inmates as long as its done safely.

“As long as they’re not sick and they’re already confined as it is I don’t see a problem with it,” resident Tabitha Hawkins said.

Prison leaders said every one of the inmates moved to Burke County underwent medical screenings, including temperature checks, before leaving and after arriving at the center.