Detention Center Takeover in North Carolina Highlights Staffing Crisis in Prisons

The recent takeover of the Bertie-Martin Regional Detention Center in Windsor, North Carolina has amplified existing concerns about the ability to safely operate prisons and jails in the United States. A growing issue is chronic staffing shortages, which have been highlighted repeatedly by federal watchdogs as a systemic risk.

According to the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, inmates at the facility overpowered correctional staff and seized control early on Monday. This incident follows years of alarms raised by officials who warn that staffing shortages strain prison systems. A 2023 report from the Department of Justice Office of Inspector General found that 21% of authorized correctional officer positions were unfilled. This has forced the Federal Bureau of Prisons to rely on non-custody staff to guard housing units, impacting safe operations.

In North Carolina, about one in four prisons have 50% or more of correctional officer positions vacant, according to data from December 2025 by the Department of Adult Correction. Lawmakers attribute shortages to staff burnout, heightened inmate tensions, and instances of violence. These deficiencies also mean inmates experience reduced access to essential services like healthcare.

“Staffing issues and conditions of the jail, if any, would have to be learned through the process of the investigation.” — Bertie County Sheriff’s Office.

There were 88 inmates and three guards inside the jail when the disturbance started around 5 a.m. Two guards were taken hostage while the third managed to escape. Negotiations led to the release of 18 inmates and the two guard hostages over four hours later. The state bureau confirmed all inmates and staff were safe and accounted for, with injured individuals receiving treatment.

The detention center remains secured while the damage assessment continues. Although the catalyst for the takeover remains unclear, Governor Josh Stein emphasized the importance of holding perpetrators accountable and improving recruitment, retention, and compensation for jail and prison staff to prevent similar incidents.

Persistent Staffing Crisis

The takeover highlights a staffing crisis in North Carolina’s correctional system, where fatal attacks have occurred due to understaffing. In 2017, inmate attacks led to the deaths of four corrections employees at Pasquotank Correctional Institution and another at Bertie Correctional Institution.

Investigations revealed staffing issues as a central factor in these events. At the time, vacancy rates at the two prisons were between 20% and 28%, according to a report by The Charlotte Observer. In January, Leslie Cooley Dismukes, Secretary of North Carolina’s Department of Adult Correction, informed lawmakers there was a shortfall of 4,703 correctional officer positions.

Nationwide Jail Staffing Issues

Staff shortages are a nationwide issue. The DOJ’s Office of Inspector General identifies staffing shortages as critical challenges facing the Federal Bureau of Prisons, posing risks to inmates, employees, and the public. Legislation in July 2025 allocated $5 billion for addressing staffing issues, with $3 billion for hiring and training new employees.

Retaining current staff is equally important. House Judiciary Democrats warned shortages lead to burnout and weakened emergency responses. A notable example occurred in February 2025, when thousands of New York state correctional officers went on a three-week strike against poor working conditions. Governor Kathy Hochul deployed the National Guard, fired over 2,000 officers who did not return, and later released inmates due to inadequate staffing.

Similar incidents have occurred elsewhere, most notably a 2018 riot at South Carolina’s Lee Correctional Institution resulted in seven deaths and 20 injuries. Investigations blamed staffing shortages and faulty door locks for the incident. While staffing issues have not been definitively linked to the recent North Carolina takeover, the presence of only three officers for 88 inmates underscores the challenge of safely managing understaffed correctional environments.