Mecklenburg County Sheriff Responds To Detention Center Concerns

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The following is a response by Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden regarding concerns about the Mecklenburg County Detention Center-Central.

I am deeply concerned by the recent inaccurate statements and allegations regarding the Mecklenburg County Detention-Central (MCDCC). It appears that some of our criminal justice partners have made claims without clear understanding and these claims have been reported without thorough fact checking.

Contrary to the allegations, MCDCC is not overcrowded. The facility has a suggested capacity of nearly 1,900 and as of 8:30 AM today, the population count was 1,322. We are NOT requiring residents to sleep on the floor. However, based on custody level some may be placed in overflow status and given a stack-a-bunk to sleep on, along with a mattress, and linen (2 sheets and 1 blanket). This number fluctuates daily depending on custody levels and court releases.

The Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) maintains a weekly cleaning schedule for all pods. In addition to this, we enforce two mandatory cleanup days during which residents are responsible for cleaning their cells, dayroom area, the recreation yard, and the bathrooms. It is also the responsibility of all field training officers, sergeants, and captains assigned to a shift, to inspect the housing units for cleanliness throughout their tour of duty.

There has been a concern about a shortage of jumpsuits, which, we have discovered residents have been hoarding. During multiple searches of housing units, we have discovered jumpsuits in bulk. To address this issue, we have approved a new position dedicated to managing the hoarding problem. While we do not currently have a surplus of jumpsuits that display the words “MCSO”, there are
jumpsuits available at Detention Center-North, that display “Mecklenburg County Jail”. In an effort to change the stigma associated with incarceration, we have decided not to use those uniforms. We have placed an order for additional uniforms, expected to arrive in November/December. In the meantime, we will continue conducting searches to retrieve any extra jumpsuits.

Staffing at MCSO has been a topic of discussion for several years. We are continuously looking to hire qualified candidates who meet our standards. Regarding MCDCC, we have an adequate number of staff to ensure smooth operations. Each pod is staffed with a pod supervisor, with staff stationed in the hallways, along with sergeants, captains, administrative staff, and tactical response unit (TRU) team members available to assist as needed.

MCSO has always been committed to transparency. If our criminal justice partners have concerns, we encourage them to bring those concerns directly to us, rather than spreading inaccurate information. We are aware of their complaints regarding bail, trial delays, and court hearings; however as legal professionals, they should understand that MCSO does not control these factors. I will continue to defend MCSO against these baseless allegations that lack merit. I will also keep engaging those who recognize the seriousness of re-entry housing, combatting mental health, and poverty reform. I am looking to invite those who are committed to seeing true reform and a balanced criminal justice system, not just during election season.