RALEIGH — A new legislative subcommittee will examine how thousands of inmates — including individuals convicted of violent crimes — were released early from North Carolina prisons under a COVID‑era legal settlement. Rep. Brenden Jones (R‑Columbus) has been appointed co‑chair, placing him at the center of one of the General Assembly’s most high‑profile investigations this session.
The panel, formed under the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations, will review the state’s handling of more than 4,200 inmate releases carried out during former Gov. Roy Cooper’s administration. The releases stemmed from a 2020 settlement intended to reduce prison populations during the pandemic.
Jones: “We need answers for the people of North Carolina”
Jones said the subcommittee’s work will focus on how decisions were made, what criteria were used, and whether the public was adequately informed. Legislative leaders have raised concerns that the list of released inmates — which included individuals convicted of violent offenses — was not made public until lawmakers obtained the records earlier this year.
The subcommittee will also examine:
- The role of state agencies in approving releases
- Oversight of parole and post‑release supervision
- Impacts on public safety and local communities
- How the Attorney General’s Office handled the settlement negotiations
- Broader issues within the prison system, including staffing and facility operations
Jones said the review is necessary to “restore transparency” and ensure that decisions affecting public safety are fully documented.
Scope Extends Beyond the Pandemic
While the early‑release settlement is the catalyst for the investigation, lawmakers say the subcommittee will also evaluate ongoing challenges inside the state’s correctional system. That includes staffing shortages, inmate violence, healthcare access, and the state’s ability to manage high‑risk offenders.
Jones, who represents Columbus County and portions of southeastern North Carolina, has been outspoken on prison‑system issues in recent years, including officer safety and facility security.
Hearings Expected to Begin Soon
The subcommittee is expected to hold its first hearings in the coming weeks. Legislators will call witnesses from the Department of Adult Correction, the Attorney General’s Office, and other agencies involved in the settlement and release process.
The findings could lead to policy changes, new reporting requirements, or legislative oversight measures.
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