See inside: Jail North prepares to reopen as Uptown jail overflows
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This pod at Jail North has 56 rooms. The sheriff plans to fill about four pods in the first phase of the reopening. Photo: Alexandria Sands/Axios
Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden is almost ready to reopen Jail North after it sat largely unused for nearly four years, as overcrowding strains the Uptown detention center.
Why it matters: Charlotte's sole jail right now is about 400 people over capacity, raising safety concerns.
- That means in common areas, 25-30 people are sleeping side-by-side on cots rather than in private cells, McFadden describes. More than 80 people are sharing about six showers. And a sole guard is patrolling the room, where nights are noisy.
- Two people died in custody in August.
Reality check: When the second detention center reopens in north Charlotte, the sheriff's office will move about 150-200 people to start, meaning about 200 "residents" — as McFadden calls them — will remain sleeping, essentially, on the floor.
- The people selected to move into the reopened jail are ones in programs who show the fewest behavioral issues, McFadden says.
Catch up quick: Jail North shut down in 2022 after state inspectors told McFadden the Uptown jail's staffing was inadequate, posing "an imminent threat to the safety of the inmates and staff."
- McFadden subsequently ended his agreement with the state to house juveniles at Jail North and moved the staff Uptown.
Yes, but: The population at Jail Central, which is supposed to hold only 1,791 people, has exceeded 2,200 and is now so overcrowded that McFadden says he has no option.
- "We robbed Peter to pay Paul," he says. "We took [staff] from downtown to open this up."
The big picture: The jail population has ballooned by about 700 people since January, McFadden says. That's about one month after provisions of Iryna's Law took effect.
- The legislation limited cashless bail for certain violent and repeat offenders, ultimately making it tougher for some people to be released before trial.
- McFadden has said the law came with no additional funding to account for the number of people who would be staying longer.
- He says he needs about 80 more positions to staff the centers appropriately. That's roughly 20 more people for each of the four shifts.
Inside Jail North on Thursday, pods are set up and ready for the first arrivals. Papers next to beds identify who is moving into each room, and there's a bag on each bed with hygiene items waiting for them.
- "All we did is dust it off and wipe it down," McFadden said of the facility during a tour with Axios.
- McFadden pointed out that medical supplies are stocked, the control room is ready to operate and the floors are impeccably shiny. He says he wants to see his reflection.
What's next: For security reasons, the sheriff's office isn't saying when Jail North will officially open.
- However, the date hit a setback. This week, McFadden had to get $3.2 million in funding approved by the commissioners for the first phase of the reopening — a requirement he says paused progress to bring in contractors, such as medical providers.
- McFadden indicated the county should anticipate a large request in the next budget cycle to use more of the center and return Uptown to normal capacity.
Take a look around the jail.
