Alexander Correctional Institution

Alexander Correctional Institution (AXCI) is a North Carolina Department of Public Safety state prison for men, located in Taylorsville, North Carolina.[1] The facility opened in 2004 as one of three 1000-bed Close Custody prisons built in the state.

Alexander Correctional Institution
Location633 Old Landfill Road, Taylorsville, North Carolina
Statusopen
Security classclose security
Capacity1180
OpenedApril 2004
Managed byNorth Carolina Department of Public Safety

The institution is a Close Custody prison, used mainly for housing felons.[2] Inmates are assigned to one of four internal units: the Blue Unit for transferring prisoners and those with chronic health issues, Red Unit for security risk group and Mental Health prisoners, Green Unit for inmates on internal work assignments, and a Restrictive Housing Unit for disciplinary purposes.[3]

Treatment of prisoners

In August 2008, a prisoner named Timothy Helms claimed that, while in solitary confinement, a beating by corrections officers had left him a brain-damaged quadriplegic.[4] An internal investigation showed various violations of the prison's own standards (Helms had been in restrictive housing for 571 consecutive days, officers had tethered him with a nylon strap similar to a leash, medical attention was delayed until the next day, etc.). No charges were ever filed, although one prison guard resigned after the investigation.[5] Helms died in an extended-care facility in September 2010.[6]

In 2014, two Alexander inmates died within four months.[7] One of these was on March 12, when prisoner Michael Kerr died of dehydration while being transported for medical attention. Seven officers were fired after the event and another two resigned.[8] Kerr's death prompted a federal criminal investigation[9][10] and the state prison system settling a lawsuit with Kerr's heirs for $2.5 million.[11]

On June 25, 2016, officers found inmate Justin Cauble unresponsive in his cell, dead of an apparent drug overdose.[12]

References
  1. "NCDPS - Alexander Correctional Institution". Archived from the original on 2014-02-22. Retrieved 2014-02-10.
  2. "Alexander Correctional Institution opens".
  3. "NCDPS - Alexander Correctional Institution". Archived from the original on 2014-02-22. Retrieved 2014-02-10.
  4. Biesecker, Michael (1 May 2009). "No charges in case of paralyzed prisoner". Charlotte NC News & Observer. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  5. "Officer resigns amid Central Prison investigation". WRAL.com. 20 May 2009. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  6. Matt Clarke, David M. Reutter (15 July 2011). "Deaths of Three North Carolina Prisoners Raise Suspicions". Prison Legal News. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  7. Ironside, Nick (18 July 2014). "2nd inmate dies in prison – Alexander County facility reports second death in four months". hickoryrecord.com. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  8. Ironside, Nick (29 September 2014). "Home News ALEXANDER CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION -- 9 employees fired, 2 resigned, due to investigation". Hickory Daily Record. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  9. "Federal government to investigate case of NC inmate who died of thirst". WRAL.com. 2 October 2014. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  10. Dukes, Tyler (12 March 2015). "One year later, inmate's death looms over state prison mental health debate". WRAL.com. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  11. "$2.5 Million Settlement For Family Of Inmate Who Died Of Thirst". AP. 20 July 2015. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  12. "Authorities investigate inmate death at Alexander Correctional". WSOCtv.com. 26 June 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2016.

35°53′07″N 81°10′38″W

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