Hubbard
It is unclear where Frederick Hubbard, who has served as head of the Scotland prison since July 2007, has been reassigned.
Department spokesman Keith Acree said state officials made the move after learning that a prisoner was located outside a building at Scotland Correctional Institution but within the fenced area of the prison. The prisoner was discovered on Feb. 2.
"The first job of this department is public safety and this kind of lapse in protocol is unacceptable and will not be tolerated," Corrections Secretary Alvin Keller said in a statement. "As a result, the prison’s administrator has been reassigned while our investigation proceeds. I also ordered that appropriate disciplinary action with other employees involved be taken as the investigation would warrant."
Acree said the DOC was uncertain what long-term action might be taken, noting that the matter was still under investigation.
"At this point, he is reassigned on a temporary basis and we haven't made any decisions beyond that," Acree said.
Acree declined to discuss the specifics of the attempted escape or of the prisoner-count procedures, citing security concerns.
An interim administrator has not yet been found, but Acree said they will probably name someone within the week.
Keller said it appears that officials at the facility failed to follow procedure. Officials have not said how long the inmate had been missing.
"Last week, correctional officers caught an inmate within the confines of Scotland Correctional Institution, who was in the process of making an escape attempt. During the investigation that has followed, it has become apparent that internal procedures for routine inmate counts were not being properly followed.
"The first job of this department is public safety and this kind of lapse in protocol is unacceptable and will not be tolerated," Keller said.
"I have alerted all prison managers and other top corrections personnel that I am taking these matters seriously and will demand high expectations and personal accountability. In addition, I have taken steps to assure a strict adherence to internal protocols system-wide to reduce the chance this occurs again."
Gov. Beverley Perdue released a statement supporting Keller.
“I will not tolerate public safety being put at risk because procedures were not followed by some prison personnel," the statement said. "I have directed Secretary Keller to take swift action based on his investigation and to take action system wide to ensure strict adherence to policies that protect the public."
Representative Garland Pierce declined to comment on the incident, citing both his wife's employment with DOC and his personal relationship with Hubbard.
Hubbard was appointed superintendent in July of 2007, but "has worked at the prison since it opened," Acree said.
Before his appointment, Hubbard served as an assistant superintendent at Scotland Correctional.
Hubbard began his career in 1983 at Southern Correctional Institution as a correctional officer. He advanced through the ranks there and at the Brown Creek and Lumberton prison facilities.
He was initially promoted to assistant superintendent for custody and operations at McCain Correctional Hospital in 2001 before moving to Scotland Correctional in 2003.
Hubbard earned a degree in criminal justice at Mount Olive College and has completed the Department of Correction’s senior leadership training.
Hubbard’s wife, Nona, is also a DOC employee in Scotland County. They have two adult children.
Scotland Correctional Institute was the first of the thousand cell high security prisons North Carolina built as part of a program started 8 years ago, Acree said.
The prison, which opened in September of 2003, employs 403 people including correctional officers, administrative, food service, medical, dental and maintenance staff.
It has a standard operating capacity of 864 inmates, with 128 segregation cells and 8 health care beds.
Post a Comment
