The Vance County Jail is under urgent scrutiny after the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) flagged dangerous conditions inside the facility — including malfunctioning fire alarms, broken cell locks, rampant contraband, and severe understaffing.
In a letter dated April 1, the state ordered the sheriff’s office to reduce the jail population to 20. Yet as of April 15, 87 people remain incarcerated. The state now demands that 20 new deputies be assigned and a recruitment plan submitted immediately — deadlines Sheriff Curtis Brame and jail leadership say are impossible to meet.
In the meantime, detained people are being relocated across the state, and the county has adopted emergency measures, including $50/hour pay for deputies covering shifts and a raise in base pay for detention staff.
This situation underscores a broader pattern: our state’s failure to fund, staff, and safely manage its carceral system — especially in rural counties like Vance.