Access to jail policies should be routine. When Emancipate NC requested records related to jail operations, other counties across the state responded promptly and in full. Durham County, however, took a very different approach.
Instead of making the records available for public inspection, the Durham County Sheriff’s Office resisted disclosure—releasing only one chapter at a time, with heavy redactions that limited meaningful public oversight. In response, Emancipate NC took legal action to enforce the public’s right to transparency regarding how people are treated in custody.
In October, a Special Superior Court Judge dismissed the lawsuit, citing deference to the Sheriff as an elected official. While the ruling was disappointing, Emancipate NC remains committed to accountability and to ensuring that jail conditions meet basic standards of humanity and dignity.
Following the decision, Team Emancipate shifted focus to public education and civic engagement, emphasizing the importance of voting for local officials who share a commitment to transparency and humane jail conditions. Continuing that work, Emancipate NC hosted a public forum in October to discuss conditions inside local jails and to examine the profound ways incarceration impacts families and communities.
That advocacy is already making a difference. In December, after sustained pressure from Emancipate NC and coalition partners, the Durham County Sheriff restored in-person visitation at the jail—an important step toward preserving family connections and dignity for incarcerated people.
Emancipate NC will continue to push for transparency, accountability, and policies that are centered on the humanity of those most impacted by the criminal legal system.