Today, Governor Cooper met with Secretary of Public Safety Erik Hooks and state prison leaders to discuss the incident at Pasquotank Correctional Institution and action to improve security at state prisons.
Governor Cooper released the following comment:
"We are all shocked and horrified by this violent attack on prison employees and our thoughts continue to be with the victims and their loved ones. While we are grateful for the officers’ work to prevent the inmates’ escape, we know our prisons must be made more secure, including for those who work there. I’ve directed state prison officials to take immediate action to improve safety, including suspending the inmate work program at the site where the attack happened, increasing officers in areas where inmates work, and ordering a safety review of all inmate work programs."