N.C. Correction Department Rethinks Inmate Clothing Policy

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By Shelby Starr

Published: 10/28/2002

For some inmates, not being able to change clothing and undergarments daily reduced their dignity.
That's why almost two weeks after the N.C. Department of Correction decided to limit the number of clothing items given to inmates, the policy was changed.
In an attempt to save money, the state prison system decided to give the state's 34,000 inmates clean underwear, socks and T-shirts every other day.
The policy went into effect Sept. 24 and was changed Oct. 10 because of feedback from inmates.
'Inmates take it as an insult on their dignity when you tell them they can only change underwear four times a week,' said Department of Correction spokesman Keith Acree.
Locally, there was a different response to the policy.
Cleveland Correctional Center Assistant Superintendent John Crow said he's heard little feedback from the facility's 128 inmates about the change.
'We have not had any significant difficulty from the inmates,' said Crow. 'They knew it was being considered, but we didn't have a lot of outcry.'
At the 230-plus inmate Gaston Correctional Center in Dallas, feedback was the same. Prison Superintendent Jim Cauble said he heard few complaints.
The state prison system was attempting to close a $500,000 budget gap when it decided to change the clothing plan.
The Department of Correction spent $5.8 million in clothing inmates last year, but the state allotted just $5.3 million for the task this year under the budget approved Sept. 30.
Prison officials found they could make ends meet by giving out fewer clean clothes.
'Four is the minimum that courts will allow us to go,' Acree said before the policy change. 'We've had some lawsuits on this in the past.
'It's an issue of dignity,' Acree said. 'Just being able to change your underwear every day means something.'
The state Legislature cut the prison system budget by more than $50 million - from $931 million to $880 million. The state informed prison superintendents they'll have to find ways to cut costs to make up for giving inmates more clean clothes to wear, Cauble said.
'We're looking at all areas of the budget in managing the inmate population,' said Crow.

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