Mecklenburg County’s Shuttered Youth Jail Raises Safety Concerns

A critical bed shortage has plagued North Carolina's youth detention system since Mecklenburg County's center closed. State facilities now pack 425 young people into 407 spaces, straining an already taxed system.

State Department of Public Safety Deputy Secretary William Lassiter tried multiple ways to restart the center. "I tried to lease. I tried to buy. I tried to offer incentives for them to do it," Lassiter said, according to the Charlotte Observer. "All those have been rejected. At this point, I feel like the ball is in their court."

Staff shortages forced Sheriff Garry McFadden to shut the 72-bed site in 2022. Now, teens must travel to Cabarrus County for detention. The building sits idle in north Charlotte, except for its kitchen, which still feeds the main jail.

The shutdown worries District Attorney Spencer Merriweather. "When you're talking about sending a juvenile to a possibly overcrowded place where many people would consider the conditions to be substandard — then the judge is having to factor in things that don't have anything to do with public safety," Merriweather said, as reported by the Charlotte Observer.

Before closing, the site earned praise. As per the Charlotte Observer, Children's Alliance wrote, "Additional vocational training was offered, which created new options for these youth to consider upon release. This detention center was hailed as outstanding and served as a model for other jurisdictions."

McFadden wants to restart operations but faces steep hurdles. The site needs 90 workers to run. "Do I want to open the juvenile detention center? Absolutely, 100 percent," McFadden said, as shared by the Charlotte Observer. He dismissed suggestions about partial opening, noting medical care and food service need full staffing regardless of occupancy.

State takeover talks stalled. McFadden suggested moving Cabarrus staff to work under his watch, but state officials blocked the idea. The Cabarrus site holds 158 youth - far more than Jail North's capacity.

Police Chief Johnny Jennings pushed for reopening last year. "We stand with the state in support of reopening Jail North to support juvenile detention needs in Mecklenburg," Jennings wrote, as reported by the Charlotte Observer.

The closure might sway next year's sheriff race. Two candidates - Police Sgt. Ricky Robbins and ex-Detention Officer Antwain Nance - are in favor of reopening. Former Chief Deputy Rodney Collins lists other priorities first.

Three new youth sites opened in Rockingham, Perquimans, and Richmond counties after Jail North's closure. Still, Lassiter reports packed facilities statewide, with some teens sleeping on makeshift beds.