North Carolina Administrative Code

SECTION .1000 - HEALTH CARE OF INMATES AND EXERCISE 10A NCAC 14J .1001 MEDICAL PLAN (a) A governing body shall develop and adopt a written medical plan in compliance with G.S. 153A-225. The medical plan shall be available for reference by jail personnel. The medical plan shall in…

10A NCAC 14J .1002 Screening of Inmates (a) Medical personnel, mental health personnel, or an officer shall conduct and document screenings of each inmate upon admission for the following: (1) medical care needs; (2) mental health care needs; (3) developmental and intellectual di…

10A NCAC 14J .1003 MEDICAL ISOLATION Each jail shall separate inmates who require medical isolation from other inmates, either by housing them in a separate area of the jail or by transferring them to another facility. History Note: Authority G.S. 153A-221; Eff. June 1, 1990; Pur…

10A NCAC 14J .1004 EXERCISE After the fourteenth consecutive day of confinement, each inmate shall be provided opportunities for physical exercise at least three days weekly for a period of one hour each of the days. Physical exercise shall take place either in the confinement un…

SECTION .1100 - REPORTS 10A NCAC 14J .1101 MONTHLY REPORT FOR JAILS The sheriff or the administrator of a regional jail shall complete a monthly report on Form DHR-JDS-1 and send it to the Section no later than the tenth day of the following month. History Note: Authority G.S. 15…

10A NCAC 14J .1102 REPORT OF DEATH The report of an inmate death required by G.S. 153A-225 shall be submitted to the Section within five days. History Note: Authority G.S. 153A-221; Eff. June 1, 1990; Amended Eff. June 1, 1993; Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A, rule is necessary witho…

SECTION .1200 - STANDARDS FOR NEW JAIL DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION 10A NCAC 14J .1201 APPLICABILITY - CONSTRUCTION History Note: Authority G.S. 153A-221; Eff. June 1, 1990; Amended Eff. June 1, 1992; Repealed Eff. September 4, 2020.

10A NCAC 14J .1202 CONSULTATION AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE In compliance with G.S. 153A-220(1), the Construction Section shall provide consultation and technical assistance to a governing body in the planning and construction of a new jail or an addition, alteration, or repair of a…

10A NCAC 14J .1203 COMPLIANCE REVIEW AND APPROVAL (a) Prior to the construction of a new jail or the construction of an addition or alteration to an existing jail I and II, the governing body shall submit the following to the Construction Section for review and approval: (1) two …

10A NCAC 14J .1204 SPECIFIC CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS (a) Jails that restrain inmates under lock and key within a building shall meet the requirements of the North Carolina State Building Code for "Institutional Occupancy - Restrained" and the additional security requirements imp…

10A NCAC 14J .1205 reserved for future codification

10A NCAC 14J .1206 ELEVATORS Elevators that open into the jail shall be secure and shall be under the control and observation of officers. History Note: Authority G.S. 153A-221; Eff. June 1, 1990; Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A, rule is necessary without substantive public interest …

10A NCAC 14J .1207 INMATE PROCESSING AREA and padded cell (a) Each jail that performs a booking and release function shall have an inmate processing area that includes the following: (1) a separate inmate entrance; (2) a holding area with seating and access to a toilet, lavatory,…

10A NCAC 14J .1208 VISITATION AREAS (a) Each jail shall provide an area for visitation. (b) If provided, noncontact visitation areas shall: (1) provide seating for the inmate and visitors; (2) provide a view panel with minimum dimensions of 1' x 1' between the inmate and visitors…

10A NCAC 14J .1209 MEDICAL AREA (a) Each jail shall have a medical area that provides the following: (1) a door that may be locked; (2) locked storage for equipment, supplies, medications and medical records; (3) an examination table and a handicapped-accessible sink, toilet and …

10A NCAC 14J .1210 OTHER AREAS (a) Each jail that does not contract for meals shall have a kitchen. However, if a county or a region has more than one jail, it shall be required to provide only one kitchen if that kitchen meets the needs of the inmates in all of the jails. (b) Ea…

10A NCAC 14J .1211 ADMINISTRATIVE FACILITIES Each jail shall provide space at some location for the following administrative activities: (1) Secretarial support; (2) Record storage; (3) Training materials and resources; (4) Mailboxes and bulletin boards for officers; (5) In-servi…

10A NCAC 14J .1212 FLOORS, CEILINGS, AND WALLS (a) Ceilings and walls in confinement units, cellblocks, dayrooms, the inmate processing area, and the medical area shall have a finished surface that is cleanable, nontoxic, and of light colors. (b) Floors in confinement units, cell…

10A NCAC 14J .1213 SHOWERS AND PLUMBING FIXTURES (a) Each jail shall provide at least one shower for every eight inmates. (b) A shower stall floor shall be sloped to a floor drain that prevents water from draining outside the shower stall. The floor used to access the shower stal…

10A NCAC 14J .1214 WINDOWS AND GLAZING (a) If glazing affords persons from outside of the jail a view of inmates inside the jail, the glazing shall: (1) admit natural light into the confinement unit or dayroom; (2) be diffused or obscured to prevent persons from outside the jail …

10A NCAC 14J .1215 DOORS, Bunks, Locks, and fasteners (a) A jail shall provide doors, locks, and detention hardware that are rated by the manufacturer as security-type and as acceptable for use in correctional facilities. (b) Fasteners used in inmate accessible areas shall be rat…

10A NCAC 14J .1216 SAFETY EQUIPMENT In each jail the safety equipment, including intercoms, fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, and sprinkler heads, shall be tamper-resistant if necessary for security. Two-way voice communications shall comply with Rule .0601 of this Subchapter.…

10A NCAC 14J .1217 MECHANICAL SYSTEMS (a) Each jail shall have heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems that are capable of maintaining temperatures in confinement units at not less than 68 degrees Fahrenheit during the heating season and not more than 85 degrees Fahren…

10A NCAC 14J .1218 PLUMBING SYSTEMS (a) A jail shall have a hot water supply for lavatories and showers designed to meet the needs of the number of inmates confined in the jail, as determined by the governing body. The hot water temperature at lavatories and showers used by inmat…

10A NCAC 14J .1219 ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS (a) Each jail shall have an electrical system that provides artificial lighting of not less than: (1) 30 footcandles of light at floor level in confinement units and dayrooms that can be reduced during sleeping hours; and (2) 20 footcandles o…

10A NCAC 14J .1220 ADDITIONAL SECURITY REQ/ "INSTITUTIONAL OCCUPANCY-RESTRAINED" JAILS Each jail that is required to meet the "Institutional Occupancy - Restrained" requirements of the North Carolina State Building Code shall also meet the following security requirements: (1) Eac…

10A NCAC 14J .1221 CONFINEMENT UNITS The governing body shall decide what confinement unit or combination of confinement units it will include in its jail: single segregation cells, single cells, multiple occupancy cells, or dormitories provided each county or region has the mean…

10A NCAC 14J .1222 STANDARDS FOR SINGLE SEGREGATION CELLS Each single cell used for segregation shall have: (1) a shower or access to a shower; (2) a telephone jack or other telephone arrangement; (3) a food pass; (4) a minimum floor space of 70 square feet, a minimum floor dimen…

10a NCAC 14J .1223 STANDARDS FOR SINGLE CELLS Each single cell shall have: (1) a minimum floor space of 50 square feet; (2) a minimum floor dimension of 7 feet; (3) a toilet, a sink, a drinking fountain and a security mirror; and (4) access to a dayroom. The requirements of Parag…

10A NCAC 14J .1224 STANDARDS FOR MULTIPLE OCCUPANCY CELLS Each multiple occupancy cell shall house no more than four inmates and shall have: (1) a minimum floor space of 50 square feet for the first inmate and 35 square feet of floor space for each additional inmate; (2) a minimu…

10A NCAC 14J .1225 STANDARDS FOR DAYROOMS Each dayroom shall have: (1) a security vestibule at its entrance; (2) a floor space of not less than 105 square feet or 35 square feet per inmate, whichever is greater; (3) seating for the capacity of the cellblock; (4) table space for t…

10A NCAC 14J .1226 STANDARDS FOR DORMITORIES A dormitory shall meet the requirements of G.S. 153A-221(d). History Note: Authority G.S. 153A-221; Eff. June 1, 1990; Amended Eff. December 1, 1991; Readopted Eff. September 4, 2020.

SECTION .1300 - INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT OF MINIMUM STANDARDS 10A NCAC 14J .1301 INSPECTIONS All jails shall be visited and inspected at least twice each year, but a jail shall be inspected more frequently if the Department considers it necessary or if it is required by an agre…

10A NCAC 14J .1302 REPORT OF INSPECTION (a) The procedures contained in G.S. 153A-222 shall govern all inspections except those that find noncompliance with one or more of the provisions listed in Paragraph (b) of this Rule. (b) The inspector shall forward a copy of the inspectio…

10A NCAC 14J .1303 DETERMINATION THAT CONDITIONS JEOPARDIZE INMATES (a) The Secretary shall determine whether conditions in the jail jeopardize the safe custody, safety, health or welfare of its inmates within 30 days after receipt of the inspection report and the supporting mate…

10A NCAC 14J .1304 AGREEMENT OF CORRECTION (a) Before ordering corrective action or ordering the jail closed, the Secretary may direct the governing body to enter into an agreement of correction. If the Secretary chooses this option, he shall require the governing body to enter i…

10A NCAC 14J .1305 ORDER OF CORRECTIVE ACTION OR ORDER OF CLOSURE If the Secretary determines that an agreement of correction is not appropriate, or if he determines that a jail is not brought into compliance within the time period required by an agreement of correction, the Secr…

10A NCAC 14J .1306 DESIGNATION BY SECRETARY The Secretary may designate a person to act for him with respect to matters covered by this Section. The designation shall be in writing and it shall be on file with the Section. History Note: Authority G.S. 153A-220; 153A-221; Eff. Jun…

SECTION .1400 - SATELLITE JAIL/WORK RELEASE UNITS 10A NCAC 14J .1401 APPLICABILITY The standards for definitions, operations, construction and enforcement contained in Sections .0100 - .1300 that apply to jails shall also apply to satellite jail/work release units. History Note: …

SECTION .1500 - CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS FOR EXISTING FACILITIES 10A NCAC 14J .1501 DEFINITIONS The following definitions shall apply in 10A NCAC 14J .1500: (1) "County jail" is a detention facility designated for the confinement of persons for varying periods of time including per…

10A NCAC 14J .1502 BUILDING MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS (a) The walls and roof shall be made of: (1) reinforced concrete that complies with the North Carolina State Building Code, or (2) masonry that complies with approved plans and specifications, or (3) other materi…

10A NCAC 14J .1503 DOORS (a) All doors that open into booking or control areas of jails shall be security doors as specified in Rules .1514 and .1515 of this Section, unless other exterior security is provided, including either a sally port, a controlled gate, or fencing. (b) Exi…

10A NCAC 14J .1504 WINDOWS AND SECURITY SCREENING (a) All windows shall open and close to provide ventilation unless mechanical cooling or forced air circulation is provided. (b) Windows shall be constructed of such material to contain persons within the enclosed area and to prov…

10A NCAC 14J .1505 SINGLE ROOM REQUIREMENTS (a) Single room areas shall be a minimum of five feet by seven feet by eight feet. (b) The room shall have a combination lavatory, commode and drinking fountain (see Rule .1534 of this Section). (c) Isolation rooms shall have hot and co…

10A NCAC 14J .1506 MULTIPLE ROOM REQUIREMENTS (a) The capacity of multi-room units shall not exceed four inmates. (b) The minimum room area shall be nine feet by seven feet by eight feet. (c) The room shall have a combination lavatory, commode and drinking fountain (see Rule .153…

10a NCAC 14J .1507 DORMITORY AREA REQUIREMENTS IN JAILS (a) The capacity of dormitories shall not exceed 16. (b) The minimum room area for each inmate shall be 50 square feet and 400 cubic feet per inmate. (c) Each dormitory shall have one combination commode, drinking fountain, …

10A NCAC 14J .1508 DORMITORY AREA REQUIREMENTS IN COUNTY JAIL ANNEXES Dormitory areas in county jail annexes must not exceed the rated capacity as approved by the Section. History Note: Authority G.S. 153A-220; 153A-221; Eff. June 1, 1990; Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A, rule is nec…

10A NCAC 14J .1509 DAYROOM AND SAFETY VESTIBULE REQUIREMENTS: COUNTY JAIL (a) Confinement units with a capacity of over four persons, except for dormitories, shall provide a dayroom of equal area to the sleeping areas. (b) The dayroom area shall have an approved shower with hot a…

10A NCAC 14J .1510 HOLDING AREAS (a) Each facility with a capacity of 30 or more inmates shall have a secure holding area adjacent to the booking area where inmates can be held pending their commitment. (b) The holding area shall be under observation by administrative jail person…

10A NCAC 14J .1511 OTHER AREAS (a) Each facility shall have sufficient storage space. (b) Each county jail shall have a medical examining room that at least is equipped with an examining table and a lavatory. (c) Each jail with a capacity of more than 20 inmates shall have secure…