Overcrowding crisis prompts reopening of Detention Center North

CHARLOTTE — Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden says Detention Center North will reopen in August, marking the first time the facility has housed inmates since it was closed to juveniles in 2022 because of staffing and budget shortages.

The announcement comes as Detention Center Central faces what McFadden calls a “capacity crisis.”

Nearly 300 people are currently being held in overflow areas, many sleeping on temporary stack‑a‑bunk setups.

The sheriff has repeatedly warned that overcrowding is straining both staff and residents.

Dr. Kenneth Robinson with Freedom Fighting Missionaries, who has been incarcerated in overcrowded facilities himself, said no one should have to endure those conditions.

“I know what it’s like to sleep on the floor, to sleep on stack‑a‑bunks,” Robinson said. “Not only for those inside, but for the staff.”

During a Channel 9 debate in January, McFadden acknowledged he was open to reopening Jail North but said it would be difficult because the facility requires 98 employees to operate, along with additional costs for food and healthcare.

Now, the sheriff’s office is launching an aggressive hiring initiative to bring on 50 detention officers immediately.

Frank Crawford, Director of Advocacy for the Children’s Alliance, has spent years pushing to reopen Jail North for its original purpose — housing juvenile inmates.

He believes the facility could safely house both juveniles and adults, as long as they are kept separate as required by state law.

“Right now, our kids are scattered all over the state,” Crawford said. “That’s no good for anybody. We need our kids here, in their county.”

Channel 9 has asked the sheriff’s office whether juveniles will be housed at the facility once it reopens and is awaiting clarification.

McFadden has pointed to several factors driving the population surge, including the passage of Iryna’s Law in North Carolina last year.

The law makes people accused of violent crimes and those with three or more convictions in the past decade ineligible for unsecured bond, meaning they must pay cash to be released.

Critics argue that many defendants cannot afford to pay, keeping them in jail longer and contributing to overcrowding.

In a statement, McFadden said:

“As we move into the summer months — when crime tends to increase — reopening Detention Center North is a necessary step to help manage the overcrowding while we continue working through these ongoing challenges.”

The sheriff says operational details are still being finalized.

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