Tag Archive for: #northcarolinadepartmentofpublicsafety

Newly Hired Correctional Officers to Get Training More Quickly

/by

Department Implements New Approach to Correctional Officer Training 

RALEIGH – In an effort to improve safety at state prisons, the Department of Public Safety is launching a new approach to train newly hired correctional officers more quickly. New officers will begin basic correctional officer training at the start of their second week on the job, following one week of orientation at their work location.  By attending basic training within the first couple of weeks of employment, correctional officers will learn the policies, procedures, skills and abilities to help them be successful.

“This new approach to training will better equip newly hired correctional officers so they excel at keeping order in the prisons for the safety of staff, inmates and ultimately the public,” said Public Safety Secretary Erik A. Hooks.

Adult Correction has redirected existing resources to immediately provide this training to new hires and is working to make sure that all officers already on the job have attended basic training. In addition, Secretary Hooks said that he and division leaders are working with managers throughout the state to find ways to improve prison operations.

“Redirecting training resources is important to provide the foundation officers need to understand working in a correctional environment,” said W. David Guice, chief deputy secretary of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice.  “Well-trained officers who are confident working in this environment will enhance public safety.”

The current basic correctional officer training curriculum is under wholesale review and may be expanded. The leaders of Adult Corrections will take a more hands-on role during training to help emphasize professionalism, ethics and the importance of a public safety career. In addition, supervisory training improvements are also being considered.

“To improve operations, we’re researching and analyzing best practices including in hiring, entry and exit procedures and contraband control, and I am committed to making changes where appropriate,” Secretary Hooks added.

Daquan Foster sentenced in local Rape Case

/by

A special setting of Vance County Criminal Superior Court was held Monday, December 19, 2016. The Honorable Robert H. Hobgood Senior Resident Superior Court Judge for Franklin, Granville, Vance, and Warren Counties presided for the term. The Office of District Attorney Mike Waters was represented by Assistant District Attorneys Melissa D. Pelfrey and Onica F. Fuller. The single matter scheduled for hearing was the sentencing of Daquan Keith Foster.

Defendant Daquan Foster was convicted of First Degree Rape on December 4, 2015, before the same judge. The sentencing was continued to allow his attorney, E.N. Bagshawe of Warrenton to put forward evidence in mitigation.

Daquan Foster was sentenced to 239 to 347 months in the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, Division of Adult Correction for a 2013 rape in the City of Henderson. Officers with the Henderson Police Department investigated the case after a citizen reported that the victim came out of the woods reporting that she had been sexually assaulted. Strong police work resulted in an eyewitness identification by the victim and the collection of DNA evidence, both of which were presented by the State during Foster’s trial. It took jurors less than an hour to return a verdict of guilty of First Degree Rape against Foster. The jury also heard evidence concerning aggravating factors that were put forth by the State in an effort to increase Foster’s sentence. Jurors took less than five minutes to decide that the State had proven the aggravating factors based on the victim’s mental and physical infirmities and that she was handicapped. This case was investigated and prepared for trial by Detective Brandon Logue, Detective Jessica West, and patrol officers with the Henderson Police Department.

It’s through the hard work of the Henderson Police Department and their collaboration with our office that convictions like this are made possible. Our office would like to acknowledge the victim for her willingness to participate in this prosecution. Without her courage and the hard work of law enforcement, this would not have been possible.