A violent attack on a correctional officer at Bertie Correctional Institution in Windsor, NCÂ has raised serious concerns about staffing shortages and administrative decisions at the facility. Sources within the prison told The North Carolina Beat that the incident, which occurred around 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, might have been preventable if the prison had been placed on a Code 1 lockdown.
The attack resulted in Captain Ashley Hughes, the Officer in Charge (OIC) at the time, being choked, beaten, and stabbed by inmate Shalan Wilson.
According to a press release from the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction (NCDAC), Wilson, who is serving a life sentence for a 1995 first-degree murder conviction, has since been transferred to the highest-security unit at Granville Correctional Institution.
Leadership’s Alleged Role in the Incident
Sources revealed that Hughes had alerted prison wardens to the facility’s critical understaffing and requested a Code 1 lockdown to mitigate risks. Her request was allegedly denied, a decision that reportedly left her and other staff vulnerable.
While the exact circumstances leading up to the attack remain unclear, insiders suggest that the lack of adequate staffing, combined with leadership’s refusal to initiate lockdown protocols, created a hazardous environment for Hughes and other staff.
Staff Raise Alarm Over Persistent Issues
Current and former staff members have expressed frustration with ongoing understaffing issues at Bertie Correctional Institution, which houses over 1,300 inmates. Sources reported that as few as 15 staff members are sometimes tasked with maintaining order at the facility.
Repeated emails to key officials, including Larry Dale, Eastern Region Director; Peter Buchholtz, Deputy Secretary; and Todd Ishee, Secretary of the NCDAC, have allegedly gone unanswered. Some staff members believe the inaction stems from personal relationships between senior officials, such as Ishee and Warden Bruce Hodges.
Sources also reported that there have allegedly been over 10 inmate deaths at the facility, along with multiple violent assaults, labeling the prison as “unsafe” and potentially in violation of federal civil rights laws.
Injury Details and Investigation
In the aftermath of the attack, Hughes was transported to an outside healthcare facility for treatment. According to NCDAC, her injuries were not life-threatening, thanks to her stab-resistant vest. Hughes has since been released to recover at home.
The Windsor Police Department is investigating the incident, and no further details have been released.
Staff members report feeling overworked, stressed, and mentally drained due to poor leadership and severe understaffing, making it increasingly difficult to effectively manage the prison.
Department of corrections needs to get exposed…Poor leadership in Raleigh and prison facilities…the management is not for the officers..officers needs a union…prisons are understaffed and officers are constantly getting threatened to get ridden up…the management don’t even address inmates..this has to stop in the state of North Carolina corrections…all prisons should be getting paid for understaffing…please expose department of corrections…the agency don’t want officers to tell the truth or speak on what is going on….statewide it’s a mess…please expose department of corrections and keep media coverage on this agency..
Get rid of the Warden! I’m so tired of the Administration not taking care of the officers.
I have a brother in the NCDAC and those individuals named, Larry Dale, Peter Buchholtz and Todd Ishee don’t respond to my concerns either! Sorry example of leadership. I have a story for you, if interested!
The working conditions at this facility are ridiculous and so very dangerous.