10/14/2026
BEHIND CLOSED DOORS: INMATE DEATHS AND JAIL INSPECTION FINDINGS
I’ve spent over 30 years in law enforcement, including working inside the Craven County Detention Center. After reviewing years of state inspection reports and inmate death investigations, I have some serious concerns.
In the 20 years before Hughes became sheriff, there were two inmate deaths. In approximately seven years under his administration, there have been six. Three involved drug toxicity, one was a homicide, and two were natural deaths.
State investigations following three of those deaths documented violations of required inmate supervision rounds. In 2022, inspectors found gaps reaching one hour and 40 minutes, despite state regulations allowing no more than 40 minutes between rounds. Similar violations appeared in 2023 and 2025.
Inspectors repeatedly documented overcrowding, fire safety problems, dirty showers, graffiti, peeling paint, mold, and inmates hanging sheets and clothing that obstructed officers’ view.
In January 2025, a state inspector wrote:
“It appears that the facility does not place emphasis on facility cleanliness in the inmate areas.”
Those aren’t my words. They’re the state’s.
Staffing shortages are serious, but they don’t excuse repeated violations. Properly certified personnel from other divisions can assist with detention duties, and other employees can help with work they’re qualified to perform.
And when it comes to arresting criminals, nobody is asking law enforcement to stop doing its job. But the sheriff’s responsibility doesn’t end when someone is booked into jail.
Before someone says, “They’re criminals,” remember that many inmates are awaiting trial and haven’t been convicted. Whether you believe they deserve to be taken care of or not, the law requires the Sheriff’s Office to provide appropriate care and protection.
When inmates are confined for most of the day, supervision and basic dignity matter. The Bertie-Martin jail takeover, where officers were held hostage, reminds us how dangerous a loss of control can become.
There are also reports of inmates being sexually assaulted in their cells after raising concerns about their safety. Those allegations and how the complaints were handled deserve serious examination.
Repeated state violations. Reports of sexual assaults after requests for protection. The same problems year after year. When is enough enough?
These problems can also expose the county to lawsuits, legal expenses, and higher insurance costs.
When I’m elected sheriff, I won’t wait for a state inspector to point out problems. I’ll look closely at how the jail is being managed, whether supervisors are doing their jobs, and why required rounds and safety standards are not being followed. I’ll listen to detention officers, address problems when they’re found, and make sure employees have the training and support they need.
Accountability doesn’t stop with the detention officers. It goes all the way up the chain of command, including the sheriff.
I’ve attached the most recent jail inspection report available through a public records request, along with the death certificates referenced in this post. Death certificates are public records and can be obtained without submitting a formal public records request. Social Security numbers have been redacted.
- Mickey Tillman
Candidate for Sheriff of Craven County
