Sheriff McFadden claims he hasn't been part of conversations on reopening of Mecklenburg County's juvenile detention center
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden says he wants to be part of conversations about the potential reopening of the county's juvenile detention center.
The facility off Statesville Road in north Charlotte closed in 2022, with McFadden citing COVID-related staffing issues. It has since been used to host a free summer camp.
He claims other officials have been discussing the jail's future without his input, but did not specify which ones.
'Missed opportunity': ICE's Charlotte operation sparks tension with sheriff over alleged lack of communication
'As ongoing discussions regarding the reopening of the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office North Juvenile Detention Center, commonly referred to as Jail North, continue, it is imperative that these conversations should be held with an invitation to the Mecklenburg County Sheriff,' McFadden said in a statement released Wednesday. 'I have consistently prioritized the support of juveniles in our community involved in the criminal justice system.'
Following the closure, McFadden says the sheriff's office did not extend the contract with the state to operate Jail North.
'This decision was made due to political maneuvering and misleading information by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services,' he wrote. 'During the COVID era, DHHS inspections found that staffing levels were inadequate at Detention Center Central, so I had no choice but to close Jail North and allocate staff from there to Central. In reality, our agency was operating adequately at all of our facilities, despite the findings.'
He says he's open to participating in all discussions regarding his plans for Jail North.
'As your sheriff, I must have a say in these pivotal conversations that impact the lives of our juvenile offenders in Mecklenburg County and beyond,' he said. 'I firmly disagree with any suggestion that we were not cooperating with the state. Therefore, I strongly oppose any assertion or implication that certain decisions were or had been made without the sheriff's office's input, consideration, or recommendations when it comes to the well-being of our juveniles.'
Prior to the closure, McFadden implemented programs like public speaking classes, essay writing, a barber school, and business proposal classes.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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