CARRBORO — The Carrboro Police Department has become the first in North Carolina to prevent a drug overdose death with an antidote drug now being used by a handful of law enforcement agencies across the state.

A Carrboro officer was the first to arrive last week at a home off Old Fayetteville Road where a man in his early 30s had overdosed on heroin, according to police spokesman Capt. Chris Atack. The officer, Teresa Kernodle, administered naloxone, a drug that counteracts the effects of heroin and other opioid drugs, reversing the overdose until paramedics arrived and took the man to the hospital.

All Carrboro officers were trained in using naloxone and have been carrying it since October, Atack said. This was the first time an officer has had call to use it.

It’s also the first time a police officer has used the drug to reverse an overdose in North Carolina, according to the N.C. Harm Reduction Coalition, a public health and drug policy organization based in Durham that promotes and tracks the use of naloxone by law enforcement agencies.

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CONCORD, N.C. – U.S. Representative Richard Hudson (NC-08) announced today that Cabarrus County Sheriff Brad Riley will be his guest when the President delivers his State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress tonight. As a Member of Congress, Rep. Hudson may bring one guest to the State of the Union, who is reserved a seat in the House Gallery.

“While there’s been a lot of national attention focused on law enforcement recently, I wanted to show my support for our law enforcement officials by inviting Sheriff Riley as a representative of all the brave men and women who dedicate their lives to our well-being and security across North Carolina’s Eighth District. I’m honored to have Sheriff Riley as my guest to this year’s State of the Union address, and I look forward to continuing our conversation and focusing on ways the federal government can partner with local Sheriff Departments to better coordinate and meet the needs of our communities.”

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RALEIGH — Action taken by the General Assembly nearly four years ago changing the state’s prison and probation strategies appears to be paying dividends, both financially and in the number of repeat offenders, notes a recent study.

The Council of State Governments Justice Center has released a study showing that the 2011 Justice Reinvestment Act resulted in $48 million in savings during the 2013-14 fiscal year and contributed to the closure of 10 prisons. In addition, with fewer people incarcerated, North Carolina taxpayers avoided having to pay $500 million to build and operate new prisons.

The report noted the bipartisan nature of the Justice Reinvestment Act. Work on the legislation began when Democrats held majorities in the General Assembly. The efforts became law after Republicans gained control of the legislative branch.

“The prison population has dropped 8 percent, or by almost 3,400 people, since fiscal year 2011,” the report notes. “Overall prison admissions have dropped by 21 percent as a result of fewer people entering prison for misdemeanor convictions and probation revocations.”

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Within six months, visitors to the Justice Center will funnel through a single, guarded entrance with a metal and bag detection system as county leaders act on a judge’s order to add safeguards.

The changes probably won’t end there. An N.C. Sheriff’s Association consultant made 11 additional recommendations after inspecting the 20-year-old building, some that visitors would notice and others they might not. Among the most visible: no public parking in front of the building.

Superior Court Judge Brad Letts, this judicial district’s senior resident judge, originally ordered the county meet a Jan. 1 deadline. He granted more time after two new commissioners and a sheriff were elected in November. County leaders plan to meet with Letts on Jan. 20 during an annual retreat.

Sheriff Chip Hall says turning paper plans into reality means hiring personnel. He wants to reassign an existing officer to oversee court and courtroom security; hire two new deputies; increase hours of a bailiff from 80 percent to 100 percent; and create a detention officer position.

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ROBESON COUNTY, N.C. (WBTW)-The new year is bringing new laws to drivers in North Carolina. That is when it comes to drinking and driving.

Prior to January 1st if someone was sentenced for DWI depending on aggravated factors, they most likely served time in a state prison. Under the new law and a  judge’s discretion, they could serve their time in a county jail.

Major George Kenworthy of the Robeson county detention center says just because its jail, doesn’t mean it’s a better sentence.

“It’s not a benefit to the criminal, I will tell you that .That person out there, committing that crime, It’s not a benefit to them by no means. I have worked in both places, jails and prisons and I see absolutely no benefit to the criminal.”

The new law aims to house DWI offenders in local jails and free up space in state prisons for more violent criminals.

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DURHAM — The heavy metal door slid shut, with an electric-motor hum and a clinking of gear chains, settling into place with a solid thump of finality.

“Not a pleasant sound,” said Matt Yarbrough.

Not at all pleasant, because the thumping door was to the inmates’ side of the Durham County Jail.

Yarbrough, a Durham businessman, was one of about 20 members of the Durham Crime Cabinet who got a tour inside the monolithic white tower on Mangum Street last week.

Past the magistrates’ office and into the area where those arrested are processed, through laundry and kitchen and medical clinic, past classrooms and library, finally to a two-level “pod” where cells surrounded a cavernous day room.

Down cinder-block hallways painted gray and white, over bare concrete floors, into elevators where video cameras read hand signals for what floor to stop on. Functional, utilitarian and, frankly, grim – but, to appearances, a clean, well-lighted, efficient place.

“I’m impressed with what I saw here,” said another tourgoer, Victoria Peterson. “It was an eye-opening from what I’d been hearing about the jail, which has not been very, very positive at all.”

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CHESTER The little boy stood 4 feet 8 inches tall, 95 pounds if you count the brand new heavy hunting camouflage clothes. Beside him stood a man 6 feet 4 inches tall, 275 pounds. The man wore a gun and carried another. The boy wore a smile wide as his face.

They stood in deep woods, about 20 miles south of Chester nowhere near anywhere Monday afternoon. The kid was 600 miles from home after his first-ever plane ride and standing with a guy who looks different and was a stranger until a few hours before.

“Big A,” said the kid named Alex Collins, pointing a finger at the big man. “I’m Little A. We’re going hunting.”

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LAURINBURG — In an emotional speech delivered to a packed courtroom on Monday, Ralph Kersey recalled his “humbling journey” to become Scotland County’s newest sheriff.

“My road has been long and winding,” he said after taking the oath of office over a Bible held by his wife Angie. “Over the last year it has included joy, fear, pain and many setbacks. But we have remained united, strong, faithful and steadfast.”

The swearing-in ceremony, held at 10 a.m. in a standing-room only courtroom, had been delayed by more than a month after Kersey’s election-day win by an election protest filed by incumbent Shep Jones, which alleged vote-buying by Kersey and his campaign workers. Monday’s ceremony was scheduled for after the 10-day period during which Jones’ could appeal the state board’s decision to dismiss his protest.

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The Wake County Well-Check Program is a program coordinated by Sheriff Donnie Harrison and the Wake County Sheriff’s Office in which participating seniors are automatically checked on by phone 365 days a year. If there is no answer, a second call is placed.  If the program participant cannot be reached, the Sheriff’s Office will call the emergency contact numbers on file. If the emergency contacts cannot be reached, the Sheriff’s Office will dispatch a deputy to the participant’s residence to determine if he or she is okay.

Each year at this time, the Sheriff’s Office coordinates the giving of holiday gifts by various organizations to participants in the Well-Check program.  This year, as in year’s past, the staff of the North Carolina Sheriffs’ Association donated suggested gifts for one of the program participants, a 95 year old Raleigh resident.  The Association staff has been doing so each year since 2007.  For additional information on the Wake County Well-Check Program contact, the program administrator, Deputy Laura Driver, at 919-856-6495.

ASHEBORO — You might be surprised by who’s driving by you in a yellow N.C. Department of Transportation pickup truck.

If you’re texting while driving, another vehicle may suddenly appear — an unmarked N.C. Highway Patrol car with flashing lights.

That’s because there was a trooper in plain clothes in the NCDOT truck and he observed you texting. He immediately contacted another trooper in a nearby unmarked vehicle who initiated the traffic stop to give a citation for texting while driving.

All North Carolina drivers are prohibited from texting while driving.

It’s been difficult for troopers to observe someone texting firsthand, but with the help of the extra eyes, they can.

“We’re thinking outside the box and stepping up our game on the highways,” said 1st Sgt. Brett Snotherly about the texting enforcement campaign which the Randolph County office of the N.C. Highway Patrol conducted during the past week.

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