Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden committed Monday to reopening Jail North, the county’s juvenile detention facility closed since 2022 due to staffing shortages, if funding is secured.
Reopening Plan
The effort requires hiring about 98 staff members and costs estimated at $17–18 million to staff and operate the facility, with a target opening by summer’s end. Vacant cells, classrooms, library, and barbershop currently sit idle, forcing juveniles to out-of-county centers like those in Cabarrus County.
Stakeholder Views
Local leaders from The Children’s Alliance, who organized the meeting, stressed urgency after two years of advocacy, while Juvenile Court Judge Elizabeth Trosch highlighted the need for proximity to family support systems to aid rehabilitation over worsening outcomes for youth who return home. McFadden expressed readiness—”we have the keys”—but funding depends on coordination with county budget officials and the Department of Juvenile Justice amid state budget delays.
Local Ties
This aligns with ongoing Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office challenges, including staffing strains noted in the relaunched Traffic Unit and jail operations, as covered in recent Charlotte-area news.
