RALEIGH -- The new interim Chief Deputy Secretary of NC Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice Reuben Young discusses what he has learned during his first six weeks on the job. 

Young points to standardization of policies and procedures in prisons throughout the state as a security move taking place right now.

The effort comes on the heels of a tumultuous 2017 when five prison employees died while working on the job.

Young says he has visited 13 facilities to get feedback from employees who say the staffing issue must be addressed immediately.

"They are tired. Physically, they are tired. And I believe mentally they are fatigued as well. They have to work longer hours than they normally would because they don't have the staff," said Reuben Young, interim chief deputy secretary of N.C. Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice.

Young says the department wants to increase the salary of prison employees in hopes of recruiting more employees. 

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