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Cabarrus Correctional Center gets new leader
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Published: December 4, 2009
When the Union Correction Center in Monroe closed in October because of state budget cuts that shutdown seven prisons statewide, Ron Tarlton thought he had retired.
Barely a week passed before he decided to come out of retirement and take over as superintendent at the Cabarrus Correctional Center, a minimum custody prison in Mount Pleasant that houses adult males.
"I wasn't really sure at this stage in my career that I really wanted to relocate anywhere else," he said. "But after I reconsidered a little bit and did a little bit of research, the Cabarrus facility was not that much farther away."
Tarlton began his career with the N.C. Department of Corrections in 1982, working as a correctional officer for the Union Correctional Center. He worked at the center for 27 years and was promoted to superintendent of the facility in 2006.
"I would really rather retire on my own terms when I get ready to rather than retiring just because I didn't have a place to go," he said.
The Union Correctional Center offered GED preparation and vocational classes to inmates and had one of the largest work release programs in the state, Tarlton said. Now, Tarlton said he would like to expand the work release program at the Cabarrus prison, which is located on Dutch Road in Mount Pleasant.
Already, the Cabarrus inmates work in several positions. Some are assigned to N.C. Department of Transportation road crews or work under contract for local government agencies. Others are assigned to maintenance or kitchen duties.
Inmates nearing parole are allowed to participate in work release, leaving the prison for part of the day to work for a business in the community.
Tarlton said the state requires inmates to be within 36 months of their release date to participate in the work release program. Inmates are paired with employers who are willing to work with them. They must be paid minimum wage. Some employers pay more based on the inmate's skills.
"It's what we call preparing them for transition," Tarlton said. "When you release an inmate out on the street, he has absolutely nothing and nowhere to go. They need funds available, which they can get through work release. They need support."
Tarlton said work release also allows the inmates to slowly transition back into society. They are able to pay restitution, court fees, legal fees, child support and help their families while still in prison.
"Once you get them financially stable, they have a higher chance of staying on the outside," Tarlton said. "A lot of the people — once they're released — continue to work for the same company they worked for when they were incarcerated."
Tarlton said the biggest obstacle to expanding the work release program at the Cabarrus Correctional Center would be finding reliable transportation to help inmates get to and from work.
The Union Correction Center contracted with a former correctional officer who provided transportation to and from work for inmates.
Inmates are required to help pay for their transportation to and from work. They also pay a "per diem" to the correctional center, which Tarlton said is to help offset the cost of housing for the inmates and prepare them for paying bills once they are released.
Tarlton has a photographic technician degree from Anson Community College, where he graduated with high honors. He also is a Division of Prisons general training instructor.
Tarlton's hobbies include photography, motorcycles, hunting, fishing, archery and tennis. He also is a member of the Union and Anson County American Red Cross disaster team.
He said he still lives in the Matthews area, but is considering moving to Cabarrus County. Until then, he's enjoying riding his motorcycle to work along the scenic U.S. 601 between Union and Cabarrus counties.
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