We made it to 100! Let's Keep it Going!

NC Department of Adult Corrections (DAC) policy for Field Ministers states, "Field Minister(s) – offender(s) [sic] who have successfully completed the 4-year degree program from the College at Southeastern receiving the Bachelor of Arts in Pastoral Ministry with emphasis on counseling who are approved to serve in this capacity within Prisons. 

A Field Minister (FM) is a new work assignment available to incarcerated people who qualify for the program, get accepted to the College, and successfully graduate. Yet, FM's are only paid $1.25 a day. 

NC DAC policy states, "Offenders assigned to full-time job assignments shall receive monetary compensation. In accordance with North Carolina General Statute 148-18 offenders shall receive no more than $1.00 per day unless the Secretary determines that the work assignment requires special skill or training and then may be paid up to $5.00 per day." 

What is interesting is that Incentive Wage funds for NC are paid out for all incarcerated workers through the Corrections Enterprise funds. And on top of that Corrections Enterprise jobs automatically earn the new $5.00 per day pay. 

The Secretary, Todd Ishee, has the authority to approve the raise for FM's to the full amount available. At the program's first graduation December 2021, he challenged new FM's, to be “a beacon of hope for offenders [sic] across the prison system who are in need of a mentor to guide them through incarceration.”

He obviously believes in and supports this amazing program, so where's the proof? Let's keep the momentum and tell Mr. Ishee FM's deserve a raise!