North Carolina Prison Employees Challenge Disciplinary Measures

Some North Carolina state employees are suing because they believe supervisors have been improperly writing discipline reports to prevent them from getting pay raises.

The lawsuit filed Monday focuses on the Department of Public Safety, particularly the prison system.

The workers contend that Public Safety Department officials have ordered prison supervisors to issue unnecessary or even made-up written warnings to correctional officers and other prison employees to keep them from getting raises.

The lawsuit also says prison officials used the faulty disciplinary methods to prevent employees at the state's worst prisons from transferring to better facilities.

Public Safety Department spokesman Jerry Higgins told The News and Record the agency does not comment on pending lawsuits. But he says the department supports its employees.