Wright under extended lock-down

CRAVEN COUNTY — Prison officials brought Wright to Vanceboro just hours after he was found guilty of fraud. Wright pulled in to the Craven Correctional Institution after the judge handed him a six-to-eight-year sentence. The institution is a processing center for new inmates.

And once the gate closed the former legislator lost what was left of his esteemed title and became “inmate Wright.” Jail Superintendent Larry Dail talked about Wright’s processing — from fingerprinting to the mug shot — and why he’s on extended lock-down.

Dail said, “This is a decision that was a mutual decision that was reached between the inmate and the management.”

Former Rep. Thomas Wright will spend 23 hours in a 50 sq. ft. cell and 45 minutes of recreation time in a cubical.

That seems to be pretty extensive for someone charged with fraud. But Dail says with a high profile cases it’s strictly for security reasons.

And the inmate can ask to be moved into the regular prison population. And if Wright chooses he will be placed in a dormitory setting at wherever he serves the remainder of his sentence.

Dail says Wright should be able to adapt.

“Normally those type of individuals are able to go in population after just a brief adjustment and function just fine in the system,” Dail said.