New 'Sheriff's House' Aims to Break Cycle of Repeat Crime

Mecklenburg County program provides transitional housing and support for formerly incarcerated individuals to reduce recidivism.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 1:00am

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An extreme close-up photograph of a set of house keys and a lock against a pitch-black background, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash, conceptually representing the stability and security provided by a transitional housing program for formerly incarcerated individuals.A transitional housing program aims to provide stability and dignity to formerly incarcerated individuals, breaking the cycle of repeat crime.Charlotte Today

The Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office has launched a new transitional housing program called 'The Sheriff's House' that aims to lower recidivism rates by providing a stable, supportive environment for formerly incarcerated individuals as they reenter society. The fully furnished home was built by current inmates and is funded through grants, not taxpayer dollars. The program focuses on providing stability, dignity, and resources to help address the root causes of repeat offenses.

Why it matters

North Carolina has a 36% re-incarceration rate, according to the UNC School of Government, highlighting the need for innovative programs to help break the cycle of repeat crime. The Sheriff's House program seeks to address this issue by giving formerly incarcerated individuals the tools and support they need to successfully reintegrate into the community.

The details

The Sheriff's House is a first-of-its-kind transitional housing program led by Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden. The fully furnished home includes multiple beds, a kitchen, and shared living space - amenities that many formerly incarcerated individuals lack upon release. The house was built by current inmates, who were paid for their labor, and the project was funded through grants from the Bureau of Justice Assistance and the Urban League of Central Carolinas, not taxpayer dollars. Residents must qualify for specific requirements to live in the house, which includes completing a phase 1 program while still incarcerated.

  • The Sheriff's House program launched in Mecklenburg County in 2026.
  • According to the University of North Carolina School of Government, about 36% of released inmates in North Carolina are re-incarcerated.

The players

Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden

The leader of the Sheriff's House program, which he says is a first-of-its-kind solution to address recidivism in the county.

Antonio Barnes

A formerly incarcerated individual who spent 37 years in prison and believes a program like the Sheriff's House could have made a meaningful difference during his transition.

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What they’re saying

“If I do not give these men a chance, they will continue to commit crimes.”

— Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden

“To come in, you can sit on furniture and move around, open up a refrigerator. It don't get no better than that. And like I said, it lifts your morale. It makes you want to do the right thing. It makes you feel good, it makes you want to be successful. And so I think this is a very good idea. After 37 years, I would have loved to step out of prison and walked into something like that.”

— Antonio Barnes, Formerly Incarcerated Individual

What’s next

Officials say the program is still in its early stages, but Sheriff McFadden encourages other sheriffs across the state to open up similar transitional housing programs to help address recidivism.

The takeaway

The Sheriff's House program in Mecklenburg County represents an innovative approach to reducing repeat offenses by providing formerly incarcerated individuals with the stability, resources, and support they need to successfully reintegrate into the community. If successful, this model could be replicated in other areas to help break the cycle of recidivism.