North Carolina Governor Signs Order to Boost Behavioral Health and Public Safety

The executive order aims to enhance coordination between law enforcement, social services, and mental health professionals.

Feb. 5, 2026 at 4:55pm

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North Carolina Governor Josh Stein signed an executive order focused on improving access to behavioral health services and enhancing public safety. The order directs state agencies to expand the co-responder model, where law enforcement works alongside social workers and mental health professionals to respond to calls. It also calls for reforms to the state's involuntary commitment process and efforts to address staffing shortages in the corrections and mental health systems.

Why it matters

The order is a response to growing concerns about the intersection of mental health, public safety, and the criminal justice system in North Carolina. By improving coordination between different agencies and professionals, the state hopes to provide better support for individuals experiencing mental health crises and reduce the likelihood of those situations escalating.

The details

The executive order focuses on several key areas, including expanding the co-responder model where law enforcement partners with social workers and mental health professionals, reforming the state's involuntary commitment process, and addressing staffing shortages in the corrections and mental health systems. Governor Stein noted that the state ranks 49th in starting pay for corrections officers, contributing to high vacancy rates that have left inpatient mental health units understaffed.

  • Governor Stein signed the executive order on February 5, 2026.

The players

Governor Josh Stein

The governor of North Carolina who signed the executive order.

Deylanis Henderson

A North Carolina resident who has faced mental health challenges and supported the executive order, citing the need for better integration between social services and law enforcement.

Leslie Cooley Dismukes

The Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction, who discussed the staffing challenges facing the state's corrections system.

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What they’re saying

“We must expand the co-responder model here in North Carolina. That's when you join law enforcement in coordination with social workers and mental health professionals to respond to service calls.”

— Governor Josh Stein (abc11.com)

“Everyone that has mental health (issues) is not necessarily a criminal. Calling the right people to intervene to make sure that people aren't just going straight to jail or prison and making sure that they get the help that they need so that they can stay on the right path (is important).”

— Deylanis Henderson (abc11.com)

“It really does make a difference when you're talking to a counselor and they can calm you down versus seeing a police officer with police cars.”

— Deylanis Henderson (abc11.com)

“I think it's critical for us to be able to attract new talent by raising the pay for people. But also we have to retain our good staff that we have right now.”

— Leslie Cooley Dismukes, Secretary, North Carolina Department of Adult Correction (abc11.com)

What’s next

The governor noted that further funding will be needed to fully implement the reforms outlined in the executive order, including hiring more nursing assistants to reopen mental health inpatient units.

The takeaway

This executive order represents a comprehensive approach to addressing the intersection of mental health, public safety, and the criminal justice system in North Carolina. By improving coordination between different agencies and professionals, the state aims to provide better support for individuals experiencing mental health crises and reduce the likelihood of those situations escalating.