First Lady Anna Stein moderates reentry panel at NCDAC conference

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(RALEIGH) This week, First Lady Anna Stein joined Governor Josh Stein and Secretary of Adult Correction Leslie Cooley Dismukes for the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction's 2026 Rehabilitation and Reentry Conference to bring awareness to the state’s rehabilitation and reentry efforts. 

Ninety percent of people who are incarcerated in North Carolina will return to their communities, which is approximately 18,000 people a year. The NCDAC’s Rehabilitation and Reentry Conference is a chance for stakeholders from across the state to exchange ideas, share best practices, and learn from those with lived experience. The conference educates attendees on the supports that people who are reentering society need to be successful. 

As part of the conference, First Lady Stein moderated a panel of six currently incarcerated people who are preparing to reenter society post-release. The discussion centered on their lived experiences of life inside prison.  

“We can all talk about what we think is best when it comes to rehabilitation and reentry services, but it is so important to make sure we include and listen to those who are experiencing rehabilitation and reentry in real time,” said First Lady Stein. “I am honored to help give them a voice in rehabilitation and reentry, not only for themselves, but for those who come behind them and for future policy decisions.”  

Being prepared for reentry stood out as an essential focus for the panelists, and they said they know they must work hard to overcome the stigma they face going back to their communities. They credited their growing preparedness to education programs and access to mental health treatment. They also shared concerns about very real challenges ahead, such as the lack of housing and transportation options and the difficulty of obtaining identification such as a driver license. 

First Lady Stein has dedicated her time as First Lady to supporting rehabilitation and reentry programs for incarcerated individuals, ending the stigma against mental health and substance use disorder, and highlighting rural tourism. She was appointed to the state’s Joint Reentry Council by Secretary Dismukes and works closely with the NCDAC on reentry initiatives, including Reentry 2030, the national program coordinated by the Council of State Governments. Since Governor Stein’s administration began, the First Lady has visited 23 NCDAC facilities, including two DART programs, and multiple rehabilitation and substance use treatment facilities across the state.