Assessing North Carolina's prison reentry efforts as repeat offenders come under scrutiny

Debates are brewing over the criminal justice system following two recent high-profile killings in Charlotte and Raleigh - crimes, police say, that were committed at random by people with mental health issues who had been in and out of local jails and prisons for years.

North Carolina is making strides toward helping people get health care, jobs and other assistance after they leave prison, Gov. Josh Stein said last week, part of a push to help prepare convicted criminals for life after prison.

WRAL digital producer Jaylin Jones and state government reporter Will Doran discuss Stein's speech, where things stand, and what can be done in 2026 and beyond. 

The WRAL Daily Download is an in-depth conversation about a single news story. WRAL covers news across North Carolina every day, but this podcast focuses on one story at a time, bringing context to each conversation. The in-depth, localized podcast takes you into the latest stories from Raleigh, Durham, and the entire Triangle region on North Carolina. This is community news aimed at keeping you informed about the more subtle stories that are happening around you. Hosted by WRAL News journalists, episodes post weekdays by 4:30am.