The North Carolina Inmate Grievance Process (Berti CI): A Step-by-Step Guide for Families

Your loved one shouldn't have to guess how grievances work. Upon admission, every person receives written notification and a verbal explanation of the process. For families, this means there's a formal system your loved one is expected to know - even if they're stressed, new to incarceration, or unsure where to start.

Timing matters. With some exceptions, grievances must be filed within 90 days of the incident. If your loved one is considering filing, encourage them not to wait. Details get harder to pin down over time, and missing the deadline can limit their options.

Step 1 is screening. A facility screening officer reviews the grievance and tells the person whether it's accepted or rejected for processing. This is often where confusion starts for families: your loved one might say they "filed," but what they really mean is they submitted a grievance and are waiting to hear if it will move forward.

1. Get the grievance accepted for processing - once it’s accepted, it doesn’t just sit; it gets assigned.
2. Wait for the investigation and written response - a designated staff member reviews the grievance, investigates the facts, and must file a written Step 1 response with supporting documentation within 15 days.

If your loved one appeals to Step 2, the review goes to the facility head (or a designee). That person examines the Step 1 findings, can conduct additional investigation if needed, and must respond in writing within 20 days. It's still a facility-level decision, but it's a fresh review with its own timeline.

Step 3 takes the appeal outside the facility. If your loved one appeals at this stage, the facility sends it electronically to the Inmate Grievance Resolution Board, where a grievance examiner is assigned to review the case.

The grievance examiner has a few options. They can conduct an independent investigation - though it's limited to the specific issues raised in the grievance. They can also rely on the facility's existing investigation. In some cases, the examiner may try to resolve things through mediation with everyone involved.

If the examiner grants relief, that order goes to the NCDAC Secretary and the Deputy Secretary of Institutions. The order is binding on the Department - unless the Secretary finds the relief inappropriate, provides a written explanation, and issues an alternative order or denies relief entirely. For families, the key point: Step 3 can produce a binding order, but there's a defined process if the Secretary disagrees.

Want to understand the Board's work at a high level? The Inmate Grievance Resolution Board posts its meeting schedules and virtual meeting access information online. The Board meets quarterly, with dates published by fiscal year.