Filing a Grievance in NC Prisons: The 3-Step Process (What Families Should Know)

When someone arrives at Bertie Correctional Institution, they receive written notice and a verbal explanation of the Administrative Remedy/Grievance process during intake. This information goes to the person in custody - not to family members. If you're trying to help from the outside, you'll likely depend on what your loved one was told and what they can share with you.

Timing matters. At Bertie, grievances must generally be filed within 90 days of the incident, with some exceptions. If your loved one is considering filing, the safest approach is to act quickly - don't let the window close while gathering details or figuring out how to word things.

Once a grievance is accepted at Step 1, it gets assigned to a designated staff member who reviews the submission, investigates the facts, and files a written response. The timeline is relatively short: the written response, along with supporting documentation, is due within 15 days. This helps set expectations - Step 1 moves quickly once the grievance is accepted for processing.

If your loved one appeals to Step 2, the review moves up to the facility head (or a designee). This is still an internal review at the facility level, examining the Step 1 findings and the issues raised in the appeal. At Bertie, the facility head or designee must provide a written Step 2 response within 20 days of the appeal. This is the point where your loved one should watch the calendar closely and keep copies of everything they submit and receive.

Step 3 is the outside review stage. If the person filing appeals to Step 3, the facility electronically transmits the appeal to the Inmate Grievance Resolution Board (IGRB), where it's assigned to a grievance examiner for review. The key point for families: Step 3 is no longer handled solely inside the prison. A separate review body gets involved, and the file moves electronically from the facility to the Board.

Step 3 can feel slower. The Inmate Grievance Resolution Board meets at least quarterly to review grievance data and information. That meeting schedule shapes how quickly things move at this level - a noticeable difference from the shorter deadlines in Steps 1 and 2.