Why Nash Correctional Institution Changed Names: A Short History for Families
Got older paperwork that mentions a different
Here’s the quick timeline families usually need. The first prison at this site opened in 1938 as a close custody facility called Nash Prison Unit. In 1970, the facility name changed to Nash Advancement Center. In 1988, it was renamed again as Nash Correctional Center. Then in 1992, Nash Correctional Center became part of the newly built Nash Correctional Institution.
Note: If an older record uses one of the earlier names, it’s still pointing you back to the same Nash site - just under the name used at the time.
The earliest name tells you something about how the prison was described at the time it opened. In 1938, the first prison at this site opened as a close custody facility known as Nash Prison Unit, which is why you may still see that wording in older references.
- Converted to a misdemeanor facility - In the early 1960s, Nash was converted to a misdemeanor facility.
- Became a medium custody prison - After that, it became a medium custody prison.
- Converted to a minimum custody unit - By the end of that sequence, it was converted to a minimum custody unit.
Note: Those custody labels describe historical changes at Nash in the early 1960s, so they’re most useful for interpreting older documents.
The name changes you’ll see most often in records are tied to specific years. In 1970, the facility was renamed Nash Advancement Center. In 1988, it was renamed Nash Correctional Center. Finally, in 1992, Nash Correctional Center became part of the newly built Nash Correctional Institution - so paperwork from different decades may use different official labels for the Nash facility.
Note: A different name on a document doesn’t automatically mean a different, unrelated place - it may simply reflect what Nash was called in that year.
One detail that can clear up confusion: after the 1992 change, the older Nash Correctional Center facility remained connected to the broader Nash site. That older Nash Correctional Center facility is currently used for training and storage, which is why you may hear it referenced even though the current institution name is Nash Correctional Institution.
- ✓ Used for training
- ✓ Used for storage
If you’re sorting through letters, printouts, or older case paperwork, focus on the name and the year together. “Nash Prison Unit” points back to the facility as it opened in 1938. “Nash Advancement Center” matches the name used starting in 1970, and “Nash Correctional Center” matches the name used starting in 1988. If you see references after 1992, that’s when Nash Correctional Center became part of the newly built Nash Correctional Institution.
Tip: Check the date on the document first, then use the timeline above to match the Nash name used in that time period.
For the most reliable, facility-specific details (including the historical notes summarized here), use the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction’s official page for Nash Correctional Institution. That’s the best place to cross-check older references you may find in records.
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