N.C. Gen. Stat. § 148-70: Management and care of inmates.

The Division of Prisons of the Department of Adult Correction in all contracts for labor shall provide for feeding and clothing the inmates and shall maintain, control and guard the quarters in which the inmates live during the time of the contracts; and the Division shall provide for the guarding and working of such inmates under its sole supervision and control. The Division may make such contracts for the hire of the inmates confined in the State prison as may in its discretion be proper. (1917, c. 286, s. 2; 1919, c. 80, s. 1; C.S., s. 7762; 1925, c. 163; 1931, c. 145, s. 35; 1933, c. 172, s. 18; 1957, c. 349, s. 10; 1959, c. 170, s. 2; 1967, c. 996, s. 13; 1975, c. 730, s. 1; 1983, c. 717, s. 14; 1985, c. 118; c. 226, s. 11; 1991 (Reg. Sess., 1992), c. 902, s. 2; 2007-280, s. 4; 2011-145, s. 19.1(h); 2012-83, s. 61; 2017-186, s. 2(pppppppp); 2021-180, s. 19C.9(p).)