North Carolina Department of Adult Correction Appoints New Community Supervision Judicial Division Manager

John “Jay” Craft has been promoted to Judicial District Manager (JDM) for Judicial District 8 within the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction, effective Aug. 31.  

In the role, Craft will oversee Community Supervision operations in Greene, Lenoir and Wayne counties. District 8 includes 69 probation and parole officers and staff who supervise more than 2,300 individuals on probation, parole or post-release supervision. 

Craft brings nearly three decades of experience spanning institutional and community corrections. He began his department career in 1997 as a correctional officer at Greene Correctional Institution. In 2000, he moved into community supervision as a probation and parole officer in District 5 in New Hanover County. He later served in the same role in District 8 in Lenoir County.  

In 2017, Craft was promoted to Chief Probation and Parole Officer in District 3 in Pitt County. There, he supervised officers assigned to the former Female CRV Center at Eastern Correctional Institution and officers responsible for individuals on the sex offender caseload. He also served on departmental committees and participated in local reentry councils. 

Most recently, Craft served as Assistant Judicial District Manager, overseeing operations in Pitt County. 

“Jay Craft brings a wealth of experience to the District 8 JDM position,” Leslie Cooley Dismukes, Secretary for the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction, said in a press release. “His management of specialty officer caseloads will be a great asset as he guides his team.” 

Craft holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Mount Olive. He also has advanced and intermediate criminal justice certificates.