The Department of Public Safety (DPS) focuses citizen and legislative attention on law enforcement and public safety issues, such as the supervision of offenders in prison or in juvenile detention centers and in community supervision, drinking and driving, underage access to alcohol and tobacco, the proper use of child safety seats, crime prevention and preparation for natural disasters.

In addition to natural disasters, the department is constantly updating plans and providing training for local officials to respond to emergencies such as terrorism, communicable diseases, nuclear power plant incidents and civil unrest.

This agency serves as the coordinating agency for North Carolina's homeland security preparedness. It also oversees the North Carolina National Guard.

North Carolina National Guard - is an all volunteer force of nearly 12,000 soldiers and airmen who serve in both federal and state capacities.

The Guard is first a federal reserve of the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force subject to the call of the President of the United States to provide units that are manned, trained, equipped, and available on short notice to perform national defense missions.

The Guard maintains the same high standards for training as the Army and the Air Force so that it can mesh seamlessly with their active-duty counterparts in times of national emergency both at home and abroad. To maintain readiness for its wartime mission, Guard soldiers are trained and equipped with the military's most up-to-date weapons and aviation systems.

The Guard is also on call at the Governor's request to protect life and property and to preserve peace, order and public safety on the state level.

As part of its peacetime mission, the Guard assists the public in times of emergency such as after hurricanes, floods or tornadoes. Guard aviation units support local governments in searching for missing persons, assisting law enforcement personnel with aerial searches for marijuana, and fighting forest fires. In addition, the National Guard participates in local communities with programs that add value to families, employers and neighborhoods.

Other Services:

- Grants - administers federal criminal justice block grants through the Governor's Crime Commission and homeland security grants through the Division of Emergency Management.

- Victim Services - reimburses citizens who suffer medical expenses and lost wages as a result of being an innocent victim of a crime committed in North Carolina. Victims of rape, assault, child sexual abuse, domestic violence, and drunk driving, as well as the families of homicide victims are eligible to apply for financial help.

- Crime Data - North Carolina crime statistics are reports submitted to the State Bureau of Investigation from law enforcement agencies across the state. The SBI provides the collection of data as part of the Uniform Crime Reporting Program, a nationwide effort administered by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

- Crime Prevention For Businesses - Bad Checks, Burglary Prevention, Credit Card Fraud, Fraud & Con Games, Employee Theft, Robbery Prevention, Shoplifting Prevention, Workplace Violence

- Crime Prevention for Home Security - Neighborhood Watch, Bicycle Theft, Vehicle Theft

- Adult Correction - sentences range from probation served in the community to active prison sentences served in one of the state's prison facilities. After prison, there is a period of post-release supervision for offenders to help them transition more successfully back to the community.

- Juvenile Justice - if a child is 15 years old or younger and commits a crime, his or her case will be handled by the juvenile justice staff. This staff is committed to the reduction and prevention of juvenile delinquency by effectively intervening, educating and treating youth in order to strengthen families and increase public safety.

- Center for Safer Schools - serves as the state's primary point of contact on issues dealing with school safety and the prevention of youth violence.

- Civil Air Patrol -The NC Wing of the Civil Air Patrol provide search and rescue, disaster relief, emergency service, and homeland security missions. North Carolina members perform many Air Force assigned search and rescue missions each year. North Carolina Wing maintains a post at the state’s Emergency Operations Center to provide rapid response during natural disasters, and North Carolina members have been deployed to other states for assistance.

Department of Public Safety Boards & Commissions:

- Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission
- Governor's Crime Commission
- State Emergency Response Commission
- Post-Release Supervision & Parole Commission
- Alarm Systems Licensing Board
- Private Protective Services Board
- Inmate Grievance Resolution Board

The Department of Public Safety is authorized by General Statute 143B, Article 13, Paragraph 143B-600:

"(a) There is established the Department of Public Safety. The head of the Department of Public Safety is the Secretary of Public Safety, who shall be known as the Secretary.

(b) The powers and duties of the deputy secretaries, commissioners, directors, and the divisions of the Department shall be subject to the direction and control of the Secretary of Public Safety, except that the powers and duties of the North Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission shall be exercised independently of the Secretary, in accordance with G.S. 18B-200."

Click Here to view the entire Statute, which describes in greater detail all of the functions of the Department of Public Safety.