N.C. Gen. Stat. § 148-67
The Division of Prisons of the Department of Adult Correction shall in their discretion, upon application to them, hire to the corporate authorities of any city or town for the purposes specified in G.S. 148-66, such convicts as are mentally and physically capable of performing the work or labor contemplated and are not at the time of such application hired or otherwise engaged in labor under the direction of the Division; but the convicts so hired for services shall be fed, clothed and quartered while so employed by the Division.
Upon application to it, it shall be the duty of the Division of Prisons of the Department of Adult Correction, in its discretion, to hire to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for the purposes of working on the State test farms and/or State experimental stations, such convicts as may be mentally and physically capable of performing the work or labor contemplated; but the convicts so hired for services under this paragraph shall be fed, clothed and quartered while so employed by the Division of Prisons of the Department of Adult Correction.
N.C. Gen. Stat. § 148-67