Bill Text: NC H369 | 2017-2018 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Community Corrections and Probations
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2017-04-21 - Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate [H369 Detail]
Download: North_Carolina-2017-H369-Amended.html
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2017
H 2
HOUSE BILL 369
Committee Substitute Favorable 4/11/17
|
Short Title: Community Corrections and Probations. |
(Public) |
|
|
Sponsors: |
|
|
|
Referred to: |
|
|
March 16, 2017
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to provide probation officers with additional powers when on prison property and when rendering assistance to law enforcement officers at the officers' request; to provide that probationers must submit to a curfew set by the probation officer and to submit to warrantless searches of a probationer's person, property, residence, vehicle, and cell phone; to provide that offenders must obtain a sex offender ASSESSMENT and a mental health ASSESSMENT and follow all recommendations; and to provide that probation officers have delegated authority to require offenders on supervised probation for conditional discharge or deferred prosecution, or sentenced pursuant to G.S. 20‑179, to comply with additional conditions of probation.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1. G.S. 15‑205 reads as rewritten:
"§ 15‑205. Duties and powers of the probation officers.
(a) A probation officer shall investigate all cases referred to him for investigation by the judges of the courts or by the Secretary of Public Safety. Such officer shall keep informed concerning the conduct and condition of each person on probation under his supervision by visiting, requiring reports, and in other ways, and shall report thereon in writing as often as the court or the Secretary of Public Safety may require. Such officer shall use all practicable and suitable methods, not inconsistent with the conditions imposed by the court or the Secretary of Public Safety, to aid and encourage persons on probation to bring about improvement in their conduct and condition. Such officer shall keep detailed records of his work; shall make such reports in writing to the Secretary of Public Safety as he may require; and shall perform such other duties as the Secretary of Public Safety may require. A probation officer shall have, in the execution of his duties, the powers of arrest and, to the extent necessary for the performance of his duties, the same right to execute process as is now given, or that may hereafter be given by law, to the sheriffs of this State.
(b) Probation officers shall have the authority of peace officers on prison property for the purpose of protecting life and property, for the purpose of transferring prisoners from place to place as their duties might require, and for apprehending, arresting, and returning to prison escaped prisoners.
(c) Probation officers shall have authority to assist law enforcement officers in effecting arrests and preventing escapes from custody when requested to do so by the officer or when, in the judgment of the probation officer, such assistance is necessary. When rendering assistance pursuant to this provision, probation officers have the same authority to effect an arrest or prevent escape from custody as the officer making the request."
SECTION 2. G.S. 15A‑1343 reads as rewritten:
"§ 15A‑1343. Conditions of probation.
(a) In General. The court may impose conditions of probation reasonably necessary to insure that the defendant will lead a law‑abiding life or to assist him to do so.
(a1) Community and Intermediate Probation Conditions. In addition to any conditions a court may be authorized to impose pursuant to G.S. 15A‑1343(b1), the court may include any one or more of the following conditions as part of a community or intermediate punishment:
(1) House arrest with electronic monitoring.
(1a) Submit to a curfew, as determined by the probation officer, which may be monitored electronically.
(2) Perform community service and pay the fee prescribed by law for this supervision.
(3) Submission to a period or periods of confinement in a local confinement facility for a total of no more than six days per month during any three separate months during the period of probation. The six days per month confinement provided for in this subdivision may only be imposed as two‑day or three‑day consecutive periods. When a defendant is on probation for multiple judgments, confinement periods imposed under this subdivision shall run concurrently and may total no more than six days per month.
(4) Substance abuse assessment, monitoring, or treatment.
(4a) Abstain from alcohol consumption and submit to continuous alcohol monitoring when alcohol dependency or chronic abuse has been identified by a substance abuse assessment.
(5) Participation in an educational or vocational skills development program, including an evidence‑based program.
(6) Submission to satellite‑based monitoring, pursuant to Part 5 of Article 27A of Chapter 14 of the General Statutes, if the defendant is described by G.S. 14‑208.40(a)(2).
(b) Regular Conditions. As regular conditions of probation, a defendant must:
(13) Submit at reasonable
times to warrantless and suspicionless searches by a probation officerofficer,
or by a law enforcement officer while assisting a probation officer, of the
probationer's person and of the probationer's vehicle and premises person,
property, place of residence, vehicle, and personal effects, while the
probationer is present, for purposes directly related to the probation supervision,
but the present. Submit to warrantless searches by a probation officer,
or by a law enforcement officer while assisting a probation officer, of the
probationer's cell phone, computer, or other electronic device, while the
probationer is present, for purposes reasonably related to the probation supervision.
The probationer may not be required to submit to any other search that
would otherwise be unlawful.
."
SECTION 3. G.S. 15A‑1368.4(e)(10) reads as rewritten:
"§ 15A‑1368.4. Conditions of post‑release supervision.
(e) Controlling Conditions. Appropriate controlling conditions, violation of which may result in revocation of post‑release supervision, are:
(10) Submit at reasonable times
to warrantless and suspicionless searches by a probation or parole
officer or by a law enforcement officer while assisting a probation or parole
officer of the supervisee's person by a post‑release supervision
officer for purposes reasonably related to the post‑release supervision. person,
property, place of residence, vehicle, and personal effects while the supervisee
is present. Submit to warrantless searches by a probation officer, or by a law
enforcement officer while assisting a probation officer, of the supervisee's
cell phone, computer, or other electronic device, while the supervisee is
present, for purposes reasonably related to the post‑release supervision.
The Commission shall not require as a condition of post‑release
supervision that the supervisee submit to any other searches that would
otherwise be unlawful. Whenever the search consists of testing for the presence
of illegal drugs, the supervisee may also be required to reimburse the Division
of Adult Correction of the Department of Public Safety for the actual cost of
drug testing and drug screening, if the results are positive."
SECTION 4. G.S. 15A‑1374(b)(11) reads as rewritten:
"§ 15A‑1374. Conditions of parole.
(b) Appropriate Conditions. As conditions of parole, the Commission may require that the parolee comply with one or more of the following conditions:
(11) Submit at reasonable
times to warrantless and suspicionless searches by a probation or
parole officer of the parolee's person and of the parolee's vehicle and
premises person, property, place of residence, vehicle, and personal
effects, while the parolee is present, for purposes reasonably related
to the parole supervision. present. Submit to warrantless searches by a
probation or parole officer, or by a law enforcement officer while assisting a
probation or parole officer, of the parolee's cell phone, computer, or other
electronic device, while the parolee is present, for purposes reasonably
related to the parole supervision. The Commission may not require as a
condition of parole that the parolee submit to any other searches that would
otherwise be unlawful. If the parolee has been convicted of an offense which
is a reportable conviction as defined in G.S. 14‑208.6(4), or which
involves the physical, mental, or sexual abuse of a minor, warrantless searches
of the parolee's computer or other electronic mechanism which may contain
electronic data shall be considered reasonably related to the parole
supervision. Whenever the search consists of testing for the presence of
illegal drugs, the parolee may also be required to reimburse the Division of
Adult Correction of the Department of Public Safety for the actual cost of drug
testing and drug screening, if the results are positive."
SECTION 5. G.S. 15A‑101.1 reads as rewritten:
"§ 15A‑101.1. Electronic technology in criminal process and procedure.
As used in this Chapter, in Chapter 7A of the General Statutes, in Chapter 15 of the General Statutes, and in all other provisions of the General Statutes that deal with criminal process or procedure:
(3a) "Electronic
monitoring" or "electronically monitor" or "satellite‑based
monitoring" means monitoring with an electronic monitoring device that
is not removed from a person's body, that is utilized by the supervising
agency in conjunction with a Web‑based computer system that actively monitors,
identifies, tracks, and records a person's location at least once every minute
24 hours a day, that has a battery life of at least 48 hours without being
recharged, that monitors a person's location, timely records and
reports or records the person's presence near or within a crime scene or
prohibited area or the person's departure from a specified geographic location,
and that has incorporated into the software the ability to automatically
compare crime scene data with locations of all persons being electronically
monitored so as to provide any correlation daily or in real time. In areas of
the State where lack of cellular coverage requires the use of an alternative
device, the supervising agency shall use an alternative device that works in
concert with the software and records location and tracking data for later
download and crime scene comparison.
."
SECTION 6. G.S. 15A‑1343.2 reads as rewritten:
"§ 15A‑1343.2. Special probation rules for persons sentenced under Article 81B.
(e) Delegation to Probation Officer in Community Punishment. Unless the presiding judge specifically finds in the judgment of the court that delegation is not appropriate, the Section of Community Corrections of the Division of Adult Correction of the Department of Public Safety may require an offender sentenced to community punishment to do any of the following:
(1) Perform up to 20 hours of community service, and pay the fee prescribed by law for this supervision.
(2) Report to the offender's probation officer on a frequency to be determined by the officer.
(3) Submit to substance abuse assessment, monitoring or treatment.
(4) Submit to house arrest with electronic monitoring.
(5) Submit to a period or periods of confinement in a local confinement facility for a total of no more than six days per month during any three separate months during the period of probation. The six days per month confinement provided for in this subdivision may only be imposed as two‑day or three‑day consecutive periods. When a defendant is on probation for multiple judgments, confinement periods imposed under this subdivision shall run concurrently and may total no more than six days per month.
(6) Submit to a curfew which requires the offender to remain in a specified place for a specified period each day and wear a device that permits the offender's compliance with the condition to be monitored electronically.
(7) Participate in an educational or vocational skills development program, including an evidence‑based program.
(8) Obtain a specific sex offender assessment and follow all recommended treatment.
(9) Obtain a mental health assessment and follow all recommended treatment.
If the Section imposes any of the above requirements, then it may subsequently reduce or remove those same requirements.
The probation officer may exercise
authority delegated to him or her by the court pursuant to subsection (e) of
this section subsection after administrative review and
approval by a Chief Probation Officer. The offender may file a motion with the
court to review the action taken by the probation officer. The offender shall
be given notice of the right to seek such a court review. However, the offender
shall have no right of review if he or she has signed a written waiver of
rights as required by this subsection. The Section may exercise any authority
delegated to it under this subsection only if it first determines that the
offender has failed to comply with one or more of the conditions of probation imposed
by the court or the offender is determined to be high risk based on the
results of the risk assessment in G.S. 15A‑1343.2, except that the
condition at subdivision (5) of this subsection may not be imposed unless the
Section determines that the offender failed to comply with one or more of the
conditions imposed by the court.of probation. Nothing in this
section shall be construed to limit the availability of the procedures
authorized under G.S. 15A‑1345.
The Division shall adopt guidelines and procedures to implement the requirements of this section, which shall include a supervisor's approval prior to exercise of the delegation of authority authorized by this section. Prior to imposing confinement pursuant to subdivision (5) of this subsection, the probationer must first be presented with a violation report, with the alleged violations noted and advised of the right (i) to a hearing before the court on the alleged violation, with the right to present relevant oral and written evidence; (ii) to have counsel at the hearing, and that one will be appointed if the probationer is indigent; (iii) to request witnesses who have relevant information concerning the alleged violations; and (iv) to examine any witnesses or evidence. The probationer may be confined for the period designated on the violation report upon the execution of a waiver of rights signed by the probationer and by two officers acting as witnesses. Those two witnesses shall be the probation officer and another officer to be designated by the Chief of the Community Corrections Section in written Division policy.
(e1) Delegation to Probation Officer for Supervision for Conditional Discharge and Deferred Prosecution. Unless the presiding judge specifically finds in the judgment of the court that delegation is not appropriate, the Section of Community Corrections of the Division of Adult Correction of the Department of Public Safety may require an offender placed on supervised probation for a conditional discharge or a deferred prosecution to comply with any of the conditions in subsection (e) of this section with the exception of subdivision (5) of subsection (e) of this section. If the Section of Community Corrections imposes any of the conditions in subsection (e) of this section, then it may subsequently reduce or remove those same conditions. The probation officer may exercise authority delegated to him or her by the court pursuant to this subsection after administrative review and approval by a chief probation officer. The offender may file a motion with the court to review the action taken by the probation officer. The offender shall be given notice of the right to seek such a court review. The Section of Community Corrections may exercise any authority delegated to it under this subsection only if it first determines that the offender has failed to comply with one or more of the conditions of probation or the offender is determined to be high risk based on the results of a validated instrument to assess each probationer for risk of reoffending. Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the availability of the procedures authorized under G.S. 15A‑1345.
(f) Delegation to Probation Officer in Intermediate Punishments. Unless the presiding judge specifically finds in the judgment of the court that delegation is not appropriate, the Section of Community Corrections of the Division of Adult Correction of the Department of Public Safety may require an offender sentenced to intermediate punishment to do any of the following:
(1) Perform up to 50 hours of community service, and pay the fee prescribed by law for this supervision.
(2) Submit to a curfew which requires the offender to remain in a specified place for a specified period each day and wear a device that permits the offender's compliance with the condition to be monitored electronically.
(3) Submit to substance abuse assessment, monitoring or treatment, including continuous alcohol monitoring when abstinence from alcohol consumption has been specified as a term of probation.
(4) Participate in an educational or vocational skills development program, including an evidence‑based program.
(5) Submit to satellite‑based monitoring pursuant to Part 5 of Article 27A of Chapter 14 of the General Statutes, if the defendant is described by G.S. 14‑208.40(a)(2).
(6) Submit to a period or periods of confinement in a local confinement facility for a total of no more than six days per month during any three separate months during the period of probation. The six days per month confinement provided for in this subdivision may only be imposed as two‑day or three‑day consecutive periods. When a defendant is on probation for multiple judgments, confinement periods imposed under this subdivision shall run concurrently and may total no more than six days per month.
(7) Submit to house arrest with electronic monitoring.
(8) Report to the offender's probation officer on a frequency to be determined by the officer.
(9) Obtain a specific sex offender assessment and follow all recommended treatment.
(10) Obtain a mental health assessment and follow all recommended treatment.
If the Section imposes any of the above requirements, then it may subsequently reduce or remove those same requirements.
The probation officer may exercise
authority delegated to him or her by the court pursuant to this subsection
(f) of this section after administrative review and approval by a Chief
Probation Officer. The offender may file a motion with the court to review the
action taken by the probation officer. The offender shall be given notice of
the right to seek such a court review. However, the offender shall have no
right of review if he or she has signed a written waiver of rights as required
by this subsection. The Section may exercise any authority delegated to it
under this subsection only if it first determines that the offender has failed
to comply with one or more of the conditions of probation imposed by the
court or the offender is determined to be high risk based on the results of
the risk assessment in G.S. 15A‑1343.2, except that the condition at
subdivision (6) of this subsection may not be imposed unless the Section
determines that the offender failed to comply with one or more of the
conditions imposed by the court.of probation. Nothing in this
section shall be construed to limit the availability of the procedures
authorized under G.S. 15A‑1345.
The Division shall adopt guidelines and procedures to implement the requirements of this section, which shall include a supervisor's approval prior to exercise of the delegation of authority authorized by this section. Prior to imposing confinement pursuant to subdivision (6) of this subsection, the probationer must first be presented with a violation report, with the alleged violations noted and advised of the right (i) to a hearing before the court on the alleged violation, with the right to present relevant oral and written evidence; (ii) to have counsel at the hearing, and that one will be appointed if the probationer is indigent; (iii) to request witnesses who have relevant information concerning the alleged violations; and (iv) to examine any witnesses or evidence. The probationer may be confined for the period designated on the violation report upon the execution of a waiver of rights signed by the probationer and by two officers acting as witnesses. Those two witnesses shall be the probation officer and another officer to be designated by the Chief of the Community Corrections Section in written Division policy.
(f1) Mandatory Condition of Satellite‑Based Monitoring for Some Sex Offenders. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the court shall impose satellite‑based monitoring pursuant to Part 5 of Article 27A of Chapter 14 of the General Statutes as a condition of probation on any offender who is described by G.S. 14‑208.40(a)(1).
(g) Repealed by Session Laws 1993 (Reg. Sess., 1994), c. 19, s. 3.
(h) Definitions. For purposes of this section, the definitions in G.S. 15A‑1340.11 apply."
SECTION 7. G.S. 20‑179 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:
"§ 20‑179. Sentencing hearing after conviction for impaired driving; determination of grossly aggravating and aggravating and mitigating factors; punishments.
(k4) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (g), (h), (k2), and (k3) of this section, if the court finds, upon good cause shown, that the defendant should not be required to pay the costs of the continuous alcohol monitoring system, the court shall not impose the use of a continuous alcohol monitoring system unless the local governmental entity responsible for the incarceration of the defendant in the local confinement facility agrees to pay the costs of the system.
(k5) Delegation to Probation Officer. Unless the presiding judge specifically finds in the judgment of the court that delegation is not appropriate, the Section of Community Corrections of the Division of Adult Corrections of the Department of Public Safety may require an offender sentenced pursuant to this section and placed on supervised probation to do any of the following:
(1) Perform up to 20 hours of community service and pay the fee prescribed by law for this supervision.
(2) Report to the offender's probation officer on a frequency to be determined by the officer.
(3) Submit to substance abuse assessment, monitoring, or treatment.
(4) Submit to house arrest with electronic monitoring.
(5) Submit to a period or periods of confinement in a local confinement facility for a total of no more than six days per month during any three separate months during the period of probation. The six days per month confinement provided for in this subdivision may only be imposed as two‑day or three‑day consecutive periods. When a defendant is on probation for multiple judgments, confinement periods imposed under this subdivision shall run concurrently and may total no more than six days per month.
(6) Submit to a curfew which requires the offender to remain in a specified place for a specified period each day and wear a device that permits the offender's compliance with the condition to be monitored electronically.
(7) Participate in an educational or vocational skills development program, including an evidence‑based program.
(8) Obtain a specific sex offender assessment and follow all recommended treatment.
(9) Obtain a mental health assessment and follow all recommended treatment.
If the Section imposes any of the above requirements, then it may subsequently reduce or remove those same requirements.
The probation officer may exercise authority delegated to him or her by the court pursuant to this subsection after administrative review and approval by a Chief Probation Officer. The offender may file a motion with the court to review the action taken by the probation officer. The offender shall be given notice of the right to seek such a court review. However, the offender shall have no right of review if he or she has signed a written waiver of rights as required by this subsection. The Section may exercise any authority delegated to it under this subsection only if it first determines that the offender has failed to comply with one or more of the conditions of probation or the offender is determined to be high risk based on the results of a validated instrument to assess each probationer for risk of reoffending, except that the condition at subdivision (5) of this subsection may not be imposed unless the Section determines that the offender failed to comply with one or more of the conditions of probation. Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the availability of the procedures authorized under G.S. 15A‑1345.
The Division shall adopt guidelines and procedures to implement the requirements of this section, which shall include a supervisor's approval prior to exercise of the delegation of authority authorized by this section. Prior to imposing confinement pursuant to subdivision (5) of this subsection, the probationer must first be presented with a violation report, with the alleged violations noted and advised of the right (i) to a hearing before the court on the alleged violation, with the right to present relevant oral and written evidence, (ii) to have counsel at the hearing and that one will be appointed if the probationer is indigent, (iii) to request witnesses who have relevant information concerning the alleged violations, and (iv) to examine any witnesses or evidence. The probationer may be confined for the period designated on the violation report upon the execution of a waiver of rights signed by the probationer and by two officers acting as witnesses. Those two witnesses shall be the probation officer and another officer to be designated by the Director of the Community Corrections Section in written Division policy."
SECTION 8. Sections 2, 3, 4, 6, and 7 of this act become effective December 1, 2017, and apply to offenses committed on or after that date. The remainder of this act is effective when it becomes law.
