Bill Text: NC S625 | 2017-2018 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Summons for Private Warrants
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-04-05 - Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate [S625 Detail]
Download: North_Carolina-2017-S625-Amended.html
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2017
S 1
SENATE BILL 625
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Short Title: Summons for Private Warrants. |
(Public) |
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Sponsors: |
Senator D. Davis (Primary Sponsor). |
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Referred to: |
Rules and Operations of the Senate |
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April 5, 2017
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to require that when probable cause is found from an affidavit or testimony by a private citizen, the judicial official shall issue a summons and not a warrant.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1. G.S. 15A‑304 reads as rewritten:
"§ 15A‑304. Warrant for arrest.
(a) Definition. – A warrant for arrest consists of a statement of the crime of which the person to be arrested is accused, and an order directing that the person so accused be arrested and held to answer to the charges made against him. It is based upon a showing of probable cause supported by oath or affirmation.
(b) When Issued. – A warrant for arrest may be issued, instead of or subsequent to a criminal summons, when it appears to the judicial official that the person named should be taken into custody. Circumstances to be considered in determining whether the person should be taken into custody may include, but are not limited to, failure to appear when previously summoned, facts making it apparent that a person summoned will fail to appear, danger that the person accused will escape, danger that there may be injury to person or property, or the seriousness of the offense.
(c) Statement of the Crime. – The warrant must contain a statement of the crime of which the person to be arrested is accused. No warrant for arrest, nor any arrest made pursuant thereto, is invalid because of any technicality of pleading if the statement is sufficient to identify the crime.
(d) Showing of Probable Cause. – A judicial official may issue a warrant for arrest only when he is supplied with sufficient information, supported by oath or affirmation, to make an independent judgment that there is probable cause to believe that a crime has been committed and that the person to be arrested committed it. The information must be shown by one or more of the following:
(1) Affidavit;
(2) Oral testimony under oath or affirmation before the issuing official; or
(3) Oral testimony under oath or affirmation presented by a sworn law enforcement officer to the issuing official by means of an audio and video transmission in which both parties can see and hear each other. Prior to the use of audio and video transmission pursuant to this subdivision, the procedures and type of equipment for audio and video transmission shall be submitted to the Administrative Office of the Courts by the senior regular resident superior court judge and the chief district court judge for a judicial district or set of districts and approved by the Administrative Office of the Courts.
When a judicial official finds probable cause under subdivision (1) or (2) of this subsection based on sufficient information from a private citizen, the judicial official shall issue a criminal summons under G.S. 15A‑303 and not a warrant for arrest. If the information is insufficient to show probable cause, the warrant or summons may not be issued. A judicial official shall not refuse to issue a warrant for the arrest of a person solely because a prior warrant has been issued for the arrest of another person involved in the same matter.
(e) Order for Arrest. – The order for arrest must direct that a law‑enforcement officer take the defendant into custody and bring him without unnecessary delay before a judicial official to answer to the charges made against him.
(f) Who May Issue. – A warrant for arrest, valid throughout the State, may be issued by:
(1) A Justice of the Supreme Court.
(2) A judge of the Court of Appeals.
(3) A judge of the superior court.
(4) A judge of the district court, as provided in G.S. 7A‑291.
(5) A clerk, as provided in G.S. 7A‑180 and 7A‑181.
(6) A magistrate, as provided in G.S. 7A‑273."
SECTION 3. This act becomes effective December 1, 2017, and applies to offenses committed on or after that date.
