Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

FILED SENATE
                                                                                         Mar 9, 2021
                          GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
                                                                 S.B. 207
                                      SESSION 2021           PRINCIPAL CLERK
     S                                                                    D
                              SENATE BILL DRS55006-NB-36A*
     Short Title:   Various Raise the Age Changes/JJAC Recs.                                    (Public)
     Sponsors:      Senators Britt, Daniel, and Mohammed (Primary Sponsors).
     Referred to:
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 AN ACT TO IMPLEMENT THE JUVENILE JUSTICE REINVESTMENT ACT BASED ON
    LEGISLATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE JUVENILE JURISDICTION
    ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
 The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
 6
 PART I. YOUTH DETENTION CENTERS COMMITMENT CHANGES
             SECTION 1.(a) G.S. 7B-2513 reads as rewritten:
 "§ 7B-2513. Commitment of delinquent juvenile to Division.
     …
     (a2) For an offense the juvenile committed while the juvenile was at least 16 years of age
 but less than 17 years of age, the term shall not exceed the exceed:
             (1)     The twenty-first birthday of the juvenile if the juvenile has been committed to
                     the Division for an offense that would be first-degree murder pursuant to
                     G.S. 14-17, first-degree forcible rape pursuant to G.S. 14-27.21, first-degree
                     statutory rape pursuant to G.S. 14-27.24, first-degree forcible sexual offense
                     pursuant to G.S. 14-27.26, or first-degree statutory sexual offense pursuant to
                     G.S. 14-27.29 if committed by an adult;
             (2)     The twentieth birthday of the juvenile if the juvenile has been committed to
                     the Division for an offense that would be a Class B1, B2, C, D, or E felony if
                     committed by an adult, other than an offense set forth in subdivision (1) of
                     this subsection; or
             (3)     The juvenile's nineteenth birthday.birthday if the juvenile has been committed
                     to the Division for an offense other than an offense that would be a Class A,
                     B1, B2, C, D, or E felony if committed by an adult.
     (a3) For an offense the juvenile committed while the juvenile was at least 17 years of age,
 the term shall not exceed the exceed:
             (1)     The twenty-first birthday of the juvenile if the juvenile has been committed to
                     the Division for an offense that would be a Class A, B1, B2, C, D, or E felony
                     if committed by an adult; or
             (2)     The juvenile's twentieth birthday.birthday if the juvenile has been committed
                     to the Division for an offense other than an offense that would be a Class A,
                     B1, B2, C, D, or E felony if committed by an adult.
     …."
             SECTION 1.(b) G.S. 7B-1601(b1) reads as rewritten:
                                  *DRS55006-NB-36A*
     General Assembly Of North Carolina                                                    Session 2021
     "(b1) When the court obtains jurisdiction over a juvenile alleged to be delinquent for an
 offense committed while the juvenile was at least 16 years of age but less than 17 years of age,
 jurisdiction shall continue until terminated by order of the court or until the juvenile reaches the
 age of 19 years. years, except as provided otherwise in this Article. If the offense was committed
 while the juvenile was at least 17 years of age, jurisdiction shall continue until terminated by
 order of the court or until the juvenile reaches the age of 20 years.years, except as provided
 otherwise in this Article."
             SECTION 1.(c) G.S. 7B-1602 reads as rewritten:
 "§ 7B-1602. Extended jurisdiction over a delinquent juvenile under certain circumstances.
     …
     (b)     When a juvenile is committed to the Division for placement in a youth development
 center for an offense committed under the age of 16 that would be a Class B1, B2, C, D, or E
 felony if committed by an adult, other than an offense set forth in subsection (a) of this section,
 jurisdiction shall continue until terminated by order of the court or until the juvenile reaches the
 age of 19 years, whichever occurs first.
     (c)     When a juvenile is committed to the Division for placement in a youth development
 center for an offense committed while the juvenile was at least 16 years of age but less than 17
 years of age that would be a Class B1, B2, C, D, or E felony if committed by an adult, other than
 an offense set forth in subsection (a) of this section, jurisdiction shall continue until terminated
 by order of the court or until the juvenile reaches the age of 20 years, whichever occurs first.
     (d)     When a juvenile is committed to the Division for placement in a youth development
 center for an offense committed while at least 17 years of age that would be a Class B1, B2, C,
 D, or E felony if committed by an adult, other than an offense set forth in subsection (a) of this
 section, jurisdiction shall continue until terminated by order of the court or until the juvenile
 reaches the age of 21 years, whichever occurs first."
             SECTION 1.(d) G.S. 7B-2514(c) reads as rewritten:
     "(c) The Division shall release a juvenile under a plan of post-release supervision at least
 90 days prior to:to one of the following:
             (1)     Completion of the juvenile's definite term of commitment; orcommitment.
             (2)     The juvenile's twenty-first birthday if the juvenile has been committed to the
                     Division for an offense that would be first-degree murder pursuant to
                     G.S. 14-17, first-degree forcible rape pursuant to G.S. 14-27.21, first-degree
                     statutory rape pursuant to G.S. 14-27.24, first-degree forcible sexual offense
                     pursuant to G.S. 14-27.26, or first-degree statutory sexual offense pursuant to
                     G.S. 14-27.29 if committed by an adult.
             (3)     The juvenile's nineteenth birthday if If the juvenile has been committed to the
                     Division for an offense that would be a Class B1, B2, C, D, or E felony if
                     committed by an adult, other than an offense set forth in
                     G.S. 7B-1602(a).G.S. 7B-1602(a):
                     a.      The juvenile's nineteenth birthday, if the juvenile committed the
                             offense prior to reaching the age of 16 years.
                     b.      The juvenile's twentieth birthday, if the juvenile committed the offense
                             while the juvenile was at least 16 years of age but less than 17 years
                             of age.
                     c.      The juvenile's twenty-first birthday, if the juvenile committed the
                             offense while the juvenile was at least 17 years of age.
             (4)     The juvenile's eighteenth birthday if If the juvenile has been committed to the
                     Division for an offense other than an offense that would be a Class A, B1, B2,
                     C, D, or E felony if committed by an adult.adult:
                     a.      The eighteenth birthday of the juvenile, if the juvenile committed the
                             offense prior to reaching the age of 16 years.
     Page 2                                                                       DRS55006-NB-36A*
     General Assembly Of North Carolina                                                       Session 2021
                     b.       The nineteenth birthday of the juvenile, if the juvenile committed the
                              offense while the juvenile was at least 16 years of age but less than 17
                              years of age.
                     c.       The twentieth birthday of the juvenile, if the juvenile committed the
                              offense while the juvenile was at least 17 years of age."
             SECTION 1.(e) G.S. 7B-2516(c) reads as rewritten:
     "(c) If the court revokes post-release supervision, the juvenile shall be returned to the
 Division for placement in a youth development center for an indefinite term of at least 90 days,
 provided, however, that no juvenile shall remain committed to the Division for placement in a
 youth development center past:past the maximum term of commitment allowed pursuant to
 G.S. 7B-2513(a1), 7B-2513(a2), and 7B-2513(a3).
             (1)     The juvenile's twenty-first birthday if the juvenile has been committed to the
                     Division for an offense that would be first-degree murder pursuant to
                     G.S. 14-17, first-degree forcible rape pursuant to G.S. 14-27.21, first-degree
                     statutory rape pursuant to G.S. 14-27.24, first-degree forcible sexual offense
                     pursuant to G.S. 14-27.26, or first-degree statutory sexual offense pursuant to
                     G.S. 14-27.29 if committed by an adult.
             (2)     The juvenile's nineteenth birthday if the juvenile has been committed to the
                     Division for an offense that would be a Class B1, B2, C, D, or E felony if
                     committed by an adult, other than an offense set forth in G.S. 7B-1602(a).
             (3)     The juvenile's eighteenth birthday if the juvenile has been committed to the
                     Division for an offense other than an offense that would be a Class A, B1, B2,
                     C, D, or E felony if committed by an adult."
             SECTION 1.(f) G.S. 7B-2600 reads as rewritten:
 "§ 7B-2600. Authority to modify or vacate.
     …
     (c)     In any case where the court finds the juvenile to be delinquent or undisciplined, the
 jurisdiction of the court to modify any order or disposition made in the case shall continue (i)
 during the minority of the juvenile, (ii) until the juvenile reaches the age of 19 years if the juvenile
 has been adjudicated delinquent and committed to the Division for an offense that would be a
 Class B1, B2, C, D, or E felony if committed by an adult, other than an offense set forth in G.S.
 7B-1602(a), (iii) until the juvenile reaches the age of 21 years if the juvenile has been adjudicated
 delinquent and committed for an offense that would be first-degree murder pursuant to G.S.
 14-17, first-degree forcible rape pursuant to G.S. 14-27.21, first-degree statutory rape pursuant
 to G.S. 14-27.24, first-degree forcible sexual offense pursuant to G.S. 14-27.26, or first-degree
 statutory sexual offense pursuant to G.S. 14-27.29 if committed by an adult, juvenile or (iv) until
 terminated by order of the court.
     (d)     In any case where the court finds the juvenile to be delinquent, the jurisdiction of the
 court to modify any order of disposition made in the case shall continue until one of the following
 occurs:
             (1)     The juvenile reaches the age of 18 for an offense committed prior to the
                     juvenile reaching the age of 16.
             (2)     The juvenile reaches the age of 19 for an offense committed while the juvenile
                     was at least 16 years of age but less than 17 years of age.
             (3)     The juvenile reaches the age of 20 for an offense committed while the juvenile
                     was at least 17 years of age.
             (4)     The juvenile reaches the maximum term of commitment as authorized
                     pursuant to G.S. 7B-2513(a1), 7B-2513(a2), and 7B-2513(a3), if the juvenile
                     was committed to the Division for placement in a youth development center.
             (5)     Terminated by order of the court."
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     DRS55006-NB-36A*                                                                                Page 3
     General Assembly Of North Carolina                                                    Session 2021
 PART II. JUVENILE TRANSFER HOUSING CHANGES
             SECTION 2. G.S. 7B-2204(d) reads as rewritten:
     "(d) Should the juvenile be found guilty, or enter a plea of guilty or no contest to a criminal
 offense in superior court and receive an active sentence, then immediate transfer to the Division
 of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice of the Department of Public Safety shall be ordered.
 Until such time as the juvenile is transferred to the Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile
 Justice of the Department of Public Safety, the juvenile may be detained in a holdover facility.
 The juvenile may not be detained in a facility or detention facility pending transfer to approved
 by the Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice of the Department of Public Safety,
 unless the detention facility is operated by the sheriff pursuant to G.S. 7B-1905(b).Section."
11
 PART III. SECURE CUSTODY ORDER CHANGES
             SECTION 3.(a) G.S. 7A-271 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:
     "(g) The superior court has jurisdiction to issue a secure custody order pursuant to
 G.S. 7B-1903 when a juvenile matter that has been transferred to superior court is remanded to
 district court pursuant to G.S. 7B-2200.5(d)."
             SECTION 3.(b) G.S. 7B-1902 reads as rewritten:
 "§ 7B-1902. Authority to issue custody orders; delegation.
     In the case of any juvenile alleged to be within the jurisdiction of the court, when the court
 finds it necessary to place the juvenile in custody, the court may order that the juvenile be placed
 in secure or nonsecure custody pursuant to criteria set out in G.S. 7B-1903.
     Any district court judge may issue secure and nonsecure custody orders pursuant to
 G.S. 7B-1903. The chief district court judge may delegate the court's authority to the chief court
 counselor or the chief court counselor's counseling staff by administrative order filed in the office
 of the clerk of superior court. The administrative order shall specify which persons may be
 contacted for approval of a secure or nonsecure custody order. The chief district court judge shall
 not delegate the court's authority to detain or house juveniles in holdover facilities pursuant to
 G.S. 7B-1905 or G.S. 7B-2513.
     Any superior court judge may issue a secure custody order pursuant to G.S. 7B-1903 when a
 juvenile matter that has been transferred to superior court is remanded to district court pursuant
 to G.S. 7B-2200.5(d)."
             SECTION 3.(c) G.S. 7B-1906 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:
     "(b2) A hearing to determine the need for continued secure custody shall be held no more
 than 10 calendar days following the issuance of a secure custody order on remand of the matter
 from superior court pursuant to G.S. 7B-2200.5(d). A hearing conducted under this subsection
 may not be continued or waived. Subsequent hearings on the need for continued secure custody
 shall be held pursuant to subsection (b1) of this section. The district court has authority to modify
 any secure custody order pursuant to the provisions of this section following the issuance of that
 order by the superior court."
             SECTION 3.(d) G.S. 7B-2200.5(d) reads as rewritten:
     "(d) In any case where jurisdiction over a juvenile has been transferred to superior court,
 upon joint motion of the prosecutor and the juvenile's attorney, the superior court shall remand
 the case to district court and court. The prosecutor shall provide the chief court counselor or his
 or her designee with a copy of the joint motion prior to submitting the motion to the court. The
 superior court shall expunge the superior court record in accordance with
 G.S. 15A-145.8.G.S. 15A-145.8 at the time of remand, and, if the juvenile meets the criteria
 established in G.S. 7B-1903, may issue an order for secure custody upon the request of a
 prosecutor. The prosecutor shall provide a copy of any secure custody order issued to the chief
 court counselor or his or her designee, as soon as possible and no more than 24 hours after the
 order is issued."
51
     Page 4                                                                        DRS55006-NB-36A*
     General Assembly Of North Carolina                                                       Session 2021
 PART IV. PROSECUTORIAL DISCRETION FOR E THROUGH G FELONIES FOR
 JUVENILES
             SECTION 4. G.S. 7B-2200.5 reads as rewritten:
 "§ 7B-2200.5. Transfer of jurisdiction of a juvenile at least 16 years of age to superior court.
     (a)     If a juvenile was 16 years of age or older at the time the juvenile allegedly committed
 an offense that would be a Class A, B1, B2, C, D, E, F, or G felony if committed by an adult, the
 court shall transfer jurisdiction over the juvenile to superior court for trial as in the case of adults
 unless the prosecutor declines to prosecute in superior court as provided in subsection (a1) of this
 section after either of the following:
             (1)     Notice to the juvenile and a finding by the court that a bill of indictment has
                     been returned against the juvenile charging the commission of an offense that
                     constitutes a Class A, B1, B2, C, D, E, F, or G felony if committed by an adult.
             (2)     Notice, hearing, and a finding of probable cause that the juvenile committed
                     an offense that constitutes a Class A, B1, B2, C, D, E, F, or G fe