NC Criminal Law

Jamie Markham on Friday, July 31st, 2026

Flock cameras. In Monday’s post, Jeff mentioned the expanded authority for license plate readers included in the state budget. News stories this week exemplify arguments on both sides of the issue of expanded use of cameras and other law enforcement technologies....

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The key question for double jeopardy analysis is whether each offense requires proof of an element that is not contained in the other — if not, they are the same offense and double jeopardy bars a successive prosecution.

In felony cases, a defendant is entitled to inspect the complete files of all law enforcement agencies, investigatory agencies, and prosecutors' offices involved in the investigation of the crimes committed or the prosecution of the defendant. See G.S. 15A-903(a).

When a statute sets forth disjunctive or alternative ways by which an offense may be committed, a warrant or indictment should charge them conjunctively, linking the alternatives by the word “and” instead of “or”.

G.S. 15A-134 provides that if a charged offense occurred partly in North Carolina and partly in another state, a person charged with that offense may be tried in North Carolina only if he or she has not already been placed in jeopardy for the same offense by the other state.

Venue to try an accessory after the fact is proper in any county where the principal could be prosecuted or in the county where the defendant committed acts that form the basis of the charge of accessory after the fact.