NC S331

Raises the age threshold for requiring parental/guardian presence during juvenile interrogation from 14 to 16 years old, and prohibits parents from waiving the juvenile's rights.

Adds new due process protections including procedures for motions to suppress evidence in juvenile adjudicatory hearings, with requirements for written motions, affidavits, and findings of fact by the judge.

Requires juvenile court counselors to make reasonable efforts to meet with juveniles and families for divertable offenses if no prior complaint exists, and allows prosecutors to voluntarily dismiss juvenile petitions at any time.

Allows juveniles adjudicated for minor offenses to petition for expunction of records at age 16 (instead of age 18) if 18 months have passed since release from court jurisdiction.

Modifies confinement rules by requiring secure custody determinations to follow formal hearings with written findings of fact, and clarifies that courts cannot impose both next-level dispositions and maximum confinement terms simultaneously for probation violations.