NC S662

Appropriates $1,000,000 from the General Fund to the Office of Indigent Defense Services for fiscal year 2019-2020 to establish three pilot programs reducing secured bonds for pretrial release.

Requires IDS to select three judicial districts (one each from eastern, central, and western North Carolina) with the highest use of secured bonds per arrest, with each district receiving $300,000.

Pilot districts must implement citations in lieu of arrest, impartial screening tools to assess flight risk, and electronic court date reminder systems for individuals charged with misdemeanor offenses or Class G, H, and I felonies.

IDS shall allocate the remaining $100,000 for training, literature, and evaluation of the pilots and must report results to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Justice and Public Safety by October 1, 2020.

Act becomes effective July 1, 2019.