NC S704

Cities in North Carolina may establish citizens review boards by ordinance to review appeals of disciplinary actions against city law enforcement officers for misconduct including excessive use of force, abuse of power, and discriminatory profiling.

Board members must be 5-11 citizens who are qualified city voters, complete a ride-along with officers within one year, pass criminal background checks, have no felony convictions in the last five years, and cannot be city employees or immediate family of officers; members serve two-year terms with no consecutive terms allowed.

Board members must sign confidentiality agreements and can be removed for cause; violation is a Class 1 misdemeanor with up to $1,000 fine; members serve without compensation but may receive expense reimbursement.

Board findings on disciplinary actions must be based on substantial, clear, and convincing evidence and are binding on law enforcement leadership, classified as sustained, not sustained, exonerated, or unfounded; officers have rights to notice, discovery, representation by counsel, and can appeal to Superior Court for trial de novo.

Boards cannot review county sheriff or police officers, company police, campus police, or state special police; no state funds can be used for establishment or operation; boards must make semiannual and annual public reports of actions.