S384 - Criminal Law Changes. (SL 2017-176)

Overview: S.L. 2017-176 makes the following changes to laws related to criminal law and procedure:

• Makes various changes in the law relating to motions for appropriate relief under Chapter 15A of the General Statutes, as recommended by the North Carolina Courts Commission, and makes clarifying and technical changes to G.S. 7A-451 regarding the entitlement of an indigent person to services of counsel.
• Clarifies what prior criminal convictions may be used to establish habitual felon status and removes the sunset on driver's license eligibility for persons convicted of habitual impaired driving.
• Adds the offense of felony breaking or entering with intent to terrorize or injure to the list of offenses defined as "breaking and entering" for purposes of habitual breaking and entering.
• Creates a process to insure that defendants subject to the fingerprint requirement get fingerprinted.
• Amends the law regarding arrest and Citizen's Warrants.
• Amends the Sheriff's Supplemental Pension Fund.

This act has various effective dates and applicability provisions. Please see the full summary for more detail.