Criminal law Coverage

Jury selection expert testified to race as "statistically significant factor" in Johnston County death sentence

Hasson Bacote's attorneys are trying to prove that Black people were unfairly excluded from the jury that heard his 2009 murder case. Bacote faces the death penalty, convicted in the 2007 murder of a man during a robbery in Johnston County.

WRAL Staff

Johnston County death penalty challenge argues race played a role, could have ripple effect for 100s of convicts

The Racial Justice Act, a now-defunct North Carolina law, used to let death row inmates appeal on the basis of racism in their prosecution. Some appeals are still underway, including the Hasson Bacote case in Johnston County.

Chelsea Donovan and Will Doran, WRAL reporters

Free Cumberland County clinic offers chance at clean slate for those with criminal records

Having even minor infractions on a criminal record can make it tough for people to find jobs, go to school or even find housing. A new Cumberland County clinic aims to help former offenders get a clean record.

Gilbert Baez, WRAL Fayetteville reporter

Wrongfully convicted Durham man now struggling to get his $6 million payout from city

While Darryl Howard's hard work proving his innocence paid off, it has yet to pay out. A jury awarded him $6 million. He has yet to see a single cent.

Fight continues for wrongfully convicted Durham man now struggling to get his payout from city

While Darryl Howard's hard work proving his innocence paid off, it has yet to pay out. A jury awarded him $6 million. He has yet to see a single cent.

Ali Ingersoll, WRAL Investigative Data Journalist

Duke study: Life without parole sentencing on the rise in NC

Researchers from the Wilson Center for Science and Justice at the Duke University School of Law discuss a report about the increase of life without parole sentencing in North Carolina.

Local law students concerned about taking bar exam in person during coronavirus pandemic

As North Carolina grapples with increasing COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, local law school graduates are concerned about taking the in-person bar exam next month.

Aaron Thomas, WRAL reporter

Law graduates worry about coronavirus when taking bar exam

WRAL's Aaron Thomas spoke to law students who have to take the bar exam about the worries they face with the coronavirus pandemic and possibly getting it while taking the exam.

Law Tigers

Getting out on your motorcycle is the ultimate "social distancing!" Law Tigers offers a look at the best of North Carolina riding.

House considers tougher gang laws

The House debates a proposal calling for stiffer punishments for gang-related offenses.

'Death by distribution' bill clears Senate

An amendment was added in an effort to protect people who call for help after an overdose.

Travis Fain, WRAL statehouse reporter.

Girl's death on Lake Norman prompts call for tougher penalties against drunken boaters

The father of a Concord teen who was killed by a drunken boater four years ago tearfully asked lawmakers Friday to require anyone who kills another person by driving or operating a boat while impaired be required to serve time behind bars.

Prosecutors, mothers on opposite side of drug overdose proposal

Prosecutors urge lawmakers to pass legislation creating a felony for distributing drugs that lead to an overdose death. But the mothers of overdose victims say it would result only in charging friends and relatives who share drugs and not punish dealers.

Law enforcement, victims' relatives battle over bill targeting drug dealers for overdose deaths

A bill that sponsors say will provide a better way to prosecute drug dealers in connection with overdose deaths narrowly cleared a House committee on Friday amid concerns that friends and relatives of the victims will be the ones who wind up getting convicted.

Matthew Burns, WRAL.com senior producer/politics editor

Proposal would close loopholes that sponsors say allow sexual predators to get away with assaults

A bill that would change sexual assault laws in North Carolina would be eligible for its first hearing on the House floor as early as Monday after passing two key committees on unanimous votes Friday.

Charlotte woman who was roofied speaks to lawmakers

Leah McGuirk relates her experience of being drugged at a bar to state lawmakers debating a proposal to make spiking a drink illegal and close other loopholes related to sexual assaults.

Sexual assault bill that would close loopholes in law clears two committees

A bill that would change sexual assault laws in North Carolina would be eligible for its first hearing on the House floor as early as Monday after passing two key committees on unanimous votes Friday.

Frank Taylor, Carolina Public Press

Father tells lawmakers about teen daughter killed by drunken boater

Kenneth Marshall, whose daughter was killed on Lake Norman in 2015 by a drunken boater, speaks at a legislative hearing in favor of a bill that would require prison time for such crimes.

House members again seek jail time for felony DWI deaths

The father of a Concord teen who was killed by a drunken boater four years ago tearfully asked lawmakers Friday to require anyone who kills another person by driving or operating a boat while impaired be required to serve time behind bars.

Laura Leslie, NCCapitol Bureau Chief and Matthew Burns, WRAL.com senior producer/politics editor

Online registry of NC animal abusers proposed

Two state senators have proposed creating an online registry of people convicted of abusing animals, similar to the state's sex offender registry.

Cullen Browder, WRAL anchor/reporter

Lawmakers seek better way to prosecute drug dealers for deaths

The crime of death by distribution wouldn't require prosecutors to prove a drug dealer intended to kill someone.

Matthew Burns, WRAL.com senior producer/politics editor

Questions of consent can make NC sexual assault cases tough to prosecute

In 1979, the Supreme Court of North Carolina ruled that once a sex act begins, a woman cannot withdraw her consent. North Carolina is the only state in the nation where this is true.

Seeking Conviction Investigative Collaboration

Sexual assault cases hinge on evidence gathered by police, nurses

In sexual assault cases, the evidence doesn't just have to prove the case, to be strong enough to go to trial or to convince a defense lawyer to accept a plea deal. The evidence has to be sufficient to convince North Carolina jurors.

Seeking Conviction Investigative Collaboration

Sexual assault suspects face little prospect of conviction in some NC counties

In 38 counties across North Carolina, zero defendants who were charged with sexual assault between Jan. 1, 2014, and June 30, 2018, were convicted of that charge or a reduced charge during that time window, according to analysis of statewide court data by Carolina Public Press.

Seeking Conviction Investigative Collaboration

North Carolina convicts fewer than 1 in 4 sexual assault defendants

Analysis of 4-and-a-half years of North Carolina court data shows that about 1 in 4 sexual assault defendants who were charged and had their cases resolved in that time window were convicted of either sexual assault or a reduced and related charge. Of those cases in that time period, 50 defendants went to trial; 23 were found guilty. But individual counties had different outcomes. More than 30 of the state's 100 counties had no sexual assault or reduced-charge convictions at all.

Seeking Conviction Investigative Collaboration