North Carolina § 15A-521 - Commitment to detention facility pending trial.

Full text of North Carolina North Carolina General Statutes § 15A-521 — Commitment to detention facility pending trial., with citation guidance and answers to common questions.

§ 15A-521. Commitment to detention facility pending trial.

Commitment. - Every person charged with a crime and held in custody who has not been released pursuant to Article 26 of this Chapter, Bail, must be committed by a written order of the judicial official who conducted the initial appearance as provided in Article 24 to an appropriate detention facility as provided in this section. If the person being committed by written order is under the age of 18, that person must be committed to a detention facility approved by the Juvenile Justice Section of the Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice to provide secure confinement and care for juveniles, or to a holdover facility as defined in G.S. 7B-1501(11). If the person being committed reaches the age of 18 years while held in custody, the person shall be transported by personnel of the Juvenile Justice Section of the Division, or personnel approved by the Juvenile Justice Section, to the custody of the sheriff of the county where the charges arose. Order of Commitment; Modification. - The order of commitment must: State the name of the person charged or identify him if his name cannot be ascertained. Specify the offense charged. Designate the place of confinement. If release is authorized pursuant to Article 26 of this Chapter, Bail, state the conditions of release. If a separate order stating the conditions has been entered, the commitment may make reference to that order, a copy of which must be attached to the commitment. Subject to the provisions of subdivision (4), direct, as appropriate, that the defendant be: Produced before a district court judge pursuant to Article 29 of this Chapter, First Appearance before District Court Judge, Produced before a district court judge for a probable cause hearing as provided in Article 30 of this Chapter, Probable-Cause Hearing, Produced for trial in the district or superior court, or Held for other specified purposes. State the name and office of the judicial official making the order and be signed by that judicial official. Copies and Use of Order, Receipt of Prisoner. - The order of commitment must be delivered to a law-enforcement officer, who must deliver the order and the prisoner to the detention facility named therein. The jailer or personnel of the Juvenile Justice Section must receive the prisoner and the order of commitment, and note on the order of commitment the time and date of receipt. As used in this subdivision, "jailer" includes any person having control of a detention facility and "personnel of the Juvenile Justice Section" includes personnel approved by the Juvenile Justice Section. Upon releasing the prisoner pursuant to the terms of the order, or upon delivering the prisoner to the court, the jailer or personnel of the Juvenile Justice Section must note the time and date on the order and return it to the clerk. Personnel of the Juvenile Justice Section, or personnel approved by the Juvenile Justice Section, shall transport the person under the age of 18 from the juvenile detention facility or holdover facility to court and shall transfer the person back to the juvenile detention facility or holdover facility. Repealed by Session Laws 1975, 2nd Sess., c. 983, s. 142. Commitment of Witnesses. - If a court directs detention of a material witness pursuant to G.S. 15A-803, the court must enter an order in the manner provided in this section, except that the order must: State the reason for the detention in lieu of the description of the offense charged, and Direct that the witness be brought before the appropriate court when his testimony is required. The order of commitment may be modified or continued by the same or another judicial official by supplemental order. History (1868-9, c. 178, subch. 3, ss. 24, 32; Code, ss. 1155, 1163; Rev., ss. 3230, 3232; C.S., ss. 4597, 4599; 1973, c. 1286, s. 1; 1975, 2nd Sess., c. 983, s. 142; 2020-83, s. 8(c).)

Source: official North Carolina text · Last verified 2026-08-27

Frequently Asked Questions About North Carolina § 15A-521

What does North Carolina General Statutes § 15A-521 cover?

Section 15A-521 ("Commitment to detention facility pending trial.") is part of the North Carolina General Statutes, the codified statutory law of North Carolina. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.

How do I cite North Carolina § 15A-521?

A common citation format is "North Carolina General Statutes § 15A-521" (North Carolina). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.

Is this the official text of North Carolina law?

No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the North Carolina official source linked on this page or consult a licensed North Carolina attorney.

How does North Carolina § 15A-521 apply to my situation?

Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in North Carolina can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.

Sources & Verification

Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in North Carolina.