§ 15A-831. Responsibilities of law enforcement agency.
§ 15A‑831. Responsibilities of law enforcement agency.
(a) As soon aspracticable but within 72 hours after identifying a victim covered by thisArticle, the investigating law enforcement agency shall provide the victim withthe following information:
(1) The availability ofmedical services, if needed.
(2) The availability ofcrime victims' compensation funds under Chapter 15B of the General Statutes andthe address and telephone number of the agency responsible for dispensing thefunds.
(3) The address andtelephone number of the district attorney's office that will be responsible forprosecuting the victim's case.
(4) The name andtelephone number of an investigating law enforcement agency employee whom thevictim may contact if the victim has not been notified of an arrest in thevictim's case within six months after the crime was reported to the lawenforcement agency.
(5) Information about anaccused's opportunity for pretrial release.
(6) The name andtelephone number of an investigating law enforcement agency employee whom thevictim may contact to find out whether the accused has been released fromcustody.
(7) The informationalsheet described in G.S. 50B‑3(c1), if there was a personal relationship,as defined in G.S. 50B‑1(b), with the accused.
(b) As soon aspracticable but within 72 hours after the arrest of a person believed to havecommitted a crime covered by this Article, the arresting law enforcement agencyshall inform the investigating law enforcement agency of the arrest. As soon aspracticable but within 72 hours of being notified of the arrest, theinvestigating law enforcement agency shall notify the victim of the arrest.
(c) As soon aspracticable but within 72 hours after receiving notification from the arrestinglaw enforcement agency that the accused has been arrested, the investigatinglaw enforcement agency shall forward to the district attorney's office thatwill be responsible for prosecuting the case the defendant's name and thevictim's name, address, date of birth, social security number, race, sex, andtelephone number, unless the victim refuses to disclose any or all of theinformation, in which case, the investigating law enforcement agency shall soinform the district attorney's office.
(d) Upon receiving theinformation in subsection (a) of this section, the victim shall, on a formprovided by the investigating law enforcement agency, indicate whether thevictim wishes to receive any further notices from the investigating lawenforcement agency on the status of the accused during the pretrial process. Ifthe victim elects to receive further notices during the pretrial process, thevictim shall be responsible for notifying the investigating law enforcementagency of any changes in the victim's name, address, and telephone number. (1998‑212, s. 19.4(c);2001‑433, s. 2; 2001‑487, s. 120; 2008‑4, s. 1.)