Bill > S679

This bill amends North Carolina law to require courts to temporarily defer imprisonment for pregnant individuals who are not considered a threat to the community. Specifically, when sentencing a pregnant woman to imprisonment, the court must defer the sentence for at least 12 weeks after childbirth or the end of pregnancy. During this deferment period, the pregnant woman must maintain perinatal healthcare, participate in available education and resource programs, and report monthly to the court via telephone and electronic check-in. The court will allow supervised probation for up to 12 months before the woman must surrender to the Department of Adult Correction. The probation will be without payment of fines or fees and can be conducted electronically. Additionally, the bill requires prisons and local confinement facilities to report annually to the Department of Health and Human Services detailed statistics about incarcerated women, including the number of pregnant inmates and those who declined pregnancy testing or sentence deferral. These reporting requirements must comply with HIPAA privacy regulations. The law becomes effective immediately and applies to sentences issued on or after its enactment date, with the goal of providing support and healthcare options for pregnant women in the criminal justice system.

https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/S679