§ 15A-1460 Definitions
§ 15A-1461 Purpose of Article
§ 15A-1462 Commission established
§ 15A-1463 Membership; chair; meetings; quorum
§ 15A-1464 Terms of members; compensation; expenses
§ 15A-1465 Director and other staff
§ 15A-1466 Duties
§ 15A-1467 Claims of innocence; waiver of convicted person’s procedural safeguards and privileges; formal inquiry; notification of the crime victim
§ 15A-1468 Commission proceedings
§ 15A-1469 Postcommission three-judge panel
§ 15A-1470 No right to further review of decision by Commission or three-judge panel; convicted person retains right to other postconviction relief
§ 15A-1471 Preservation of files and evidence; production of files and evidence; forensic and DNA testing
§ 15A-1475 Reports

Terms Used In North Carolina General Statutes > Chapter 15A > Article 92 - North Carolina Innocence Inquiry Commission

  • Amendment: A proposal to alter the text of a pending bill or other measure by striking out some of it, by inserting new language, or both. Before an amendment becomes part of the measure, thelegislature must agree to it.
  • Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
  • Assets: (1) The property comprising the estate of a deceased person, or (2) the property in a trust account.
  • Beneficiary: A person who is entitled to receive the benefits or proceeds of a will, trust, insurance policy, retirement plan, annuity, or other contract. Source: OCC
  • Beneficiary: Any of the following persons:

    a. See North Carolina General Statutes 36D-2

  • Chief judge: The judge who has primary responsibility for the administration of a court but also decides cases; chief judges are determined by seniority.
  • Clerk of court: An officer appointed by the court to work with the chief judge in overseeing the court's administration, especially to assist in managing the flow of cases through the court and to maintain court records.
  • Community Third Party Trust: A trust funded with the assets of a third party for the benefit of a person of any age with severe chronic disabilities, that is administered by a nonprofit corporation that offers the following services:

    a. See North Carolina General Statutes 36D-2

  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  • Copy: means all identical versions of a document created or existing in paper or electronic form, including the original and all other identical versions of the document. See North Carolina General Statutes 15A-101.1
  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • Deed: The legal instrument used to transfer title in real property from one person to another.
  • Department: The Department of Health and Human Services. See North Carolina General Statutes 36D-2
  • Discovery: Lawyers' examination, before trial, of facts and documents in possession of the opponents to help the lawyers prepare for trial.
  • Dismissal: The dropping of a case by the judge without further consideration or hearing. Source:
  • Document: means any pleading, criminal process, subpoena, complaint, motion, application, notice, affidavit, commission, waiver, consent, dismissal, order, judgment, or other writing intended in a criminal or contempt proceeding to authorize or require an action, to record a decision or to communicate or record information. See North Carolina General Statutes 15A-101.1
  • Entered: means signed and filed in the office of the clerk of superior court of the county in which the document is to be entered. See North Carolina General Statutes 15A-101.1
  • Entitlement: A Federal program or provision of law that requires payments to any person or unit of government that meets the eligibility criteria established by law. Entitlements constitute a binding obligation on the part of the Federal Government, and eligible recipients have legal recourse if the obligation is not fulfilled. Social Security and veterans' compensation and pensions are examples of entitlement programs.
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Family members: Persons who are related by blood or marriage within the sixth degree to the beneficiary. See North Carolina General Statutes 36D-2
  • Fiduciary: A trustee, executor, or administrator.
  • filed: means :

    a. See North Carolina General Statutes 15A-101.1

  • Follow-along services: Includes the following: (i) those services offered by Community Third Party or Pooled Trusts that are designed to ensure that the needs of each beneficiary are being met for as long as may be required and may include periodic visits to the beneficiary and to the places where the beneficiary receives services, (ii) participation in the development of individualized plans being made by service providers for the beneficiary, and (iii) other similar services consistent with the purposes of this Chapter. See North Carolina General Statutes 36D-2
  • following: when used by way of reference to any section of a statute, shall be construed to mean the section next preceding or next following that in which such reference is made; unless when some other section is expressly designated in such reference. See North Carolina General Statutes 12-3
  • Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
  • in writing: may be construed to include printing, engraving, lithographing, and any other mode of representing words and letters: Provided, that in all cases where a written signature is required by law, the same shall be in a proper handwriting, or in a proper mark. See North Carolina General Statutes 12-3
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Lien: A claim against real or personal property in satisfaction of a debt.
  • Mortgage: The written agreement pledging property to a creditor as collateral for a loan.
  • oath: shall be construed to include "affirmation" in all cases where by law an affirmation may be substituted for an oath, and in like cases the word "sworn" shall be construed to include the word "affirmed. See North Carolina General Statutes 12-3
  • Oath: A promise to tell the truth.
  • Original: means :

    a. See North Carolina General Statutes 15A-101.1

  • Oversight: Committee review of the activities of a Federal agency or program.
  • Plea: In a criminal case, the defendant's statement pleading "guilty" or "not guilty" in answer to the charges, a declaration made in open court.
  • Prosecute: To charge someone with a crime. A prosecutor tries a criminal case on behalf of the government.
  • Quorum: The number of legislators that must be present to do business.
  • seal: shall be construed to include an impression of such official seal, made upon the paper alone, as well as an impression made by means of a wafer or of wax affixed thereto. See North Carolina General Statutes 12-3
  • Severe chronic disability: A disability which impairs one or more areas of independent functioning. See North Carolina General Statutes 36D-2
  • Sole benefit: No individual other than the beneficiary benefits from the trust, either directly or indirectly. See North Carolina General Statutes 36D-2
  • state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, shall be construed to extend to and include the District of Columbia and the several territories, so called; and the words "United States" shall be construed to include the said district and territories and all dependencies. See North Carolina General Statutes 12-3
  • Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
  • Surplus trust funds: All funds remaining in the trust upon termination of the trust, whether by death of the beneficiary or otherwise. See North Carolina General Statutes 36D-2
  • Testify: Answer questions in court.
  • Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
  • Transcript: A written, word-for-word record of what was said, either in a proceeding such as a trial or during some other conversation, as in a transcript of a hearing or oral deposition.
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
  • Trust account: A general term that covers all types of accounts in a trust department, such as estates, guardianships, and agencies. Source: OCC
  • Trustee: An original, additional, or successor trustee, and a cotrustee, whether or not appointed or confirmed by a court. See North Carolina General Statutes 36D-2
  • Trustee: A person or institution holding and administering property in trust.
  • United States: shall be construed to include the said district and territories and all dependencies. See North Carolina General Statutes 12-3
  • Victim advocate: work with prosecutors and assist the victims of a crime.
  • Writ: A formal written command, issued from the court, requiring the performance of a specific act.