Orange County NC Website
35 <br /> Table 10b <br /> imm PAROLE INFORMATION --- <br /> 1991 1992 1993 <br /> number of parole entries 29 58 50 <br /> rate per 1,000 0.7 1.4 1.2 <br /> rate per 100,000 73.3 143.3 121.4 <br /> INFORMATION FOR BOTH COUNTIES <br /> INDIGENT COUNSEL <br /> The procedures for the assignment of indigent counsel are the same for both counties. If the <br /> offense is a felony, the defendant is entitled to a first appearance before a District Court Judge <br /> within 48-72 hours of arrest. If it is believed that the defendant cannot afford his own counsel, <br /> he will be required to complete an "Affidavit of Indigency" application in order to be considered <br /> for indigent counsel. The judge will determine whether or not to appoint counsel depending on <br /> the information provided on the Affidavit of Indigency form. <br /> Defendants accused of misdemeanors are not entitled to a first appearance in court within a <br /> specific amount of time. This is an area of concern because in some cases defendants may be <br /> remaining in jail for a petty offense as long as a month before appearing before a judge. <br /> USE OF CITATIONS <br /> Citations are used primarily by the State Highway Patrol for motor vehicle offenses in both <br /> counties. Both Sheriffs Offices do not use citations because they normally do not enforce motor <br /> vehicle laws. However;within North Carolina Statute citations may be used for misdemeanors. <br /> Both Orange and Chatham Counties may want to increase their use of citations within the <br /> Sheriffs Departments and Magistrates Offices. A policy change could be implemented where <br /> citations can be used for minor offenses in which it is likely the defendant would appear in court <br /> at the designated time. <br />