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On November 28, 2025, North Carolina Governor Jane Smith signed a sweeping criminal justice reform bill into law, marking a significant milestone in the state's ongoing efforts to address systemic issues within its criminal justice system.The new legislation, which garnered bipartisan support in the state legislature, includes a number of key provisions aimed at reducing mass incarceration, promoting fairness in sentencing, and increasing access to rehabilitation and reentry programs for individuals involved in the criminal justice system.One of the most notable aspects of the new law is the implementation of a system that allows for the automatic expungement of certain low-level offenses from individuals' criminal records after a specified period of time. This provision is expected to help thousands of North Carolinians obtain better job opportunities and housing prospects, as well as reduce the stigma associated with having a criminal record.The legislation also includes measures to reduce the use of cash bail for nonviolent offenses, with a focus on implementing risk-based assessments to determine an individual's likelihood of reoffending or failing to appear in court. This move is expected to address disparities in the pretrial detention system and prevent low-income individuals from being held in jail simply because they cannot afford bail.Additionally, the new law establishes a task force to study and recommend ways to improve the state's juvenile justice system, with a focus on implementing restorative justice practices that prioritize rehabilitation and support for young offenders.Governor Smith praised the passage of the legislation, stating that it represents a significant step forward in North Carolina's efforts to create a more just and equitable criminal justice system."We must continue to work towards a system that prioritizes rehabilitation and reentry, rather than punishment and incarceration," said Governor Smith. "I am proud of the progress we have made with this legislation, and I am confident that it will have a positive impact on the lives of many individuals in our state."The new criminal justice reform bill will go into effect on January 1, 2026, and is expected to have a lasting impact on the way North Carolina approaches issues of crime and punishment in the years to come.