Investigations

The investigations unit is responsible for investigating allegations of rule violations located within NCAC Title 12, Chapter 09. These rules have been adopted by the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission to set minimum standards for certification eligibility and to dictate the performance expectations for all certified officers.

Initiating Investigations

Applications submitted for certification consideration are reviewed by staff to ensure all minimum standards are met. If potential disqualifications are identified, they are referred for investigation. Likewise, rules also mandate the reporting of specific events for certified officers and once received, these are also assigned for investigation. Lastly, other complaints referencing rule violations can also trigger investigations. These can be identified through agency separation reports indicating that an officer was recently under investigation for a crime or rule violation or through media reports or other means where potential rule violations are identified.

Investigation Process for Alleged Rule Violations

Once assigned, investigators collect and review all available evidence. When applicable, internal affairs and/or criminal cases are monitored through to disposition. When CJ investigations are complete, a report is prepared and allegations of rule violations are then presented to the Commission’s Probable Cause Review Team for consideration. Like the functioning of a grand jury, these cases can then be closed as no rule violation or sent to be heard at a quarterly meeting of the full Probable Cause Committee.

Sanctions

For less serious matters, violations of rules can be addressed through a warning letter or with a written reprimand. Sanctions for more severe rule violations include denial of certification, suspension, or revocation. For the latter grouping, once probable cause is found, a proposal for sanction is sent to the applicant/officer, offering them a chance to appeal or accept the sanction. An appeal results in the hearing of the case by an Administrative Law Judge, prior to it being sent back to the full Commission for a Final Agency Decision. Unless overturned, the sanction becomes effective once all appeal options are exhausted.

---

For questions or comments concerning the Commission’s Investigative Unit, you may contact Deputy Director Thomas Hopkins with the  Criminal Justice Standards Division of the North Carolina Department of Justice.

Thomas Hopkins, Deputy Director: (919) 779-8204 or email thopkins@ncdoj.gov