Durham County District Attorney’s Office Announces Measures in Response to COVID-19
NEWS RELEASE
March 13, 2020
For immediate release
District Attorney’s Office Announces Measures in Response to COVID-19
March 16 update: The Durham County District Attorney’s Office is now closed to the public until April 16. To reach staff, call the Office at 919–808–3010 and leave a message
DURHAM, NC — In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus) the Durham County District Attorney’s Office announced measures today to ensure the safety of the public as well as employees. These measures are effective Monday, March 16, until further notice.
The well-being of the Durham community is the primary goal of the DA’s Office. Recognizing that hundreds of people visit the Durham County Courthouse on a daily basis, these changes are aimed at reducing traffic in the courthouse and accommodating those who are ill or at high-risk of illness due to COVID-19.
Following directives issued earlier today by North Carolina Chief Justice Cheri Beasley, most District and Superior Court matters scheduled for the next 30 days will be postponed until no earlier than April 16. This includes traffic court matters. While jury trials will not be scheduled during that time, grand juries that have already been empaneled will continue to operate as usual. Courts will operate on a modified schedule until further notice.
The DA’s Office and the courts have an obligation to ensure individuals’ due process rights are upheld. As such, emergency proceedings — such as first appearances for individuals who are in custody, bond hearings, probable cause hearings, and some probation hearings — will continue to be held. In any proceeding in which the State’s obligations under the Crime Victims’s Rights Act apply, the DA’s Office will attempt to contact victims in those cases before those emergency hearings are held.
Victims in pending criminal cases with court dates scheduled during the next 30 days can contact the District Attorney’s Office at 919–808–3010 with any questions.
By Chief Justice Beasley’s order, people who have likely been exposed to COVID-19 should not enter the courthouse. Individuals who have business at the courthouse and have likely been exposed should call the Clerk of Superior Court’s Office at 919–808–3007. Defendants with matters scheduled in the next 30 days should direct questions to their attorneys or, if they are not represented by counsel, the Clerk’s Office.
Civil requests for restraining orders and domestic violence protective orders will continue to be heard. Online services remain available for some functions, such as eFiling and payment in certain cases.
Following the direction of Chief Justice Beasley and Governor Roy Cooper, most DA’s Office staff have been permitted to telework until further notice unless their presence is required to carry out essential court functions.
Until further notice, the District Attorney’s Office will be open to the public by appointment only. The DA’s Office will continue to be operational and phone lines will continue to be monitored. To arrange an appointment, contact the DA’s Office or the assigned assistant district attorney.
For updates, members of the public are encouraged to follow the DA’s Office on Facebook (DurhamDA) and Twitter (DurhamNCDA).
The Durham County District Attorney’s Office employs about 40 people, including prosecutors, administrators, victim service coordinators, legal assistants and support staff. The Office is led by District Attorney Satana Deberry, who took office on January 1, 2019. The Office handles all criminal cases in Durham County.
