North Carolina Criminal Law UpdatesAssault on a Female is prosecuted as a criminal offense under North Carolina law, N.C.G.S. § 14-33(c)(2). Courts evaluate the statutory elements of the offense, domestic-violence classifications implicated by the alleged conduct, and the procedural rules applicable to bond, adjudication, and sentencing.
1. Assault on a Female Is a Criminal Charge With Domestic-Violence Consequences
Assault on a Female is a criminal offense defined by statute, but the same alleged conduct can carry domestic-violence consequences under North Carolina law when a qualifying personal relationship is present. In that circumstance, the domestic-violence pretrial release statutes apply to the setting of bond and conditions of release, and a judge is required to address release rather than a magistrate. The same alleged incident may also provide the factual basis for a separate civil proceeding for a Domestic Violence Protective Order under Chapter 50B. The elements of Assault on a Female and the bond framework are addressed within the criminal case, while any 50B proceeding arises under a separate civil statute and is evaluated independently.
