By Rachel Baldauf rachelbaldauf@borderbelt.org Robeson County sheriff’s deputy Jonathan Walters had an uneasy feeling as he and his partner set out to arrest a suspect who was out on bond and cut off his ankle monitor.  “It was just pretty much like a sixth sense,” said Walters, who has worked for the sheriff’s office since 2020 but was marking his one-year anniversary on patrol that …Read more Continue reading How a man charged with murder was released on bond and shot two Robeson County deputies

North Carolina’s newly passed budget includes money for eight new public defense districts, including one in the southeastern region. Read more Continue reading What a public defender’s office will mean for 3 rural counties in southeastern NC

Bladen, Columbus, Scotland and Robeson counties have seen drops in court case backlogs since the height of COVID. Read more Continue reading How NC’s Border Belt counties reduced court backlogs caused by pandemic

James Conley, who is being held at Tabor Correctional Institution, says he has not had access to traditional practices since 2020. Read more Continue reading Native American says North Carolina prison has denied his right to religious practices

The NC Innocence Inquiry Commission voted to refer a 2017 Robeson County murder conviction to a three-judge panel. Read more Continue reading Innocence commission refers 2017 Robeson County murder conviction to 3-judge panel

Legal Aid of North Carolina now offers record expunction services for free to qualifying residents in Bladen County. Read more Continue reading New program will help Bladen County residents with criminal records get a clean slate

The Bladen County Sheriff’s Office now has a “soft” for crime victims and survivors of abuse. Other agencies can use the space, too. Read more Continue reading Bladen County Sheriff’s Office creates a ‘softer’ space for crime victims