News Roundup

WRAL reports that the family of Andrew Brown Jr. has filed a federal wrongful death lawsuit against Pasquotank County Sheriff Tommy Wooten, Dare County Sheriff Doug Doughtie, and several deputies.  Brown was killed in April as he attempted to flee in his car from deputies who were executing search warrants for his home and vehicle.  In May, District Attorney Andrew Womble determined that officers were justified in using deadly force against Brown because he used his vehicle as a weapon while trying to escape.  Brown’s family is seeking $31 million in compensatory and punitive damages. Prison Without a Fence.  The Charlotte Observer recently had a story about the Center for Women, a thirty-bed residential facility for women who are serving the final years of prison sentences that focuses on preparing the women to transition back into the community.  In addition to offering a less restrictive environment than a typical prison, the nonprofit center has an employment program that teaches job skills and program that focuses on family emotional and social wellness. Plea Tracker.  The Charlotte Obersver reports that the Durham District Attorney’s Office will participate in a project with Duke University to track decisions about plea bargains.  As part of the Wilson Center for Science and Justice’s “Plea Tracker Project,” prosecutors will report on factors that go into their plea bargain decisions.  The project will last for one year. Duck Abuse.  The Statesville Record & Landmark reports that 43 ducks were removed from Martin Luther King Jr. Park in Statesville last [...]