In the Matter of N.M., __ N.C.App. __ (September 19, 2023)

Facts: The juvenile was adjudicated delinquent for simple assault related to an incident on a school bus. The court received a predisposition report, risk and needs assessments, and a full YASI narrative assessment and entered a Level 1 disposition. The order was entered on the preprinted Juvenile Level 1 Disposition Order form. The boxes indicating that the court received, considered, and incorporated by reference the report and assessments were checked.  The section entitled “Other Findings” was left blank.

Opinion: The trial must make oral and written findings showing that it considered the five factors mandated for consideration at disposition as contained in G.S. 7B-2501(c). This is true even when the information regarding the statutory factors is in the reports given to the court. The “Other Findings” section of the form must be filled with the trial court’s findings regarding the five factors in G.S. 7B-2501(c).