N.C. Gen. Stat. » Chapter 15A
NC General Statutes

N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-903 (2026)

Disclosure of evidence by the State - Information subject to disclosure

✓ current as of July 2026
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(a) Upon motion of the defendant, the court must order:

(1) The State to make available to the defendant the complete files of all law enforcement agencies, investigatory agencies, and prosecutors' offices involved in the investigation of the crimes committed or the prosecution of the defendant.

a. The term "file" includes the defendant's statements, the codefendants' statements, witness statements, investigating officers' notes, results of tests and examinations, or any other matter or evidence obtained during the investigation of the offenses alleged to have been committed by the defendant. When any matter or evidence is submitted for testing or examination, in addition to any test or examination results, all other data, calculations, or writings of any kind shall be made available to the defendant, including, but not limited to, preliminary test or screening results and bench notes.

b. The term "prosecutor's office" refers to the office of the prosecuting attorney.

b1. The term "investigatory agency" includes any public or private entity that obtains information on behalf of a law enforcement agency or prosecutor's office in connection with the investigation of the crimes committed or the prosecution of the defendant.

c. Oral statements shall be in written or recorded form, except that oral statements made by a witness to a prosecuting attorney outside the presence of a law enforcement officer or investigatorial assistant shall not be required to be in written or recorded form unless there is significantly new or different information in the oral statement from a prior statement made by the witness.

d. The defendant shall have the right to inspect and copy or photograph any materials contained therein and, under appropriate safeguards, to inspect, examine, and test any physical evidence or sample contained therein.

(2) The prosecuting attorney to give notice to the defendant of any expert witnesses that the State reasonably expects to call as a witness at trial. Each such witness shall prepare, and the State shall furnish to the defendant, a report of the results of any examinations or tests conducted by the expert. The State shall also furnish to the defendant the expert's curriculum vitae, the expert's opinion, and the underlying basis for that opinion. The State shall give the notice and furnish the materials required by this subsection within a reasonable time prior to trial, as specified by the court. Standardized fee scales shall be developed by the Administrative Office of the Courts and Indigent Defense Services for all expert witnesses and private investigators who are compensated with State funds.

(3) The prosecuting attorney to give the defendant, at the beginning of jury selection, a written list of the names of all other witnesses whom the State reasonably expects to call during the trial. Names of witnesses shall not be subject to disclosure if the prosecuting attorney certifies in writing and under seal to the court that to do so may subject the witnesses or others to physical or substantial economic harm or coercion, or that there is other particularized, compelling need not to disclose. If there are witnesses that the State did not reasonably expect to call at the time of the provision of the witness list, and as a result are not listed, the court upon a good faith showing shall allow the witnesses to be called. Additionally, in the interest of justice, the court may in its discretion permit any undisclosed witness to testify.

(b) If the State voluntarily provides disclosure under G.S. 15A-902(a), the disclosure shall be to the same extent as required by subsection (a) of this section.

(c) On a timely basis, law enforcement and investigatory agencies shall make available to the prosecutor's office a complete copy of the complete files related to the investigation of the crimes committed or the prosecution of the defendant for compliance with this section and any disclosure under G.S. 15A-902(a). Investigatory agencies that obtain information and materials listed in subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of this section shall ensure that such information and materials are fully disclosed to the prosecutor's office on a timely basis for disclosure to the defendant.

(d) Any person who willfully omits or misrepresents evidence or information required to be disclosed pursuant to subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of this section, or required to be provided to the prosecutor's office pursuant to subsection (c) of this section, shall be guilty of a Class H felony. Any person who willfully omits or misrepresents evidence or information required to be disclosed pursuant to any other provision of this section shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. (1973, c. 1286, s. 1; 1975, c. 166, s. 27; 1983, c. 759, ss. 1-3; 1983, Ex. Sess., c. 6, s. 1; 2001-282, s. 5; 2004-154, s. 4; 2007-183, s. 1; 2007-377, s. 1; 2007-393, s. 1; 2011-19, s. 9; 2011-250, s. 1.)

 

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 273 cases (10 in the last 5 years), 1975–2026 · leading case: State v. Shannon, 642 S.E.2d 516 (N.C. Ct. App. 2007).
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State v. Shannon, 642 S.E.2d 516 (N.C. Ct. App. 2007). · cites it 108× “The 2003 version of N.C. Gen.Stat. § 15A-903 required the State to produce witness statements: After a witness called by the State has testified on direct examination, the court shall, on motion of the defendant, order the State to produce any statement of the witness in the…”
State v. Flint, 682 S.E.2d 443 (N.C. Ct. App. 2009). · cites it 44× “N.C. Gen.Stat. § 15A-903 (a)(3) (2007). Section 15A-903 (a)(3) goes on to state that "[a]dditionally, in the interest of justice, the court may in its discretion permit any undisclosed witness to testify.”
State v. Cook, 661 S.E.2d 874 (N.C. 2008). · cites it 36× “In a divided opinion, the Court of Appeals found no error in part and remanded in part.”
State v. Davis, 785 S.E.2d 312 (N.C. 2016). · cites it 22× “Chrysler) was not opinion testimony “of the type that was required to be disclosed under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-903.” Id. at_, 768 S.”
State v. Brown, 293 S.E.2d 569 (N.C. 1982). · cites it 14× “Rule 16 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, the federal counterpart of our G.S. 15A-903, specifically confers the right to "discover buildings or places.”
State v. Allen, 731 S.E.2d 510 (N.C. Ct. App. 2012). · cites it 27× “Discovery Issues and Motion to Dismiss On 12 October 2010, the trial court entered orders granting Defendant’s motions seeking (1) the- disclosure of concessions or deals between the State and potential witnesses; (2) to have investigating officers compelled to turn over all…”
State v. Cunningham, 423 S.E.2d 802 (N.C. Ct. App. 1992). · cites it 34× “See N.C.G.S. § 15A-903 (1988). North Carolina Gen.”
State v. Ward, 555 S.E.2d 251 (N.C. 2001). · cites it 12× “JURY SELECTION By another assignment of error, defendant contends that the trial court erred in allowing the prosecutor to question prospective jurors in a manner that infringed upon his Fifth Amendment right to remain silent and to refrain from testifying at trial.”
State v. Weeks, 367 S.E.2d 895 (N.C. 1988). · cites it 15× “Defendant argues that the State violated the discovery rules of *171 N.C.G.S. § 15A-903(a), and contends that the trial court, therefore, erred in admitting this testimony.”
State v. Hunt, 457 S.E.2d 276 (N.C. 1995). · cites it 23× “§ 15A-903(d) requires the disclosure to the defendant of all documents *296 and tangible objects "which are material to the preparation of his defense, are intended for use by the State as evidence at the trial, or were obtained from or belonged to the defendant.”
State v. Bacon, 446 S.E.2d 542 (N.C. 1994). · cites it 12× “Judge Fountain noted at the pretrial hearing that prior to the original trial, the defense filed a motion for discovery of reports of examinations and tests under N.C.G.S. § 15A-903(e) (1988), with a continuing obligation upon the State to respond.”
State v. Vandiver, 364 S.E.2d 373 (N.C. 1988). · cites it 9× “Defendant argues that the trial court’s ruling was a clear violation of N.C.G.S. § 15A-903(f)(2), which provides: After a witness called by the State has testified on direct examination, the court shall, on motion of the defendant, order the State to produce any statement of the…”
Show all 273 citing cases →
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-903(2) — 2 cases
State v. Jean, 311 S.E.2d 266 (N.C. 1984).
State v. Coward, 252 S.E.2d 712 (N.C. 1979).
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-903(a) — 33 cases
State v. Weeks, 367 S.E.2d 895 (N.C. 1988). “Defendant argues that the State violated the discovery rules of *171 N.C.G.S. § 15A-903(a), and contends that the trial court, therefore, erred in admitting this testimony.”
State v. Flint, 682 S.E.2d 443 (N.C. Ct. App. 2009). “N.C. Gen.Stat. § 15A-903 (a)(3) (2007). Section 15A-903 (a)(3) goes on to state that "[a]dditionally, in the interest of justice, the court may in its discretion permit any undisclosed witness to testify.”
State v. Godwin, 444 S.E.2d 206 (N.C. 1994).
State v. Gardner, 319 S.E.2d 591 (N.C. 1984).
State v. Barkley, 551 S.E.2d 131 (N.C. Ct. App. 2001).
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-903(a)(1) — 21 cases
State v. Shannon, 642 S.E.2d 516 (N.C. Ct. App. 2007). “The 2003 version of N.C. Gen.Stat. § 15A-903 required the State to produce witness statements: After a witness called by the State has testified on direct examination, the court shall, on motion of the defendant, order the State to produce any statement of the witness in the…”
State v. Ward, 694 S.E.2d 738 (N.C. 2010).
State v. Flint, 682 S.E.2d 443 (N.C. Ct. App. 2009). “N.C. Gen.Stat. § 15A-903 (a)(3) (2007). Section 15A-903 (a)(3) goes on to state that "[a]dditionally, in the interest of justice, the court may in its discretion permit any undisclosed witness to testify.”
State v. Hipps, 501 S.E.2d 625 (N.C. 1998).
State v. Rainey, 680 S.E.2d 760 (N.C. Ct. App. 2009).
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-903(a)(1)(2005) — 1 case
State v. Shannon, 642 S.E.2d 516 (N.C. Ct. App. 2007). “The 2003 version of N.C. Gen.Stat. § 15A-903 required the State to produce witness statements: After a witness called by the State has testified on direct examination, the court shall, on motion of the defendant, order the State to produce any statement of the witness in the…”
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-903(a)(1)(C) — 2 cases
State v. Dudley (N.C. Ct. App. 2020).
State v. Dudley (N.C. Ct. App. 2020).
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-903(a)(1)(a) — 4 cases
State v. Hamilton, 822 S.E.2d 548 (N.C. Ct. App. 2018).
State v. Foushee, 758 S.E.2d 47 (N.C. Ct. App. 2014).
State v. Hamilton (N.C. Ct. App. 2018).
State v. Glover (N.C. Ct. App. 2014).
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-903(a)(1)(c) — 2 cases
State v. Blevins, 802 S.E.2d 915 (N.C. Ct. App. 2017).
State v. Jenkins (N.C. Ct. App. 2025).
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-903(a)(1)(d) — 1 case
State v. Sanford (N.C. Ct. App. 2014).
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-903(a)(2) — 74 cases
State v. Cook, 661 S.E.2d 874 (N.C. 2008). “In a divided opinion, the Court of Appeals found no error in part and remanded in part.”
State v. Davis, 785 S.E.2d 312 (N.C. 2016). “Chrysler) was not opinion testimony “of the type that was required to be disclosed under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-903.” Id. at_, 768 S.”
State v. Jackson, 810 S.E.2d 397 (N.C. Ct. App. 2018).
State v. Weeks, 367 S.E.2d 895 (N.C. 1988). “Defendant argues that the State violated the discovery rules of *171 N.C.G.S. § 15A-903(a), and contends that the trial court, therefore, erred in admitting this testimony.”
State v. Workman, 476 S.E.2d 301 (N.C. 1996).
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-903(a)(2)(2005) — 1 case
State v. Cook, 647 S.E.2d 433 (N.C. Ct. App. 2007).
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-903(a)(3) — 4 cases
State v. Flint, 682 S.E.2d 443 (N.C. Ct. App. 2009). “N.C. Gen.Stat. § 15A-903 (a)(3) (2007). Section 15A-903 (a)(3) goes on to state that "[a]dditionally, in the interest of justice, the court may in its discretion permit any undisclosed witness to testify.”
State v. Brown, 628 S.E.2d 787 (N.C. Ct. App. 2006).
State v. Taylor, 632 S.E.2d 218 (2006).
State v. Gaddy, 674 S.E.2d 479 (N.C. Ct. App. 2009).
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-903(a)(3)(2007) — 1 case
State v. Flint, 682 S.E.2d 443 (N.C. Ct. App. 2009). “N.C. Gen.Stat. § 15A-903 (a)(3) (2007). Section 15A-903 (a)(3) goes on to state that "[a]dditionally, in the interest of justice, the court may in its discretion permit any undisclosed witness to testify.”
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-903(a)(l) — 22 cases
State v. Shannon, 642 S.E.2d 516 (N.C. Ct. App. 2007). “The 2003 version of N.C. Gen.Stat. § 15A-903 required the State to produce witness statements: After a witness called by the State has testified on direct examination, the court shall, on motion of the defendant, order the State to produce any statement of the witness in the…”
State v. Ward, 694 S.E.2d 738 (N.C. 2010).
State v. Flint, 682 S.E.2d 443 (N.C. Ct. App. 2009). “N.C. Gen.Stat. § 15A-903 (a)(3) (2007). Section 15A-903 (a)(3) goes on to state that "[a]dditionally, in the interest of justice, the court may in its discretion permit any undisclosed witness to testify.”
State v. Weeks, 367 S.E.2d 895 (N.C. 1988). “Defendant argues that the State violated the discovery rules of *171 N.C.G.S. § 15A-903(a), and contends that the trial court, therefore, erred in admitting this testimony.”
State v. Pender, 720 S.E.2d 836 (N.C. Ct. App. 2012).
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-903(a)(l)(a) — 1 case
State v. Foushee, 758 S.E.2d 47 (N.C. Ct. App. 2014).
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-903(b) — 15 cases
State v. Brown, 628 S.E.2d 787 (N.C. Ct. App. 2006).
State v. Soyars, 418 S.E.2d 480 (N.C. 1992).
State v. Gonzalez, 316 S.E.2d 229 (N.C. 1984).
State v. Blankenship, 631 S.E.2d 208 (N.C. Ct. App. 2006).
State v. Moore, 271 S.E.2d 242 (N.C. 1980).
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-903(b)(1) — 1 case
State v. Conner, 280 S.E.2d 14 (N.C. Ct. App. 1981).
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-903(b)(2) — 1 case
State v. Lake, 286 S.E.2d 541 (N.C. 1982).
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-903(b)(l) — 1 case
State v. Cuevas, 468 S.E.2d 425 (N.C. Ct. App. 1996).
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-903(c) — 5 cases
State v. Hamilton, 822 S.E.2d 548 (N.C. Ct. App. 2018).
State v. Ramseur, 739 S.E.2d 599 (N.C. Ct. App. 2013).
State v. Coward, 252 S.E.2d 712 (N.C. 1979).
State v. Payne, 448 S.E.2d 93 (1994).
State v. Hamilton (N.C. Ct. App. 2018).
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-903(d) — 37 cases
State v. McLaughlin, 372 S.E.2d 49 (N.C. 1988).
State v. Golphin, 533 S.E.2d 168 (N.C. 2000).
State v. Brown, 293 S.E.2d 569 (N.C. 1982). “Rule 16 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, the federal counterpart of our G.S. 15A-903, specifically confers the right to "discover buildings or places.”
State v. Manning, 534 S.E.2d 219 (N.C. Ct. App. 2000).
State v. Pigott, 357 S.E.2d 631 (N.C. 1987).
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-903(e) — 38 cases
State v. Allen, 731 S.E.2d 510 (N.C. Ct. App. 2012). “Discovery Issues and Motion to Dismiss On 12 October 2010, the trial court entered orders granting Defendant’s motions seeking (1) the- disclosure of concessions or deals between the State and potential witnesses; (2) to have investigating officers compelled to turn over all…”
State v. Bacon, 446 S.E.2d 542 (N.C. 1994). “Judge Fountain noted at the pretrial hearing that prior to the original trial, the defense filed a motion for discovery of reports of examinations and tests under N.C.G.S. § 15A-903(e) (1988), with a continuing obligation upon the State to respond.”
State v. Brewington, 532 S.E.2d 496 (N.C. 2000).
State v. Goode, 461 S.E.2d 631 (N.C. 1995).
State v. Cunningham, 423 S.E.2d 802 (N.C. Ct. App. 1992). “See N.C.G.S. § 15A-903 (1988). North Carolina Gen.”
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-903(f) — 7 cases
State v. Soyars, 418 S.E.2d 480 (N.C. 1992).
State v. Gonzalez, 316 S.E.2d 229 (N.C. 1984).
State v. Hunt, 457 S.E.2d 276 (N.C. 1995). “§ 15A-903(d) requires the disclosure to the defendant of all documents *296 and tangible objects "which are material to the preparation of his defense, are intended for use by the State as evidence at the trial, or were obtained from or belonged to the defendant.”
State v. Fernandez, 484 S.E.2d 350 (N.C. 1997).
State v. Smith, 447 S.E.2d 376 (N.C. 1994).
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-903(f)(1) — 4 cases
State v. Haselden, 577 S.E.2d 594 (N.C. 2003).
State v. Parker, 539 S.E.2d 656 (N.C. Ct. App. 2000).
State v. Rhue, 563 S.E.2d 72 (N.C. Ct. App. 2002).
State v. Manning, 534 S.E.2d 219 (N.C. Ct. App. 2000).
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-903(f)(2) — 10 cases
State v. Vandiver, 364 S.E.2d 373 (N.C. 1988). “Defendant argues that the trial court’s ruling was a clear violation of N.C.G.S. § 15A-903(f)(2), which provides: After a witness called by the State has testified on direct examination, the court shall, on motion of the defendant, order the State to produce any statement of the…”
State v. Vandiver, 364 S.E.2d 373 (N.C. 1988).
State v. Ferguson, 538 S.E.2d 217 (N.C. Ct. App. 2000).
State v. Heatwole, 473 S.E.2d 310 (N.C. 1996).
State v. Shannon, 642 S.E.2d 516 (N.C. Ct. App. 2007). “The 2003 version of N.C. Gen.Stat. § 15A-903 required the State to produce witness statements: After a witness called by the State has testified on direct examination, the court shall, on motion of the defendant, order the State to produce any statement of the witness in the…”
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-903(f)(3) — 1 case
State v. Call, 508 S.E.2d 496 (N.C. 1998).
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-903(f)(4) — 2 cases
State v. Fernandez, 484 S.E.2d 350 (N.C. 1997).
Strickland v. Lee, 471 F. Supp. 2d 557 (W.D.N.C. 2007).
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-903(f)(5) — 4 cases
State v. Shannon, 642 S.E.2d 516 (N.C. Ct. App. 2007). “The 2003 version of N.C. Gen.Stat. § 15A-903 required the State to produce witness statements: After a witness called by the State has testified on direct examination, the court shall, on motion of the defendant, order the State to produce any statement of the witness in the…”
State v. Vandiver, 364 S.E.2d 373 (N.C. 1988). “Defendant argues that the trial court’s ruling was a clear violation of N.C.G.S. § 15A-903(f)(2), which provides: After a witness called by the State has testified on direct examination, the court shall, on motion of the defendant, order the State to produce any statement of the…”
State v. Vandiver, 364 S.E.2d 373 (N.C. 1988).
State v. Shedd, 450 S.E.2d 13 (N.C. Ct. App. 1994).
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-903(f)(5)(a) — 1 case
State v. Griffin, 525 S.E.2d 793 (N.C. Ct. App. 2000).
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-903(f)(5)(b) — 2 cases
State v. Moore, 440 S.E.2d 797 (N.C. 1994).
State v. Ferguson, 538 S.E.2d 217 (N.C. Ct. App. 2000).
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-903(f)(l) — 5 cases
State v. Phillips, 399 S.E.2d 293 (N.C. 1991).
State v. Harris, 371 S.E.2d 689 (N.C. 1988).
State v. Rhue, 563 S.E.2d 72 (N.C. Ct. App. 2002).
State v. Manning, 534 S.E.2d 219 (N.C. Ct. App. 2000).
State v. McCail, 565 S.E.2d 96 (N.C. Ct. App. 2002).
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