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Felony Sentencing Form GS-15A

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STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA

File No.
In The General Court Of Justice
Superior Court Division
County

STATE VERSUS

Defendant

EXTRAORDINARY MITIGATION

FINDINGS

(STRUCTURED SENTENCING)

G.S. 15A-1340.13

NOTE: The finding of extraordinary mitigation permits the Court, in its discretion, to impose an intermediate punishment for a class of offense and prior record level that requires the imposition of an active punishment under statute. The Court is not permitted to use extraordinary mitigation if (1) the defendant committed a Class A or B1 offense, (2) the defendant committed a drug trafficking offense under G.S. 90-95(h), or (3) the defendant has five or more prior record points under G.S. 15A-1340.14.

1. The Court finds that the class of offense and prior record level upon which the defendant stands convicted require the imposition of active punishment.

2. After hearing evidence, and arguments of counsel on the issue of dispositional deviation for extraordinary mitigation, the Court, in its discretion finds the following extraordinary mitigating factors.

Based upon the foregoing findings, the Court, in its discretion, finds:

1. That extraordinary mitigating factors of a kind significantly greater than in the normal case are present.

2. Those factors substantially outweigh any factors in aggravation.

3. It would be a manifest injustice to impose an active punishment in this case.

Date
Name Of Presiding Judge (Type Or Print)
Signature Of Presiding Judge

AOC-CR-606, New 10/94

©1997 Administrative Office of the Courts

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What the Felony Sentencing Form GS-15A Is and When It’s Used

The Felony Sentencing Form GS-15A is a standardized court document used to record sentencing details, imposed conditions, and statutory penalties following a felony conviction. It captures defendant identifiers, offense codes, sentence length, concurrent or consecutive designations, fines, restitution, and probation or parole terms. Courts, probation officers, and correctional agencies rely on the GS-15A for judgment entry, sentencing computation, and transfer of case data to corrections databases. Accurate completion ensures proper enforcement of the sentence and supports downstream actions such as incarceration placement, supervision orders, and appellate review.

Why Accurate Completion of GS-15A Matters

Precise, complete GS-15A entries prevent enforcement errors, reduce appeals risk, and ensure consistent records between courts and corrections systems.

Why Accurate Completion of GS-15A Matters

Who Prepares and Relies on the GS-15A

Each role depends on timely, accurate completion to protect procedural rights and to coordinate custody, supervision, and post-sentencing obligations.

  • Prosecutors and prosecutors' staff who prepare recommended sentencing language and verify offense classifications.
  • Defense attorneys who review entries for accuracy and preserve appellate issues.
  • Probation officers and corrections administrators who use form data for supervision and placement decisions.

Step-by-Step: Filling Out the GS-15A

Follow these core steps in order to complete the form accurately for court record and corrections intake.

  • 01
    Gather Records: Collect charging documents, plea minutes, and PSI details before starting.
  • 02
    Enter Identifiers: Fill defendant name, DOB, and docket number exactly.
  • 03
    Record Sentence: Specify term lengths, parole/probation, and concurrency decisions.
  • 04
    Verify and Sign: Review for errors, obtain required signatures, and file with the clerk.

Where the GS-15A Goes After Completion

After signing, the GS-15A is routed to the clerk, probation, and corrections systems to implement the sentence and update records.

  • Court Clerk: Files the form into the case docket and issues the formal judgment entry.
  • Probation Office: Receives supervision terms for post-release oversight.
  • Corrections Intake: Uses sentence details for placement and custody calculations.
  • Appeals/Records Unit: Stores certified copy for appellate and public record purposes.

Essential Fields Required on GS-15A

Defendant ID: Name, DOB
Docket Number: Court case ID
Statute: Offense citation
Sentence: Years, months, days
Monetary Orders: Fines and restitution
Signatures: Judge date

Common Preparation Errors to Avoid

  • Entering an incorrect docket number leads to mismatched records and delayed enforcement or transfer of custody.
  • Omitting whether sentences run concurrently or consecutively can alter total exposure and cause conflicting agency calculations.
  • Using informal offense descriptions instead of statutory citations creates ambiguity for guideline scoring and record searches.
  • Failing to include exact monetary amounts and schedules produces collection disputes and administrative follow-ups.

Consequences of Inaccurate GS-15A Completion

Judgment Delay: Court processing delays
Custody Errors: Incorrect placement or release
Appeal Issues: Grounds for reversal
Collection Failures: Lost restitution recovery
Supervision Gaps: Probation misapplication
Record Integrity: Noncompliance with retention

Core Sections Included on a Professional GS-15A

A complete GS-15A consolidates identification, statutory data, sentence allocation, financial orders, special conditions, and official certifications.

Identification

Complete defendant details including legal name, aliases, date of birth, and any government identifiers; accurate IDs ensure proper matches with corrections and criminal history systems.

Charge Details

List each count with statute citation, degree, plea disposition, and disposition date to preserve the legal basis for the sentence and for appellate review.

Sentence Allocation

Document incarceration term, parole or probation terms, minimums and maximums, and whether terms run concurrently or consecutively to remove ambiguity in enforcement.

Financial Orders

Specify fines, restitution amounts, assessment codes, and payment schedules with responsible party designations to support collections and victim compensation processes.

Special Conditions

Include mandatory and discretionary conditions (treatment, registration, travel restrictions) with clear start dates and supervision responsibilities for enforceability.

Certification

Judge signature block, clerk filing stamp, and dates certify the judgment; these entries create the official record required for incarceration or supervision to proceed.

Practical Tips for Accurate, Efficient Completion

Use a checklist and cross-check against the plea colloquy, PSR, and judgment to avoid omissions.

Pre-fill from Case System
Pull defendant identifiers and docket numbers from the court information system to reduce transcription errors and save time in busy dockets.
Standardize Statutory Language
Use official statute citations and precisely worded offense titles matching charging documents to avoid confusion in sentencing computation and record retrieval.
Confirm Concurrency Choices
Have the sentencing judge state on the record whether terms are concurrent or consecutive, and mirror that choice exactly on the GS-15A.
Retain Signed Originals
Keep certified copies in the clerk’s file and transmit certified copies to probation and corrections per local rules to ensure enforcement fidelity.

Time-Sensitive Actions and Typical Deadlines

Observe court-imposed deadlines and local filing rules to avoid procedural complications and ensure prompt transfer to corrections or supervision.

Judgment Entry Filing:

File GS-15A on sentencing date or per local clerk rules.

Notification to Corrections:

Transmit sentencing data immediately for custody computation.

Probation Placement:

Provide conditions to probation within days of sentencing.

Appeal Notice:

File appeal timely per state appellate deadlines.

Record Retention:

Keep certified records according to statutory retention rules.

Key Processing Milestones After Sentencing

Track these sequential milestones to confirm the sentence is entered, communicated, and enforced without administrative gaps.

01

Judgment Entry

Clerk records the GS-15A and creates the official judgment.

02

Corrections Notification

Corrections receives sentence for custody and placement.

03

Probation Assignment

Probation receives conditions and supervision tasks.

04

Execution and Compliance

Payments, registrations, and special conditions are scheduled.

How to Configure an Electronic GS-15A Workflow

Set up electronic workflows to mirror court steps: data capture, approvals, signature capture, and secure distribution to agencies.

Field Configuration
Authentication Use court-approved signer verification
Signature Order Judge signature precedes clerk stamping
Notifications Auto-send certified copies to probation/corrections
Retention Export to secure records vault

Digital Signing and Delivery Considerations

Ensure the chosen platform meets ESIGN and UETA standards and supports secure distribution to the clerk, probation, and corrections.

  • Authentication: Use multi-factor or court-approved methods
  • Integrations: Supports Salesforce, NetSuite, MS 365
  • File Types: Accepts PDF, DOCX, and XML exports

Electronic Signature vs Digital (Cryptographic) Signature

Understand the operational and legal differences to choose the appropriate signing method for court-admissible sentencing records.

Criteria Electronic Signature Digital Signature
Definition any electronic sign pki-based cryptographic sign
Legal Standing esign/ueta accept esign/ueta accept
Non-repudiation audit trail strong cryptographic proof
Use Cases routine filings high-assurance regulatory filings

eSignature Vendor Comparison for Court and Agency Workflows

Compare common vendor price points and capabilities relevant for high-volume forms (signNow listed first). Do not rely on this table for procurement decisions — confirm vendor terms directly.

signNow DocuSign Adobe Sign PandaDoc HelloSign
Starting Price $8/user/mo $15/user/mo $14/user/mo $19/user/mo $15/user/mo
Free Trial 7-day free trial Trial available Trial available Trial available Trial available
Bulk Send Yes (Business Premium) Yes Yes Yes Yes
Audit Trail Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
HIPAA Compliant Yes (BAA available) Yes Yes No No
Envelope Cap No cap 100 envelopes/user/year limit Varies by plan No cap Varies by plan

Practical Examples of GS-15A Use in Routine Cases

These anonymized scenarios illustrate common GS-15A completion patterns and outcomes in routine sentencing contexts.

Local Sentencing Entry

Judge issues a 3-year sentence with probation to follow

  • GS-15A records concurrent time calculation
  • Clerk files certified copy, probation receives conditions and supervision begins within days.

Monetary Orders Enforced

Court orders restitution and fines as part of sentence

  • GS-15A lists amounts and payment schedule
  • Collections unit references GS-15A to setup payment plans and victim restitution distributions.

Typical Professionals Who Sign or Certify the GS-15A

Presiding Judge

The judge signs to enter the formal judgment of sentence. That signature certifies the sentence, resolves concurrent or consecutive issues, and creates the enforceable order used by corrections and probation.

Court Clerk

The clerk stamps and files the GS-15A to create the official docketed judgment. Clerks distribute certified copies to probation, corrections, and any required agencies to initiate enforcement.

Frequently Asked Questions About the GS-15A

Answers to frequent questions about completing, certifying, and distributing the GS-15A to reduce common delays and compliance issues.


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