{"data":{"id":"us-nc/n.c.-gen.-stat.-115c-390.3","jurisdiction":"us-nc","citation":"N.C. Gen. Stat. § 115C-390.3","heading":"Reasonable force.","body":"(a)\tSchool personnel may use physical restraint only in accordance with G.S. 115C-391.1.\n(b)\tSchool personnel may use reasonable force to control behavior or to remove a person from the scene in those situations when necessary for any of the following reasons:\n(1)\tTo correct students.\n(2)\tTo quell a disturbance threatening injury to others.\n(3)\tTo obtain possession of weapons or other dangerous objects on the person, or within the control, of a student.\n(4)\tFor self-defense.\n(5)\tFor the protection of persons or property.\n(6)\tTo maintain order on educational property, in the classroom, or at a school-related activity on or off educational property.\n(c)\tNotwithstanding any other law, no officer, member, or employee of the State Board of Education, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, or of a governing body of a public school unit, individually or collectively, shall be civilly liable for using reasonable force in conformity with State law, State or local rules, or State or local policies regarding the control, discipline, suspension, and expulsion of students. Furthermore, the burden of proof is on the claimant to show that the amount of force used was not reasonable.\n(d)\tNo school employee shall be reprimanded or dismissed for acting or failing to act to stop or intervene in an altercation between students if the employee's actions are consistent with governing body policies. Governing bodies of public school units shall adopt policies, pursuant to their authority under G.S. 115C-47(18), or as otherwise provided by law, which provide guidelines for an employee's response if the employee has personal knowledge or actual notice of an altercation between students. (2011-282, s. 2; 2012-149, s. 10; 2016-126, 4th Ex. Sess., s. 23; 2022-74, s. 7.7(c).)","path":["Chapter 115C. Elementary and Secondary Education.","SUBCHAPTER VI. STUDENTS.","Article 27. Discipline."],"source_url":"https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_115C/GS_115C-390.3.html","current_through":"S.L. 2026-30","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-27T18:17:42Z","sha256":"7bfd1fe417c0994d443a0c0c9fbcdc370c789dbb147f24731395f760dd832e93","source_id":"us-nc","stale":false,"prev":"us-nc/n.c.-gen.-stat.-115c-390.2","next":"us-nc/n.c.-gen.-stat.-115c-390.4"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}