Examining the Implementation of Rylan’s Law and Disparate Impact in North Carolina

The North Carolina Advisory Committee (Committee) to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (Commission) adopted a proposal to undertake a study examining the impact of Rylan’s Law, a 2017 law that requires more oversight in child custody cases. The focus of the Committee’s inquiry was to examine instances of state intervention in the child welfare system since the passage of Rylan’s Law, including any disparities that were created and/or reinforced based on race, color, age, disability, or other federally protected category and any denial of equal protection of the law in the administration of justice with the intention of identifying areas for improvement and developing recommendations accordingly.