Alexander County Arrest Records

Alexander County arrest records are law enforcement records indicating that an individual has been apprehended and placed in police custody, detained for investigation on suspicion that the person has committed a criminal offense. The suspect may be thereafter charged and brought before the court.

An arrest record is not evidence of crime but rather a record that an individual was taken into custody on suspicion of committing a crime at some point. In cases of criminal arrests, arrest records can serve as a foundation for the creation of other essential records like Alexander County Court Records and North Carolina criminal history records.

The Alexander County Sheriff’s Office maintains the records for its jurisdiction, but arrest information is also accessible through the county clerks of court and the North Carolina Department of Public Safety.

Are Arrest Records Public in Alexander County?

Yes. In line with the North Carolina Public Records Act, all public information prepared, filed, maintained, and compiled by the agencies of the North Carolina Government or its subdivisions are properties of the people. In essence, all persons have and can exercise their right to view, inspect, and request copies of government records, including law enforcement records (§ 132-1).

Public records, as defined in this act, shall include all documents made or received pursuant to the law or ordinance in connection with the transaction of public business or performance of public duty by any state, county, or local agencies of the North Carolina Government. While arrest records may be public information, they are subject to certain limitations.

The same Act provides for instances where confidential information shall not be disclosed under the law. This means that the general right to access public information is not absolute and would not apply to confidential information such as:

• Sealed or expunged records
• Information that may interfere with law enforcement investigation and detection
• Records where such disclosure may jeopardize personal safety and security
• Records where such disclosure may result in an unwarranted and unnecessary invasion of privacy
• Information that may hinder an individual's constitutional right to a fair hearing and justice
• Information that is otherwise confidential or exempt from disclosure under state or federal statute
• Disclosure that can lead to impartial or improper administration of justice
• The identity of the victim of a crime.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Arrest information that may be available to members of the public depends on the restrictions in the Public Records Act and the circumstances surrounding the case (for example, the arrest of an offender below 18 years of age). Public arrest records in Alexander County usually include the following information:

• The arrestee’s personal information: full name, age, date of birth.
• The arrestee's physical description: gender, race, ethnicity, weight, height, scars, tattoos, hair, and eye color.
• Arrest information: Arrest and booking time and date, the place of arrest, and the name of the arresting officer(s) and agency.
• Previous arrests.
• Outstanding warrant
• Description of the charge(s)
• Incidence report
• Bail Information, bond amount, and release conditions.
• Place of incarceration
• Status of the offender (in custody or released).

Alexander County Arrest Statistics

Crime statistics from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) shows that Alexander County law enforcement made 830 arrests in 2023, including 576 male arrests and 204 female arrests. The leading causes of arrest were drug/narcotic offenses (102), simple assault (61), aggravated assault (47), and larceny (30). There were 515 arrests for all other [non-traffic] offenses.

Find Alexander County Arrest Records

The Alexander County Sheriff’s Office is primarily responsible for creating and filing arrest records, as all offenders arrested and detained in the county jail are deemed to be under the custody of the sheriff. The Sheriff then compiles this information and registers it with the county courts and the state.

Interested persons can find arrest information for Alexander County online through the Inmate Inquiry website. The website provides details about offenders in the Alexander County Jail. It provides the name, age, race/sex, arrest and release date, charges, docket number, bond amount, and status of the offender.

For more comprehensive arrest records, contact or visit the sheriff’s office using the address below. Residents of Alexander County have a right to access and request copies of arrest records regardless of the type of document (physical or electronic) and unless it is restricted from disclosure by the North Carolina Public Records Act.

Alexander County Sheriff's Office
91 Commercial Park Avenue
Taylorsville, NC 28681
Phone: (828) 632-1111
Fax: (828) 632-5488

Researchers can also consider state resources like the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction’s online public records. The Department maintains an Offender Public Information Search for information on prisoners in the state's custody, as well as probationers and parolees.

Free Arrest Record Search in Alexander County

Researchers can find free arrest records in Alexander County at the County Sheriff’s Office. While inspecting and viewing arrest records is free, requesting copies is not. The agency charges for record request services according to its fee schedule.

Alternatively, you can find Alexander County arrest records online at Third Party Public Record search sites. Third-party public record websites are privately owned and are not government-affiliated. While their features are convenient and accessible, they are not free. Researchers can, however, opt for relatively low to affordable payment plans to enable them to access third-party databases and resources.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In North Carolina, arrests and other criminal records can remain on public profile indefinitely unless the individual is eligible to obtain an expungement order. However, with the introduction of the Second Chance Act (Senate Bill 562), certain arrests that are dismissed or lead to a not-guilty verdict after December 1, 2021, will be automatically expunged.

Expunge Alexander County Arrest Records

Under the Second Chance Act, a charge for a misdemeanor or felony offense or infraction that is dismissed and does not result in conviction on or after December 1, 2021, will be expunged automatically by operation of law. If the charge was dismissed through a plea agreement or was dismissed or disposed of as “not guilty” before December 1, 2021, the person must fill and submit the relevant petition form and initiate the expungement process in the county where the arrest occurred. This procedure may be done by the petitioner or a district attorney.

The petitioner must choose the right form and complete it to include all personal and court information, docket numbers, charges, and dispositions. The emphasis is placed on filing the correct petition form because the form for expunction of one or more dismissed charges differs from that for expunction of one or disposed of ‘not guilty’ charges.

Chapter 15, Article 5 (§ 15A-145) guides the process of expungement of first offenders under the age of 18 at the time of conviction of misdemeanors, nonviolent felonies, and certain gang offenses and for first offenders under the age of 21. It also lists the eligibility for the expunction of conviction records for nonviolent misdemeanor and nonviolent felonies without age limitations.

Alexander County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant is a document that contains a state of a crime of which the person to be arrested is accused and includes an order directing a police or law enforcement officer to arrest the named individual and bring him before the court to answer to the charges made against him. It is issued based on the showing of probable cause supported by an oath or affidavit (§ 15A-304)

In North Carolina, an arrest warrant may be issued by a justice of the Supreme Court, a judge of the court of appeals, a judge of the superior court, a judge of the district court, a magistrate, or a clerk in the name and office of the judge. An arrest warrant issued anywhere in North Carolina is valid throughout the state.

Do Alexander County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. Arrest warrants issued in North Carolina do not expire.The warrant remains outstanding until the suspect is arrested or the warrant is recalled or quashed. The legal consequences of evading arrest may be detrimental to a person’s case depending on initial charges. It is advisable to contact an attorney or public defender to help resolve the warrant and avoid additional charges.