Anson County Arrest Records

Anson County law enforcement officers will arrest a person suspected of committing a crime with or without a warrant. The arresting officer will bring the suspect into the Anson County jail, where they will be booked. The officer will enter all the information retrieved during the booking process into the arresting agency's databases. They will also send the arrest details to the Anson County Sheriff's Office, the custodian of arrest records. Once charges are filed, the case is forwarded to the Anson County court system for prosecution. The Clerk of Court maintains the resulting Anson County court records, which may include case files, court dates, judgments, and other legal proceedings. These court records provide a detailed account of how each case progresses through the judicial system.

Are Arrest Records Public in Anson County?

Yes, arrest records are public in Anson County. Every law enforcement agency in Anson County complies with the North Carolina Public Records Law in issuing arrest records to customers. All requests should be made during regular business hours. However, law enforcement agencies will restrict access to some arrest records because they are confidential. Examples of such records are:

• An arrest record of juveniles
• The arrested person's medical records
• Criminal investigation and intelligence records
• Arrest records containing security information of prison or jail operations.
• A mobile telephone number given by a government to a sworn law enforcement officer or non-sworn public law enforcement agency employee.
• Arrest records whose disclosure would reveal a confidential source's identity or affect an arrested person's right to prosecution, a fair trial, or undermine a future investigation.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Anson County public arrest records contain the following information:

• The arrestee's name and mugshot
• Age, race, sex, and date of birth
• Booking number and date
• Arrest date and time
• Bond total and charges
• The name of the arresting agency

Anson County Arrest Statistics

The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (NCSBI) publishes crime statistics on its website, including data on crimes committed by arrested individuals. The index crime rate in Anson County was 3,057.5 in 2023. The North Carolina Department of Adult Correction (DAC) 's Annual Statistical Report reveals 174,275 arrests in FY 2022-2023. About 439 of these arrests were from Anson County. The Anson County Jail books over 2,000 arrested persons annually.

Find Anson County Arrest Records

The North Carolina Department of Adult Correction (NCDAC) maintains the arrest records of about 30,000 inmates, including those of Anson County offenders. Copies of these records can be obtained in person at any of the state's 53 NCDAC prisons. Individuals can also find arrest information for free online using any of the NCDAC's Criminal Offender Search. The search criteria are name, offender number, gender, race, age range, birth date, and ethnic group of the inmate.

Requesters seeking arrest records of federal prison inmates can contact federal law enforcement agencies. Most agencies issue arrest records online or in person at their local offices. For example, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has an Online Detainee Locator System where members of the public can freely find arrest records using a detainee's A-Number or biographical information. The ICE also has field offices and detention facilities where requesters can obtain copies of Anson County arrest records. Similarly, the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) provides arrest records for free through its Inmate Locator. A name or number is required to conduct the search. Individuals can also visit the BOP's facilities to obtain copies of arrest records. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), on the other hand, only issues arrest records to the subjects of the records. Requests can be made online, by mail, or through authorized channelers for $18. The payment method includes certified checks, money orders, or credit cards.

Free Arrest Record Search in Anson County

Individuals can find free arrest records online on the Anson County Sheriff's Office website. Upon reaching the site, click "Resources" on the left navigation pane, scroll down, and select the "Anson County Jail Booking Information" link. Users can conduct a search using current confinements, date range, charges, or arresting agency. Another free option for finding Anson County arrest records is through third-party sites. However, only basic arrest information will be available to the user. Those who want copies of arrest records would have to pay a small fee.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Generally, arrests stay on record forever in Anson County. However, some arrest records are subject to retention periods that allow for their destruction. To learn the timeframe of some arrest records, individuals can review the North Carolina State Archives' County Sheriff's Office Records Retention and Disposition Schedule booklet.

Expunge Anson County Arrest Records

An expungement is the official process of removing a criminal conviction or charge from a person's arrest record and sealing or destroying it. Only individuals who meet N.C.G.S. § 15A-145 through 153 requirements are eligible for expungement in Anson County. Some expungement statutes permit arrestees to expunge their arrest records immediately after the case is over, while others have a waiting period. Eligible individuals should download the appropriate Petitions for Expunctions Forms on the North Carolina Judicial Branch website and file them at the Anson County Clerk's Office. The filing fee is $175, but arrests whose charges were dismissed or ended in a "not guilty" verdict can be expunged for free. Expungements in Anson County take several months.

Anson County Arrest Warrants

According to N.C.G.S. § 15A-304, a judicial officer will issue an arrest warrant when sufficient information, supported by oath or affirmation, shows probable cause to believe that a person has committed a crime. Individuals authorized to issue an arrest warrant in North Carolina are magistrates, clerks, a judge of the superior or district court, a judge of the Court of Appeals, and a Justice of the Supreme Court. The arrest warrant will contain a statement of the crime committed by the defendant and an order to arrest the person. A judicial officer must direct an arrest warrant to an officer, a class of officers, or a combination of them, having authority and territorial jurisdiction for execution. After executing the arrest warrant, the officer must enter the date and time of the execution on it and return it to the Anson County Clerk of Court (G.S. § 15A-301). If the arrest warrant is unexecuted, the officer must return it to the court within 180 days of issuance.

Do Anson County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No, arrest warrants do not expire in Anson County. However, an issuing judicial official can recall an arrest warrant when they determine that probable cause did not exist for its issuance.