North Carolina Arrest Records

North Carolina arrest records are reports, documents, and logs containing information about arrests within the state. Local law enforcement agencies in North Carolina create and maintain arrest records typically to disclose information about the:

• Arrestee
• Arresting agency/agency
• Reasons for arrests.

In North Carolina, enforcement officers may take persons who violate state laws or disturb public safety into custody. Law enforcement officers may execute arrests with or without warrants if there is probable cause that individuals committed crimes or were caught committing arrestable offenses. Upon arrest, the offender is booked and held in custody pending release on bail or arraignment.

North Carolina arrest records are accessible through the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and local law enforcement agencies, such as the:

• Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office
• Charlotte–Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD)
• Raleigh Police Department.

Also, arrest records may be accessible as part of North Carolina criminal court records.

North Carolina Arrest Statistics

In 2023, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (NSBI) reported 231,852 arrests in North Carolina, representing a 1.36% decrease from the 235,043 arrests in 2022. The arrests in 2023 included 221,407 adults and 10,445 juveniles.

Data from the NSBI shows that law enforcement made 9,145 arrests for violent crimes and 24,803 arrests for property crimes. The most common offenses leading to arrests were drug and narcotic violations (33,163), simple assault (23,255), larceny (17,750), and DWI incidents.

Are Arrest Records Public in North Carolina?

Yes, North Carolina considers arrest records public. According to the North Carolina Public Records Law, interested persons may access these records. However, per G.S. Chapter 132, Sections 132-1 through 1–1.4, G.S. 132-1.2, G.S. 15A-151, and 15A-151.5, some records and information are confidential and legally exempt from public disclosure. These exemptions include arrest records that contain any of the following:

• Account numbers, social security numbers, and other personally identifiable information
• Criminal investigation and innocence inquiry records
• Recordings created by law enforcement agencies
• Pretrial documents and information
• Juvenile information.

Find Public Arrest Records in North Carolina

Interested persons may access North Carolina public arrest records through local law enforcement agencies like the sheriff's offices and police departments. These documents may also be accessible as part of North Carolina court records through courthouses. Information seekers may access North Carolina public arrest records in person, online, or by mail, depending on the method the record custodian provides. The process for submitting record requests varies among the different custodial agencies. However, the following steps are usually practical for searching for arrest records:

• Find the Record Custodian: In North Carolina, the custodians of arrest records are typically the arresting local enforcement agency, the State Bureau of Investigation, the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, or the court responsible for the specific criminal case trial (if the arrest results in a conviction)
• Contact the Record Custodian, inquire about their document request processes, and verify the availability of the specific arrest record. Usually, these procedures may be accessible on the agency's official website and may not be relevant if the record is publicly available online
• Submit a Record Request to the custodian agency in person, online, or by mail. Online queries are usually faster, more convenient, and cost-effective. They require the requester to enter vital search criteria into an online search portal to retrieve arrest record information.

For in-person requests, most agencies may require appointments before the date for the search, while others may allow walk-ins during official hours. The requester needs to provide adequate information to retrieve the specific arrest record. Fees may apply if access involves engaging the services of the agency staff in the search and making copies of the arrest records. Contrariwise, mail requests may require record seekers to send completed request forms or handwritten applications, alongside checks/money orders and self-addressed stamped envelopes to the custodian agencies.

Obtaining Sealed Arrest Records

According to North Carolina laws, not all arrest records are publicly disclosable. Accessing non-public arrest records may require subpoenas or court orders. To subpoena an arrest record in North Carolina, an inquirer must submit a petition to the clerk of court in the county where authorities made the arrest. The petition should provide adequate information about the desired record, including the arrest date and the arrestee's name. Upon receiving the petition, the court verifies it and determines if the reasons for requesting the sealed record are of greater public good than those that necessitated its restriction. If the court grants the petition, the clerk of the court prepares the subpoena and serves it to the record custodian, mandating the release of the record within a stipulated period and stating the terms that regulate access to it.

How to Lookup Arrest Records Online in North Carolina

North Carolina arrest records are accessible online through official databases or third-party websites. Most law enforcement agencies have search portals on their official websites that retrieve arrest information or details about persons they incarcerate in jails. For instance, the Wake County Sheriff's Department maintains an online repository for arrest records. Record seekers seeking North Carolina arrest records should visit their agencies' websites and locate the appropriate search links or webpages. Most online record access portals permit search criteria such as:

• Subject name
• Case number
• Arrest date.

Furthermore, the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction website has search tools for arrest records and inmate information, and an Offenders Search Page.

Beyond official sources, information seekers may also search for North Carolina arrest records through third-party or aggregate websites. These private platforms are useful in cases where one is unable to determine the record custodian. It is, however, important to note that documents from these sites may not be accurate or up-to-date as they are non-official sources.

What is Included in North Carolina Arrest Records?

A North Carolina arrest record contains the following details:

• The subject's details: This includes:
  • Name
  • Date of birth
  • Gender
  • Ethnicity
  • Hair and eye colors
  • Height
• Mugshots
• Arrest information, such as:
  • The date, time, and arrest location of the arrest
  • Name of the arresting agency, arresting officers, and their badge numbers
  • Type of arrest
  • Circumstances leading to the arrest
• Criminal charges against the subject
• Offense classification
• Statutory citations
• Booking information, including:
  • Booking date and time
  • Name of detention facility
  • Booking number
  • Bail/bond information (if applicable)
  • Custody status
• Court and case information (if the arrest results in a criminal trial):
  • Case number
  • Initial court appearance date
  • Court jurisdiction
  • Prosecuting agency.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record in North Carolina

The retention period of arrest records in North Carolina generally depends on the type of record and the internal policies of the various custodial agencies. Typically, a North Carolina arrest information remains a permanent part of the arrestee's criminal record unless a court expunges it. State laws and statutes do not mandate a time frame for the retention of arrest records. However, if an arrest results in a conviction, its record is sent to the State Bureau of Investigation and stays for at least 50 years.

Expunge an Arrest Record in North Carolina

North Carolina statutes allow for the expunction of arrest records if the following are true:

• The arrest results in a dismissal
• The arrestee is guilty and has served the sentence for the crime
• Five years have elapsed after conviction for a misdemeanor or ten years for a felony
• The Governor of North Carolina pardons the owner of the arrest record
• The owner of the arrest record completes a substance abuse treatment and refrains from drug use (if the arrest relates to substance abuse)
• The petitioner has no active warrant or pending probation/parole
• The subject of the arrest record pays all court-ordered fines and makes restitution

Individuals seeking expungement of their North Carolina arrest records should:

• Visit the North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts' website and download the applicable expungement form (depending on the offense type, age, and conviction status)
• Pay the expungement filing fee either by check or money order, if applicable (typically $175.00)
• Fill out the expungement form and attach a certified copy of the court dismissal order or documents stating the Governor's pardon
• Appear before a Notary Public to swear to the contents of the completed form
• Mail the necessary documents to the clerk of the courthouse in the county where the case was heard, or send them to:
  North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts
  P.O. Box 2448,
  Raleigh,
  NC 27602-2448.

Upon receiving the expungement petition, the court or AOC will review it and decide whether to grant it or not. The judge may request a court hearing to ascertain if the petitioner has good standing or is eligible for the expungement.

If the petition is successful, the court will direct the Administrative Office of the Courts to send notice to the relevant law enforcement agencies and give them 30 days to object to the expunction. If no objection arises within the stipulated period or the judge dismisses the objections raised, the court then issues an order mandating the record custodian to seal such records and restrict them from public access (this process may take between 2 and 6 months to fully take effect across agencies). The clerk also issues a copy of the expungement order to the petitioner.

Petitioners should note that the expungement process is tedious and legally challenging. Hence, it may be advisable to engage the services of legal professionals to facilitate the process.

How Do I Find Recent Arrests in North Carolina?

Local police departments and sheriff's offices in North Carolina usually have a daily log of arrests within their jurisdiction. These arrest logs are accessible in person at the sheriff's offices, online, or through mail requests. For instance, the Johnston County Sheriff's Office has a search portal for recent arrest records where interested individuals may access arrest information by name or date.

Likewise, the Department of Adult Correction maintains records of offenders arrested and individuals serving jail time within the state.

Are North Carolina Arrest Records Free?

Yes, North Carolina arrest records may be accessible at no cost. In North Carolina, interested individuals may access arrest records for free through county sheriff's office websites or other official online repositories. However, in-person and mail requests may attract charges for large volume searches or if requested request for copies of the documents.

Additionally, some third-party online databases may allow limited access to arrest records for free. However, reproducing the records or accessing more comprehensive reports typically incurs costs.