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Beaufort County Arrest Records
Beaufort County, North Carolina, arrest records provide information on all arrests conducted within the county. Such records typically contain the following data:
- The arrestee’s personal information, including name, address, aliases, and physical description.
- Arrest charges and classification.
- Arrest date and location
- Booking date
- Evidence gathered during the arrest.
- Bond amount.
Law enforcement officers have the legal right to arrest individuals when there is enough proof that they violated the law. Depending on the circumstances, officers may arrest with or without an arrest warrant. Furthermore, officers may detain arrestees in the county detention center until they are either released or arraigned before a court of competent jurisdiction.
Local law enforcement agencies, such as the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office, generate arrest records, which they maintain and disclose to interested parties. For this reason, citizens can look up arrest records at the county sheriff’s office.
Note: Arrest information is often included in crime-related public files. For instance, you may find arrest data in Beaufort County court records, rap sheets, and inmate records.
Are Arrest Records Public in Beaufort County?
Under the North Carolina Public Records Act, most arrest records generated in Beaufort County are accessible to the public. State law determines accessibility and the procedure for obtaining public records. Under the law, public members can inspect or obtain copies of arrest records from agencies holding them. Agencies are also required to release records upon request from public members.
Nevertheless, agencies have the right to withhold access to certain arrest information. Such records typically contain information that may violate an individual’s right to privacy or safety. Examples of non-public arrest records in Beaufort County are:
- Information on crime victims.
- Arrest records are classified as exempt under state or federal statutes or court orders.
- Arrest documents contain witness statements, surveillance, laboratory tests, and photographs.
- Documents created by law enforcement agencies to monitor, anticipate, or prevent potential violations of the law.
Beaufort County Arrest Statistics
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigations (NCSBI) generates an annual statistics report on arrests within the state. According to the 2023 report, Beaufort County’s law enforcement agencies made 257 arrests for crimes against society.
Likewise, the North Carolina Department of Public Safety maintains incarceration statistics for the Beaufort County jail. According to the report, the county jail housed 1,675 inmates in 2021.
Find Beaufort County Arrest Records
Citizens can find Beaufort County arrest records by requesting the county Sheriff’s Office. The county sheriff maintains arrest records as incidents or police reports. To obtain arrest records, inquirers may submit a request in person to the agency at:
Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office
210 North Market Street
Washington, NC 27889
Phone: (252) 946-7111
Email: info@co.beaufort.nc.us
Alternatively, interested parties can look up arrest information in inmate records. The records may include information such as the arresting agency, charges, date and location of the arrest, booking date, and bond amount.
Different agencies are responsible for maintaining access to these records. For example, the Beaufort County detention center hosts an inmate inquiry system that provides information on detained persons. Record seekers must scroll down the list to find inmate records in the system.
The North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections also maintains an online repository for finding inmate records. To use the repository, interested parties must input search details like the inmate’s full name, offender number, birth date, and age range.
In addition, interested parties may use the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator to view inmate records. The platform allows searches based on name or prison number.
Beaufort County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records
In Beaufort County, arrest records are different from criminal records in the following aspects:
The records contain different information
Arrest records contain information received or generated during an arrest event. The record typically includes the arrestee’s data, criminal charges, arrest date and location, and the arresting agency's name. In contrast, criminal records contain histories of criminal convictions. Citizens may also find arrest and incarceration data in criminal records.
The records’ creation process is different
Arresting agencies create arrest records after conducting an arrest. However, criminal records are a collection of information received from different government entities. Arresting agencies, local courts, and correctional facilities contribute data to create criminal records.
The records are under the purview of different agencies
Local law enforcement agencies have jurisdiction over arrest records. The agencies also function as record custodians and may disclose the records to the public. In contrast, the North Carolina Department of Public Safety and the Judicial Branch are the custodians of criminal records.
How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?
In Beaufort County, arrests remain visible in public files unless expunged or sealed. Arrestees can immediately expunge arrest information if the charges are dismissed. However, persons seeking to expunge criminal conviction records must wait for a specific timeframe.
Who is eligible to expunge arrest records in Beaufort County?
Under North Carolina’s state laws, you can legally expunge arrest records if:
- If the charges were dismissed.
- If you were charged with a felony or misdemeanor before December 1, 1999.
- If the court dismissed the conviction or passed a not-guilty verdict on or after December 1, 2021.
Beaufort County Arrest Warrants
Beaufort County arrest warrants are court documents that empower peace officers to conduct arrests. The county’s judges may issue arrest warrants when there is sufficient evidence that a defendant violated the law.
Arrest warrants issued in Beaufort County must include the following data:
- The defendant's personal information, including names, addresses, aliases, ethnicity, body markings, and gender.
- Criminal charges and classification
- Warrant issuance date and location
- Warrant number
- Court location
- Court judge’s name and signature.
Do Beaufort County Arrest Warrants Expire?
No, arrest warrants do not expire in Beaufort County. They remain active until the defendant is arrested or the court nullifies the directive. Note that warrants do not expire even after the statute of limitations for the crime has elapsed.
