Brunswick County Arrest Records

Arrest records in Brunswick County are documents created in relation to arrest events. Such records are created after law enforcement officers detain persons suspected of committing crimes. After an arrest event, the arresting officer may document arrest data like the offender’s name, physical features, charges, and arrest date and time. Furthermore, officers may temporarily detain offenders at the county jail, depending on the arrest circumstances.

In Brunswick County, local law enforcement agencies are mostly responsible for generating arrest records. Furthermore, these agencies may maintain the records as police or incident reports. Persons interested in obtaining the records may visit the Brunswick County sheriff’s office at:

70 Stamp Act Drive
Bolivia, NC 28422
Phone: (910) 253-2777

Note: Brunswick County arrest records are also obtainable through related public documents. For instance, citizens can find arrest records in inmate or criminal history records. Brunswick County court records on criminal case files are also resources for finding arrest information.

Are Arrest Records Public in Brunswick County?

Arrest records in Brunswick County are mostly accessible to the general public. North Carolina General Statutes (Chapter 132) empower the public to inspect or get copies of the records from official record custodians. State law also determines the procedure, fees, and requirements for accessing records.

For example, record seekers must have the legal right to request and obtain confidential arrest information. Record custodians also have the right to withhold arrest information listed as exempt under state laws. Exempted arrest records may include the following documents:

• Criminal investigation and intelligence documents compiled by law enforcement agencies
• Documents that may jeopardize a defendant’s right to a fair trial or the state’s right to prosecute a defendant
• The crime witness’ information, if disclosed, may pose a threat to the witness’ safety.
• Arrest information sealed by a court order

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Under NC G.S. 132-1, public arrest records in Brunswick County may include the following:

• Arrested persons’ name, sex, age, address, and employment
• Arrest charges
• Date and location of the arrest event
• Arrest event description, including information on resistance, pursuit, or use of firearms.
• Bond amount
• Mugshot

Brunswick County Crime Rate

According to North Carolina’s State Bureau of Investigations, Brunswick County had a total of 1,665 crimes, including 245 violent-type and 1,420 property-type crimes. Index crimes listed in the report include murder, aggravated assault, larceny, burglary, and motor vehicle theft. Of these index crimes, burglary and larceny were the most reported at 397 and 949, respectively.

Brunswick County Arrest Statistics

The NCSBI does not provide full statistics for all arrest events in the county. However, the agency maintains records of documented Group B arrest statistics. Per the NCSBO report, Brunswick law enforcement agencies recorded 546 group arrests in 2023. Note that group B arrests cover offenses such as disorderly conduct and bad checks.

North Carolina’s Department of Safety maintains a statewide report on incarceration statistics. Per the report, Brunswick County housed 2,626 inmates between 2020 and 2021.

Find Brunswick County Arrest Records

In Brunswick County, inmate records are resources for finding arrest information. The records may include arrest data like the arrested person’s name, mugshot, charges, and bond amounts. Public members interested in obtaining the records may search using government-owned resources. For example, the Brunswick County sheriff’s office maintains a searchable database of all detained persons at the detention center. To find inmate records, users may search using the inmate’s name, race, sex, arrest date, or release date.

North Carolina’s Department of Adult Corrections (DAC) is also a repository for accessing arrest records. The agency maintains an inmate search portal for incarcerated, paroled, probationed, or previous offenders. To use the portal, users must input the offender’s name and prison number or identify features like race, gender, and age range.

Public members can also find Brunswick County arrest records via the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ inmate database. Users may find the record using the search by name or prison number options.

Free Arrest Record Search in Brunswick County

Government-owned search sites provide free access to Brunswick arrest records. For instance, requesters can find free arrest records on these official sites:

• Brunswick County Sheriff’s inmate search portal
• North Carolina’s Department of Adult Corrections’ offender public information
• Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator

Third-party search sites offer an alternative to accessing free arrest records in Brunswick County. The sites are generally easy to use and do not restrict users based on their geographical location. Third-party search sites may not feature accurate or updated arrest records despite the perks.

Get Brunswick County Criminal Records

Brunswick County criminal records provide information on criminal convictions and histories. Persons interested in obtaining these records must contact the record custodian agency. Brunswick County’s superior court clerk and the NC State Bureau of Investigations are designated custodians of criminal records. The superior court clerk allows mail-in or in-person requests for criminal records. To access records, record seekers must fill out Form AOC-CR-314, attach a $25 fee, and send it via mail or in person to:

Brunswick County Government
30 Government Center Drive Northeast
Bolivia, NC 28422
Phone: (800) 442-7033

In contrast, the SBI allows fingerprint-based checks for criminal records. Only the record subject or authorized persons can obtain criminal records from the agency. To access criminal records, eligible applicants must send a mail request to the SBI at:

NC State Bureau of Investigation
Criminal Information and Identification Section
Attention: Applicant Unit — Right to Review
3320 Garner Road
Raleigh, NC 27610

The mail request must include the following:

• A completed application for criminal records
• A $14 fee in the form of a money order or check made payable to the NC State Bureau of
• Investigation
• A completed fingerprint card. Visit a local law enforcement agency to get fingerprinted.

Brunswick County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Brunswick County arrest records are not the same as criminal records. Although both records contain crime-related data, they differ in content, creation process, and implication. For instance, arrest records cover all arrest-related details, while criminal records contain crime-related information, including court disposition and sentencing details.

Based on the creation process, law enforcement agencies are primarily responsible for generating arrest records. However, the State Bureau of Investigations generates criminal records by collating crime data from various agencies.

Regarding social implications, an arrest record does not indicate that the record subject is guilty of the offense. However, criminal records may indicate the record subject’s involvement in a crime.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In Brunswick County, arrest records do not expire. They remain publicly accessible until the court expunges or seals them. However, according to North Carolina state laws, not all arrest records can be expunged. Furthermore, there are set guidelines for expunging arrest records in Brunswick County.

Expunge Brunswick County Arrest Records

Expungement is a legal process for removing arrest charges or criminal convictions from public records. To expunge arrest records, you must file a petition with the court clerk where the arrest or conviction occurred.

Who is eligible to expunge arrest records in Brunswick County?

There are different requirements for expunging arrest records. Sometimes, the offense type and the offender’s age may determine the eligibility criteria. For example, you can expunge arrest records under these conditions:

• The arrest charges were dismissed.
• You were charged with a felony or misdemeanor before December 1, 1999.
• The court dismissed the criminal conviction or passed a not-guilty verdict before December 1, 2021.

Which arrest records are not eligible for expunction in Brunswick County?

Under § 15A-145.5, petitioners cannot expunge violent-type misdemeanors or felonies.

When can I expunge arrest records in Brunswick County?

To expunge dismissed arrest charges, petitioners can file an expungement immediately after the charges are dismissed. However, you must wait five years after the conviction date to expunge a misdemeanor charge. To expunge more than one non-violent misdemeanor, petitioners must wait seven years after the conviction date or sentence completion.

In contrast, petitioners must wait 15 years after a court-mandated sentence to expunge one non-violent felony under G.S. 14-54(a). However, petitioners must wait 20 years to expunge two or more non-violent felonies.

How to expunge arrest records in Brunswick County

Petitioners can expunge arrest records by taking these steps:

1. Create a petition that includes the following details and documents:
   1. An affidavit that the petitioner has been of good moral conduct and has not been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony within the set timeframe.
   2. An application form authorizing a name-based criminal records check by the State Bureau of Investigations (SBI). Petitioners must use the criminal record application form for this process.
   3. An affidavit signed by the petitioner stating that there are no outstanding payments or fines from civil judgments.
   4. Verified affidavits of the petitioner’s good moral conduct from two persons who are not family or blood relatives.
2. File the petition with the Brunswick County superior court clerk.
3. Pay the required $175 filing fee to the court clerk.
4. The court clerk will forward a copy of the petition to the district attorney. Upon receiving the petition, the district attorney has up to 30 days to file an objection.
5. The court will then set a hearing date to determine if the petitioner is eligible for expungement.

Brunswick County Arrest Warrants

In Brunswick County, arrest warrants are court documents that authorize arrests of persons suspected of committing a crime. Court judges issue these warrants upon receiving a complaint or affidavit from law enforcement officers. Arrest warrants in Brunswick County typically include the following information:

• Arrestee’s name and physical-identifying features
• Arrest charges and description
• Court judge’s name and signature
• Arrest warrant issued date.

Brunswick County Arrest Warrant Search

Record seekers can search active arrest warrants at the county sheriff’s warrant section. The division oversees criminal, fugitive, and government arrest warrants. To obtain the records, record seekers may make an in-person request to the warrant section at:

70 Stamp Act Drive
Bolivia, NC 28422
Phone: (910) 253-2777

Do Brunswick County Arrest Warrants Expire?

In Brunswick County, arrest warrants do not expire until the suspect dies or is arrested. The statute of limitations does not affect the validity of an arrest warrant.