Columbus County Arrest Records

A peace officer can make an arrest in Columbus County upon the reasonable cause of belief that a person committed an offense, either from direct observation of a crime or evidence from an investigation conducted or an arrest warrant issued through the court. These protect the public, prevent further crimes, and bring the suspect to court.

Once arrested in Columbus County, most inmates are transported to the Columbus County Detention Center. The facility provides the primary holding facility for individuals awaiting trial or serving sentences under one year.

The preparation of arrest records in unincorporated areas within the county is left to agencies such as the Columbus County Sheriff's Office. However, in other areas, other police departments, such as the Whiteville Police Department, take charge.

These records contain a wide array of details regarding the arrest, including the individual's name, the date the arrest was made, the charges that were pressed, and which agency conducted the arrest.

These records usually form part of more general documents, like those concerning crime and courts. In most instances, these records provide the much-needed information to begin a legal process or a background check. It could be Columbus County Court Records that will further the process of disposition regarding the arrest.

Are Arrest Records Public in Columbus County?

Yes. The North Carolina Public Records Act regulates access to public records. According to the law, records created or received by any government agency in discharging its duties, such as those dealing with law enforcement, are presumed to be public information and shall be available for public inspection.

However, the North Carolina Public Records Law provides some key exemptions to public disclosure. For example, juvenile records are kept under seal. Under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-3000, general records of persons taken into custody under 18 are not made open to the public unless otherwise ordered by the court.

Similarly, records that form part of an active investigation into a crime could be exempt under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 132-1.4. In such a case, law enforcement would restrict the records so as not to impede the investigation, harm the witnesses, or otherwise harm the law enforcement efforts. These records are usually made available once the investigation has concluded.

Also included are expunged or sealed records. When a record is expunged, as allowed under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-145, the document is removed from public view. This is often for first-time offenders or dismissed charges.

Social Security numbers, personal medical information, and other sensitive personal information in arrest records are confidential and cannot be released to the general public. On any count, the law stipulates that private and irrelevant information remains confidential for the suspects' privacy.

Public arrest records for Columbus County have no strict eligibility requirements to allow members of the general public to gain access. Almost anyone can request these, although they may be required to make a formal request and pay a certain fee charged for copies. As for those that are exempted, there is limited access to authorized individuals only, which will include the concerned parties, their legal representatives, or those who have a court order.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Arrest records publicly availed in Columbus County include the following:

Personal Information of the Arrestee: Full name of the arrestee, DOB, Gender, and sometimes the physical description of the arrestee, i.e., height, weight, race.

Arrest Details: The record will contain the date and time of arrest, place of arrest, and who arrested the individual (the name of the officer or the police department).

Charges: It includes a criminal charge that led to the arrest

Booking Information: A booking number, a picture taken of the arrestee, also known as a mugshot.

Bond Information: Amount of bond or bail set for release, if any, and if bail was posted.

Other information, such as court data, can include the address of the court at which this individual must appear, along with court dates and case numbers assigned. Sometimes, there is case status: whether a person was released or moved to another facility.

Columbus County Arrest Statistics

The Criminal Arrest Data from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation showed that Columbus County had 719 arrests, wherein 7 juveniles and 712 adults were arrested in 2023. There were 57 adult arrests for the most violent crimes, which are larceny-theft, while the remaining assaults not classified as aggravated were at 38 adult arrests. There were also 23 arrests for possession of marijuana and 22 for the possession of other dangerous drugs, complemented by 20 arrests for weapons possession. The arrests of juveniles were few in most categories. No arrests were made for severe offenses like human trafficking, prostitution, or gambling.

Find Columbus County Arrest Records

There are many ways one can have queries on the arrest record in Columbus County and information about inmates addressed. Such portals have been established to ensure arrest information, inmate status, and other public records are availed accordingly.

The North Carolina Department of Public Safety's Offender Public Information portal is the primary source for this. It is a statewide resource whereby one can obtain access to inmate lookup and arrest records throughout North Carolina, which, of course, encompasses Columbus County. Individuals can simply visit the NCDPS Offender Search page and search for inmates by providing an individual's first and last name and offender number or by first indicating a person's gender, race, and age range. The search results will provide relevant details such as the name, current location of the inmate, details regarding the conviction, and expected date of release, if any. The above resource is also worth trying when looking for statewide arrest and inmate information, such as parole and probation statuses.

Apart from state databases, the Columbus County Sheriff's Office is instrumental in providing arrest and inmate records for people confined in the county detention facility. A copy of arrest and inmate records can be requested from the Columbus County Sheriff's Office by visiting their website, calling, or personally appearing. Other city police departments in the county, like Whiteville, Fair Bluff, and Chadbourn, also have arrest records on file. They may have more current arrests within their city limits. Most of these departments have websites where someone could search for arrest records or, at most, contact them for a search of available documents.

One such tool for federal custody is the BOP Inmate Locator. This federal tool gives one the location of offenders housed in federal custody. To obtain this tool, one needs to log onto the BOP Inmate Locator website and execute a search for an inmate by name or Bureau of Prisons number if known. The result given will be the location where he is housed, offense information, and release date.

Free Arrest Record Search in Columbus County

Columbus County free arrest record searches can be done in numerous ways, including access to state databases, local law enforcement, and third-party websites, which do not have associated costs for publicly available arrest records. This includes:

1. Columbus County Sheriff's Office

The Columbus County Sheriff's Office provides recent arrests and active warrant information, among other topics related to public safety. Users can visit their website for information about who has recently been booked into the county detention center. More specific queries may require calling the office or visiting in person.

2. Police Departments

Besides the Sheriff's Office, other police agencies serving Columbus County, such as the Whiteville Police Department and the Fair Bluff Police Department, distribute copies of arrest records at no charge. The local arresting authority can facilitate the task by offering arrest reports based on demand conditions. This permits the public to have some comprehension of their activity in the area of arrests that have happened recently.

3. North Carolina Department of Public Safety (NCDPS)

The NCDPS Offender Public Information Search is a no-cost service from North Carolina. It provides an offender search in all of North Carolina, which, of course, encompasses Columbus County. Utilizing a first name, last name, gender, or any other identification of an individual will direct the user to the records they need to find: arrest, inmate statuses, and other public safety details in their search. This is very useful for individuals searching for arrest records throughout the state without court fees.

4. Third-Party Websites

Other options for free arrest record searches are third-party websites that provide a venue for collating public records in their database, including those related to arrests. These allow users to conduct basic searches at no cost. Some websites may offer free access only to general information, charging for more specific records or complete reports. Care must be taken to ensure that information from these sources is scrutinized for correctness and presented on time, as data might not get updated.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Arrest records do not get removed from a person's record unless they have been expunged. State law does provide for the expungement of some records under certain conditions, such as when charges have been dismissed, or the accused was found not guilty. On the other hand, the arrest record will still show unless a court grants expungement if the charges result in a conviction. The above state guidelines for retention and expungement of the arrest records also apply to the county law enforcement agencies, which include Columbus County.

Expunge Columbus County Arrest Records

To get an arrest record expunged in Columbus County, one must go through the state's legal process, which is outlined in North Carolina General Statutes (N.C.G.S.) Chapter 15A, Article 5. Eligibility for expungement allows for immediate removal/sealing of the records to create a clean slate.

The following are the conditions necessary for expungement eligibility under North Carolina law:

• Dismissed/Not Guilty Charges: Charges that were dismissed or for which not-guilty verdicts were returned under N.C.G.S. § 15A-146 are eligible to be expunged. There is no wait for these; a person can apply immediately after disposition in their case.
• Nonviolent Offenses: The statutory condition for expungement available under N.C.G.S. § 15A-145 is for those convicted of specific nonviolent misdemeanors and felonies. Eligibility hinges on the nature of the offense, the individual's prior criminal history, whether or not the sentence was completed, and the probationary period.
• First-time Offenders: A first-time offender convicted of a nonviolent crime may apply for expungement under N.C.G.S. § 15A-145.5 after the waiting period (five and ten years for misdemeanors and felonies, respectively) and after the sentence was imposed if the person has not later been convicted of anything.
• Completion of Diversion Programs: After someone completes a program related to deferred prosecution or diversion, they will be entitled to expungement.
• Youthful Offenders: N.C.G.S. § 15A-145 provides that it may be expunged for certain offenses committed when the defendant was under 18 or sometimes 21.

The following are some critical steps to expunge arrest records in Columbus County.

• Obtain and Complete Necessary Forms: The needed expungement petition forms can be accessed from the Columbus County Clerk of Court. The following are some standard forms that may be available:

AOC-CR-287 may be filed for cases where the charge has been dismissed or the defendant has been acquitted.

AOC-CR-265 may be filed in the case of pardon of innocence.

Filing of the Petition for Expungement: The petition must be completed and filed with the Clerk of Court for Columbus County, with attachments. It will need to reflect the arrest and charges involved and the dispositional results of any court proceedings involving those charges.

Prepare Supporting Documentation: This can include court orders dismissing the charges, documentation reflecting not-guilty verdicts, or proof that a deferred prosecution program has been completed.

Pay Filing Fees: There is a usual filing fee for a petition except in cases where expungement involves dismissal or verdict of not guilty, and no fee will be charged. The cost to expunge convictions is $175, although it is possible for those experiencing financial hardship to have the fee waived by the court.

Court Review and Decision: Once the petition is filed, it is scrutinized by the court. The district attorney may further scrutinize the petition. If everything is in order, the judge will grant the expungement by order.

Update the Records: By order of the court, arrest records are sealed or scrubbed from all public databases. The expunged records would no longer be revealed on background checks or public records.

Columbus County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant is a formal order issued to the police by a judge or magistrate in Columbus County, authorizing them to arrest an individual based upon probable cause that such an individual has committed an offense. Warrants are typically granted based on evidence through an affidavit presented by law enforcement or when one misses court or fails to adhere to probation. An arrest warrant contains the suspect's name, the supposed committed crime, probable cause, and the judge's signature. If issued, this would give police officers the right to look for the person and arrest the individual; this warrant will be valid until executed.

Do Columbus County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. Arrest warrants issued in Columbus County do not expire. That is to say, an arrest warrant, when issued, will remain valid until the named individual is arrested or the court formally cancels the warrant. There is no time limit within which an arrest warrant must be executed in Columbus; thus, law enforcement agencies can take action to arrest the subject at any given time, even after years have passed since the warrant was issued.