Currituck County Arrest Records

In Currituck County, arrest records refer to all information regarding an arrest event. Arrests are legal steps for restraining an individual's right to freedom. Peace officers in the county have the right to arrest persons who violate the law. Officers may also conduct arrests without an arrest warrant. Arrested persons are held in the county jail until they are bailed or arraigned before a court of competent jurisdiction.

Currituck County arrest records are under the purview of local law enforcement agencies like the county sheriff's office. These agencies create and maintain records of arrest events. Arrest records are also obtainable in other public documents and files. For instance, Currituck County court records may include arrest information like criminal charges, warrants, bond amounts, and booking numbers.

Are Arrest Records Public in Currituck County?

Most Currituck County arrest records are classified as public records unless they contain legally exempt information. Chapter 132 of North Carolina General Statutes allows public access to arrest records. The law also determines the process and requirements for accessing the records. For instance, public members must request arrest records from designated record custodians like the county sheriff's office. The sheriff's office offers access to arrest records at these locations:

Administrative Office
125 College Way
Barco, North Carolina 27917
Phone: (252) 453-8204
Fax: (252) 453-2630

Corolla/Carova Office
1123 Ocean Trail
Corolla, North Carolina 27927
Phone: (252) 453-2121

Knotts Island Office
633 Knotts Island Road
Knotts Island, North Carolina 27950
Phone: (252) 429-3827

However, record custodians may redact or withhold certain arrest information from the public. The redacted information, if disclosed, may violate the privacy of concerned parties. Examples of redacted arrest records include the following:

• Names and addresses of witnesses or complainants in a criminal investigation.
• Arrest information that is sealed or expunged by a court order or statute.
• Information that may interfere with a defendant's right to a fair trial.

Currituck County Arrest Statistics

The North Carolina Bureau of Investigations creates an annual statistics report concerning all arrest events within the state. Per the agency's report, Currituck County's law enforcement agencies recorded 307 arrests in 2023. North Carolina's Department of Safety is the custodian of inmate-related statistics. The agency's 2020 report revealed that the Currituck County jail housed 407 inmates.

Find Currituck County Arrest Records

Currituck County arrest records are accessible at the county sheriff's office. Conversely, you may find arrest information in public records like inmate records and court documents. Generally, in order to find inmate records, inquirers must use online search platforms maintained by government entities. The North Carolina Department of Corrections maintains an online searchable platform for inmate records. To view records on the platform, inquirers must fill out the following data:

• Offender's last and first name
• Offender number
• Race
• Gender
• Birth date
• Age range
• Race

Note that the platform only contains records of current inmates in the state's prisons. In contrast, the Federal Bureau of Prisons' Inmate Locator offers access to records of inmates held in federal penal institutions.

Currituck County Arrest Records vs. Criminal Records

In Currituck County, there is a clear distinction between arrest and criminal records. These records are different in the following ways:

They contain different information

Currituck County arrest records contain data about arrest-related events. Such data may include the arrestee's personal information, arrest charges and description, incident date and location, and booking information. However, criminal records provide a comprehensive history of an individual's criminal activities. The records also include court convictions, judgments, and sentencing information.

The records are under the purview of different agencies.

Public members will mostly find arrest records under the jurisdiction of law enforcement agencies. These agencies create and store arrest records as incident or police reports. In contrast, the State's Bureau of Investigations and the courts are official custodians of arrest records. Note that multiple government agencies are responsible for creating arrest records.

The records have different social implications.

Arrest records do not reveal if the record subject is guilty of the offense, while criminal records contain the court's judgment concerning the offense. The latter often leads to social stigma and statutory restrictions, especially if it is a sex-related criminal conviction.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In Currituck County, arrests will permanently remain visible in your public records. However, you can remove them from public records by petitioning a court of competent jurisdiction. You must fulfill these requirements to expunge arrest records in Currituck County:

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

Eligible parties can expunge arrest records by petitioning the Currituck County Superior Court Clerk's office. The petition must contain affidavits that attest to the petitioner's good moral conduct. Upon receiving the petition, the court will forward it to the district attorney's office and set up a hearing date.

Currituck County Arrest Warrants

Currituck County arrest warrants authorize the arrest of suspected offenders. Court judges may issue arrest warrants after receiving an affidavit or complaint from law enforcement officers. In some instances, judges issue arrest warrants if a defendant fails to honor a court summons.

Arrest warrants issued in Currituck County typically include the following information:

• Arrestee's legal name, known alias, physical features, and address.
• Criminal charges and description.
• Warrant issuance date.
• The court official's name and signature.

Do Currituck County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No, arrest warrants issued in Currituck County do not expire. The document remains active even after the statute of limitations for the crime has elapsed. Note that warrants become inactive when the defendant is arrested.