Winston-Salem Arrest Records

Arrests in Winston-Salem occur under three primary circumstances: an officer witnesses someone breaking the law, executes a warrant, or has sufficient cause to believe that a crime is being committed. Winston-Salem's primary arresting agencies are the Winston-Salem Police Department (WSPD) and the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office. Following apprehension, suspects are processed and booked by the arresting agency's Records Division and may be temporarily detained or transferred to Forsyth County's central Law Enforcement Detention Center. Arrests processed by the WSPD and the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office are compiled into the local jail inmate roster, city and police databases, prosecution dockets, and broader Forsyth County Arrest Records.

Are Winston-Salem Arrests Public Record?

Yes, North Carolina's public records law generally makes some arrest information accessible to the public via the Winston-Salem Police Department's daily arrest reports, which contain:

• Time, date, and location of the arrest
• The offence that led to the arrest
• Name, sex, and age of the arrestee
• Description of items seized in connection with the arrest (N.C.G.S. §132.1.4(c))

Exemptions apply to juvenile information, active investigations, intelligence records (witness statements, police notes, lab results), witnesses or victim identities, information whose release could jeopardize ongoing investigations, unreturned arrest or search warrants (G.S. §132-1.4(k)), and personal sensitive data, including social security numbers, driver's license numbers, bank account numbers, and health data.

Requests for deeper detail (e.g., complete affidavits or CAD data) may require proof of a "direct and tangible interest" and identification.

Winston-Salem Crime Rate

In 2023, per the North Carolina SBI's public data portal, Forsyth County reported 12,665 index crimes, with Winston-Salem accounting for 9,876 (about 77.96%). Violent crimes totaled 2,244, led by aggravated assaults (1,866), followed by robbery (245), rape (90), and murder (43). Property crimes were higher, with 7,632 cases, led by larceny-theft (5,092), burglary (1,598), and vehicle theft (942). Out of the 253 violent crimes reported by the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office, nearly 90% occurred within Winston-Salem. Still, compared to 2022 data, there was a modest decline in both violent and property crimes, as the city's total index offenses as the city's total index offenses fell from 10,398 in 2022 to 9,876 in 2023, with reductions across both violent and property categories. This downward trend reflects gradual progress in enforcement and prevention. More detailed, agency-level data can be found via the WSPD crime mapping portal and FBI UCR reports.

Find Winston-Salem Arrest Records

Suppose a person wants to find Winston-Salem arrest records. In that case, they may adopt any of these search procedures:

• Contact the Winston-Salem Police Department WSPD Records Division and request an unofficial, uncertified copy of an arrest record or incident report.
• Search the online WSPD Police-to-Citizen (P2C) portal, searchable by report information, address, and case number.
• Contact the Forsyth County Superior Court Clerk. Certified copies cost $5 for the first page, plus $2.00 per additional page. Uncertified copies obtained from the court clerk cost $0.25 per page.
• Consult the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction's statewide inmate search to locate state prison inmates using criteria such as offender status, first and last names, offender number, birth date, age range, gender.
• Use the Federal Arrest & Case Records (PACER) to find records of arrests made by federal agencies operating in Winston-Salem for a fee, or apply for an exemption.

Free Arrest Record Search in Winston-Salem

To access free basic public information about arrests carried out in Winston-Salem, one should contact the Winston-Salem Police Department Records Division's online search site or visit the office at:

725 North Cherry Street
Winston-Salem, NC 27101
Phone: (336) 773-7700

Other free arrest information tools include the WSPD Police-to-Citizen (P2C) portal, county court records, jail rosters, and unofficial third-party aggregator sites which republish basic arrest data for free, although users should establish the accuracy and timeliness of the information obtained.

Criminal Background Check in North Carolina

North Carolina residents and employers can obtain criminal background checks through two main official channels:

• Statewide Name-Based Checks

These are publicly available via the North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts (NCAOC). Individuals or authorized representatives may request a certified criminal record search for a single county using form AOC-CR-314, submitted to the Clerk of Superior Court in that county (by mail or in-person) for a $25 fee, payable by money order, certified check, cash, or credit card. Such requests only cover that county's criminal court records. Alternatively, public users can perform uncertified background checks for free using the county courthouse's self-service terminals. Uncertified results are not comprehensive and unsuitable for employment, licensing, or legal purposes

• Fingerprint-Based Background Check via North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI)

For statewide and federal-level checks, individuals may request a fingerprint-based SBI background check for themselves (known as "Right to Review") or others. SBI background checks typically require submission of a fingerprint card, application form, and fee to the North Carolina SBI.

Per N.C. Gen. Stat. § 114-19.12, to conduct a criminal history background check, one must submit fingerprints via local law enforcement, a completed Right to Review form (for personal requests), an authorization form, and applicable fee of $14, and mail these to the North Carolina SBI's Criminal Information and Identification Section at:

3320 Garner Road
Raleigh, NC 27610

Employers or agencies with statutory authority can utilize the NCAOC's Remote Public Access (RPA) system or licensed third-party vendor services to conduct broader checks.

Winston-Salem Inmate Search

To find individuals sentenced to state prison from Winston-Salem, one may use the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction (NCDAC) Offender Search, which is the official tool for locating individuals serving prison sentences across the state, including those from Forsyth County who have been transferred to state correctional facilities. Interested individuals should visit the North Carolina Offender Public Information Search, enter the required search criteria, and click "Search" to view the results. Records typically include a mugshot, conviction details, the location of the prison facility, the projected release date, and parole eligibility. Researchers should note that if the person was recently sentenced, their information may not appear immediately in the database. Additionally, county jail inmates (awaiting trial or serving short sentences) are not included in this list.

Winston-Salem Police Record Lookup

Individuals searching for police records, including incident reports, arrest affidavits, or Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) call logs from the Winston-Salem Police Department (WSPD), can submit a public records request:

• To access accident or general incident reports online, complete and submit online forms or visit the Police-2-Citizen website.
• In person by visiting the WSPD Records Division during office hours at:

725 North Cherry Street
Winston-Salem, NC 27101
Phone: (336) -773-7922
(336) 773-7700

• By submitting a written request by mail to the City of Winston-Salem police or sheriff department's public records email. Including specific details such as the type of record, date, names involved, and case number helps expedite processing.

Under North Carolina law (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 132-6(a)), there is no specific statutory time frame for agencies to respond to public records requests. Instead, the law requires that records be made available for inspection or copying "as promptly as possible". Hence, complex or high-volume requests may take longer processing times. Additionally, certain information, such as details of ongoing investigations, juvenile records, medical records, and personal data of victims or witnesses, may be redacted in compliance with North Carolina's public records laws. In some cases, researchers must meet specific requirements to access comprehensive data.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record in Winston-Salem?

Permanently. Under North Carolina law, arrest records that were filed in court remain on one's record indefinitely unless a court issues an expunction or sealing order.

It is important to note that:

• Court records that resulted in a dismissal or acquittal have an automatic expunction within 180–210 days (G.S. 15A-146(a4). However, law enforcement agencies, such as WSPD or county jails, may retain non-public, investigative materials unless they are specifically directed to remove them. However, supplemental documents, such as CAD logs, inmate incident reports, and jail booking forms, may be destroyed according to specific schedules (e.g., 30 days to 3 years) if they are not part of an official case file.
• Expungement only affects official state and court databases. Commercial websites and third-party background check platforms that copied that information before the expungement may not automatically update their records if a case is dismissed or expunged. Hence, individuals must often take additional steps to contact these platforms and request the removal or correction of outdated or sealed information.

How Can I Get My Record Expunged for Free in Winston-Salem?

Winston-Salem residents seeking to expunge their North Carolina criminal records should:

• Confirm eligibility per N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-145 et seq. Qualifying individuals include juvenile offenses, dismissed charges, "not-guilty" cases, nonviolent misdemeanors, and felonies.
• Download and complete the appropriate petition form from the N.C. Courts Expunctions Page.
• Submit the petition to the Clerk of the Superior Court's office in Forsyth County.
• Wait for the court's decision. If granted, the expunction removes the qualifying record from public view.

Petitioners filing in propria persona (without an attorney) can obtain the appropriate expungement forms from the North Carolina Judicial Branch, complete them, and submit them to the Forsyth County Clerk of Superior Court. To waive the standard $175 filing fee, individuals must Request a Fee Waiver by completing and submitting a "Petition to Proceed as Indigent" form (AOC-G-106) or seeking assistance from legal aid clinics or public defender offices. The expungement process may take several months to complete.

Third-party private websites do not automatically delete expunged records from their databases; however, after being notified, they are required to remove them at no additional fee (G.S. 15A-152).

Winston-Salem Warrant Search

Warrants are court-issued documents that grant law enforcement legal right to take a specific action against a person or property, such as arrest (for arrest warrants), search (for search warrants), and so on. Bench warrants are often issued when a person directly violates a court injunction or judgment, such as failing to appear or pay fines. Interested individuals can access current Winston-Salem Police Department warrant lists through the following channels:

Police-to-Citizen (P2C) Portal: Within P2C, users can view "most-wanted" persons and active arrest warrants issued by the Winston-Salem Police Department (WSPD) by clicking on "Warrants" and searching by last name or first name.

In-Person or Phone Inquiry: For broader Forsyth County warrant searches, one may call or visit the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office Records Division during business hours, or contact the Records Division directly. Sometimes, requesters may be required to provide the individual's full name and valid photo ID.

Forsyth County Public Safety Center
301 N Church Street
Winston-Salem, NC 27101
Phone: (336) 917-7001

Court Clerk: Warrant search inquiries may be directed to the court clerk who issued the warrant. However, visiting police or clerk offices with active warrants may result in immediate arrest.

Do Winston-Salem Warrants Expire?

No. Warrants for felony or misdemeanor charges remain active indefinitely until served, quashed, or recalled, except for the defendant's death or prosecutorial dismissal. Municipal-level minor warrants can lapse due to the statute of limitations.