Iredell County Arrest Records

Arrest records contain details of individuals or groups detained by law enforcement agencies. Such records typically provide a history of arrests, the arresting agency or officer, and the offense alleged. Arrest records will contain the arrest's date, time, and location. Arrest records are public under the North Carolina Public Records Act in Chapter 132 of the General Statutes. In Iredell County, the local sheriff's office primarily keeps and maintains arrest records. Beyond the sheriff’s office, arrest records are also maintained by the local police department and the courts. 

The police department will maintain records of arrests executed within the county for crimes within federal jurisdiction. Such crimes include theft, physical assault on another person, and drug possession. The courts will maintain arrest records as part of a defendant’s court records. Iredell County court records will reveal a defendant’s arrest details because the arresting agency will file a charge in court based on these details. The public can get an individual’s arrest details by obtaining the court records. The local sheriff’s Main Administrative Office has compiled and updated an arrest database that is available for physical inspection. 

The Sheriff’s Statesville records office is open to the public for physical inspection of arrest records between 8 am and 5 pm from Monday to Friday. In contrast, the Mooresville records office is open between 8:30 am to 11:30 am and 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm on weekdays. The Sheriff’s Records website is available to provide more information on how to obtain arrest records and other records. The Public Information Access website allows the public to access around-the-clock public safety incidents and arrests. Subsequently, the public can access inmate records through the Inmate Locator website to find arrested individuals in county jail cells. The public must pay the required records access fees and provide a valid ID for verification if requested.

Are Arrest Records Public in Iredell County?

Yes, Iredell County makes arrest records public pursuant to Chapter 132 of North Carolina’s General Statutes provisions. The state’s Public Records Act provides that records held and maintained by public agencies must be made available to the public for inspection and making copies. Arrest records are public records to the extent to which the content of the records remains unclassified. The public can approach the Main Administrative body of the sheriff’s office between 8:am and 4:30 pm to make physical requests or for inspection of records. The sheriff’s office also has online platforms for accessing arrest records, such as the Public Information Access and Records website. The public can access arrest records after all required fees are paid and a valid ID is presented when requested by the records custodian.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Iredell County arrest records will contain the details of an arrest situation. It will reveal the details of the suspect, the arresting officer, the arresting agency, and the circumstances that led to the arrest. The content of public arrest records must satisfy the provisions of the North Carolina Public Records Act and not contain any personal or private information. Here is the content of a public arrest record:

• The arrestee’s details, such as physical description and basic information.
• The court details for arraignment.
• The time, location, and date of the arrest.
• The arresting officer’s details.
• The bail and bond details, if eligible.
• The crimes alleged and the law for the offense.
• The arrestee’s booking details include fingerprints, mugshot, and booking number.

Iredell County Crime Rate

Iredell County's crime rate is available through the FBI UCR. In 2022, there was a total of 148 violent crimes and 713 property crimes reported in Iredell County. The most reported violent crime was aggravated assault, with 133 reported incidents, while robbery and rape had six reported incidents each. The most prevalent property crime was larceny-theft, with 400 reported incidents, while burglary closely follows with 215 reported incidents. The least reported property crime is arson, with four reported incidents, while the least reported violent crime is homicide, with three reported incidents.

Find Iredell County Arrest Records

Iredell County arrest records are maintained across three government agencies, including the Local sheriff’s office, the court, and the police department. The police department maintains records for arrests within the county and arrests for federal crimes. The courts maintain arrest records through criminal court records, while the sheriff’s office is the primary records custodian for arrest records. These agencies maintain and handle arrest records in line with the state’s Public Records Act, making these records accessible to the public. 

The public can approach the sheriff’s office from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday to Friday for the Statesville office, while the Mooresville office is open between 8:30 am to 11:30 am and 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm on weekdays. Record seekers can approach the Main Administrative office of the sheriff’s office for physical inspection and the making of copies or use the Public Information Access to get regular access to these records. 

The Records website provides more information on how to access and obtain various records maintained by the sheriff’s office. The courts can be approached during weekday work hours to obtain criminal court records. The public can get details of arrest records from an individual’s criminal court records. The eCourts website is also available for online access to criminal court records in Iredell County. The local police department can also be approached to obtain arrest records for crimes or arrests outside the sheriff’s jurisdiction. Obtaining arrest records can require payment of prescribed access fees to the public agency and verification of identity with a valid ID.

Free Arrest Record Search in Iredell County

Obtaining arrest records in Iredell County will come at varying costs based on the method of request and the specific records requested. The fees can range from $0.10 to $0.25 per page of records sought. However, there are free sources for arrest records, which usually also removes the requirement for ID verification. These free sources are third-party records platforms that usually maintain online records archives. These online archives are freely accessible, and records can be obtained quickly and at no cost. Third-party platforms usually have updated records, which makes them trustworthy and reliable. However, the public must understand that government sources are the most reliable, and third-party sourced records can be reviewed for validity using government sources.

Get Iredell County Criminal Records

Criminal records refer to an individual or group’s criminal history and convictions within the county. Criminal records are part of public records described by the North Carolina Public Records Act. These records will contain details of arrest, criminal court proceedings, the judgment entered, and incarceration details following conviction and sentencing. Criminal records are kept and maintained across different government agencies, including the law enforcement agencies (sheriff’s office and police department), the court, and the correctional facilities. 

Accessing Iredell County criminal records involves approaching law enforcement agencies for physical requests, which can be done between 8 am and 5 pm on weekdays. The courts can also be approached through the court clerk's office for requests for physical criminal court records. There are online alternatives for obtaining criminal records, such as Public Information Access for all-round access to the sheriff’s records and the eCourts website for online access to criminal court records. The Inmate Locator platform is available to access records of correctional facilities, including county jail cells. The public must pay the required access fee and present a valid ID for identity verification.

Iredell County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records 

Arrest records are similar to criminal records in that they both detail incidents of crime or breaking the law. However, arrest records only detail an individual or group’s detention for an alleged crime, while criminal records detail the full criminal history and convictions. Criminal records can be classified into three parts based on the public agency in custody, they include arrest records maintained by law enforcement agencies, criminal court records maintained by the courts, and incarceration records maintained by correctional facilities. Arrest records fall under the first part of criminal records, as explained above. Arrest records form a part of criminal records, which can be for a crime not convicted, while criminal records detail the complete criminal history.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Arrests can remain on your record indefinitely, except steps are taken to have it expunged. The state law provides that arrests and charges can be removed from records where certain conditions are met. An arrest without a conviction makes it eligible for the arrestee to petition for expungement. A first-time offender convicted of nonviolent crimes is eligible for expungement. There is a waiting period after the conclusion of court processes before one can apply for expungement. Following the waiting period, the arrestee can petition the court to have the arrest expunged from their records.

Expunge Iredell County Arrest Records

North Carolina’s laws allow individuals to expunge arrests from their records based on certain conditions. Arrests will remain on your records until some legal steps are taken to have it expunged. The first step is to determine your eligibility for expungement. Expungement is when an arrest or other records are sealed or removed from your records. Individuals not convicted or first-time offenders convicted of non-violent crimes are eligible for expungement. After determining your eligibility, obtain the necessary forms from the court, such as AOC-CR-264 for non-guilty judgments and dismissals, AOC-CR-266 for non-violent crimes, and AOC-CR-268 for underage misdemeanors. Complete the relevant form and gather the supporting documents for filing. If required, submit the completed forms and documents with evidence of the filing fee payment. After this, the petition has been filed, and you are to send a copy to the District Attorney. Attend the court hearing and await the judge’s decision while maintaining good behavior during the waiting period. The next step is to follow up to verify that the expungement order has been processed and that relevant law enforcement agencies comply.

Iredell County Arrest Warrants

Arrest warrants refer to legal documents issued to law enforcement agencies for the apprehension of an individual or group of individuals for alleged crimes. An arrest warrant is issued by a judge and only becomes valid following the judge’s signature. The warrant is addressed to the arresting agency with the name of the suspect and the alleged crimes committed. After it is issued, the individual named can be arrested by the arresting agency or anyone acting pursuant to the warrant. Arrest warrants are issued when it is probable cause is determined and the arrest can be executed whether the arresting officer is in possession of the warrant or not. However, the warrant must be provided to the arrestee as soon as practicable.

Arrest warrants can be issued in two ways: one for the apprehension of the individual before court arraignment and a bench warrant for arresting individuals who do not show up in court. A valid arrest warrant will contain the following;

• The time, date, and arrest location.
• The arresting officer and agency’s details. 
• The arrestee’s physical description and basic details.
• The crimes alleged.

Iredell County Arrest Warrant Search

Iredell County arrest warrants are maintained across two public agencies: law enforcement and the courts. The law enforcement agencies include the police departments, which execute arrests for crimes beyond state jurisdiction, and the sheriff’s office, the primary custodian of arrest records. The public can search for arrest warrants through these offices physically or remotely. The sheriff’s office is open between 8 am and 5 pm on weekdays for the public to conduct physical searches for warrants. The Public Information Access provides access to the sheriff’s office archives, where you can search for arrest warrants. The court records can also be searched for active bench warrants. The public can approach the Iredell County courts during work hours on weekdays to physically inspect criminal court records or use the eCourts platform to search the court records remotely. Arrest warrant searches can be done using parameters such as name, arrest date, and location.

Do Iredell County Arrest Warrants Expire?

In Iredell County, arrest warrants do not expire. The arrest warrant will remain active until the issuing court recalls it or the arresting officer executes it. A warrant will remain active until the apprehension of the named suspect. The public can contact the County Sheriff’s Office to confirm any outstanding warrants.