Person County Arrest Records

Person County arrest records are official documents law enforcement uses to maintain and preserve vital information about people’s apprehension and detention events. Arrests in the county are usually made by sheriff deputies and police officers as named in arrest warrants. Following arrests, suspects are taken to the Person County Detention Center, where personal data like name, date of birth, gender, and weight, among others, are collected to create arrest records.

During this process, otherwise known as booking, law enforcement officers also document other information like the grounds for the arrest, the date and time of the arrest, and the name of the arresting agency. While arrest records document arrest events, they do not summarily indicate the subject’s guilt. Arrest records only indicate guilt if their corresponding Person County court records contain court dispositions stating that the suspect is guilty of the alleged crime(s).

Are Arrest Records Public in Person County?

Yes. Persons County arrest records are public under state laws enshrined in the North Carolina Public Records Act. Per this act, citizens have rights to inspect, copy, or photograph arrest and other related records maintained by law enforcement agencies and the courts, as well as records maintained by public offices in relation to administering their official functions. By this law, custodial entities must make records available upon request unless such records are protected by court order or state law.

Records are usually sequestered for safety or security concerns. In some cases, record confidentiality may be necessary to protect citizens' rights and the credibility of ongoing litigation or investigation. Examples of records in this category are juvenile records, certain non-conviction records, information about confidential informants, and sensitive, personally identifiable details (such as phone numbers and social security numbers).

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Arrest records generally carry the same basic information about arrest cases, such as name of arrestee, date of arrest, arresting agency, associated offense, and detention facility. However, the depth of information obtainable depends on the source. For instance, while online resources are usually limited to these basic details, in-person researchers at law enforcement agencies may have access to additional information, such as

• Bond type and amount
• List of items found on the arrestee during arrest
• Court dates
• Booking information
• Release date (if applicable)
• Description of offense.

Person County Arrest Statistics

Arrest statistics report published by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (NCSBI) shows that 171 arrests were made in 2023, with a clearance rate of 20.5%. The total number of reported crimes was 833. According to this report, property crimes recorded the highest number of arrests at 110, whereas violent crime arrests were 61. The following arrests were made for violent crimes: murder (3), rape (2), robbery (4), and aggravated assault (2). Under property crimes, 39 arrests were made for burglary, 64 for larceny, and 7 for motor vehicle theft.

Find Person County Arrest Records

People looking to view Person County arrest records should first visit the sheriff’s office or the Person County Detention Center, as the sheriff’s office does not provide a record lookup service online. Record seekers are required to know the name of the arrested individual and/or their date of birth to ease the search. Visitors at this office are required to possess a valid means of identification.

County Office Building,
304 South Morgan Street,
Roxboro, NC 27573.
Phone: (336) 597-0500

Alternatively, researchers can perform a statewide search on the Offender Search database facilitated by the North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections (NCDAC). This platform covers information for current and released inmates, as well as probationers and parolees. To search, enter an inmate’s first and last name. Search filters on the site include offender number, date of birth, gender, race, and ethnic group, and are relevant for refined search results.

Free Arrest Record Search in Person County

Per North Carolina law, arrest records are public and are subject to disclosure for no fees, except where such fees are required to cover any expenditure expedited by the search. Police departments and the sheriff’s office typically provide this service for free. The statewide inmate search tool provided by NCDAC is also free.

Third-party websites are another free alternative. These websites, usually provided by private companies, allow people to search for arrestees by first and last name. Note that some websites may require minimal fees for this service.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Indefinitely. Unless a person successfully gets the court to expunge their arrest record, such records stay on file indefinitely. Aside from meeting the required expungement eligibility criteria, a record subject must submit an expungement petition to the superior court. Records specified in granted expungement petitions are typically removed from public access, although law enforcement may retain confidential copies for internal use.

Expunge Person County Arrest Records

When a person’s arrest record is expunged, the affected record is removed from public law enforcement databases, and the associated offense and arrest are treated like they never happened. Consequently, they won’t be found during background checks.

However, to qualify for an expungement, one must meet certain requirements. Most notably, the court must have reached a final disposition on the case at the time of the expungement petition, the arrestee must have pleaded not guilty, the arrest was made due to mistaken identity, and the required waiting period for the specific offense type must have expired. Per North Carolina General Statutes §15A-146, first-time juvenile offenders may file an expungement petition if the charges were dismissed.

The first step in expungement involves obtaining the appropriate form from the Administrative Office of the Courts and completing it. This form must then be submitted to the Person County Superior Court. Upon receipt of a petition, the court reviews it and notifies the prosecution (district attorney) and other relevant parties.

Following such notification, the court shall be open to objections to the expungement within 10 days. The objections (if any) shall be reviewed, and if need be, the court shall schedule an expungement hearing to decide if the grounds for the expungement are valid. Depending on its final ruling, the court may order to expunge the records or deny the petition.

Person County Arrest Warrants

The issuance of arrest warrants falls under the jurisdiction of the Person County superior and district court judges and magistrates. An arrest warrant is a writ that authorizes law enforcement officers to apprehend individuals suspected of committing crimes, guilty of violating parole terms, or found disobeying a judicial order. If a person is suspected of committing a crime, law enforcement officers must present probable cause before the court linking the suspect to the crime (G.S. § 15A-304).

If a law enforcement officer is present while a crime is being committed or/and there is the likelihood of a known suspect fleeing before a warrant is issued for their arrest, such an officer is authorized to make an arrest without a warrant. By law, arrest warrants must state the suspect’s name, address, alleged crime, the issuance date and authority, and the arrest clause.

Do Person County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. Person County arrest warrants do not expire. Once issued, a warrant can only become void after law enforcement has arrested the individual named on it. However, the court has the authority to recall or quash an active arrest warrant if new evidence shows that the suspect is not guilty, the warrant was issued due to mistaken identity, or the case against the suspect is dropped or dismissed.