Scotland County Arrest Records

Law enforcement officials in Scotland County, North Carolina, are permitted to make an arrest when someone is apprehended committing a crime or is suspected of committing one (N.C. Code § 15A-401). Arrests may be made in connection with infractions, crimes, or misdemeanors, each carrying distinct legal repercussions. People who are arrested are usually held at the Scotland County Detention Center.

Making and keeping arrest records is the responsibility of the Scotland County Sheriff's Office. These documents start criminal cases and can reveal information about a person's past criminal activity. As a result, they frequently appear in public records kept by state and local organizations. For example, the North Carolina Department of Public Safety's criminal history files, district attorneys' office records, and Scotland County Court Records may contain information about arrests.

Are Arrest Records Public in Scotland County?

Under Chapter 132 of the Public Records Act of North Carolina, arrest records are indeed regarded as public documents in Scotland County. This implies that the public is entitled to copies of these documents. However, there are some restrictions on the kind of arrest records available to the general public. The following is a list of arrest record elements that are not considered public records:

• Records that are legally classified as confidential and can only be accessed with a court order.
• Records about criminal investigations carried out by public law enforcement.
• Records of criminal intelligence data that public law enforcement organizations have gathered.
• If a complaining witness's name or address is reasonably likely to endanger their bodily or mental well-being or personal safety, law enforcement agencies are required to withhold it temporarily.
• Information from witnesses that could seriously jeopardize an ongoing or upcoming criminal investigation or criminal intelligence operation is kept private.
• Arrest documents whose release could endanger an investigation and threaten the legal system's ability to provide justice.
• In general, an arrestee's medical and financial records are kept private.
• Juvenile arrest records are kept private.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

According to N.C.G.S § 132-1.4, the following information is contained in an arrest record:

• The time, date, place, and kind of a reported legal infraction or apparent legal violation to a public law enforcement agency.
• The name, sex, age, address, job, and alleged legal infraction of an individual who has been detained, accused, or indicted.
• The specifics of an arrest, such as the time and location of the arrest, if resistance, the use or possession of weapons, or a pursuit were involved, and a description of any objects taken during the arrest.
• The information contained in 911, alongside other emergency calls that law enforcement organizations receive, omits any information that might be used to identify the caller, victim, or witness, including the caller's name, telephone number, address, or real voice.
• Conversations that are broadcast on public broadcasting and exchanged between law enforcement personnel.
• The opposing witness's name, address, age, and sex.

Scotland County Arrest Statistics

The North Carolina Bureau of Investigation's Crime Summary Statistics, which are displayed on its website via the report viewer interface, show that 1,694 arrests were made in 2023. Of that total, the category of all other offenses came in first place with 919 (54.2%), followed by larceny-theft with 106 (6.2%) and other assaults (not aggravated) with 108 (6.3%). Arrests for these three charges were the highest.

Find Scotland County Arrest Records

In Scotland County, North Carolina, arrest records are available through some municipal, state, and federal resources. The Scotland County Sheriff's Office is the major organization saddled with keeping arrest records locally. To inquire about particular arrests or prisoner statuses, one can call the records division at (910) 277-3167 or (910) 276-3385, or visit the records division in person at 212 Biggs St., Laurinburg, NC 28352, US. Processing these requests may incur administrative fees, which differ according to the kind and amount of data needed.

Up-to-date inmate information is also accessible through the Scotland County Detention Center, which is part of the Sheriff's Office. One can look for detainees via online resources connected to their services or by asking directly at the jail facility.

The North Carolina Department of Public Safety (NCDPS) is one state-level place where qualified individuals can do background checks to get arrest data. A statewide offender search database is also kept up to date by the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction. Using this internet tool, one can look up anyone by name, age, or inmate identification number. Basic documents are usually free to obtain, but detailed reports or verified copies could cost money. One can also look up court records, including details about arrests, via the state judiciary's eCourt search tool.

For those who are confined in federal facilities, the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) offers an inmate locator service. This information is helpful for cases involving federal charges, even though Scotland County is not subject to federal jurisdiction for local arrests.

Free Arrest Record Search in Scotland County

The Scotland County Sheriff's Office, which keeps local arrest records and could provide basic information upon request, is one free site for looking up arrest records in Scotland County, North Carolina. Users can locate people in the state's penal system for free by using the online offender search tool offered by the North Carolina Department of Public Safety (NCDPS). Federal resources are also accessible for federal cases, such as the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) inmate locator. Additionally, some third-party websites gather arrest and jail data from public records; they frequently provide free basic searches but charge for more in-depth reports.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Arrest records in Scotland County, North Carolina, are typically kept on file indefinitely unless they are erased. According to the North Carolina Judicial Branch, the legal procedure of expunging a criminal conviction or charge from a person's record involves sealing or destroying the state's records of the arrest, charge, and/or conviction. The petition form must be filed in the county where the arrest occurred to start the expungement procedure. For information on filing the petition form, a petitioner can speak with a private lawyer or the court clerk. Depending on state laws and agency policies, arrest records that are not expunged are still accessible to law enforcement and might even be made public.

Expunge Scotland County Arrest Records

The phrases "expungement" and "sealing" are interchangeable in North Carolina. Both define the legal procedure of sealing or destroying relevant state records and expunging a criminal conviction or charge from an individual's record. In most cases, a person can legally dispute the existence of the arrest or conviction after it has been purged. Expungement does not, however, ensure that records from all sources—including private databases—are deleted.

Although they both mean the same thing, the term "expunction" is used in North Carolina instead of "expungement". Sections 15A-145 through 15A-153 of the NCGS contains the expunction provisions. In North Carolina, eligibility for expungement varies by statute and is influenced by the type of offense, the disposition of the case, and the age of the applicant at the time of the offense. Juvenile delinquency records (for people under the ages of 18 and 21), some dismissed charges, not-guilty judgments, and certain convictions, such as drug use, may be eligible. While some legislation concentrates on cases that are dismissed or acquitted, others target more general offenses for younger people. Waiting periods, sentence completion, or probation fulfillment may be eligibility prerequisites. Eligibility for expunction may be further restricted for several convictions.

Expunction petitions are handled by the Superior Court Clerk in the county where the charge was made. Generally speaking, there is a $175 filing fee, except for dismissed charges and not-guilty verdicts unless they are related to diversion programs. For individuals who are unable to pay, fee waivers may be obtained.

The following are included in the Expunction Steps:

• Obtain and fill out the relevant online petition forms.
• Affidavits of good character and other necessary documents should be included.
• Submit the petition to the Superior Court Clerk.
• Get your criminal record checked and go to court if you have to.

The procedure may take several months, depending on hearing dates and criminal background checks. Those who are denied expunction have the right to challenge the ruling.

Scotland County Arrest Warrant Search

According to NCGS § 15A-304, an arrest warrant in Scotland County, North Carolina, is a formal document issued by a judge or magistrate. This court order gives police the right to detain someone who they believe is guilty of a crime. A warrant is usually issued when there is probable cause, but no officer is present to observe the crime.

The investigating officer must submit a written statement outlining the specifics of the alleged conduct to establish probable cause and obtain an arrest warrant. The magistrate or judge considers this evidence prior to signing the warrant. A warrant is required when evidence needs to be examined before an arrest can be made or when crimes are committed outside of the presence of law enforcement.

An arrest warrant includes:

• The name of the defendant or, if the name is unknown, an identifying description
• The alleged transgression,
• The location and date of issuance,
• The court or jurisdiction of issuance,
• The signature and title of the issuing body and any terms associated with bail.

Interested persons may visit the local courtroom or the Scotland County Sheriff's Office to learn more about active arrest warrants in the county. In-person requests with valid identity or official case numbers are typically accepted, even though warrant details might not be disclosed over the phone.

Do Scotland County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Arrest warrants in Scotland County, North Carolina, are permanent. They are enforceable until executed or formally revoked by the court after being issued by a magistrate or judge. In contrast to some legal actions subject to statute limitations, arrest warrants remain in effect indefinitely, regardless of the time passed. Thus, persons with outstanding warrants should contact the court or local law enforcement to remedy the issue.