Stokes County Arrest Records

The North Carolina Criminal Procedure Act authorizes Stoke County law enforcement agencies to apprehend and bring offenders before a judge. After an arrest in Stoke County, suspects are usually taken to the Stoke County Jail operated by the Sheriff’s Office. After booking and processing at the jail, suspects are arraigned before a judge. At arraignments, the judge will determine if the suspect may be released on bail or stay in custody until their trial.

Arrest records are typically generated by arresting agencies such as the local sheriff’s office and police departments. Various agencies maintain arrest records, which may be found in criminal histories kept by the state police or Stokes County Court Records maintained by the county judiciary.

Are Arrest Records Public in Stokes County?

According to North Carolina’s Public Record Laws, Stoke County arrest records are classified as public information. Custodians in charge of these records must provide the general public access to public arrest records except when the records are restricted by law. Information exempted from disclosure under public records laws includes the following.

• Records classified as confidential under state and federal statutes
• Records detailing criminal intelligence investigations handled by organizations such as the State Innocence Inquiry Commission
• Records expunged or sealed by a court order
• Account numbers, passwords, social security numbers, and other personal financial information
• Any information that would identify or endanger a witness or confidential informant for law enforcement

Despite restrictions, law enforcement and other government agencies may still be able to access these records in full. The general public may obtain them by obtaining a court order. However, the restricted parts of the record may be removed.

Find Stokes County Arrest Records

In Stokes County, the Stokes County Sheriff serves as the main agency responsible for maintaining arrest records and inmate information. The office is also responsible for answering public record requests for access to this information. Record seekers may contact the Stokes County Sheriff's Office directly at:

Stokes County Sheriff Administrative Offices
1012 N Main Street.
P.O. Box 118
Danbury, NC 27016
Phone: (336) 593-8787
Fax: (336) 593-3361

Alternatively, interested parties may direct record requests to the Stokes County Jail at:

Stokes County Jail
1013 N Main St.
P.O. Box 248
Danbury, NC 27016
Phone: (336) 593-8117

The Offender Locator maintained by the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction also provides access to online inmate information. Arrest records may also be found as part of court records available online from the North Carolina Judicial Branch Online Search Portal.

Stokes County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Stokes County Criminal and Arrest records both provide information about an individual's relationship with law enforcement. The distinction between these records may be found in what they contain. Criminal records cover a person’s whole criminal history, detailing arrests, bail bonds, court cases, verdicts, and prison sentences. On the other hand, Stokes County arrest records only detail the subject's arrest within the county. The record will provide details such as the arresting agency, booking details, crimes committed, and charges filed, plus the date, time, and location of the arrest.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

An arrest record in North Carolina and its counties will generally stay on a record permanently. They remain on public record until the subject takes steps to remove or expunge the record. Depending on the type of record and other circumstances, the record may qualify to be expunged. For example, arrests that went to trial may qualify to be expunged depending on the results of the trial. Conversely, arrests involving some driving offenses cannot be expunged and will remain a record indefinitely.

In North Carolina, there are several criteria for expungement or expunction of a record that may differ due to various reasons, such as the age of the suspect at the time of the arrest. In general, to qualify for expunction, applicants must meet certain criteria, including the following:

• To expunge a nonviolent misdemeanor, the petition may be filed at least five years after the date of conviction or the completion of all jail sentences or post-release supervision, including probation, whichever is later.
• For more than one nonviolent misdemeanor, the time limit is seven years after the last conviction or after all sentences and supervision are completed.
• For nonviolent felonies, the waiting period varies between 10 and 20 years after the last conviction or 20 years after all sentences, including jail time and supervision, have been completed, whichever is later.

Article 5 of the North Carolina Criminal Procedure Act comprehensively details the process and conditions for expunging criminal records.

Stokes County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant issued in Stokes County is a legal document that commands law enforcement to apprehend a suspect and bring them before the court officials to answer charges against them. Arrest warrants may become necessary due to the gravity of the offense or when a suspect refuses to appear when summoned by the court.

Judicial officials such as judges from the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, Superior Court, and District Court are authorized to issue warrants. In the absence of a judge, the county Clerk of the Court or court magistrate may issue a warrant. These officials may issue a warrant after they are provided with probable cause or adequate information that the subject of the warrant committed a crime. This may be done via an affidavit, verbal testimony under oath, or an affirmation. Law enforcement agents and normal citizens may initiate an arrest warrant in North Carolina.

An arrest warrant issued in Stokes County must contain the following details.

• The full name, age, gender, physical description, and other information that may reasonably identify the suspect
• A statement identifying the crime the suspect is accused of and the states the crime violates
• An Order for Arrest commanding law enforcement agents to apprehend the suspect and bring them to the appropriate court
• The name and signature of the court official who issued the warrant

Do Stokes County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Arrest warrants issued in Stokes County and the rest of North Carolina have no expiration date. They remain active until they are executed, the suspect dies, or the suspect surrenders voluntarily. A judge may also recall or cancel an arrest warrant under certain conditions. This may require the suspect or their attorney to file a petition and prove the warrant was illegal or unnecessary.