Wilson County Arrest Records

Wilson County arrest records are law enforcement-generated documents accounting for individuals taken into custody for various offenses within Wilson County, NC. If the arrests lead to prosecutions within the Wilson County Superior or District Court, such documents become part of the Wilson County court records.

The Wilson County Sheriff's Office, North Carolina Highway, North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), and other local and federal law enforcement agencies create arrest records when they arrest individuals. An arrest becomes necessary if a law officer observes a criminal act, the court issues an arrest warrant, there is evidence linking an individual to a crime, or a suspect is a flight risk or danger to the public.

Law enforcement agencies in Wilson County detain arrestees at local police holding cells and incarcerate convicts at the Wilson County Detention Center. Individuals serving prison terms for serious offenses may be transferred to North Carolina Department of Adult Correction facilities or federal prisons (if the conviction is for a federal crime).

Are Arrest Records Public in Wilson County?

Yes, Wilson County arrest records are public documents. Section 132-1 of the North Carolina General Statutes stipulates that all North Carolina government records in the possession of government agencies are public property (this includes Wilson County arrest records). Hence, the public may inspect them for free or make copies at nominal fees.

However, Wilson County arrest records are not publicly accessible if they relate to:

• Juvenile arrests
• Sealed or expunged records
• Ongoing law enforcement or judicial investigations
• Protective orders or privacy laws
• Medical or mental health history
• Confidential victim or witness information
• Financial accounts or Social Security.

Applicants seeking restricted Wilson arrest records must possess judicial or legal authorization.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

An arrest record contains the personal information of its owner, the reasons for the arrest, booking information, and conditions for release. This information typically includes:

• The name, gender, date of birth, race, and physical description of the owner
• Date, time, and location of the arrest
• Name of the arresting agency
• Charges against the arrestee and the applicable laws allegedly violated
• Name and badge number of the arresting officer
• Time and date of booking
• Booking number
• Mugshots
• Bail/Bond information
• Court appearance information if the arrest leads to a court case.

Wilson County Arrest Statistics

According to the FBI UCR arrest statistics, over 12,500 persons were taken into custody in Wilson County between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2023. Wilson County law enforcement agencies participating in the Uniform Crime Reporting program reported 3,031 arrests in 2023. This figure shows a break in the progressive decrease in arrest incidents from 2020 to 2022. In 2020, 2021, and 2022, there were 3,560, 3,190, and 2,768 arrests incidents in Wilson County.

Arrest statistics show that drug/narcotics violations are the most common arrestable offense within Wilson County between 2020 and 2023. Within this period, 1,986 persons were taken into custody for drug-related crimes. By comparison, there were 993 arrests for simple assault incidents within the timeframe. The table below shows the number of arrests for various offenses within Wilson County between 2020 and 2023.

Data Source: FBI UCR.

Find Wilson County Arrest Records

There are several options for finding arrest records in Wilson County. These documents are accessible online through the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction Offender Public Information search portal. Alternatively, information seekers may visit the Wilson County Sheriff's Office, local police departments, or the Wilson County Clerk of the Superior Court and request access to publicly accessible arrest or criminal records.

Free Arrest Record Search in Wilson County

For free access to Wilson County arrest records, requesters may log in to the North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections Offender Search Portal and use the online search tools to access Wilson County arrest records for free through offenders’ criminal information. Also, search online for free information about Wilson County arrests. Some private online databases may offer free access to North Carolina law enforcement documents and information.

Wilson County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Wilson County arrest and criminal records are crucial documents for law enforcement. They provide background information for criminal investigations. Nonetheless, there are differences between these documents. For instance:

• Wilson County arrest records are law enforcement documents detailing the arrest of individuals for arrestable offenses. On the other hand, Wilson County court records detail the criminal histories of Wilson County convicts.
• Arrest records outline the personal details of arrestees, the reasons they were in custody, and the conditions for their release. Wilson County criminal records encompass documents relating to criminal offenders' prosecution, conviction, and incarceration with Wilson County Superior and District Courts.
• A criminal record does not imply an individual's guilt or innocence and may not have a significant impact unless it leads to a conviction.

Criminal records are legal evidence that individuals are guilty of crimes. They impact social status and employment and housing opportunities.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Arrest information will remain on a record indefinitely unless the issues order to seal or remove it. In North Carolina, individuals may petition the court to expunge their arrest records if they fulfill the requirements of Section 15A-145.5 of the North Carolina General Statutes.

Expunge Wilson County Arrest Records

Per Section 15A-145.5 and 15A-145.6 of the North Carolina General Statutes, individuals file petitions through the Wilson County Clerk of Superior Court's office to expunge their arrest records. Under North Carolina law, the owner of arrest records may file for their expunction if:

• No conviction results from the arrest
• The arrest is for a first-time non-violent misdemeanor or felony conviction (Class H or I felony)
• The offender is a minor
• The arrest results from a first-time non-violent drug-related offense (for persons below 21 years)
• There is a pardon of innocence from the North Carolina governor
• The arrest results from mistaken identity.

Depending on the nature of the arrest, the following waiting period applies to expunging Wilson County arrest records:

• Non-conviction arrests - no waiting period. Arrestees may petition for expungement immediately after the case is closed
• First-time non-violent misdemeanor conviction - 5 years after completing the sentence for the offense
• First-time felony conviction - 10 years from the date of completing the sentence for the crime (this includes probation)
• Drug-related conviction, identity theft, or Pardon of Innocence - 1 year after completing the sentence for the offense, proving innocence of the crime, or receiving the governor's pardon
• Juvenile arrests - depending on the nature of the offense/crime, the individual must attain 18 or 21 years.

Also, eligibility for expunction of Wilson County arrest records depends on criminal histories. The affected adults must not have previous convictions (except they are for minor traffic Offenses). The following steps may aid eligible individuals seeking to remove their Wilson County arrest information:

• Gather documents that may support the expunction request (this includes disposition documents and other records that demonstrate the completion of the sentence, restitution (if applicable), and payment of fines)
• Download the appropriate expunction form from the North Carolina Judicial Branch’s website (the specific form depends on the type of arrest record)
• Complete the expunction form, attach the supporting documents, and submit the petition to the Clerk of the Superior Court Office in Wilson County at:

The Wilson County Courthouse

115 E Nash St
Wilson,
NC 27894

• Pay all applicable filing fees. Generally, it costs $175.00 to petition the court to expunge an arrest record in North Carolina. However, dismissal or not-guilty verdicts do not require payments unless they result from a deferred prosecution agreement or diversion program.
• Serve copies of the petition to the Wilson County District Attorney's Office, the law enforcement agency responsible for the arrest, and other interested parties (if applicable)
• Wait for the court and relevant law enforcement agencies to review the request.
• Attend any court hearing that relates to the petition
• If the court grants the request, it will issue an order of expungement and notify the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) and other relevant law enforcement agencies to remove the record from their databases
• Verify that the record is removed by requesting a criminal history background check.

Wilson County Arrest Warrants

Wilson County arrest warrants are documents issued by the Wilson County Superior and District Courts granting law enforcement agencies the power to take individuals into custody. Law enforcement agencies requesting Wilson County arrest warrants must prove probable cause to the judges/magistrates of the Wilson County Superior or District Courts. A judge/magistrate may issue an arrest warrant if there is evidence of criminal acts or if an individual:

• Flouts court orders
• Intends to abscond to avoid prosecution for crimes
• Commits domestic violence
• Is a risk to the public.

Arrest warrants typically contain but are not limited to the following information:

• The names, aliases, and physical description of the subjects
• Dates of issuance of the warrants
• Charges and sections of the laws allegedly violated by the subjects
• The names of the courts issuing the warrants
• Statements or affidavits of probable causes by law enforcement
• Dates and times of issuance of the warrants
• Instructions to law enforcement on how to execute the arrest
• Names and signatures of the issuing judges/magistrates
• Authorization for law enforcement to take the individuals into custody.

Do Wilson County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No, Wilson County or any North Carolina arrest warrants do not expire. These documents will remain active until law enforcement apprehends the individuals mentioned in the warrants. Nonetheless, Wilson County or any U.S. arrest warrant will become inactive if the subjects die or the court recalls them.