Search North Carolina Arrest Records
North Carolina arrest records are public documents kept by sheriff offices, police departments, and courts in all 100 counties. These records hold details about arrests made by law enforcement across the state. You can search North Carolina arrest records online through county sheriff websites, the NC Courts system, and the State Bureau of Investigation. Each county clerk of court also keeps criminal case files tied to arrests. Whether you need to look up a recent booking or find older arrest records in North Carolina, several free and low-cost options exist for public access.
North Carolina Arrest Records Through the SBI
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation is the central repository for criminal information in the state. Law enforcement agencies across North Carolina submit arrest records to the SBI. The specific unit that handles these records is the Criminal Information and Identification Section, located at 3320 Garner Road, Raleigh, NC 27626-0500. You can reach them at (919) 582-8660. Every arrest record sent to this office becomes part of a statewide criminal history database that tracks charges, dispositions, and case outcomes for individuals arrested in North Carolina.
For personal record checks, the SBI offers a "Right to Review" process under 12 NCAC 041.0404. This lets you search your own arrest records held at the state level. The process requires a completed FD-258 fingerprint card with all ten fingers. You must send a written request with your full name, address, race, sex, and date of birth. Including a Social Security Number is optional. The fee is $14 per request, paid by certified check or money order to the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. Personal checks are not accepted. Sheriff departments in North Carolina typically charge $10 to $25 to complete a fingerprint card. Once submitted, the SBI searches its records for any arrest history tied to your fingerprints and sends the results by mail to the address you provide with your request.
The SBI Right to Review forms are available on their website. Mail all documents to: NC State Bureau of Investigation, Criminal Information and Identification Section, Attention: Applicant Unit - Right to Review, Post Office Box 29500, Raleigh, NC 27626-0500.
Note: Arrest records obtained through the Right to Review process do not include criminal histories from other states or the national level.
Are Arrest Records Public in North Carolina
Yes. North Carolina arrest records are public. According to N.C.G.S. Chapter 132, public records are the property of the people. A 1995 amendment made this clear. The law defines public records broadly to include documents, papers, electronic data, and other materials made or received by any government agency in North Carolina.
Under N.C.G.S. § 132-1.4, specific contents of criminal investigative files are public record. This includes the time, date, location, and nature of the reported violation. It also covers the name, sex, age, address, and alleged violation of any person arrested or charged. The circumstances surrounding an arrest must be released as well. North Carolina statute 15A-304 confirms that arrest records are public information accessible by anyone.
Some restrictions exist. A person's Social Security number, date of birth, or home address cannot be released without consent. A minor's name and identifying details may also be restricted in North Carolina arrest records.
Search Arrest Records in North Carolina Courts
The North Carolina Judicial Branch provides access to criminal records through several systems. The Automated Criminal/Infractions System, known as ACIS, gives superior and district courts accurate criminal and infraction case information. ACIS started in 1982 and all counties were live by January 1990. Public inquiry devices are available in each clerk's office across North Carolina.
For help with online court record searches tied to arrest records, contact the NC Administrative Office of the Courts Help Desk at (919) 890-2220. Many counties also have their own Police to Citizen portals that let you search recent arrests and bookings. These P2C systems show real-time data from the local sheriff or police department in North Carolina.
NC Offender and Arrest Record Databases
The North Carolina Department of Adult Correction maintains the Offender Public Information Search. This database has records going back to 1972. It covers current inmates, probationers, parolees, post-release supervisees, and absconders. You can search by name or offender ID number. Results show conviction details, sentence information, and custody status for North Carolina arrest records. The department is at 214 West Jones St., Raleigh, NC 27699-5201, phone (919) 733-2126.
NC SAVAN provides free notifications about an offender's custody status to victims and their families. The state also maintains the Sex Offender and Public Protection Registry through the Department of Public Safety. Both of these tools add to the public record resources available for tracking arrest and conviction data in North Carolina.
North Carolina arrest records are part of an individual's criminal history maintained by the SBI. These records hold information on all arrests made within state limits. The image below shows one of the public search tools available for North Carolina arrest records.
Multiple search tools exist for looking up arrest records by name across all North Carolina counties.
North Carolina Arrest Record Expungements
North Carolina has a structured process for clearing certain arrest records. Expungement allows non-violent offenses, dismissed charges, and some first-time misdemeanors to be erased from the public record. Once expunged, those arrest records are off-limits in background checks. Recent reforms mean applicants no longer need to disclose expunged offenses.
You can check your own arrest records in North Carolina through the SBI's Right to Review process before filing for expungement. The cost is $14 plus fingerprinting fees. North Carolina also has ban-the-box policies in several jurisdictions including Asheville, Charlotte, Durham, and other cities and counties across the state. These policies limit when criminal history can be asked about in certain public processes.
This policy applies only to the initial application stage for government positions in North Carolina. It does not prevent agencies from checking arrest records later in the process.
Note: Expunged arrest records in North Carolina are removed from public databases and cannot be disclosed by the SBI or any court.
Look Up North Carolina Arrest Records
There are several ways to find arrest records in North Carolina. The method depends on what you need and how far back you want to search. Online tools work best for recent arrest records. Older records may require an in-person visit or a mail request.
Common ways to search North Carolina arrest records include:
- County sheriff websites and P2C portals for recent bookings
- The NC Courts system for criminal case files
- The SBI Right to Review for your own arrest history
- The NC Department of Adult Correction offender search
- County clerk of court offices for in-person record requests
Each county in North Carolina keeps its own arrest records at the sheriff's office and clerk of court. Some counties post daily booking logs online. Others require you to visit or call. The NC State Bureau of Investigation is the best source for a statewide search of arrest records. For court records tied to arrests, the NC Judicial Branch offers online access through the eCourts portal.
The SBI Right to Review page shown below provides the forms and instructions for requesting your own arrest record history in North Carolina.
For a full breakdown of what arrest record information is public under state law, the Justia legal resources page for N.C.G.S. § 132-1.4 covers every category of public and restricted data in North Carolina arrest records.
This page lists the exact types of arrest record data that must be released to the public in North Carolina.
Note: Some county sheriff websites may be down or have limited online access, so calling ahead is a good idea when searching for arrest records in North Carolina.
Browse North Carolina Arrest Records by County
Each county in North Carolina has a sheriff's office and clerk of court that maintain arrest records. Pick a county below to find local resources for searching arrest records in that area.
Arrest Records in Major North Carolina Cities
Residents of major cities can search arrest records through their local police department or county sheriff. Pick a city below to learn about arrest records in that area.