North Carolina Criminal Records

This guide explains how to find North Carolina criminal records, arrest records, court records, inmate information, and the public sex offender registry, and how North Carolina's background-check and record-clearing laws work. It was last reviewed in June 2026 using official North Carolina sources, and it points you to the state and county agencies that hold each type of record. You can also start a name search using the tool on this page.

How do I look up a criminal record in North Carolina?

There are three main ways to look up a North Carolina criminal record:

• NC State Bureau of Investigation (SBI). The NCSBI Background Checks page explains how to request a state criminal history. A fingerprint-based check costs $14 for state records only, or $32 combined with an FBI federal check. The SBI is the central repository for all North Carolina criminal history information.
• NC courts portal. As of October 2025, all 100 North Carolina counties are live on the eCourts system. The public NC Courts Portal lets anyone search case information by name or case number at no charge for basic lookups. Certified copies of records cost $5 for the first page and $2 per page after that; uncertified copies run $0.25 per page.
• An online people-search tool like the one on this page, which compiles public-record data from many sources into one report. These tools are for personal knowledge only and are not a substitute for an official SBI check or an FCRA-compliant background check.

A fingerprint-based search is the only way to confirm a record truly belongs to a specific person. A name-only search can return matches that belong to someone else.

Are North Carolina criminal records public?

It depends on the type of record. Conviction information held by the SBI is available to the public through a formal request process, but the SBI does not offer a free public name-search the way some states do. Individual court case records - the actual filings in criminal, civil, and traffic cases - are generally public under the North Carolina Public Records Law (G.S. Chapter 132) and can be searched through the courts portal or in person at a clerk of court's office in any of the state's 100 counties. Records that have been expunged (petition granted) are sealed and removed from public view. Juvenile records are confidential by law.

Where can I look up arrest records in North Carolina?

Arrest records in North Carolina are held by the arresting agency, such as a city police department or a county sheriff's office. Many county sheriffs publish an online jail roster showing recent bookings. An arrest record only documents that a person was taken into custody; it does not mean they were convicted of a crime. The SBI's criminal history database includes arrest and disposition information, but full public access to that database requires a formal request. For a specific recent arrest, the county sheriff or local police department is the most direct source.

How do I find court records in North Carolina?

North Carolina finished rolling out its eCourts system to all 100 counties in October 2025. The public NC Courts Portal supports free name and case-number searches across criminal, civil, and traffic cases statewide and shows case summaries, hearing dates, dispositions, and financial information in near real time. You can also visit the clerk of court's self-service terminal in any county courthouse. To request a specific case file or certified copy, contact the clerk of superior court (for felonies and major civil matters) or the clerk of district court (for misdemeanors and traffic cases) in the county where the case was filed. The NC Judicial Branch's court records help page walks through all the options.

How do I look up warrants in North Carolina?

Warrants are issued by a judge or magistrate and are filed with the clerk of court. The most direct way to check for an outstanding warrant is to contact the clerk of court or the sheriff in the county where the charge would be filed. Some counties publish outstanding warrant information on the sheriff's website. Warrant information may also appear in the NC Courts Portal case search, and third-party background reports can surface active warrants, but the issuing county court is the authoritative source.

Do arrests show up on background checks in North Carolina?

For employment, tenant, and credit screening run through a consumer reporting agency, the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) controls what can be reported. North Carolina does not have its own stricter state reporting law beyond the FCRA. Under the FCRA, arrests that did not lead to a conviction generally cannot be reported once they are more than seven years old. Convictions can be reported indefinitely under federal law, with no salary exception that changes the rule in North Carolina. Any records that have been expunged under North Carolina law may not lawfully be reported or used against a person.

How far back does a criminal background check go in North Carolina?

North Carolina follows federal FCRA rules. Key points for consumer background checks:

• Arrests that did not lead to a conviction generally drop off after seven years.
• Convictions can be reported indefinitely - there is no state-imposed time cap on conviction reporting in North Carolina.
• Expunged records must not be reported; the subject may legally deny the existence of the expunged charge on most job applications.
• The FCRA's $75,000 salary threshold exception does apply: at that salary level and above, the seven-year cap on non-conviction items is lifted.

How do I find someone in jail or prison in North Carolina?

It depends on where the person is held:

• State prison, probation, or parole. Use the NC Department of Adult Correction's Offender Public Information Search to find current state prison inmates, probationers, and parolees by name or offender ID. The database goes back to 1972. It does not include county jail inmates.
• County jail. People awaiting trial or serving short sentences are held in a county jail. Check that county sheriff's online jail roster or call the jail directly.
• Federal custody. For federal cases, use the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator instead.

How do I find out if someone is on probation or parole in North Carolina?

State probation and parole in North Carolina are both supervised by the NC Department of Adult Correction (DAC). A person's supervision status may appear in the DAC's Offender Public Information Search. Victims and their families can sign up for free custody-status notifications through the NC SAVAN (Statewide Automated Victim Assistance and Notification) service available on the same DAC page. Probation lets a person serve a sentence in the community under court-set conditions rather than in prison.

What crimes are felonies in North Carolina?

North Carolina organizes felonies into ten classes - Class A (most serious) through Class I (least serious), with Class B split into B1 and B2. Sentences are determined by a structured grid that combines the felony class with the defendant's prior criminal history (Levels I through VI). There are three sentencing tracks: mitigated, presumptive, and aggravated. General ranges under G.S. 15A-1340.17 are:

• Class A - death penalty or life in prison without parole (reserved for first-degree murder).
• Class B1 - minimum 144 months up to life without parole.
• Class B2 - roughly 10 to 26 years at the presumptive range; maximum 40 years.
• Class C - roughly 5 to 12 years at presumptive; maximum about 19 years.
• Class D - roughly 4 to 10 years at presumptive; maximum about 17 years.
• Class E through Class I - ranges shrink progressively; Class I carries 4 to 10 months at presumptive and a maximum of about 2 years.

Common Class A felonies include first-degree murder. Common lower-class felonies include drug trafficking (Class C - H depending on substance and quantity), felony larceny, and felony assault.

What crimes are misdemeanors in North Carolina?

North Carolina misdemeanors are divided into four classes. Sentences are similarly structured on a grid based on the class and the defendant's prior record (Levels I, II, or III). Punishment types are Active (jail), Intermediate (supervised probation, house arrest), or Community (unsupervised probation):

• Class A1 - the most serious misdemeanor; up to 150 days of any punishment type, unlimited fine. Example: assault on a female, child abuse.
• Class 1 - up to 120 days; no cap on fine. Example: simple assault, trespassing, communicating threats.
• Class 2 - up to 60 days; fine up to $1,000. Example: simple worthless check, gambling.
• Class 3 - the least serious; up to 20 days (first-offense, no prior convictions = fine only); fine up to $200. Example: minor in possession of alcohol, low-level drug possession.

Are traffic offenses crimes in North Carolina?

It depends. Most routine traffic violations in North Carolina (speeding, running a red light) are infractions - civil matters that carry a fine and points on your driving record but are not criminal offenses and will not appear on a standard criminal background check. More serious driving offenses are charged as misdemeanors or felonies. Driving while impaired (DWI) is a misdemeanor (or a felony for habitual DWI), and reckless driving and hit-and-run can be charged at the misdemeanor or felony level depending on the facts.

Is the sex offender registry public in North Carolina?

Yes. The NC State Bureau of Investigation maintains the public North Carolina Sex Offender Registry at sexoffender.ncsbi.gov. The registry is searchable for free by name, address, or zip code. It shows a registrant's photo, current reported address, registered offenses, and physical description. You can also sign up for free email notifications when a registrant moves within 1, 3, or 5 miles of any address you specify. Juvenile offenders are not included in the public registry.

Can someone be removed from the North Carolina sex offender registry?

In limited cases, yes. Under G.S. 14-208.12A, a registrant whose offense is not classified as an aggravated offense and who is not designated a sexually violent predator may petition the superior court to terminate a 30-year registration requirement after completing at least 10 years of registration without any subsequent sex-offense conviction. The court holds a hearing, reviews the petition, and may grant or deny termination. Lifetime registrants (those whose offense is an aggravated offense) are generally not eligible. If the court denies the petition, the person must wait at least one year before filing again. An attorney should review the specific conviction before filing.

How do I expunge (clear) my criminal record in North Carolina?

North Carolina uses the term "expunction" rather than "expungement," but the meaning is the same: the court orders the record destroyed and removed from public view, and the person may legally deny the charge on most job applications. Key pathways under Chapter 15A, Article 5 of the NC General Statutes include:

• Dismissals and not-guilty verdicts. Charges that were dismissed or resulted in a not-guilty verdict are eligible for expunction with no waiting period.
• Nonviolent misdemeanor convictions (G.S. 15A-145.5). A single nonviolent misdemeanor can be expunged after 3 years from conviction or sentence completion (reduced from 5 years effective July 9, 2025). Multiple nonviolent misdemeanors require a 7-year wait.
• Nonviolent felony convictions (G.S. 15A-145.5). A single nonviolent felony (excluding breaking and entering) requires a 10-year wait from conviction or sentence completion. Felony breaking and entering under G.S. 14-54(a) requires 15 years. Two or three nonviolent felonies occurring within a 24-month period require a 20-year wait.
• Automatic expunctions. Certain automatic expunctions resumed as of July 1, 2024 for cases meeting specific criteria (they had been paused from August 2022).

Violent felonies, sex offenses requiring registration, and impaired-driving convictions are generally ineligible. The UNC School of Government expunction guide explains the full process and forms.

Do I need a lawyer to expunge my record in North Carolina?

You are not required to hire a lawyer to petition for expunction. The clerk of court's office has the necessary forms, and the UNC School of Government publishes free self-help materials. That said, the eligibility rules are detailed, waiting periods changed in 2025, and a procedural mistake can delay or defeat your petition. Many people use an attorney or a free legal-aid clinic, especially for felony expunctions or cases involving multiple prior convictions where eligibility is unclear.

How long does a felony stay on your record in North Carolina?

A North Carolina felony conviction stays on your permanent record indefinitely unless you obtain an expunction. There is no automatic deletion of conviction records. The FCRA's seven-year reporting rule limits what a background-check company may report for some non-conviction items, but it does not erase the underlying record. Only a court-granted expunction removes the record from public databases. Even after expunction, the record may still be accessible to law enforcement and certain licensing boards under limited statutory exceptions.

Are juvenile records private in North Carolina?

Yes. Juvenile delinquency records in North Carolina are confidential under G.S. Chapter 7B and are generally not accessible to the public or ordinary background checks. Courts, probation, law enforcement, and certain agencies can still see them. Many juvenile records are eligible to be expunged when the person reaches adulthood or after a period without further offenses; some are sealed automatically. Serious cases where a juvenile was tried as an adult may be handled differently and become part of the public adult criminal record.

Wake County criminal records

Wake County, home to Raleigh (North Carolina's state capital), is the most populous county in North Carolina, with more than 1.2 million residents. The Wake County Clerk of Superior Court handles criminal case records in the county. Since October 2025, Wake County's cases are fully searchable through the statewide NC Courts Portal by name or case number at no charge for basic lookups. For in-person access or certified copies, visit the Wake County Courthouse at 316 Fayetteville Street, Raleigh, NC 27601, or call the clerk's office at (919) 792-4000. For inmates currently held in the Wake County jail, check the Wake County Sheriff's Office online jail lookup.

Official North Carolina criminal record sources

• NC SBI Background Checks - statewide criminal history; fingerprint-based checks available to the public ($14 state, $32 with FBI).
• NC Courts Portal - free public name and case-number search across all 100 counties; certified copies available for a fee.
• NC Judicial Branch: court records help - how to obtain, request, and understand North Carolina court records.
• NC Department of Adult Correction: Offender Search - free public search for state prison inmates, probationers, and parolees.
• NC Sex Offender Registry - free public search by name, address, or zip code, maintained by the NC SBI.
• UNC School of Government: expunction guide - step-by-step procedure, eligibility rules, and forms for clearing a North Carolina record.
• NC General Statutes Chapter 15A, Article 5 - the expunction statutes (G.S. 15A-145 through 15A-149).

Disclosure: criminal.com may earn a commission when you use the people-search tool on this page, which is powered by a third-party background-check service. Results from such tools are for your personal knowledge only and may not be used to make decisions about employment, housing, credit, tenant screening, or any other purpose covered by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). An arrest record or mugshot is not proof of guilt. This page is general information about North Carolina public records, not legal advice; for advice about your situation, consult an attorney. Information was last reviewed in June 2026 and laws may change.