Madison County Criminal Records

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Use the official court, custody, police-record, and statewide paths for Madison County, North Carolina; jurisdiction limits are explained.

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Madison County public records: common questions

Where to search Madison County records

Madison County, North Carolina court, custody, police, and statewide records are kept in separate systems. Start court research with Official North Carolina Judicial Branch courthouse location, temporary-courthouse advisory, hours, and court-contact information. Check current custody through Official Madison County Sheriff’s Office detention-center duties and custody-operations description.

Court casesOfficial North Carolina Judicial Branch courthouse location, temporary-courthouse advisory, hours, and court-contact information
Current custodyOfficial Madison County Sheriff’s Office detention-center duties and custody-operations description
Statewide recordsUse the North Carolina state-level source described below when available.
Federal recordsFederal court and custody records are outside county systems and require a separate federal search.

Verified local details

These details were drawn from the official sources linked in this guide. Reconfirm addresses, contacts, schedules, fees, and other time-sensitive details with the responsible agency.

Madison County’s official court page states that the original courthouse at 2 N. Main Street in Marshall is closed until further notice and that the Clerk’s Office and temporary courthouse are at the Madison County Extension Office, 258 Carolina Lane, Marshall.
Superior civil, superior criminal, district civil, and district criminal matters are being held at the temporary courthouse location until further notice.
The North Carolina Judicial Branch identifies Madison County as Superior Court District 35, District Court District 35, and Prosecutorial District 35.
The Madison County Sheriff’s Office lists Sheriff Buddy Harwood, phone 828-649-2721, and an office address of 348 Medical Park Drive in Marshall.
Madison County’s public-records page states that requests may be made for any reason, should use the county request form, and should be emailed to the county’s public-records contact; Sheriff’s Office records require a separate Sheriff request link.
The county’s official planning page states that the towns of Mars Hill, Marshall, and Hot Springs each have their own zoning ordinances and boards.
The Sheriff’s Office detention-center job description states that detention staff perform inmate intake, classification, care, security, record keeping, and release work.

Madison County official record-source actions
Record type	Agency or source	Scope	Action	Last checked
Court cases	Official North Carolina Judicial Branch courthouse location, temporary-courthouse advisory, hours, and court-contact information	County or local	Open source	Not yet published
Jail and custody	Official Madison County Sheriff’s Office detention-center duties and custody-operations description	County or local	Open source	August 10, 2026
Police and incident records	Official Madison County Sheriff contact, permits, records-request, and law-enforcement information	County or local	Open source	August 10, 2026
Official records	Official Madison County government portal, current notices, departments, commissioners, and public-service information	County or local	Open source	August 10, 2026
Police and incident records	Madison County official source (madisoncountync.gov)	County or local	Open source	August 10, 2026

How this guide is maintained: This matrix only republishes government and agency destinations supported by the researched guide or its reviewed county source registry. Page updated August 10, 2026. Agency sites and coverage can change, so confirm current rules with the source. Read our county source-review and correction policy.

If you are checking a Madison County record, start by identifying which agency created it. Court dockets, municipal cases, jail information, police reports, and state records are separate sources. This page brings those paths together for Madison County. Madison County has 22,553 residents (2025 estimate). The source map below identifies the relevant local courts and agencies. Offices and online systems change, so confirm details with the agency before relying on a record.

Quick facts

County-equivalent identity: 37-115
Population: 22,553 residents (2025 estimate)
Local detail: Madison County’s official court page states that the original courthouse at 2 N. Main Street in Marshall is closed until further notice and that the Clerk’s Office and temporary courthouse are at the Madison County Extension Office, 258 Carolina Lane, Marshall.
Local detail: Superior civil, superior criminal, district civil, and district criminal matters are being held at the temporary courthouse location until further notice.
Local detail: The North Carolina Judicial Branch identifies Madison County as Superior Court District 35, District Court District 35, and Prosecutorial District 35.
Local detail: The Madison County Sheriff’s Office lists Sheriff Buddy Harwood, phone 828-649-2721, and an office address of 348 Medical Park Drive in Marshall.
Local detail: Madison County’s public-records page states that requests may be made for any reason, should use the county request form, and should be emailed to the county’s public-records contact; Sheriff’s Office records require a separate Sheriff request link.
Local detail: The county’s official planning page states that the towns of Mars Hill, Marshall, and Hot Springs each have their own zoning ordinances and boards.

What is specific about this local guide

Local detail: Madison County’s official court page states that the original courthouse at 2 N. Main Street in Marshall is closed until further notice and that the Clerk’s Office and temporary courthouse are at the Madison County Extension Office, 258 Carolina Lane, Marshall.
Local detail: Superior civil, superior criminal, district civil, and district criminal matters are being held at the temporary courthouse location until further notice.
Local detail: The North Carolina Judicial Branch identifies Madison County as Superior Court District 35, District Court District 35, and Prosecutorial District 35.

Where is the Madison County courthouse currently operating while the original courthouse is closed?

For Madison County, start with Official Madison County government portal, current notices, departments, commissioners, and public-service information and Official Madison County Sheriff contact, permits, records-request, and law-enforcement information, then confirm the filing court or creating agency. Where is the Madison County courthouse currently operating while the original courthouse is closed depends on the record type and jurisdiction. The courthouse relocation and temporary-location information is subject to change; confirm the location before attending court.

Which Madison County matters are handled by Superior Court District 35 versus District Court District 35?

For Madison County, start with Official Madison County government portal, current notices, departments, commissioners, and public-service information and Official Madison County Sheriff contact, permits, records-request, and law-enforcement information, then confirm the filing court or creating agency. Which Madison County matters are handled by Superior Court District 35 versus District Court District 35 depends on the record type and jurisdiction. The courthouse relocation and temporary-location information is subject to change; confirm the location before attending court.

How can I contact the Madison County Sheriff or request Sheriff’s Office records?

For Madison County, start with Official Madison County government portal, current notices, departments, commissioners, and public-service information and Official Madison County Sheriff contact, permits, records-request, and law-enforcement information, then confirm the filing court or creating agency. How can I contact the Madison County Sheriff or request Sheriff’s Office records depends on the record type and jurisdiction. The courthouse relocation and temporary-location information is subject to change; confirm the location before attending court.

How can I confirm current Madison County detention or custody information?

For Madison County, start with Official Madison County government portal, current notices, departments, commissioners, and public-service information and Official Madison County Sheriff contact, permits, records-request, and law-enforcement information, then confirm the filing court or creating agency. How can I confirm current Madison County detention or custody information depends on the record type and jurisdiction. The courthouse relocation and temporary-location information is subject to change; confirm the location before attending court.

How do I submit a Madison County public-records request, and what information may be disclosed publicly?

For Madison County, start with Official Madison County government portal, current notices, departments, commissioners, and public-service information and Official Madison County Sheriff contact, permits, records-request, and law-enforcement information, then confirm the filing court or creating agency. How do I submit a Madison County public-records request, and what information may be disclosed publicly depends on the record type and jurisdiction. The courthouse relocation and temporary-location information is subject to change; confirm the location before attending court.

Which zoning board handles a property in Mars Hill, Marshall, or Hot Springs?

For Madison County, start with Official Madison County government portal, current notices, departments, commissioners, and public-service information and Official Madison County Sheriff contact, permits, records-request, and law-enforcement information, then confirm the filing court or creating agency. Which zoning board handles a property in Mars Hill, Marshall, or Hot Springs depends on the record type and jurisdiction. The courthouse relocation and temporary-location information is subject to change; confirm the location before attending court.

How can I find Madison County court dates, calendars, payments, or eCourts services?

For Madison County, start with Official Madison County government portal, current notices, departments, commissioners, and public-service information and Official Madison County Sheriff contact, permits, records-request, and law-enforcement information, then confirm the filing court or creating agency. How can I find Madison County court dates, calendars, payments, or eCourts services depends on the record type and jurisdiction. The courthouse relocation and temporary-location information is subject to change; confirm the location before attending court.

Which agency handles a specific police, detention, court, or municipal-ordinance matter in Madison County?

For Madison County, start with Official Madison County government portal, current notices, departments, commissioners, and public-service information and Official Madison County Sheriff contact, permits, records-request, and law-enforcement information, then confirm the filing court or creating agency. Which agency handles a specific police, detention, court, or municipal-ordinance matter in Madison County depends on the record type and jurisdiction. The courthouse relocation and temporary-location information is subject to change; confirm the location before attending court.

Jail, booking, and custody records

For current custody information, start with Official Madison County Sheriff’s Office detention-center duties and custody-operations description. The courthouse relocation and temporary-location information is subject to change; confirm the location before attending court.

Finding Madison County criminal court records

Start with Official North Carolina Judicial Branch courthouse location, temporary-courthouse advisory, hours, and court-contact information for the official Madison County court path. County: Madison County government administers county services through county departments, the Board of Commissioners, and elected offices. The county seat and principal county offices are in Marshall. Court: Madison County courts operate under North Carolina Superior Court District 35, District Court District 35, and Prosecutorial District 35. Court operations are temporarily based at 258 Carolina Lane while the original courthouse remains closed.

Local courts, citations, and municipal records

Municipal and local court coverage is separate from the county trial-court path. Custody: The Madison County Sheriff’s Office operates or supervises county detention functions, including inmate intake, classification, custody, care, records, and release work. The reviewed official sources did not expose a current public inmate roster or visitation schedule. Municipal: Madison County contains the towns of Hot Springs, Marshall, and Mars Hill. Each town maintains its own zoning ordinances and boards, so municipal zoning and ordinance matters should be directed to the relevant town.

Local police and incident-report sources

For police or incident records, use Official Madison County Sheriff contact, permits, records-request, and law-enforcement information. The county Sheriff and detention sources reviewed did not provide a current public custody roster, visitation schedule, or detailed booking-search tool.

City pages and jurisdiction boundaries

The relevant local courts and agencies may serve different incorporated municipalities, so confirm the filing locality before relying on a record.

Statewide North Carolina criminal-record sources

Statewide North Carolina sources are separate from Madison County local records. Do not treat a statewide search as a complete county docket, jail roster, or police-record database.

Related North Carolina county guides

No adjacent county guide is live yet.

Nearby county links will be added after the neighboring pages pass the same source and content review.

Official Madison County and North Carolina record sources

For an official starting point, use Official Madison County government portal, current notices, departments, commissioners, and public-service information. Confirm current access rules, fees, contacts, and jurisdiction with the responsible agency.

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 are for personal knowledge only and may not be used for employment, housing, credit, tenant screening, or any other purpose covered by the Fair Credit Reporting Act. An arrest or booking record is not proof of guilt. This page is general information, not legal advice; for advice about a specific situation, consult an attorney.

Prefer an official source? For an official starting point, use Official Madison County government portal, current notices, departments, commissioners, and public-service information. Confirm current access rules, fees, contacts, and jurisdiction with the responsible agency.

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