Charlotte County NC Arrest Records Search | Jail & Court

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Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, NC · Arrest, jail, police and court guide

Find a Charlotte Arrest and Verify the Mecklenburg County Court Outcome

Search the Sheriff’s arrest inquiry, identify the correct booking, check current jail custody and then match the arrest to the Mecklenburg County criminal case.

This guide also covers police reports, warrant checks, bonds, jail visits, mail, commissary, calls, public defenders, victim services, North Carolina criminal-history review and expunction.

Search Charlotte-area arrests Check Mecklenburg jail custody Search NC eCourts
QUEEN CITY RECORD ROUTER VERIFYING
MCSO INQUIRY LIVE
ARREST
JAIL
COURT
MECKLENBURG COURT
DISPOSITION
IDENTITY + CASE VERIFIED
Important location correction There is no Charlotte County in North Carolina. Charlotte is in Mecklenburg County. If you searched for “Charlotte County NC arrest records,” the correct local systems are Mecklenburg County Sheriff, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police and Mecklenburg County courts.
Arrest does not equal conviction. Mecklenburg County Sheriff specifically warns users not to confuse criminal charges with criminal convictions. Always continue from the arrest record to the court disposition.
Arrest search

MCSO Arrest Inquiry covers roughly three years.

Current custody

Use Resident Inquiry with Active Only.

Fingerprint ID

PID stays with the person across jail stays.

Court search

Use NC eCourts Portal for Mecklenburg cases.

Certified history

Clerk single-county search currently costs $25.

Start here

Which Charlotte record answers your question?

MCSO ARREST INQUIRY Was the person arrested?

Search arrest date, name, PID or arrest number and open the matching arrest event.

Best for: Charlotte and Mecklenburg arrest-history lookup.
MCSO RESIDENT INQUIRY Is the person in jail now?

Use Active Only to check current detention and obtain the PID, JID and custody information.

Best for: jail status, mugshot and resident identification.
CMPD OR ARRESTING AGENCY What did officers report?

Request the crime, incident or arrest-related record from the agency that investigated the event.

Best for: incident narrative and police report.
NC eCOURTS + CLERK What happened in court?

Find the filed charges, hearings, disposition and judgment; obtain certified proof when necessary.

Best for: the final criminal-case result.
Most reliable sequence: arrest inquiry → identity check → jail status → arresting agency → court case → final disposition.

Go directly to the Charlotte task

The important procedures are explained here; official portals are used mainly for the final live search, filing or payment.

Result decoder

What PID, JID, charge and bond fields mean

Mecklenburg arrest and resident inquiry field guide
Field Meaning What it does not prove Best next action
PID Positive Identification Number tied to fingerprint-based identity. A particular arrest or conviction by itself. Use it to match the same person across jail stays.
JID Jail Identification Number associated with a jail stay. That two different JIDs are different people. Use PID to connect multiple stays.
Arrest number Identifier for a particular arrest event. The final criminal-court result. Use it when researching one arrest.
Arrest date Date connected to the arrest event. When the alleged offense occurred. Match it with the police report and case.
Charge type M Misdemeanor charge classification. A misdemeanor conviction. Check the filed court charge.
Charge type F Felony charge classification. A felony conviction. Check district and superior court activity.
Charge type T Traffic-related classification. The final traffic disposition. Check NC eCourts.
Charge type I Infraction classification. Final responsibility or disposition. Read the court record.
SEC Secured bond. That no other hold prevents release. Confirm every case and current order.
UNS Unsecured bond. There are no additional release conditions. Read the release order.
CASH Cash-only bond entry. The displayed information has not changed. Verify with custody staff or magistrate first.
CUST Custody of another person or agency. Local money payment controls release. Identify who controls the custody hold.
NONE No bond allowed in the displayed status. The status cannot later be changed by a court. Read the newest judicial order.
Disposition A Active. The criminal case is unresolved in every respect. Check current custody and court status.
Disposition B Bonded. The charge was dismissed. Find the next court event.
Disposition E Expired. The underlying criminal case was erased. Review the case history.
Disposition I Inactive. Acquittal or innocence. Locate the final court disposition.
Identity safeguard

Verify the correct person before relying on a Charlotte arrest

Full first and last name match
Middle name, alias or suffix is consistent
Date of birth or age is consistent
Arrest date matches the known event
PID matches another official record
JID matches the relevant jail stay
Arresting agency matches the location
Court case follows the same arrest
Do not identify a person from a mugshot or name alone. PID is particularly useful in Mecklenburg County because it is based on positive fingerprint identification.
No-result troubleshooting

No Charlotte arrest record found? Check these causes

The person was arrested very recently Intake, fingerprints, charging and data entry may still be underway.
You searched only current custody Turn off Active Only or use Arrest Inquiry for a person already released.
The arrest is older than the online window MCSO public inquiry retains approximately three years of arrest or release information.
The name is recorded differently Search surname only, then test aliases, former names, hyphens and suffixes.
The arrest occurred outside Mecklenburg County Search the jurisdiction where the person was actually arrested.
The person received a citation rather than jail booking Search NC eCourts even when no resident record exists.
The record has been expunged MCSO can remove inquiry information earlier than three years after receiving a judge-signed Order of Expunction.
The information is legally restricted Juvenile and other protected information may not be publicly available.
Missing-custody call script
I am trying to confirm whether [full legal name], date of birth [date], was processed or is currently held in Mecklenburg County. The arrest may have occurred on [date] through [agency]. I have [PID, JID, arrest number or case number]. Can you confirm whether the person is held, released, transferred or listed under another identifier?
Full arrest lifecycle

What happens after an arrest in Charlotte?

Law-enforcement arrest CMPD, Mecklenburg Sheriff or another agency creates the incident and arrest-related records.
Arrest Processing Center Mecklenburg County’s centralized Arrest Processing Center receives people arrested in the county by participating law-enforcement agencies.
Positive identification Fingerprints, digital photographs and personal information are used to establish identity and create or locate the PID.
Initial release conditions A judicial official addresses pretrial release, which can include a written promise, custody release, unsecured bond or secured bond.
Prosecutor review The District Attorney determines the charges that will actually proceed in court.
District or superior court Misdemeanors are generally tried in district court; felony cases proceed through the superior-court process.
Court events and disposition The case can include hearings, amended charges, pleas, dismissal, trial, judgment and sentencing.
Correction or expunction Incorrect information can be challenged and legally eligible records may later qualify for expunction.
Correct record holder

Which Charlotte office controls each record?

Do not send every request to the Sheriff
Record needed Likely custodian What to provide Common mistake
Mecklenburg arrest inquiry Mecklenburg County Sheriff Name, arrest date, PID or arrest number. Assuming it contains the final court result.
Current jail custody MCSO Detention / Resident Inquiry Name, PID or JID. Calling the Clerk for jail housing.
CMPD incident report Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Report number, date, location and name. Requesting it from the jail.
Sheriff report Mecklenburg County Sheriff Event identifiers and requested document. Using CMPD for a Sheriff-created report.
Filed criminal case NC Judicial Branch / Mecklenburg Clerk Case number or defendant identity. Treating booking allegations as final charges.
Certified Mecklenburg history Clerk of Superior Court AOC-CR-314 and identifying information. Using a jail search as a certified background check.
Personal statewide NC history NC State Bureau of Investigation Fingerprints and Right to Review request. Expecting MCSO to provide statewide history.
CMPD police reports

Request a Charlotte police incident or arrest-related report

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Records
601 E. Trade Street
Charlotte, NC 28202
Main CMPD: 704-336-7600
Published Records hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
CMPD no longer provides its old Local Arrest History Report. For a certified Mecklenburg County criminal-record search, use the Mecklenburg Clerk of Superior Court process.
Confirm CMPD investigated the event Check the arresting agency before requesting a Charlotte police report.
Find the CMPD report number Use the number from the incident, arrest documents or related court file when available.
Name the exact record Ask for the crime or incident report rather than requesting “everything about this person.”
Include the event date and location This helps distinguish similarly named people and unrelated incidents.
Use the online incident-report process CMPD provides crime and incident-report access through its official Records page. Open CMPD Records
Use the City request portal for other public records Broader public-record requests can be submitted through Charlotte’s official request service. Submit a Charlotte public-record request
Ask for electronic delivery when possible This can avoid unnecessary printing and pickup.
Continue to the court record A police report describes the investigation; it is not the final judicial determination.
Copy-ready CMPD request
I request the releasable crime/incident report and specifically identified public records concerning the incident involving [full legal name] on or about [date] at [location]. The known CMPD report number is [number], Mecklenburg PID or arrest number is [number], and court case number is [number]. Please provide electronic copies where available and notify me before processing if fees will exceed $[amount].
NC eCourts

Find the Mecklenburg County criminal case and disposition

Mecklenburg County Courthouse
832 E. Fourth Street
Charlotte, NC 28202
Clerk: 704-686-0400
Published courthouse hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Open the NC eCourts Portal Public case information can be searched without paying a private record service. Open NC eCourts Portal
Choose Smart Search Use this for case number, party name and other searchable court identifiers.
Use the case number when known A case number is more reliable than a common-name search.
Otherwise search the defendant name Official Portal training permits wildcard searching when the exact spelling is uncertain.
Confirm Mecklenburg County Do not confuse a same-name defendant in another North Carolina county.
Open the Register of Actions Review court events, hearings and entries in chronological order.
Compare the filed charges with the arrest record Prosecutors may amend, reduce, replace or dismiss an original arrest allegation.
Find the disposition for each count Look for dismissal, guilty plea, not guilty finding, judgment, sentence or another final entry.
Check upcoming hearings separately Use Portal hearing-search functions when you need a scheduled court event.
Request certified proof when needed An online summary is useful for research, but formal background, licensing or legal use may require a certified Clerk record.
Open Mecklenburg County Courts See official Portal search instructions

Important Mecklenburg criminal contacts

Clerk of Court

704-686-0400

District Attorney

704-686-0700

Criminal Magistrates

704-686-0050

Caseflow

704-686-0185

Certified county search

Obtain an official Mecklenburg County criminal-record search

North Carolina courts currently charge $25 for a certified criminal-record search from the clerk for a single county.
Download Form AOC-CR-314 This is the official statewide request form for a criminal-record search. Open AOC-CR-314
Enter the subject’s identifying information carefully Accurate name and identifying details reduce same-name errors.
Select Mecklenburg County A clerk search is county-specific unless another process is requested.
Prepare the $25 fee Confirm current accepted payment before submitting.
Mail requests with an accepted guaranteed payment North Carolina courts publish money order or certified check for mailed requests.
For in-person requests, check accepted payments Courts publish cash, credit card, money order and certified check options; personal checks are not accepted for this service.
Use courthouse public terminals for free research Non-certified statewide or county criminal-record research can be performed on public access computers; printing charges may apply.
Portal versus certified search: Use eCourts for fast case research. Use the Clerk’s certified search when the recipient specifically requires official certified criminal-history proof.
Warrant information

How to check a possible Mecklenburg County warrant

Do not expect a public “active warrant list.” Mecklenburg County Sheriff states that unserved warrants are not considered public records and the office no longer provides unserved warrant details to the general public through its online inquiry.
Search the related court case first Served warrant information and case activity may appear in NC eCourts. Search NC eCourts
Read warrant entries chronologically An older warrant entry may later be followed by service, recall or another court action.
Check the correct Mecklenburg case Match case number, defendant and charge rather than relying on name alone.
Call Arrest Processing for verification questions The Arrest Processing Center operates around the clock. Call 980-314-5100
Contact the Public Defender if the warrant concerns you The Mecklenburg Public Defender specifically advises people needing help with a missed court date or warrant to contact the office.
Do not confront another person Court and warrant information can change and same-name mistakes are possible.
Scam warning: Mecklenburg Sheriff warns about callers impersonating deputies and demanding money for supposed warrants, missed jury duties or monitoring violations. Do not send money because of an unsolicited threat; independently call the official office.
Bond and pretrial release

Understand a Charlotte bond before paying anyone

Written promise

No advance money is required; the defendant signs an agreement to appear in court.

Custody release

The person is released to an individual or organization agreeing to supervise the defendant.

Unsecured bond

No money is paid in advance, but the amount can become owed if the defendant fails to appear.

Secured bond

Money or other approved security must be provided before release.

Confirm the person’s PID and JID Verify identity before discussing a bond.
List every active charge A person can have different release conditions on separate charges or cases.
Read the current bond type MCSO commonly displays SEC, UNS, CASH, CUST or NONE.
Check NC eCourts for the newest order Bond can be reviewed at later court hearings.
Ask whether another hold exists Another county, state or federal custody matter can affect release.
Confirm the exact payment procedure Procedures vary depending on the release condition. Custody staff or a magistrate can explain where an applicable bond is posted.
Verify any bail bondsman North Carolina bail bondsmen are licensed to post bonds for compensation. Ask for the premium and collateral terms in writing.
Keep every receipt and court document Save the transaction information and next court date.
Domestic-violence cases: North Carolina does not impose an automatic 48-hour jail hold. For certain qualifying domestic-violence arrests, only a judge can set release conditions during the first 48 hours; the defendant does not necessarily remain jailed for the entire 48-hour period.
Bond-verification script
I am calling about [full legal name], PID [number], JID [number]. Please confirm the current release condition for every active charge, whether any other hold prevents release, and where the applicable bond or release paperwork must be completed.
Read the official NC bond guide
Mecklenburg jail visitation

Schedule an in-person or video jail visit

Confirm the person is still in custody Search Resident Inquiry before creating or paying for a visit. Check current custody
Save the PID and current resident information Use the exact identity displayed by MCSO.
Create the required visitor account Use the provider linked through Mecklenburg Sheriff.
Schedule at least 24 hours in advance MCSO does not permit a same-minute walk-in scheduling substitute.
Do not schedule more than one week ahead The published scheduling window is up to seven days.
Choose an available visit block Published visitation blocks are 8:00–11:00 a.m., 1:00–4:00 p.m. and 8:00–10:00 p.m., subject to facility availability.
Arrive before the appointment Arriving 10 minutes late can cause automatic cancellation.
Bring valid physical identification Expired, cracked, taped, faded, laminated or altered identification can be rejected.
Recheck custody before traveling Release, transfer, discipline, emergency or lockdown can change the visit.
Schedule the final visit Check current MCSO visitation status

Published video-visit options

Check the provider again before payment because rates can change
Video option Published price Important rule
25-minute video visit $6.25 Subject to scheduling, housing and operational availability.
10-minute video visit $2.50 Provider and facility restrictions apply.
Resident free video allocation MCSO publishes two free 10-minute internet video calls per week The two free video calls cannot occur on the same day.
Visitation scheduling support: 855-208-7349
Visitor rules

Bring acceptable ID and avoid visit cancellation

Accepted identification examples

  • Valid state-issued identification.
  • Valid driver license.
  • Valid passport.
  • Military identification.
  • Valid international identification.

Identification that can be refused

  • Expired identification.
  • Cracked or broken cards.
  • Taped identification.
  • Faded identification.
  • Laminated or altered identification.
Appointment does not guarantee completion. Jail emergencies, lockdowns, disciplinary restrictions, releases and housing changes can shorten or cancel visitation.
Personal and legal mail

Send mail to a Mecklenburg County resident correctly

Ordinary personal mail
Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office
Resident Name, Resident Identifier
P.O. Box 247
Phoenix, MD 21131
Check current custody first Do not mail to someone who has already been released or transferred.
Use the exact first and last name Write the name shown in Resident Inquiry.
Add the PID MCSO requires the resident’s identification information for incoming personal mail.
Add a complete return address Mail without required sender information can be rejected.
Do not use signature-required mail Certified or registered mail requiring a signature is not accepted as ordinary resident mail.
Limit internet-printed material MCSO publishes a maximum of 10 internet-printed pages per envelope.
Send books only through an authorized commercial source Books, magazines, newspapers and periodicals must come directly from the bookstore or publisher with an invoice.
Do not send hardback books MCSO does not accept hardback books for residents.

Common prohibited personal-mail items

Cash, checks or money orders in personal correspondence
Food
Polaroid photographs
Stickers, tape or glued material
Metal, staples or paper clips
Perfume or lipstick
Gang or violence-promoting material
Explicit sexual material
Stamps and blank envelopes
Newspaper clippings
Cardboard or bubble-mailer envelopes
Contraband instructions
Legal mail is handled differently. Proper legal correspondence is opened in the resident’s presence for contraband inspection rather than processed as ordinary personal correspondence.
Resident trust account

Send money without using the personal-mail address

Money and personal letters use different addresses. Do not send a money order to the Phoenix, Maryland personal-mail scanning address.
Mailed resident funds
Resident Name
P.O. Box 31427
Charlotte, NC 28231-1427
Confirm the current resident Match the exact legal name, date of birth and PID.
Use a money order or cashier’s check for mailed funds Make it payable to the resident’s exact incarcerated name.
Write the date of birth and PID on the payment These identifiers help MCSO credit the correct account.
Add the sender’s full name and address Put sender information on the instrument and return address on the envelope.
Never mail cash Use an approved deposit method instead.
Use TouchPay for electronic deposits MCSO publishes Facility Locator Number 228201. Open the approved online deposit service
Use the 24-hour telephone deposit option TouchPay telephone deposits are available at 866-232-1899.
Keep the confirmation number Record the deposit method, amount, PID and transaction reference.
MCSO publishes a general resident-account maximum balance of $300, although funds in a person’s possession at initial incarceration are deposited to the account.
Resident Trust Account Department
801 E. Fourth Street
Charlotte, NC 28202
Commissary

Understand Mecklenburg County commissary limits

Order frequency

Residents may place up to two commissary orders per week.

Order maximum

MCSO publishes a maximum of $50 for each order.

Central order days

Ordering is published for Sunday and Tuesday.

Delivery days

Central deliveries are published for Tuesday and Thursday.

Detention Center Central ordering windows

Sunday and Tuesday published order times
Window Published time Important note
Morning 8:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m. Resident must follow housing-unit procedures.
Afternoon 1:00 p.m.–4:30 p.m. Availability can be affected by operations.
Evening 7:00 p.m.–11:00 p.m. No published ordering on Thursday, Friday or Saturday.
Residents must wear their identification bracelet to receive commissary. If a resident is released before receiving an order, MCSO publishes a seven-day pickup period through Finance at Detention Center Central during applicable weekday office hours.
Calls and electronic messages

Set up Mecklenburg jail communication

Telephone calls

Resident personal calls are monitored and archived. Published collect-call sessions can last up to 20 minutes.

AdvancePay

Family and friends can create a prepaid telephone account through ConnectNetwork.

Electronic messages

Messaging funds are handled separately from ordinary telephone funds.

Confirm the person is currently held Recheck Resident Inquiry first.
Create the approved ConnectNetwork account Use the account for the service you actually need. Open ConnectNetwork
Choose telephone or messaging funds carefully Funds placed in one service may not automatically transfer to another.
Do not discuss confidential case strategy on ordinary calls Personal calls are subject to monitoring and archiving.
Keep provider transaction records Save the confirmation number and account type funded.
ViaPath/GTL help: 866-230-7761 or 877-650-4249
AdvancePay: 800-483-8314
MCSO web pages currently contain inconsistent descriptions of the frequency of the free five-minute telephone allocation. Check the current jail/provider screen instead of relying on an older posted frequency.
Defense representation

Contact the Mecklenburg County Public Defender

Mecklenburg County Public Defender
720 E. Fourth Street, Suite 300
Charlotte, NC 28202
Phone: 704-686-0900

If the person is still detained

  • Confirm the first court appearance.
  • Ask whether counsel has been appointed.
  • Give family members the case number and PID.
  • Do not discuss case facts on ordinary recorded calls.
  • Follow counsel’s instructions about bond and court appearances.

If the person missed court

  • Search the newest eCourts entries.
  • Confirm whether an order or warrant appears.
  • Call the Public Defender at 704-686-0900.
  • Ask about the proper process to address the missed appearance.
  • Do not pay an unsolicited caller claiming to clear a warrant.
Open Mecklenburg Public Defender Verify Defender District 26
Victim support

Get custody alerts, court help and victim compensation

Save the offender and case identifiers Keep the name, PID, arrest number, court case number and report number.
Register for VINE custody information Mecklenburg Sheriff publishes VINE for custody status and available release or transfer notifications. Call VINE at 800-247-9658
Remember VINE covers people actually committed to custody A person who bonds out without entering the jail may not appear as a resident.
Contact the District Attorney for court-stage victim services The Mecklenburg DA provides victim information, court-date resources and referrals. Open DA victim information
Contact CMPD Victim Services for a CMPD case CMPD Victim Services can assist with local law-enforcement-stage resources. Call 704-336-2364
Check North Carolina Victim Compensation Eligible victims can apply for qualifying crime-related expenses. Open NC Victim Compensation

What NC Victim Compensation may cover

Medical treatment
Counseling
Dental or orthodontic treatment
Burial or funeral costs
Crime-scene cleanup
Eligible lost wages
Certain domestic-violence household support
Other qualifying crime-related expenses
North Carolina currently publishes a maximum victim-compensation award of up to $45,000, including up to $10,000 for eligible burial or funeral expenses. Eligibility rules apply.
Mecklenburg County District Attorney
700 E. Trade Street
Charlotte, NC 28202
Phone: 704-686-0700

NC Victim Compensation
Assistance: 800-826-6200
North Carolina SBI

Request your own fingerprint-based NC criminal history

The SBI Right to Review is a personal fingerprint-supported review of your own North Carolina criminal-history information. It is different from a public Mecklenburg jail search.
Open SBI Personal Review instructions Review the current fingerprint and submission requirements. Open SBI Right to Review
Obtain the required fingerprints Follow SBI instructions for an acceptable fingerprint submission.
Complete the identifying information Use accurate legal-name and birth information.
Prepare the $14 SBI processing fee Fingerprint-provider service charges may be separate.
Use an accepted payment form SBI publishes money order or certified check and does not accept cash, personal checks or credit cards for the mailed personal-review fee.
Review every arrest and disposition Compare the SBI transcript with Mecklenburg court records.
Challenge inaccurate information Obtain certified court or agency proof before requesting a correction.
NC SBI personal review

Current SBI processing fee: $14.

FBI national personal check

SBI materials identify the separate FBI Identity History Summary fee as $18.

Fix inaccurate records

Correct the system that contains the error

Identify where the error appears Is it in MCSO Arrest Inquiry, Resident Inquiry, CMPD records, NC eCourts or the SBI transcript?
Save the incorrect entry Record the PID, JID, arrest number, report number, court case number and incorrect field.
Obtain the controlling document Examples include a certified dismissal, judgment, amended order or corrected police record.
Correct court information through the Clerk or court A police agency generally cannot rewrite a judicial disposition.
Correct agency information with the agency CMPD or MCSO should receive documentation when its own data is inaccurate.
Use SBI review for statewide history errors Compare the fingerprint-based transcript with certified court proof.
Recheck connected databases Correction in one government system may not instantly update another system or private background company.
Correction is not expunction. Correction fixes inaccurate information. Expunction concerns accurate records that qualify for legal removal or restriction.
North Carolina expunction

Remove an eligible Charlotte arrest or court record

In North Carolina, “expunction” and “expungement” are commonly used for the legal process that can remove qualifying arrest, charge or conviction records from ordinary state record systems.
Eligibility is case-specific. The correct statute and form depend on whether the charge was dismissed, the person was found not guilty, a conviction occurred, the offense is excluded, waiting periods apply or prior convictions affect eligibility.
Collect every Charlotte and Mecklenburg identifier Save the PID, arrest number, court file number and charge.
Obtain the final court disposition Confirm exactly how each charge ended.
Open North Carolina expunction guidance Review the eligibility categories before selecting a form. Open official NC expunction guidance
Choose the form that matches the disposition Do not use a dismissal form for a conviction.
File in the county required by the statute Petitions are generally filed with the clerk in the county where the charge or conviction occurred.
Check the filing fee The general filing fee for many petition-based expunctions is currently $175.
Check whether your category has no filing fee Certain dismissal and not-guilty expunctions can be filed without the $175 charge, subject to the applicable statute.
Request a fee waiver when eligible Use the court’s current indigency or fee-waiver process when applicable.
Complete required notices and checks The court process can involve prosecutors, SBI or other agencies depending on the expunction type.
Attend any required hearing Bring copies of the petition, disposition and supporting documents.
Keep the signed Order of Expunction Store a certified copy for later correction of public or private records.
Verify MCSO removal The Sheriff states it can remove arrest/resident inquiry information before the normal three-year period after receiving a judge-signed Order of Expunction.

Common North Carolina form paths

Examples only—verify eligibility before filing
Situation Common form Why it matters
Dismissed charge under qualifying G.S. 15A-146 route AOC-CR-287 Used for qualifying dismissed-charge expunctions.
Not guilty / not responsible qualifying route AOC-CR-288 Used for qualifying acquittal-related expunctions.
Certain nonviolent felony convictions AOC-CR-297 Eligibility and waiting periods must be checked carefully.
Certain nonviolent misdemeanor convictions AOC-CR-298 Eligibility depends on statute, offense and history.
Find the current NC expunction form Ask Mecklenburg Public Defender about available help
Mecklenburg Public Defender also directs people seeking expunction assistance to local legal-help resources and the courthouse Self-Serve Center when appropriate.
Court navigation

Know where to go inside the Mecklenburg courthouse

Criminal district courts

Criminal district courtrooms are generally located on the fourth floor.

Clerk’s Office

The Mecklenburg Clerk’s Office is located on the third floor.

Records checks

MCSO’s courthouse guide identifies Room 2132 on the second floor for records-check functions.

Public Defender

The courthouse includes a first-floor Public Defender service window.

Criminal magistrates operate through the Arrest Processing Center at 801 E. Fourth Street. Confirm the correct location before traveling because the courthouse and Arrest Processing Center are separate facilities.
Contacts and locations

Charlotte arrest, jail and court contact board

MCSO Main / Information

704-336-8100

General Sheriff and detention routing.

Arrest Processing Center
801 E. Fourth Street
Charlotte, NC 28202

980-314-5100

Operates 24/7.

Detention Center Central
801 E. Fourth Street
Charlotte, NC 28202

980-314-5200

Detention Medical Hotline

980-314-5222

CMPD
601 E. Trade Street
Charlotte, NC 28202

704-336-7600

Mecklenburg Clerk
832 E. Fourth Street
Charlotte, NC 28202

704-686-0400

Public Defender
720 E. Fourth Street, Suite 300
Charlotte, NC 28202

704-686-0900

District Attorney
700 E. Trade Street
Charlotte, NC 28202

704-686-0700

Mecklenburg County Detention and Arrest Processing map

Mecklenburg County Courthouse map

Confirm before traveling: Recheck current custody, courthouse location, office hours, identification requirements, appointment rules and the service you actually need.
Official-source extraction

What this guide brings into the page

Mecklenburg Sheriff

Arrest-search fields, three-year retention, PID/JID definitions, charge and bond codes, current custody, mail, visitation, commissary, money and telephone procedures.

Charlotte Police

CMPD crime and incident-report procedures, Records location, public-record request path and the end of the old local arrest-history service.

NC Judicial Branch

eCourts searching, criminal-process stages, bond types, certified background-search fee, court locations and expunction procedures.

Public Defender

Mecklenburg Defender District 26 contact, representation routing and help for missed court dates or warrant-related court issues.

Victim services

VINE custody notifications, District Attorney resources, CMPD Victim Services and North Carolina compensation benefits.

NC SBI

Fingerprint-based personal Right to Review, current $14 processing fee and record-correction workflow.

Title-related questions

Charlotte arrest-record questions answered

Is there a Charlotte County in North Carolina?

No. Charlotte is in Mecklenburg County. Use Mecklenburg County Sheriff, CMPD and Mecklenburg County courts for Charlotte arrest research.

How do I search Charlotte arrest records?

Use MCSO Arrest Inquiry and search by name, arrest date, PID or arrest number. Start broad and verify official identifiers.

How do I find someone currently in Mecklenburg County Jail?

Use Resident Inquiry and select Active Only. Confirm the name, PID and JID before relying on the result.

What is the difference between PID and JID?

PID is the fingerprint-based identifier that stays with the person. JID identifies a jail stay and can change when the person is incarcerated again.

How long do Mecklenburg arrest records remain online?

MCSO states that arrest and resident inquiry information remains online for three years from arrest or release unless legally removed earlier.

How do I find the final result of the case?

Search the Mecklenburg criminal case through NC eCourts and locate the disposition, judgment or dismissal for each count.

Where do I request a CMPD police report?

Use Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Records at 601 E. Trade Street or its official online Records process.

Can I search unserved Mecklenburg warrants online?

MCSO states that unserved warrants are not public records. Served warrant information may appear through eCourts, and current questions can be directed to Arrest Processing.

How much is a certified Mecklenburg County criminal-record search?

The North Carolina Judicial Branch currently publishes a $25 fee for a certified single-county criminal-record search through the Clerk.

Can a Charlotte arrest record be expunged?

Some charges, dismissals, acquittals and convictions qualify under North Carolina expunction laws. Review the applicable statute and current Judicial Branch form before filing in Mecklenburg County.

Accuracy, identity and legal-use notice

Arrest Records is an independent informational guide. It is not the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, Mecklenburg County Clerk of Superior Court, District Attorney, Public Defender, North Carolina SBI or a law firm.

Arrest, custody, housing, warrants, bond conditions, court dates and release information can change. Verify multiple identifiers and check the current official system before making a legal, employment, housing, financial, safety or publication decision.

A criminal charge is an allegation. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. This guide provides procedural information and is not legal advice.

Official Charlotte, Mecklenburg County and North Carolina procedures reviewed August 14, 2026.

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