Forsyth Arrest Records Search | Police & Court

ByArrest Guider
Forsyth County, North Carolina · Winston-Salem police, Sheriff custody and District 31 court records

Trace a Forsyth Arrest From the Police Record to the Final Court Disposition

Forsyth County arrest information is split between Winston-Salem Police, the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office, the county detention center and North Carolina’s eCourts system.

Use the arrest or incident record to identify what happened, the jail inquiry to verify current custody, and the court file to determine whether the charge was dismissed, reduced, prosecuted or resulted in conviction.

Search Forsyth inmates Request WSPD arrest record Search court records
FORSYTH RECORD ROUTER VERIFYING
POLICE / SHERIFF RECORD FORSYTH
ARREST
INMATE
COURT
NC eCOURTS CASE
DISPOSITION
ARREST + COURT MATCHED
An arrest is not a conviction. Winston-Salem Police arrest records are not certified and do not contain court dispositions. Always check the Forsyth County criminal court case before describing an allegation as a final criminal result.
WSPD arrest record

Local, non-certified and currently free.

Certified county check

$25 through Clerk of Superior Court.

Current inmates

Official Sheriff P2C inquiry.

Current court system

North Carolina eCourts Portal.

SBI self-review

$14 fingerprint-based NC record.

Start here

Choose the record that answers your Forsyth question

WSPD ARREST Was the person arrested by Winston-Salem Police?

Request the local arrest record directly from WSPD Records Division.

SHERIFF P2C Is the person in Forsyth County Jail?

Use the Sheriff’s inmate inquiry for current detention information.

POLICE REPORT What happened during the incident?

Request the report from the agency that actually investigated the event.

eCOURTS What did prosecutors file?

Search North Carolina Portal for the Forsyth County criminal case.

CERTIFIED CHECK Need an official county criminal record?

Request the $25 certified name search from the Forsyth Clerk.

WARRANT Is there a current warrant?

Check WSPD or Sheriff P2C and verify it with the issuing court or agency.

NCSBI Need your statewide NC history?

Use the fingerprint-based SBI Right to Review process.

EXPUNCTION Can the record be cleared?

Start with the court disposition and current North Carolina expunction statute.

Police-to-Citizen

Use P2C for searchable police and Sheriff information

Winston-Salem Police P2C

Search filtered police records, reports by report number, most-wanted information and the current WSPD warrant list.

Open Winston-Salem Police P2C

Forsyth County Sheriff P2C

Use the Sheriff’s official Police-to-Citizen system for inmate inquiry and wanted-person information.

Open Forsyth Sheriff P2C

P2C is useful for discovery, but a police search result does not replace a certified criminal court record.
Current detention

Check whether the person is in Forsyth County custody now

Forsyth County Law Enforcement Detention Center
201 N. Church Street
Winston-Salem, NC 27101
Phone: 336-917-7600
Open the official Inmate Inquiry Search Forsyth County inmates
Search the person’s legal name Use multiple identity fields whenever similar names appear.
Open the matching custody record Save the inmate identification number and current housing information when displayed.
Read every current charge One booking can contain multiple criminal counts or holds.
Check release or bond information carefully Another charge, warrant or hold can affect release.
Search the Forsyth court case Jail status cannot tell you the final disposition.
The detention center houses male and female pretrial detainees and sentenced misdemeanants and has a published bed capacity of 1,016.
Identity check

Verify the correct Forsyth arrest before relying on it

Full legal name matches
Middle name or suffix is consistent
Date of birth or age matches
Arrest date fits the known incident
Arresting agency is correct
Incident or arrest number matches
Inmate ID belongs to the same person
Court case follows the same event
Do not identify a person from a name or booking photo alone. Similar names, aliases and old third-party records can produce serious mistakes.
Who owns the record?

Ask the agency that created the report—not simply the jail

Correct starting point for common Forsyth records
Record needed Starting office Best identifier Common mistake
Winston-Salem Police arrest record WSPD Records Division Full name + arrest details Expecting a certified court disposition.
WSPD incident report WSPD Records Division Incident / report number Requesting it from the Sheriff because the person went to county jail.
Sheriff incident report Forsyth County Sheriff Records Report number + date Requesting city-police records from FCSO.
Current jail custody Forsyth Sheriff / LEDC Name + inmate ID Treating it as historical criminal history.
Certified Forsyth criminal record Clerk of Superior Court Full legal name Using a police arrest sheet for an official court check.
Statewide personal NC history North Carolina SBI Fingerprints Calling a single-county Clerk check statewide.
Forsyth Sheriff’s Records Division expressly states that reports must be obtained from the agency that initiated the report.
Police and Sheriff reports

Request the incident report behind the arrest

Winston-Salem Police report

Open the WSPD Incident Report form Request WSPD incident report
Enter the incident date This is a required search field.
Add the report number Include it whenever known.
Add the incident address A location helps isolate the correct event.
Select how you want to receive the report Follow the options available on the live request form.
Winston-Salem Police says the public portion of an incident report is available without charge. More detailed investigative portions may require legal review and may not be publicly releasable.

Forsyth County Sheriff report

Confirm FCSO created the report Check the arresting or investigating agency first.
Collect the report number and incident date Add names and location.
Contact the Sheriff’s Records function Requests after 4:00 p.m. are processed the next business day.
Do not request a public criminal-history background check from Sheriff Records FCSO specifically directs general criminal-history requests to the Clerk of Court instead.
Open FCSO report instructions
Copy-ready record request
I request a copy of the releasable incident or arrest report concerning [full legal name] for the incident on or about [date] at [location]. The report or incident number is [number] if known. Please provide the public portion electronically when available and advise me if any requested portion is withheld or requires additional review.
Forsyth eCourts

Find the filed criminal case and final disposition

Forsyth County moved to North Carolina eCourts in July 2025. All North Carolina counties now use the Enterprise Justice / Odyssey case-management system.
Open North Carolina eCourts services Open eCourts
Choose Portal Portal provides public Smart Search for court records and hearing information.
Search the defendant’s full legal name Registration is not required to view ordinary publicly available information.
Filter or confirm Forsyth County Do not combine unrelated cases from other North Carolina counties.
Match the criminal case number North Carolina criminal case numbers generally contain the characters “CR.”
Compare the offense with the arrest record Prosecutors may file different or fewer charges than those listed at booking.
Review the Register of Actions Read the case activity in chronological order.
Check the disposition of every charge Look for dismissal, guilty plea, conviction, acquittal or another outcome.
Get the official court document when proof matters Visit or contact the Clerk for copies or certification.
North Carolina Judicial Branch recommends using the county Clerk—not an ordinary Portal search—when conducting a formal criminal background check.
Certified Forsyth criminal check

Get a certified single-county criminal record for $25

Forsyth County Clerk of Superior Court
Forsyth County Courthouse
175 N. Chestnut Street
Winston-Salem, NC 27101
Main: 336-779-6300
Mailing: PO Box 20099, Winston-Salem, NC 27120
Use the current courthouse address Older Winston-Salem pages may still refer to the former Hall of Justice. The current Forsyth County Courthouse is at 175 N. Chestnut Street.
Complete Form AOC-CR-314 North Carolina uses this form for a certified single-county criminal record search.
Enter the subject’s identifying information carefully The search is name based.
Pay the current $25 fee The search covers Forsyth County court records only.
Submit by mail or in person Mail accepts money order or certified check; in-person payment options are broader.
Do not label it a statewide North Carolina check Repeat the process in other counties or use the proper state process when broader history is needed.
Open NC certified background-check instructions
Free courthouse research

Search North Carolina criminal court records without buying a background report

Public self-service terminals at North Carolina Clerk offices allow users to search criminal records for themselves or others without a search charge. Printing charges may apply.
Visit the Forsyth County Courthouse Go to 175 N. Chestnut Street.
Use a public self-service terminal Search by defendant name or case number.
Review every matching case Check date of birth or other available identifiers when possible.
Open the actual court file when needed Paper or electronic court documents may be accessed through the Clerk subject to applicable access rules.
Pay only when copies are required Ask the Clerk for current copying or certification charges.
Warrant verification

Check Winston-Salem and Forsyth warrant information safely

Open Winston-Salem Police P2C for a city warrant WSPD states that its P2C service displays its current warrant list. Open WSPD P2C
Use Forsyth Sheriff’s wanted-person search for Sheriff information Open FCSO wanted-person search
Verify identity Compare the legal name, date of birth and case information.
Search the underlying court case A later court entry may affect the warrant’s status.
Confirm current status with the agency or Clerk Online warrant data can change.
Contact a lawyer when the warrant concerns you Counsel can advise how to address the warrant through court.
Never confront or attempt to detain another person because of an online warrant result.
Scam warning: an unexpected caller demanding gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers or other unusual payment to cancel a warrant should not be trusted. Independently call the official agency or Clerk.
North Carolina criminal process

Follow a Forsyth arrest through District or Superior Court

Investigation Winston-Salem Police, Forsyth Sheriff or another agency investigates the alleged offense.
Arrest and charging A magistrate or other judicial process initiates the criminal case and conditions of release.
First appearance The court reviews rights and may review bond or other release conditions.
Misdemeanor path Misdemeanor cases are generally tried in District Court.
Felony probable-cause stage A felony can involve District Court proceedings before indictment or transfer.
Superior Court felony prosecution Felony trials are handled in Superior Court.
Plea, trial or dismissal The case may end differently from the original arrest charge.
Sentencing A sentence is imposed only after conviction.
Expunction review Eligible charges or convictions can later qualify for record relief.
Bond and pretrial release

Read the release condition before paying anyone

Written promise

No money is paid in advance; the defendant promises to appear.

Custody release

A person or organization accepts responsibility for supervision.

Unsecured bond

The amount is promised but is not paid in advance for release.

Secured bond

Money or other approved security must be provided before release.

Find the current court release order Do not pay based on an old booking screenshot.
List every open charge or case Multiple matters can affect release.
Check for holds or warrants Resolving one secured bond may not result in release.
Ask the detention center or magistrate how the specific bond can be posted Procedures depend on the type of bond.
Understand a bondsman’s premium A licensed bail bondsman’s premium is payment for the service and ordinarily is not returned at the end of the case.
Keep every receipt and court document The next hearing and release conditions remain important after release.
For certain North Carolina domestic-violence arrests, only a judge may set release conditions during the first 48 hours. This does not automatically require detention for the entire 48 hours.
Defender District 31

Find appointed counsel for a Forsyth County criminal case

Forsyth County Public Defender
Defender District 31
175 N. Chestnut Street
Winston-Salem, NC 27101
Phone: 336-779-6325
Fax: 336-779-6343
Ask the court about appointed counsel A defendant who cannot afford an attorney may qualify for court-appointed representation.
Complete the required financial information The court determines indigency under North Carolina rules.
Save the Forsyth criminal case number Have it ready when contacting the defender office.
Call 336-779-6325 to identify the assigned lawyer The current Forsyth IDS page specifically directs people there when they do not know who represents them.
Use confidential attorney communication Avoid discussing defense strategy on an ordinary monitored jail telephone call.
Open Forsyth Public Defender information
Victim notifications

Track the case and custody status after a Forsyth arrest

Forsyth County District Attorney
Prosecutorial District 31
Forsyth County Courthouse
175 N. Chestnut Street
Winston-Salem, NC 27101
Phone: 336-779-6310
Save the police report and criminal case numbers These identify the correct prosecution.
Contact the District Attorney’s Office Ask for victim/witness assistance when applicable.
Return the Victim Impact Statement when requested North Carolina uses this process for victims who want qualifying notices and input.
Keep contact information current Notification is harder when telephone or address information has changed.
Register with NC SAVAN for custody notifications The state service can provide qualifying release and custody information.
NC SAVAN statewide notification line: 1-877-NC-SAVAN.
Detention Center visitation

Check the inmate’s housing unit before visiting

Forsyth County visitation days vary by housing unit. Do not rely on a generic “daily visiting hours” result.
Confirm current custody and housing unit Use the official inmate inquiry.
Open the current visitation schedule Check LEDC visitation
Find the inmate’s housing unit in the schedule Each unit has designated visiting days.
Choose an available public visiting period Current public blocks are 9:00–11:30 a.m., 1:00–3:00 p.m. and 5:30–7:30 p.m. on applicable housing-unit days.
Register before the cutoff Visitors must be registered at least 30 minutes before the visiting period ends.
Follow staff identification and security rules Housing or operational conditions can affect access.
Attorney visits are currently permitted seven days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Updated inmate mail system

Do not send ordinary personal mail to the detention-center street address

Forsyth County changed its non-legal inmate mail process effective July 15, 2024. Ordinary personal mail is scanned for tablet delivery. Legal mail follows a different direct-to-facility process.
Confirm the person remains in custody Do this before mailing.
Use the inmate’s exact full name and ID Both are needed for correct routing.
Use Facility ID 5067 for ordinary scanned mail The county’s current mail policy requires the facility identifier.
Include a complete sender name and return address Mail without the required sender information will not be scanned.
Keep each envelope at 10 pages or fewer Pages must be no larger than 8.5 by 11 inches.
Do not send money to the mail-processing center Cash, personal checks and money orders are prohibited there.
Do not send original identity or vital documents Physical personal mail is destroyed after scanning.
Ordinary scanned mail format

Forsyth County Law Enforcement Detention Center NC
Inmate Name, Inmate ID Number
Facility ID Number: 5067
PO Box 18247
Greensboro, NC 27419

Legal / privileged mail

Legal mail only

Inmate’s Full Name
Forsyth County Law Enforcement Detention Center
201 Church Street
Winston-Salem, NC 27101
Legal mail must be marked “Legal Mail” and is opened in the inmate’s presence. Publications must come directly from an approved publisher or distributor.
Calls and commissary

Use the providers currently linked by the Sheriff

Telephone service — Pay Tel

Friends and family can create a prepaid or direct-bill account to receive qualifying inmate calls.

Open Pay Tel

Commissary — McDaniel Supply

Funds can be deposited using the detention-center lobby kiosk or the provider’s online system.

Provider assistance: 912-427-9022

Verify the inmate before funding Match name and inmate identification number.
Use the lobby kiosk for eligible deposits The kiosk accepts cash or credit cards.
Check booking timing for very new inmates Weekend or late-Friday bookings can have delayed commissary-account availability until Monday.
Use approved packages instead of mailing packages yourself The Sheriff states that inmates cannot receive ordinary packages.
Save the transaction confirmation Keep the inmate name, amount and payment reference.
The detention-center public lobby is currently listed as open 8:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m., seven days a week.
Statewide personal record

Request your own North Carolina SBI criminal history for $14

The North Carolina SBI is the state’s central fingerprint-based criminal-history repository. Its personal state-only review is called a Right to Review.
Open SBI Personal Review Open SBI Right to Review
Complete the Right to Review request This is for reviewing your own record for completeness and accuracy.
Obtain fingerprints Use a qualifying law-enforcement fingerprint service.
Prepare the current $14 state-only fee SBI accepts the payment methods specified in its current instructions.
Submit the request and fingerprint card Follow SBI’s current mailing instructions.
Compare Forsyth entries with court dispositions Look for missing dismissals, incorrect charges or mistaken identity.
NCSBI CIIS Customer Service
3320 Garner Road
Raleigh, NC 27626-0500
Phone: 919-582-8660
SBI history is fingerprint based. A certified Forsyth County Clerk search is name based and covers one county. These products are not interchangeable.
Correct inaccurate records

Fix the source record before expecting every database to update

Identify exactly what is wrong Separate police, Sheriff, court and SBI data.
Save the official identifiers Record the incident number, arrest date, inmate ID and criminal case number.
Obtain the final court disposition This can prove a dismissal, acquittal or corrected charge.
Correct a WSPD or FCSO source error with that agency A court clerk generally cannot rewrite a police narrative.
Correct a court-record problem through the Clerk Use the Forsyth case number and the controlling order.
Use SBI’s Written Exception process for an inaccurate SBI record The State Bureau instructs people to first complete Right to Review and then submit the Criminal History Record Written Exception when necessary.
Recheck all connected systems afterward Updates can occur at different times.
Correction is not expunction. Correction fixes information that is factually wrong. Expunction removes or restricts an accurate record when North Carolina law authorizes it.
State prison / probation

Use NCDAC only when the person entered state correctional supervision

Forsyth Sheriff search is for
  • County jail custody.
  • Pretrial detention.
  • Local inmate services.
  • Forsyth detention information.
NCDAC search is for
  • North Carolina state-prison offenders.
  • Probationers.
  • Parolees.
  • Historical NCDAC information back to 1972.
Open NCDAC Offender Public Information Search Open NC offender search
Search by name or offender ID Use the offender number when known.
Check current supervision status Results can cover prison, probation and parole.
Return to the Forsyth court file for legal proof NCDAC is not the custodian of county criminal court records.
NCDAC Offender Search does not include ordinary Forsyth County jail inmates.
North Carolina record clearing

Check whether the Forsyth arrest qualifies for expunction

North Carolina has many separate expunction statutes. A dismissal, acquittal, diversion case and conviction can have completely different rules.
Dismissed charge

G.S. 15A-146 provides relief for many qualifying dismissals.

Not guilty

Qualifying acquittals have a separate expunction pathway under G.S. 15A-146.

Nonviolent conviction

Some misdemeanor and felony convictions can qualify under G.S. 15A-145.5 after statutory conditions are met.

Drug-related relief

Separate statutes can apply to qualifying drug offenses and conditional discharges.

Identity theft / mistaken identity

North Carolina provides specific relief for qualifying identity-theft or mistaken-identification cases.

Pardon of innocence

A separate statute addresses qualifying convictions after a pardon of innocence.

Forsyth filing workflow

Search every Forsyth criminal case first Make a list of all case numbers, charges and dispositions.
Obtain the final result for every count Do not decide eligibility from the original arrest sheet.
Use the current Judicial Branch expunction table It identifies the statute and corresponding court form for each major type of relief. Open NC expunction guide
Select the form matching the exact statute Dismissal, acquittal and conviction petitions use different forms.
File with the Forsyth County Clerk when the charge or conviction occurred here The petition goes to the county where the person was charged or convicted.
Check whether the filing fee applies The general expunction filing fee is currently $175, but some dismissals and not-guilty cases do not carry the fee unless the dismissal resulted from diversion or deferred prosecution.
Ask for indigent filing status when eligible North Carolina provides a process to request waiver of court costs.
Allow time for criminal-history checks and court review The Judicial Branch warns that the process can take several months.
Keep the signed order permanently The Clerk cannot later reproduce an ordinary copy of the expunction order after government files are destroyed.
Recheck WSPD, FCSO, eCourts and SBI afterward Allow agencies time to process the court order.
An expunction does not necessarily erase information from every private website automatically and may not eliminate every federal or immigration consequence.
Legal Aid of North Carolina may assist qualifying people with expunction matters: 1-866-219-5262.
Forsyth contact board

Police, jail and court contacts in Winston-Salem

Winston-Salem Police Records
725 N. Cherry Street
Winston-Salem, NC 27101

336-773-7922

WSPD Non-Emergency

336-773-7700

Police information and non-emergency services.

Forsyth County Sheriff
301 N. Church Street
Winston-Salem, NC 27101

336-917-7001

Law Enforcement Detention Center
201 N. Church Street
Winston-Salem, NC 27101

336-917-7600

Forsyth County Clerk
175 N. Chestnut Street
Winston-Salem, NC 27101

336-779-6300

District Attorney

336-779-6310

Prosecutorial District 31.

Forsyth Public Defender
175 N. Chestnut Street
Winston-Salem, NC 27101

336-779-6325

NCSBI CIIS

919-582-8660

State criminal-history questions.

Forsyth County Courthouse map

Forsyth County Detention Center map

Winston-Salem Police Records map

Forsyth-specific details

Facts that prevent the most common record-search mistakes

WSPD arrest record is free but not certified

Use the Clerk when an official criminal record with court dispositions is required.

The courthouse has moved

Current court business is at 175 N. Chestnut Street, not the older Hall of Justice address still found on some legacy pages.

Police report ownership follows the agency

Jail housing does not transfer a Winston-Salem Police report to the Sheriff’s Records Division.

Forsyth now uses eCourts

Portal provides online public case searching after the county’s July 2025 eCourts conversion.

Formal county background check costs $25

It is certified but covers Forsyth County court records only.

SBI Right to Review costs $14

It is fingerprint based and reviews the subject’s statewide North Carolina criminal history.

Inmate mail is scanned

Ordinary personal mail uses the off-site processing address and Facility ID 5067.

Visitation depends on housing unit

Check the live LEDC schedule instead of assuming one universal visiting day.

Expunction is statute-specific

A dismissal, acquittal and conviction can require completely different eligibility analysis and forms.

Forsyth arrest-record FAQs

Forsyth police and court record questions answered

How do I search Forsyth County North Carolina arrest records?

Start with Winston-Salem Police or Forsyth County Sheriff depending on the arresting agency. Use Sheriff Inmate Inquiry for current custody and eCourts Portal or the Clerk for the court disposition.

How do I get a Winston-Salem Police arrest record?

Submit the City of Winston-Salem’s official Request for Arrest Records form or contact WSPD Records at 336-773-7922.

How much does a WSPD arrest record cost?

Winston-Salem Police currently states that its local arrest record is available without charge. It is not certified and does not contain the court disposition.

How do I find someone currently in Forsyth County Jail?

Use the Forsyth County Sheriff’s official Police-to-Citizen Inmate Inquiry. The detention center is at 201 N. Church Street in Winston-Salem.

How do I search the criminal court case?

Forsyth County uses North Carolina eCourts. Open Portal, search the defendant, verify Forsyth County and review the criminal case’s Register of Actions and disposition.

How much is a certified Forsyth County criminal record search?

The North Carolina Judicial Branch currently lists a $25 fee for a certified name-based criminal record search in one county through the Clerk of Superior Court.

How do I find the final outcome after an arrest?

Use the court case, not the police arrest sheet. Verify every charge for dismissal, plea, conviction, acquittal or another final disposition.

How do I check a Winston-Salem arrest warrant?

WSPD P2C provides warrant information and Forsyth Sheriff P2C provides wanted-person information. Verify any result with law enforcement or the court because status can change.

How do I review my statewide North Carolina criminal history?

Use the SBI fingerprint-based Right to Review process. The current state-only SBI fee is $14.

Can a Forsyth County arrest record be expunged?

Some dismissed charges, not-guilty cases and qualifying convictions can be expunged under North Carolina law. The correct statute and petition depend on the case disposition and complete criminal history.

Accuracy, identity and legal-use notice

Arrest Records is an independent informational guide. It is not the Winston-Salem Police Department, Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office, Forsyth County Clerk of Superior Court, North Carolina Judicial Branch, District Attorney, Public Defender, SBI or Department of Adult Correction.

Arrest, warrant, jail, bond and court information can change. Verify identity using multiple independent official identifiers and obtain the current court disposition before publishing an allegation or drawing a conclusion about a criminal case.

Arrest Records is not a consumer reporting agency and this page is not a consumer report. Do not use this site or its information for employment, housing, tenant screening, credit, insurance or another eligibility decision regulated by the Fair Credit Reporting Act or other applicable law.

Every arrested person is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. Background-check access, expunction eligibility and other legal consequences are fact-specific. This page provides general procedural information and is not legal advice.

Target jurisdiction: Forsyth County, North Carolina / Winston-Salem. Official local and North Carolina procedures reviewed August 16, 2026.

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