Where is the Forsyth County Detention Center?

The Forsyth County Sheriff's Office Law Enforcement Detention Center is located at 201 North Church Street, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27101. The published detention center telephone number is 336-917-7600.

How do I obtain a Forsyth County Sheriff incident report?

The general public may request the front page of a Forsyth County Sheriff incident report in person at the Records Division, 301 North Church Street, Winston-Salem. A full incident report requires a court order signed by a judge. The requester must provide the Sheriff's report number and valid North Carolina identification.

How do I search Forsyth County criminal court cases?

Forsyth County uses North Carolina eCourts. Open Portal Smart Search, filter to Forsyth County and Criminal Actions, then search by case number or defendant name. Use the case summary to review events, hearings and dispositions.

How do I send money to someone in Forsyth County Jail?

The Sheriff's Office currently lists McDaniel Supply Company as the commissary provider. Deposits may be made at the detention center lobby kiosk using cash or credit cards or through the provider's website. The public lobby is open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. daily.

How does bond work after an arrest in Forsyth County NC?

A magistrate or judge sets conditions of pretrial release. North Carolina uses written promises, custody releases, unsecured bonds and secured bonds. A secured bond may be posted with approved security or through an authorized bail bondsman. Bond can be reviewed at a later court hearing.

Forsyth County NC Arrest Records Search | Jail & Court Forsyth County NC Arrest Records Search

Q: How do I search Forsyth County NC arrest records?

Start with the official Forsyth County Sheriff's Office Police-to-Citizen inmate inquiry for current detention information. Confirm the person's identity and save the booking information. Then search North Carolina eCourts Portal for the Forsyth County criminal case to verify the filed charges and disposition.

Q: How much is a certified Forsyth County criminal background check?

North Carolina Judicial Branch currently lists a 25 dollar fee for a certified single-county criminal record search through the Clerk of Superior Court using Form AOC-CR-314.

Q: What are Forsyth County Jail visitation hours?

Published public visitation windows are 9:00 to 11:30 a.m., 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., and 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Visiting days depend on the inmate's housing unit. Visitors must be registered at least 30 minutes before the visitation period ends.

Q: How do I get my own North Carolina criminal history?

Use the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation Right to Review process. It is a fingerprint-based North Carolina criminal history review and currently costs 14 dollars. Money order or certified check are accepted by SBI for this request.

Q: Can a Forsyth County arrest record be expunged?

Some North Carolina arrests, dismissals, not-guilty findings and eligible convictions may qualify for expunction. The petition is filed with the clerk in the county where the charge or conviction occurred, using the form that corresponds to the applicable North Carolina statute.

Forsyth County, North Carolina · Arrests, detention, court cases and record relief

Trace a Forsyth County Arrest From Jail Booking to the Final Court Result

Start with the Sheriff’s detention system, identify the arresting agency, then verify the filed charge and disposition through Forsyth County’s eCourts case record.

This page also covers incident reports, warrants, bond, jail visitation, mail, commissary, calls, public defenders, victim help, NC SBI criminal histories, state prison records and expunction.

Search current inmates Open Sheriff Police-to-Citizen Search Forsyth court cases

FORSYTH RECORD CHECK LIVE ROUTE

SHERIFF INMATE SEARCH LEDC

NC eCOURTS · FORSYTH

DISPOSITION

BOOKING
ID

BOOKING + COURT VERIFIED

Arrest does not mean conviction. A Sheriff booking or arrest entry identifies a law-enforcement event. The prosecutor can change or decline charges, and the court can dismiss a count, enter a not-guilty finding or impose a different final judgment.

Detention Center

201 N. Church St., Winston-Salem.

Jail phone

336-917-7600.

Public visits

Three daily windows; housing unit controls day.

Certified check

$25 single-county Clerk search.

NC SBI review

$14 fingerprint-based Right to Review.

Start with the right source

Five records can exist for one Forsyth County arrest

COUNTY DETENTION Current custody

Shows whether the person is listed in the Forsyth County Law Enforcement Detention Center.

Best first step immediately after an arrest.

ARRESTING AGENCY Incident report

Contains the law-enforcement report created by the Sheriff, Winston-Salem Police, Kernersville Police or another agency.

Request from the agency that initiated the report.

NC eCOURTS Filed criminal case

Shows the case summary, events, hearings and disposition in Forsyth County court.

Use this to verify what happened after booking.

NC SBI State criminal history

A fingerprint-based Right to Review provides your North Carolina criminal history record.

Different from a county jail or court search.

NC ADULT CORRECTION State prison or supervision

Use after a state sentence or transfer to prison, probation or parole supervision.

Does not include county-jail custody.

Official Sheriff lookup

How to search a Forsyth County arrest or jail booking

Open the official Inmate Inquiry Use the Police-to-Citizen system linked directly by the Forsyth County Sheriff. Open Forsyth County Inmate Inquiry

Start with the surname Search the most accurate legal spelling you know.

Try alternate names if necessary Check middle-name variations, suffixes, maiden names and known aliases.

Open every plausible match Do not assume a matching name identifies the correct person.

Save the booking information Record the inmate or booking identifier, arrest date, charge information and current status shown.

Identify the arresting agency This determines where the incident or arrest report should be requested.

Check every charge One person can have multiple counts, warrants or cases.

Continue to eCourts Portal Verify which charges actually became a Forsyth County criminal case. Search North Carolina eCourts Portal

Current custody versus historical arrest: a current inmate inquiry is strongest for present detention. For an older arrest, combine the Sheriff Police-to-Citizen system, the arresting agency’s records and the Forsyth County court case.

Result decoder

What the arrest and jail fields actually mean

Do not confuse jail data with the final criminal disposition
Field	Meaning	Does not prove	Next step
Booking / inmate ID	Identifier for the custody record.	Final court result.	Save it for jail and records questions.
Arrest date	Date associated with law-enforcement custody.	Date the alleged offense occurred.	Compare with incident report.
Arresting agency	Department responsible for the arrest.	Sheriff wrote the police report.	Request report from named agency.
Charge	Allegation entered during arrest or booking.	Prosecutor filed identical charge.	Read eCourts case summary.
Bond	Release condition ordered by judicial official.	One payment clears all holds.	Confirm every active case and hold.
Release	Displayed jail custody ended.	Case dismissed.	Check court disposition.
Housing unit	Current detention assignment.	Housing will remain unchanged.	Use it to determine visitation day.
Mugshot	Booking photograph when publicly displayed.	Guilt or identity by itself.	Match official identifiers.

Identity check

Confirm the right person before using the arrest record

First and last name match

Middle name, suffix or alias is consistent

Date of birth or age is consistent

Arrest date matches the known event

Arresting agency matches the location

Booking ID matches another official source

Forsyth court case follows the same incident

Charge chronology is logically consistent

Do not rely on a name or mugshot alone. Common names and aliases can produce false matches. Confirm at least two independent identifiers.

No-result troubleshooting

Why a Forsyth County arrest may not appear

Booking is still processing A new arrestee can be undergoing identification, medical screening and intake.

The person was released quickly Search Police-to-Citizen and the court case rather than only current custody.

Another spelling was used Try surname-only searches and aliases.

Another county has the person Search where the person was actually booked.

Another agency made the arrest Winston-Salem Police, Kernersville Police, State Highway Patrol or another agency may hold the incident record.

No jail booking occurred A citation or other release process can produce a court case without continued detention.

Person transferred to state custody Use NC Department of Adult Correction after a qualifying sentence or transfer.

Record is restricted Juvenile and expunged records generally are not handled like ordinary public adult records.

Custody-verification call script

I am trying to confirm the custody status of [full legal name], date of birth [date]. The arrest may have occurred on [date] through [agency]. Can you confirm whether the person is currently being processed, held at the Forsyth County Law Enforcement Detention Center, released or transferred?

Arrest-to-disposition

Follow a Forsyth County case from arrest to final result

Investigation Sheriff, police or another law-enforcement agency creates the incident record.

Arrest and booking The Detention Center processes identity, property, charges and custody.

Initial appearance A magistrate or judge addresses pretrial release conditions.

First appearance Rights and bond may be reviewed by the court.

Prosecutor review The District Attorney determines the charges that proceed.

District or Superior Court Misdemeanors are generally tried in District Court; felonies proceed through Superior Court after applicable procedures.

Disposition A count can end through dismissal, acquittal, plea, conviction or another order.

Record correction or expunction Incorrect information can be challenged; qualifying records may later be expunged.

Who owns the record?

Request the document from the agency that created it

Forsyth detention, police and court records are separate
Need	Correct office	Useful identifier	Common mistake
Current custody	Forsyth County Sheriff / LEDC	Name and booking information	Calling Clerk for housing status
Sheriff incident report	FCSO Records Division	Sheriff report number	Requesting full report without court order
Winston-Salem Police report	Winston-Salem Police Department	WSPD report number	Requesting from Sheriff because Sheriff houses inmate
Highway Patrol report	NC State Highway Patrol	Trooper/report information	Using county report process
Filed charges / disposition	Forsyth County Clerk of Superior Court	Court case number	Treating booking charge as conviction

Sheriff incident reports

Request a Forsyth County Sheriff incident report correctly

Important local restriction: the Sheriff states that the general public may request the front page of an incident report. A full incident report requires a court order signed by a judge. Suspects or offenders are not issued report copies without court authorization.

Confirm FCSO initiated the report Reports must be obtained from the agency that initiated them.

Get the report number The Sheriff requires the report number issued by the initiating law-enforcement officer.

Go to the Records Division Records is on the second floor at 301 N. Church Street, Winston-Salem.

Use the public window Complete the written request at the Sheriff’s Office public window.

Bring qualifying identification The published procedure specifies a current North Carolina Driver License or North Carolina State Identification Card.

Request the front page This is the portion the Sheriff publishes as available to the general public without a court order.

For the complete report, obtain judicial authorization A full incident report requires a court order signed by a judge under the Sheriff’s procedure.

Arrive before 4 p.m. if same-day processing matters Requests made after 4:00 p.m. are processed the next business day.

Forsyth County Sheriff Records Division
301 N. Church Street, 2nd Floor
Winston-Salem, NC 27101
Monday–Friday, excluding holidays: 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Sheriff main: 336-917-7001

Juvenile report request: the Sheriff states that a juvenile-related request may be made only by a parent or legal guardian, who must provide a copy of the birth certificate.

Open current Sheriff report instructions

NC eCourts Portal

Search the Forsyth County criminal case and final disposition

Forsyth County joined North Carolina eCourts in July 2025. North Carolina now uses the Enterprise Justice electronic case-management system statewide.

Open eCourts Portal Public registration is not required to search ordinary public case information. Open NC eCourts Portal

Select Smart Search Smart Search provides the detailed Case Summary / Register of Actions.

Search the case number first A case number is more precise than a common-name search.

Otherwise search the defendant name Portal supports partial-name searches using wildcard search rules.

Open Advanced Filtering Options Choose Forsyth as the location and filter to Criminal Actions.

Match the correct defendant Compare DOB when publicly available, case date, arrest timeline and charge.

Read Case Events Follow the chronology rather than relying only on a single status label.

Read Dispositions Check the outcome of each count separately.

Check Hearings Confirm the next date, courtroom and hearing status.

Use NC Judgment Search when needed Judgment Search can supplement Smart Search, but Smart Search should be used for the complete case summary.

Portal is useful for case research, but NC Judicial Branch says background checks should be performed through the Clerk’s Office rather than treating Portal as a formal background-check product.

Forsyth County Courthouse
175 N. Chestnut Street
Winston-Salem, NC 27101
Clerk of Superior Court: 336-779-6300
District Attorney: 336-779-6310
Clerk Office published opening: 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Certified county history

Get a certified Forsyth County criminal record search

Certified single-county search

Request from Forsyth County Clerk of Superior Court.
Uses Form AOC-CR-314.
Current fee: $25.
Checks Forsyth County court records only.
Can be requested for yourself or another person.

Free courthouse self-service search

Use public access computers at a courthouse.
Can search yourself or another person.
Search can be statewide.
No search fee.
Printing fees may apply.
Result is not certified.

Download AOC-CR-314 Use the current NC Judicial Branch criminal-background-check instructions. Open official background-check instructions

Complete the legal name carefully A name-based county search can be affected by spelling and common names.

Submit to Forsyth Clerk Mail or take the form to the Forsyth County Courthouse.

Pay the $25 fee Mail accepts money order or certified check; personal checks are not accepted.

For in-person payment Forsyth publishes cash, credit/debit card, money order and certified check as accepted courthouse payment methods, subject to applicable restrictions and processing fees.

Warrant verification

Check a Forsyth County warrant without relying on a stale result

Start with Sheriff Police-to-Citizen The Sheriff uses its Police-to-Citizen system for public law-enforcement information. Open Forsyth Sheriff P2C

Search the related criminal case Use eCourts Smart Search and inspect warrant-related events.

Read entries chronologically A warrant can later be served, recalled or otherwise resolved.

Confirm current status Contact the Forsyth County Sheriff or Clerk when current legal status matters.

Use counsel if the warrant concerns you A lawyer can explain appearance, surrender and bond options.

Do not confront or attempt to detain another person. A similar name or outdated warrant event can create a dangerous mistake.

Payment warning: independently contact the court or Sheriff before paying an unexpected warrant demand. Do not rely on an unsolicited payment link, gift-card demand or cryptocurrency request.

North Carolina pretrial release

Understand bond before paying a bondsman

Written promise

No advance money. Defendant promises in writing to appear.

Custody release

Release to a person or organization agreeing to supervise the defendant.

Unsecured bond

Money is promised but is not paid in advance for release.

Secured bond

Money or approved security must be provided before release.

Confirm the defendant Have the legal name, booking information and court case number.

Check every active case One bond may not resolve another warrant or detainer.

Confirm the release order Bond can be set after arrest and reviewed again at court hearings.

Ask the jail or magistrate how the bond must be posted North Carolina Judicial Branch states that local posting procedures vary by county.

If using a private surety, understand the risk A family member or other surety can become responsible for the bond amount.

If using a bondsman, verify authorization North Carolina maintains a current county-by-county authorized bondsman list. Find an authorized Forsyth County bondsman

Get the premium and collateral terms in writing A professional bondsman’s premium generally is the fee for the service and normally is not returned when the case ends.

Keep all paperwork Save receipts, bond documents, collateral agreements and the next court date.

Domestic-violence arrests: North Carolina does not impose an automatic mandatory 48-hour jail hold. For certain qualifying domestic-violence charges, only a judge may set release conditions during the first 48 hours. If the judge has not acted within that period, a magistrate may then set conditions.

Bond call script

I am calling about [full legal name], booking or case number [number]. Please confirm the current release condition for every active charge, whether any outside hold exists, and the exact method required to post a secured bond.

Defense representation

How to get a public defender in Forsyth County

Forsyth County is Judicial District 31. The current NC Judicial directory identifies Paul James as the Forsyth County Public Defender.

Person is still in jail

Confirm the first court appearance.
Tell the court that appointed counsel is requested.
Complete required indigency information.
Confirm which lawyer was appointed.
Do not discuss defense strategy on ordinary jail calls.

Person is already released

Check the next court date in Portal.
Contact the Forsyth courthouse.
Ask for the Forsyth Public Defender Office / appointed-counsel procedure.
Complete any required financial affidavit.
Confirm representation before the next hearing.

Forsyth County Courthouse
175 N. Chestnut Street
Winston-Salem, NC 27101
Main / Clerk: 336-779-6300

Review NC appointed-counsel guidance

Victim advocate

Get case updates, safety planning and victim support

Report the offense Forsyth Sheriff directs non-emergency crime reports to Communications at 336-727-2112. Call 911 for an emergency.

Contact the Sheriff Victim Services Coordinator The coordinator can provide rights information, safety planning, crisis intervention, referrals and case-status assistance. Open Forsyth Sheriff Victim Services

Keep the Sheriff report number It helps connect the victim advocate to the correct incident.

After charges are filed, contact the District Attorney Forsyth County District Attorney: 336-779-6310.

Register for NC SAVAN SAVAN provides custody and notification services. Open NC SAVAN information

Forsyth County Sheriff Victim Services Coordinator
Michael F. Weaks
Office: 336-917-7167
Email: weaksmf@fcso.us

Forsyth Sheriff states that the coordinator assists with crimes including homicide cases, sexual assault, child abuse, domestic violence, stalking, human trafficking, felony assault and identity fraud.

Jail visitation

Forsyth County Jail visitation schedule by housing unit

Visiting days depend on the inmate’s housing unit. Check the current inmate record and facility schedule before traveling.

Published public visitation days
Housing unit	Published visiting days	Visiting-hour windows
2A, 2B	Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday	9–11:30 a.m.; 1–3 p.m.; 5:30–7:30 p.m.
2C	Monday, Wednesday, Saturday	Same public windows
2D	Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday	Same public windows
4A, 4C	Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday	Same public windows
4B, 4D	Monday, Wednesday, Saturday	Same public windows
6A, 6C	Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday	Same public windows
6B, 6D	Monday, Wednesday, Saturday	Same public windows
8A	Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday	Same public windows
8B	Monday, Wednesday, Saturday	Same public windows
8C	Sunday	Same public windows
8D	Tuesday	Same public windows
8E	Thursday	Same public windows
8F	Sunday, Saturday	Same public windows
10A, 10C	Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday	Same public windows
10B, 10D	Monday, Wednesday, Saturday	Same public windows

Public visitation windows: 9:00–11:30 a.m. · 1:00–3:00 p.m. · 5:30–7:30 p.m.

Registration cutoff: visitors must be registered at least 30 minutes before the visitation period ends.

Attorney visitation
Seven days a week
8:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m.

Check current visitation schedule before traveling

Facility rules

Avoid losing a Forsyth County jail visit

Confirm the inmate’s current housing unit first

Use only the day assigned to that housing unit

Confirm the inmate has not been transferred or released

Follow staff screening and security directions

Leave prohibited property outside the secure visitation area

Do not bring tobacco or vapor products to an inmate

Do not provide a mobile phone or wireless device to an inmate

The Sheriff visitation materials identify the facility as cell-phone free. North Carolina law makes providing an inmate a mobile phone or wireless communications device a felony offense.

Housing, security status, lockdowns and facility operations can affect visitation. Call 336-917-7600 before a long trip.

Money and commissary

Deposit money without sending it to the wrong provider

Forsyth County Sheriff currently identifies McDaniel Supply Company as the Law Enforcement Detention Center commissary provider.

Lobby kiosk

Located in the detention center Records lobby.
Accepts cash or credit cards.
Deposit availability depends on when the inmate was booked.
Public lobby hours: 8:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. daily.

Online / package purchase

Use the provider linked from the Sheriff commissary page.
Deposit into the inmate account.
Friends and family may purchase available packages.
Packages are delivered according to the provider’s scheduled delivery process.

When a kiosk deposit becomes available

Booking time can affect deposit activation
Booking timing	Published deposit rule
Monday–Friday before 3:30 p.m.	Deposits may be made Sunday through Saturday using the Records-lobby kiosk.
Friday after 3:30 p.m.	Public deposit access begins after 11:00 a.m. Monday.
Saturday or Sunday booking	Public deposit access begins after 11:00 a.m. Monday.
Monday before 10:30 a.m.	Public deposit access begins after 11:00 a.m. Monday.

Commissary-provider help: 912-427-9022

Open official commissary instructions

The Sheriff FAQ states that inmates are not allowed to receive ordinary packages. Use the authorized commissary/package channel rather than mailing a package directly.

Inmate telephone service

Set up Forsyth County Jail telephone calls

Forsyth County Sheriff currently identifies Pay Tel Communications as the inmate telephone service provider.

Confirm the inmate is still at Forsyth LEDC Do not fund an account after transfer or release.

Open the Sheriff telephone-service page Use the provider information linked by the facility. Open official inmate telephone information

Create the appropriate account Pay Tel offers prepaid and direct-bill account options where available.

Use the receiving phone number accurately The account must be connected to the number receiving calls.

Review current provider fees before funding Account options and charges can change.

Do not discuss defense strategy Ordinary inmate communications should not be treated as confidential attorney-client conversations.

Jail mail

Confirm the current Forsyth mail route before sending documents

The Detention Center publishes a separate scanned-mail policy notice. Mail-processing addresses and document rules can change, so use the Sheriff’s current LEDC page before mailing personal correspondence.

Confirm current custody Make sure the person is still held at the Forsyth County Law Enforcement Detention Center.

Save the inmate identifier Use the exact booking/inmate information from Police-to-Citizen.

Open the Sheriff LEDC page Select the current Detention Center Mail Notice. Open the official LEDC page

Use the address in the current mail notice Do not copy an old address from a private jail directory.

Separate legal mail when required Attorney and official legal correspondence may follow rules different from ordinary personal mail.

Do not mail prohibited packages The Sheriff states that inmates may not receive ordinary packages.

Safety / PREA

Report sexual assault or abuse involving a detainee

The Forsyth County Law Enforcement Detention Center states that it has zero tolerance for sexual assault and sexual abuse.

Family or friends who receive a report of sexual assault or abuse from a loved one in the facility may contact:

Family Services of Forsyth County
336-722-4457

Release notifications

Use NC SAVAN for custody-change alerts

NC SAVAN connects to North Carolina county jails and state Adult Correction systems and provides free offender-status information and notifications.

Identify the correct person Have the inmate name and available identifying information.

Call NC SAVAN Use 1-877-627-2826.

Check custody status The service operates 24 hours a day.

Register for notification Available notices can include custody changes such as release, escape or capture.

Re-register after transfer when necessary NC SAVAN states that a transfer between county facilities may require re-registration for continued notifications.

SAVAN does not track people being held only at a police precinct and may not track someone who bonds out at the magistrate level without ever being booked into jail.

NC state custody

Use NC Adult Correction after a prison or supervision transfer

NC DAC search includes

State prison offenders
Probationers
Parolees
Historical offender information back to 1972
Release and absconder tools

NC DAC does not include

Current Forsyth County jail records
Every local arrest
The officer’s incident report
The complete Forsyth court file

Open NC Adult Correction offender search

Your NC criminal history

Use SBI Right to Review for a fingerprint-based state record

The NC SBI does not offer the general public a statewide name search for another person’s full SBI criminal-history file. For another person, the SBI directs the public to court records and county Clerk searches.

Your NC Right to Review

Fingerprint-based
North Carolina state record
Response letter on SBI letterhead
Current SBI fee: $14

Another person

Use Clerk of Superior Court records
$25 certified single-county search
Free non-certified courthouse self-service option
Use multiple counties when necessary

Open SBI Personal Review Download the current Right to Review instructions and application. Open SBI Right to Review

Obtain the required fingerprints Follow the current SBI application instructions for the fingerprint card.

Complete the form accurately Use the same identifying information associated with your fingerprint submission.

Prepare the $14 payment SBI accepts money order or certified check for this request.

Do not send cash, credit-card information or a personal check These are not accepted for the Right to Review request.

Review every arrest and disposition Compare the SBI record with the Forsyth County court case.

NC SBI Criminal Information and Identification
3320 Garner Road
Raleigh, NC 27626-0500
Customer Service: 919-582-8660
Email: CIIShelp@ncsbi.gov

Fix an incorrect record

Correct the original source before disputing downstream databases

Identify exactly what is wrong Wrong identity, charge, arrest date, disposition or duplicate case require different proof.

Identify which system contains the error Check Sheriff/P2C, the arresting agency, eCourts and SBI separately.

Save the disputed entry Record the case number, report number, booking number and date viewed.

Obtain the controlling document Use a corrected police report, court judgment, dismissal or certified disposition.

Correct the originating source Court errors should be addressed through the Clerk/court process; law-enforcement errors through the contributing agency.

For SBI errors, first complete Right to Review SBI requires the personal-review process before the written exception procedure.

Submit the Written Exception Form Attach evidence explaining why the SBI entry is inaccurate or incomplete.

Recheck all public systems One correction does not guarantee immediate updates everywhere.

NCSBI – CIIS
Attn: NICS/CCH Unit Supervisor
3320 Garner Road
P.O. Box 29500
Raleigh, NC 27626-0500

Correction versus expunction: correction fixes inaccurate information. Expunction addresses an accurate arrest, charge or conviction that qualifies for legal removal under a North Carolina statute.

NC record relief

Choose the correct Forsyth County expunction form

North Carolina has multiple expunction statutes. Using the wrong petition can delay the case or cause rejection. Start with the exact disposition and statute.

Dismissed charge

AOC-CR-287
G.S. 15A-146(a) or 15A-146(a1).

Not guilty / not responsible

AOC-CR-288
G.S. 15A-146(a2).

Eligible nonviolent felony

AOC-CR-297
G.S. 15A-145.5.

Eligible nonviolent misdemeanor

AOC-CR-298
G.S. 15A-145.5.

Identity theft / mistaken identity

North Carolina provides separate forms under G.S. 15A-147.

Juvenile record

Uses separate juvenile-expunction procedures and forms.

Obtain every Forsyth case number Use eCourts Smart Search and the Clerk.

Confirm every disposition Do not file from memory or from the original jail charge.

Consider getting your SBI Right to Review SBI recommends this as a useful step before preparing an expunction petition.

Open the current NC expunction instructions Match the correct statute to the case outcome. Open NC Judicial expunction guide

Download the exact current petition Use the statewide form search rather than an old form copied from another website. Open current expunction forms

Complete all docket numbers, charges and dispositions SBI warns that incomplete information can delay processing.

File in Forsyth County when the Forsyth charge or conviction is the subject NC Judicial states that an expunction petition is filed with the clerk in the county where the person was charged or convicted.

Follow the form-specific criminal-history check and affidavit requirements Requirements differ by statute.

Attend a hearing if the court schedules one Some expunction routes require more judicial review than others.

Keep the signed expunction order SBI does not send a separate completion notice after every expunction order is processed.

Recheck government databases after processing SBI states that processing an expunction order takes time.

An expunction removes or restricts state government criminal records according to North Carolina law, but SBI warns that private websites may still retain information they obtained before the expunction.

Forsyth County Clerk of Superior Court
175 N. Chestnut Street
Winston-Salem, NC 27101
336-779-6300

Contacts and maps

Forsyth County arrest, jail and court contact board

Law Enforcement Detention Center

201 N. Church Street
Winston-Salem, NC 27101

336-917-7600

Forsyth County Sheriff Administration

301 N. Church Street
Winston-Salem, NC 27101

336-917-7001

Sheriff Communications

336-727-2112

Non-emergency crime reporting / assistance.

Forsyth County Courthouse

175 N. Chestnut Street
Winston-Salem, NC 27101

336-779-6300

District Attorney

336-779-6310

District Court Judges

336-779-6318

Sheriff Victim Services

336-917-7167

weaksmf@fcso.us

NC SBI Criminal History

919-582-8660

CIIShelp@ncsbi.gov

NC SAVAN

1-877-627-2826

24-hour automated custody information and notification.

Forsyth Jail & Prison Ministries

336-759-0063

chaplain@forsythjpm.org

Forsyth County Law Enforcement Detention Center map

Forsyth County Courthouse map

Before traveling: recheck current custody, housing unit, visitation day, courthouse location, office hours and whether the record or service requires identification or a court order.

Fast answer board

What to do next in the most common Forsyth County situations

Choose the shortest official path
Problem	Start here	Then do this
Arrest happened today	Sheriff Inmate Inquiry	Call LEDC if booking is not visible yet
Need the officer narrative	Identify arresting agency	Request incident/arrest report from that agency
Need final charge	NC eCourts Smart Search	Read case events and dispositions
Need certified county history	Forsyth Clerk	AOC-CR-314 + $25 fee
Need personal statewide NC history	SBI Right to Review	Fingerprints + $14 request
Need to post bond	Confirm release order	Ask jail/magistrate for posting method
Need visitation	Find housing unit	Use assigned visitation day and arrive before cutoff
Need victim release alerts	NC SAVAN	Register using correct offender record
Record is wrong	Obtain controlling court/police proof	Correct source; use SBI exception process if needed
Want record removed	Get final disposition	Choose correct NC expunction statute/form

Title-related FAQs

Forsyth County NC arrest-record questions answered

How do I search Forsyth County NC arrest records?

Start with the official Sheriff Police-to-Citizen Inmate Inquiry. Save the booking information and then search the related Forsyth County criminal case in NC eCourts Portal.

Where is Forsyth County Jail?

The Law Enforcement Detention Center is at 201 N. Church Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27101. The published phone number is 336-917-7600.

How do I get a Forsyth County Sheriff incident report?

Go to the Sheriff Records Division at 301 N. Church Street with the report number and qualifying ID. The public may request the front page; a complete incident report requires a judge-signed court order.

How do I search Forsyth County court records?

Open NC eCourts Portal, choose Smart Search, filter the location to Forsyth County and select Criminal Actions. Search by case number when possible.

How much is a certified Forsyth County criminal background check?

The current NC Judicial Branch fee is $25 for a certified single-county record search through the Clerk using AOC-CR-314.

What are the jail visiting hours?

Public visitation windows are 9:00–11:30 a.m., 1:00–3:00 p.m. and 5:30–7:30 p.m. The allowed days depend on the inmate’s housing unit.

How late can I register for a visit?

The Sheriff states that visitors must be registered at least 30 minutes before the visitation period ends.

How do I put money on a Forsyth County inmate account?

Use the detention center lobby kiosk or the commissary provider linked from the Sheriff’s official commissary page. McDaniel Supply Company is currently identified as the provider.

How do I get my own North Carolina criminal history?

Submit the SBI Right to Review fingerprint-based request. The current SBI fee is $14.

Can a Forsyth County arrest record be expunged?

Some arrests, dismissals, not-guilty findings and eligible convictions qualify. File the correct statutory petition with the clerk in the county where the charge or conviction occurred.

Accuracy, identity and legal-use notice

Arrest Records is an independent informational guide. It is not the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office, Law Enforcement Detention Center, North Carolina Judicial Branch, District Attorney, Public Defender, State Bureau of Investigation or a law firm.

Custody, housing, court events, warrants, release conditions, providers and schedules can change. Verify the person using multiple identifiers and confirm fast-changing information through the responsible official agency before acting.

Every arrested person is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. A jail booking, arrest report or mugshot alone does not establish criminal guilt.

Official Forsyth County and North Carolina procedures reviewed August 15, 2026.