NC Arrest Records – Jail Roster & Inmate Search
North Carolina · County jail bookings, eCourts cases, SBI history and state-prison custody
Find the County Booking First—Then Verify the North Carolina Court Outcome
North Carolina does not have one public website containing every sheriff, police department, jail and arrest record. This guide shows where to search, what each result means, how to locate the final court disposition and what to do about bond, reports, visits, prison transfers, record errors and expunction.
NC RECORD ROUTER
COUNTY → COURT
COUNTY JAIL SEARCH
LIVE
BOOKING
REPORT
COURT
NC eCOURTS FILE
OUTCOME FOUND
IDENTITY + DISPOSITION VERIFIED
Arrest does not mean conviction. A booking charge shows what was entered during arrest or intake. The prosecutor may change or dismiss it, and the final result can be not guilty, deferred, dismissed, reduced or convicted.
Important 2026 update: All 100 North Carolina counties now use the statewide eCourts Enterprise Justice system. The public can search Portal case information online, but the Judicial Branch says formal background checks should be completed through a Clerk of Superior Court rather than relying only on Portal.
100 county jailsStart with the sheriff in the booking county.
eCourts statewideAll counties completed conversion in October 2025.
Certified check$25 for a single-county Clerk search.
SBI personal review$14 fingerprint-based North Carolina check.
DAC coverageState custody and supervision records back to 1972.
Choose the North Carolina record that answers your question
COUNTY JAIL
Is the person locally detained?Booking date, arresting agency, mugshot, charges, bond, jail ID, housing and release.
Best first step after a recent arrest.
ARRESTING AGENCY
What did officers say happened?Incident report, arrest report, probable-cause facts and releasable investigative material.
The booking jail may not own this report.
eCOURTS / CLERK
What happened to the charges?Case number, hearings, filed offenses, warrant events, dismissal, plea, judgment and sentence.
The court file controls the final disposition.
SBI / GCIC
What appears in the state history?Fingerprint-supported North Carolina criminal-history information for personal review.
Use fingerprints when identity accuracy matters.
NC ADULT CORRECTION
Did the person enter state custody?Prison, probation, parole, post-release supervision and historical state records.
Does not replace a county-jail search.
Search a recent North Carolina jail booking
Identify the county where the person was booked
Search where the person entered detention—not only where the person lives.
Open the statewide sheriff directory
Select the county to find the current sheriff and official contact information.
Find a North Carolina sheriff
Open the official sheriff or county website
Look for Inmate Search, Detention, Jail Roster, Arrest Inquiry, Police to Citizen or Recent Arrests.
Search the last name first
Add the first name, booking date or age only when needed.
Include released or historical records
Some portals default to current inmates and omit people who bonded out.
Open every plausible result
Similar names can belong to unrelated people.
Save every identifier
Record the booking number, jail ID, inmate ID, arrest number or MNI number.
Record the arresting agency
The detailed police report may belong to a city police department, sheriff, campus police or State Highway Patrol.
Record every court case number
A single booking can involve several files, warrants or counties.
Recheck custody before paying or traveling
Housing, bond, release and transfer information can change rapidly.
North Carolina Sheriffs’ Association
Provides contact information for all 100 county sheriffs.
Phone: 919-743-7433
Examples of major North Carolina county booking searches
| County | Official starting point | Useful detail | What to do next |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mecklenburg | Resident and arrest inquiry | Includes resident information, mugshots and arrest inquiries. | Use the court case number in statewide eCourts. |
| Guilford | Sheriff inmate search and recent arrests | Links to two detention centers, inmate search, recent arrests and jail services. | Confirm whether the case is in District or Superior Court. |
| Durham | Durham inmate population search | Shows confinement, release, charge, bond and court-docket information. | Open the displayed case number in eCourts. |
| Any other county | Statewide sheriff directory | Finds the sheriff and contact information for all counties. | Look for Detention, Inmate Search, P2C or Arrest Inquiry. |
City and county records are different. A Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro, Durham or Fayetteville police arrest can create a city-police report but a separate county-jail booking.
Understand the fields in a North Carolina arrest result
| Field | What it identifies | What it does not prove | Next action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Booking number | A specific local detention intake. | The final court result. | Use it for custody, mail, visit and deposit questions. |
| Inmate or MNI number | A person identifier inside that county system. | Statewide identity by itself. | Match it with birth date and booking date. |
| Date confined | When the person entered county custody. | When the alleged offense happened. | Compare it with the incident and case-filing dates. |
| Arresting agency | The department responsible for the arrest. | The sheriff created the incident report. | Request the report from this agency. |
| Charge description | An allegation associated with the booking. | The prosecutor’s final charge. | Read the eCourts case summary and filed charging document. |
| Court docket number | A court case connected to the charge. | Every charge uses the same case. | Search every displayed number separately. |
| Bond type | Written promise, custody release, unsecured or secured release condition. | The person has no other holds. | Confirm all charges with the jail or magistrate. |
| Bond amount | The financial security associated with a charge. | Payment guarantees immediate release. | Check warrants, detainers and release conditions. |
| Date released | When that county custody episode ended. | The case was dismissed. | Find the final court disposition. |
| Mugshot | A photograph connected to the booking process. | Guilt or identity by appearance alone. | Match official identifiers and the court case. |
Verify the person before using or sharing the arrest record
Full legal name matches
Middle name, suffix or alias is consistent
Date of birth or age matches
Booking date fits the known event
Arresting agency matches the location
Booking, jail or MNI number matches
Court case follows the same arrest
Charge and disposition timeline is consistent
Use two or more identifiers. A matching name or photograph is not enough for employment, housing, financial, safety or publication decisions.
No North Carolina inmate or arrest result found?
Booking is still underway
Fingerprints, medical screening and record entry can delay publication.
The wrong county was searched
Search where the person entered detention rather than the person’s home county.
The person remains in a city holding facility
Transfer to the county detention center may not be complete.
The person received a criminal summons
A summons creates a court case without a jail booking.
The person was cited and released
Not every charge produces a detention record.
Released records were excluded
Select released, historical, all inmates or a wider date range.
The name is indexed differently
Try an alias, maiden name, suffix, hyphen or partial spelling.
The person transferred
Check another county, NCDAC, federal custody or an out-of-state system.
The case exists without an online jail result
Search eCourts using the name or known case number.
The record was expunged or restricted
Juvenile, confidential and expunged information may not be publicly available.
Missing-booking call script
I am trying to confirm the custody or booking status of [full legal name], date of birth [date]. The arrest may have occurred on [date] through [agency] in [county or city]. Can you confirm whether the person is being processed, released, transferred or listed under another booking or inmate number?
What happens after a North Carolina arrest?
Investigation and arrest
The law-enforcement agency creates the incident, arrest and probable-cause records.
County booking
Jail staff verify identity, take fingerprints and enter charges, bonds, warrants and holds.
Initial appearance
A magistrate or judicial official sets conditions of pretrial release.
First appearance
Bond is reviewed and the defendant is advised of rights.
Probable-cause stage
Felony cases can proceed to a probable-cause hearing and possible grand-jury indictment.
District Attorney review
The prosecutor can continue, change, reduce or dismiss charges.
District or Superior Court
Misdemeanors are generally tried in District Court; felonies are presented in Superior Court.
Disposition and sentencing
The case can end through dismissal, deferral, plea, trial, not-guilty verdict or conviction.
State custody or supervision
A sentence can create NCDAC prison, probation, parole or post-release records.
Correction or expunction
Incorrect information can be challenged, and qualifying cases can be removed through an expunction order.
Request the arrest report from the correct agency
| Record needed | Correct starting office | Information to provide | Avoid this mistake |
|---|---|---|---|
| County booking record | County sheriff or detention center | Name, birth date, booking and inmate numbers. | Asking the Clerk to confirm housing. |
| Sheriff arrest report | Arresting county sheriff | Report number, date, location and involved name. | Requesting the narrative from detention staff. |
| City police report | Arresting municipal police department | Agency case number, date and address. | Assuming the sheriff owns every city report. |
| Highway Patrol report | North Carolina State Highway Patrol | Collision, citation, troop and incident identifiers. | Sending a state-agency request to the county. |
| Filed charge and disposition | Clerk of Superior Court in the filing county | Court case number and exact document name. | Treating the police report as the final outcome. |
Read the arresting-agency field
The county booking jail may not have investigated the incident.
Name the exact record
Request the arrest report, incident report, probable-cause facts and specifically identified supplements.
Add narrow identifiers
Include the legal name, date, address, agency case number, booking number and court file number.
Request electronic production
This may reduce paper, postage and staff time.
Set a cost ceiling
Ask for approval before processing exceeds a stated amount.
Ask for publicly releasable portions
A complete investigative file may not be open even when basic arrest information is public.
Copy-ready public-record request
I request an electronic copy of the publicly releasable arrest report, incident report, probable-cause information and specifically identified supplements concerning [full legal name], date of birth [date], for the event on or about [date] at [location]. Known identifiers include agency report number [number], county booking number [number] and court case number [number]. Please provide a written estimate before processing if the cost will exceed $[amount], and identify the legal basis for material withheld.
Understand what an agency may release or withhold
Commonly available basic information
- Time, date and location of the reported incident.
- Nature of the reported violation.
- Basic identifying information about an arrested or charged person.
- Alleged violation and circumstances surrounding the arrest.
- Booking, bond and custody information maintained by the jail.
Information that can be restricted
- Active investigative details.
- Confidential informant or intelligence information.
- Juvenile information.
- Victim, witness, medical or protected personal details.
- Evidence whose release could interfere with an investigation or trial.
A public-record request asks for existing records. The agency generally does not have to create a new explanation, summary or custom background report.
Search the filed criminal case and final disposition
Open North Carolina eCourts
Select Portal from the statewide eCourts services page.
Open North Carolina eCourts
Use the case number first
Enterprise Justice case numbers contain the year, case type, sequence and county identifier.
Otherwise use Smart Search
Search the defendant name and narrow by county, case status or filing date.
Use wildcard searches carefully
Portal supports partial-name and partial-case-number searches using an asterisk.
Match the booking event
Compare arrest date, county, charge and arresting agency.
Read the Register of Actions
Follow hearings, warrant entries, continuances, bond changes and filings in chronological order.
Find the charging document
Locate the citation, criminal summons, warrant, information or indictment when publicly available.
Find the disposition for every count
One count can be dismissed while another produces a plea or conviction.
Confirm the judgment and sentence
Check active time, suspended sentence, probation, fines, restitution and special conditions.
Contact the county Clerk for the complete file
Portal is not a substitute for a formal background check or certified record.
Case-number example
21CR000003-910
“CR” indicates a criminal case; “IF” generally indicates an infraction-only case.
Choose free court research, certified county proof or SBI review
| Option | Scope | Published charge | Best use |
|---|---|---|---|
| eCourts Portal | Online case-information research | Free public search | Locating cases, hearings and case summaries. |
| Courthouse public terminal | Non-certified county or statewide court-record search | No search fee; printing may cost extra | Free research when a certified result is unnecessary. |
| Clerk certified search | One county | $25 | Official name-based county criminal-record search. |
| SBI Right to Review | Your fingerprint-supported North Carolina history | $14 | Reviewing and correcting your own state record. |
| NCAOC RPA Cloud | Real-time statewide court data for licensed users | $495 connection fee plus access charges | Businesses and organizations needing recurring professional access. |
A name-based search can associate the wrong person with a record. Fingerprints provide stronger identity confirmation.
Order a certified single-county criminal-record search
Identify the county to be searched
A certified Clerk search covers one county, not the entire state.
Download Form AOC-CR-314
Complete the Criminal Record Search form.
Open Form AOC-CR-314
Use the subject’s accurate legal name
Add aliases or former names when the Clerk instructs.
Submit the form to the county Clerk
File by mail or in person according to the county’s instructions.
Pay the $25 search charge
Mail requests accept a certified check or money order. In-person offices can accept cash, card, certified check or money order.
Do not mail a personal check
The Judicial Branch states that personal checks are not accepted.
Request individual documents separately
A certified search result and a certified judgment, warrant or dismissal order are different products.
Search several counties separately when the person has lived, worked or been arrested in different parts of North Carolina.
Check an active North Carolina warrant safely
North Carolina does not provide one complete public statewide warrant database. County sheriff and court systems can have different coverage and update timing.
Identify the likely county and court
Use a citation, summons, prior case, booking or missed-court notice.
Search the eCourts case
Review the most recent Register of Actions.
Look for later warrant events
An issued warrant can later be served, recalled or otherwise resolved.
Contact the county Clerk or magistrate
The issuing judicial official controls the warrant.
Contact the sheriff’s warrant or arrest-processing unit
Use the official county number from the sheriff directory.
Ask a lawyer about the safest next step
Counsel can address bond, surrender, failure to appear and motions to recall an order for arrest.
Do not confront or detain anyone. A same-name match or outdated entry can cause a serious identification mistake.
A sheriff, court or law-enforcement agency will not legitimately demand gift cards, cryptocurrency or a payment-app transfer to erase a warrant.
Understand written promises, unsecured and secured bonds
Written promiseRelease based on the defendant’s written promise to appear and obey conditions.
Custody releaseA person or organization agrees to supervise the defendant and help ensure court attendance.
Unsecured bondNo money is paid in advance, but the amount can become owed after a failure to appear.
Secured bondMoney, property or an approved surety must secure release before the person leaves custody.
Confirm the defendant and booking number
Match the name, date of birth and jail record.
List every charge and file number
Different charges can have different conditions.
Check every warrant and hold
Satisfying one bond does not clear another county, probation or federal hold.
Read the current release order
Bond can be reviewed at later court hearings.
Call the jailer or magistrate
County procedures for posting cash, property or surety bonds vary.
Verify a bondsman through the state
Use a properly licensed bail-bond professional and obtain a written receipt.
Keep the next court date
Failure to appear can cause bond forfeiture and another order for arrest.
Allow release-processing time
Court orders, fingerprints, property and outside holds must be checked.
Bond-verification call script
I am calling about [full legal name], date of birth [date], booking number [number]. Please confirm the current release condition for every charge, all outside holds, accepted payment or surety methods, the correct posting location and any nonfinancial condition.
Request a North Carolina court-appointed lawyer
Ask for counsel at the first court date
In some counties the request can begin at the initial appearance.
Complete the Affidavit of Indigency
Provide accurate income, expenses, assets and household obligations.
Find Form AOC-CR-226
Wait for the judge’s eligibility decision
Possible jail time or a fine above $500 can make a criminal case eligible for appointed counsel.
Identify whether the district uses a public defender
Some districts use a public-defender office; others appoint private lawyers.
Use the court file number when contacting counsel
The booking number alone may not identify the assigned attorney.
Avoid discussing case facts on ordinary jail calls
Personal communications can be monitored and recorded.
| Case result | General payment rule | Important detail |
|---|---|---|
| Dismissed or not guilty | No repayment for court-appointed counsel | Private attorney agreements remain separate. |
| Guilty plea or conviction | $60 appointment fee plus applicable attorney fee | The attorney fee can be hourly or a case-based flat amount. |
| Unable to pay after conviction | The state can enter a monetary judgment | This does not automatically prevent appointment in a later case. |
Get custody alerts, court updates and compensation help
Save the police report and court file numbers
These connect the victim to the correct District Attorney and notification record.
Contact the victim-witness legal assistant
Call the District Attorney’s office in the county where the case was charged.
Register with NC SAVAN
Receive jail, prison, probation or parole custody updates.
Call 1-877-627-2826
Keep contact information current
Update NC SAVAN and the District Attorney after a telephone, email or address change.
Preserve financial-loss documents
Keep medical bills, counseling records, wage-loss proof, funeral bills and receipts.
Apply for Crime Victim Compensation when eligible
The program is a payer of last resort for specified crime-related expenses.
Open North Carolina victim resources
NC SAVAN1-877-627-2826
Automated custody and release information.
DAC Victim Services1-866-719-0108
Prison, probation, parole and post-release concerns.
Victim Compensation1-800-826-6200
Up to $30,000 medical and $5,000 funeral assistance under current limits.
Verify the local jail’s rules before registering or traveling
North Carolina’s 100 county jails do not share one visitation policy. Provider, approval, schedule, identification and pricing rules vary by county.
Confirm current custody
Release or transfer can cancel an appointment.
Record the exact facility
Larger counties can operate several detention buildings.
Open the sheriff’s detention page
Use the statewide directory when the official county page is difficult to find.
Identify the visit provider
Counties can use SmartInmate, ViaPath, Securus, HomeWAV or another approved vendor.
Create the visitor profile
Use the visitor’s legal name and valid contact information.
Upload or bring the required ID
Check rules for minors, former inmates, probationers and co-defendants.
Select onsite or remote video
Some detention centers provide video visits only.
Review the price and cancellation policy
Remote sessions can have nonrefundable connection or scheduling charges.
Recheck before the session
Court movement, lockdown, discipline or release can affect the visit.
Approved visitor-list requirement
Government photo identification
Rules for minors and birth certificates
Dress code
Weekly visit limit
Participant limit
Arrival or login deadline
Prohibition on recording
Use the county-specific inmate address and provider
Personal mail checklist
- Confirm the inmate’s legal name and booking number.
- Use the current physical or digital-mail address.
- Add the sender’s full return address.
- Check paper, envelope, photograph and publication rules.
- Send copies rather than irreplaceable originals.
Telephone and message checklist
- Use only the provider linked by the jail.
- Review per-minute and deposit fees.
- Expect monitoring and recording.
- Do not use call forwarding or three-way calling.
- Keep evidence and defense strategy off personal calls.
County-jail mail addresses frequently use outside scanning centers. Never copy an address from an old directory without checking the current sheriff instructions.
Deposit money without sending it to the wrong person
Search the inmate again
Confirm that the person remains in that county jail.
Copy the inmate or facility identification number
County vendors often require a jail ID, JCA, MNI or facility code.
Use the vendor named by the sheriff
Do not use a payment page found through an advertisement.
Choose trust account, phone or package funds carefully
These are often separate accounts.
Review the transaction fee
Compare online, telephone, kiosk and money-order costs.
Save the receipt
Record the inmate, amount, date, facility and transaction number.
A trust-account balance, booking charge and criminal bond are separate. Depositing commissary money does not post bond.
Use NCDAC after prison placement or state supervision
Use the DAC search for
- Current and former North Carolina state prisoners.
- Probationers and parolees.
- Post-release supervision records.
- Offender ID, sentence and release information.
- Historical state records dating to 1972.
Do not use DAC alone for
- A recent county-jail booking.
- A person awaiting trial locally.
- A city-police arrest report.
- The official judgment or dismissal order.
- A complete statewide court background check.
Open the DAC criminal-offender search page
Select Offender Public Information Search or Offender Locator.
Search North Carolina state offenders
Use the offender ID when known
This is safer than a common-name search.
Otherwise search the legal name
Compare birth date, race, sex, conviction and county information.
Record the current facility or supervision status
Mail, visits, calls and money depend on the current assignment.
Return to the court judgment
DAC public information does not replace a certified court sentence.
Apply, receive approval and schedule an NCDAC visit
These rules apply to North Carolina state prisons. County detention centers use separate local procedures.
Confirm the current prison facility
Use the DAC offender search before mailing an application.
Obtain an original visitor application from the offender
The incarcerated person mails blank forms to proposed visitors.
Complete one application for every adult and minor
Copied or incomplete applications can be denied.
Attach identification
Applicants age 16 and older attach an approved photo ID. Children under 16 attach a birth certificate.
Mail the completed application to the prison
Applications are returned by the visitor—not by the incarcerated person.
Wait for approval
The incarcerated person is responsible for notifying the visitor of the decision.
Schedule the appointment
In-person visits are by appointment. Call or email the prison.
Confirm one day before traveling
DAC recommends calling to verify the facility’s visitation status.
Use GettingOut for approved video visits
Video visits are limited to approved visitors.
Open NCDAC visitation instructions
| Rule | Published standard | Practical meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Approved visitor list | Maximum 18 approved adults and minors | New visitors may require an open-enrollment list change. |
| Normal visit frequency | No more than one session per week | Facility and custody status can further restrict access. |
| Normal visit duration | Up to two hours | Legal and clergy visits follow different rules. |
| Normal participant limit | Up to three approved visitors | The warden can change the limit for space or security. |
| Former offender | Generally at least 12 months after release | Immediate-family exceptions can require special review. |
| Probation or supervision | Generally at least six months after supervision ends | Exceptions can require facility approval. |
Cell phones and smartwatches are prohibited
Visitors age 16 and older are searched
Shirts and shoes are mandatory
See-through and revealing clothing is prohibited
Shorts and skirts have length restrictions
Spandex clothing is prohibited
Gang-related or offensive clothing is prohibited
Refusing search procedures causes denial
Use the TextBehind address for ordinary NCDAC mail
Ordinary state-prison mail format
Offender Name and OPUS Number
Full Name of Prison — do not abbreviate
P.O. Box 247
Phoenix, MD 21131
Search the current facility and OPUS number
Use the DAC offender search immediately before mailing.
Write the full prison name
DAC warns against abbreviating the facility.
Send ordinary personal mail to Phoenix, Maryland
TextBehind scans the contents for electronic tablet delivery.
Do not send irreplaceable originals
Original letters and contents are normally destroyed after 30 days.
Request return within 30 days when necessary
TextBehind publishes a $2.50 return-mail service charge per letter.
Use the prison’s street address for approved publications
Books and magazines must come from a publisher or online retailer and should not be sent through TextBehind.
Contact the prison for legal-mail instructions
Attorney legal mail does not go through TextBehind.
Review all NCDAC mail rules
Do not include cash, checks or money orders
Do not include original Social Security or birth documents
Do not include stamps or blank envelopes
Do not include credit, debit or prepaid cards
Do not use oversized envelopes
Do not include fabric or metal items
Do not include drugs or medication
Do not send packages through TextBehind
Set up an approved ViaPath communication account
AdvancePayPlaces prepaid funds on the recipient’s telephone number for calls from an incarcerated person.
TabletsCan support calls, text messages, digitized mail, educational resources and approved entertainment.
SecurityOrdinary prison calls and messages are not privileged and can be monitored.
| Service | Published charge | Money-saving step |
|---|---|---|
| Automated card or bill payment | $3 per use | Combine deposits when appropriate. |
| Live-operator payment | $5.94 per use | Use the automated or online method when possible. |
| Paper bill or statement | $2 per use | Choose electronic account information. |
| Third-party money transmitter | Provider’s exact fee | Review the fee before submitting. |
Send money only after visitor approval and identity verification
NCDAC permits trust-account deposits only from people identified as approved visitors for that offender.
Confirm the offender and OPUS number
Match the current prison assignment.
Confirm approved-visitor status
A payment can fail when the sender is not on the approved list.
Choose ConnectNetwork, telephone, Western Union or money order
Online, mobile, phone and walk-in deposits generally post by the next business day.
Use the free money-order option when time allows
Money orders can take up to ten business days.
Mail the money order to TouchPay—not the prison
Include the current deposit slip.
Save the receipt
Keep the offender name, OPUS number, amount and confirmation.
| Deposit amount | Online | Telephone | Money order | Western Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $0.01–$19.99 | $2.48 | $3.27 | $0 | $3 |
| $20–$99 | $5 | $5.79 | $0 | $3 |
| $100–$199 | $6.58 | $7.37 | $0 | $3 |
| $200–$300 | $8.16 | $8.95 | $0 | $3 |
Money-order trust deposits
TouchPay Holdings, LLC
P.O. Box 174
Houston, TX 77001-0174
ViaPath trust-deposit help:
877-650-4249
Telephone trust deposit:
888-428-1845
Obtain your own North Carolina SBI criminal history
SBI Right to Review is for inspecting your own North Carolina criminal-history record. It is different from a public name search on another person.
Download the Right to Review form
Use the current SBI personal-review application.
Open SBI Personal Review
Obtain an FD-258 fingerprint card
Contact a local sheriff or police department for applicant fingerprinting.
Complete the application exactly
Use the legal name, aliases, date of birth and return address.
Include the $14 payment
Use a certified check or money order. Cash, credit cards and personal checks are not accepted.
Mail the packet
Retain copies and tracking information.
Allow up to 20 business days
SBI does not provide same-day expedited Right to Review processing.
Review each arrest and disposition
Confirm that the court result is correctly linked to the fingerprint-supported arrest cycle.
NCSBI – Civilian Services / Right to Review
P.O. Box 29500
Raleigh, NC 27626-0500
Customer service: 919-582-8660
Status email: CIIShelp@ncsbi.gov
Correct a wrong identity, charge or disposition
Identify which record is wrong
Compare the county booking, police report, eCourts case and SBI history.
Save the incorrect entry
Record the URL, date, booking number, SID, arrest number and court file number.
Obtain controlling proof
Use a certified dismissal, judgment, amended order, agency letter or identity document.
Correct the originating source first
The sheriff corrects jail data, police correct their report and the Clerk corrects the court file.
Complete SBI Right to Review
Obtain the fingerprint-supported statewide history before challenging SBI information.
Submit the Written Exception Form
Explain the inaccurate or incomplete entry and attach supporting proof.
Recheck connected systems
One correction may not automatically update another government or commercial database.
Copy-ready correction request
I request correction of an inaccurate or incomplete record associated with [full legal name], date of birth [date]. The disputed entry is [exact field], shown under booking number [number], SID or OTN [number], agency report number [number] or court case number [number]. The correct information is [correction]. Attached is [certified disposition, amended order, agency letter or identity proof].
NCSBI record challenge
NCSBI – CIIS
Attention: NICS/CCH Unit Supervisor
3320 Garner Road
P.O. Box 29500
Raleigh, NC 27626-0500
Use the correct expunction petition for the case result
Expunction eligibility depends on the exact charge, disposition, age, conviction history, waiting period and statute. Do not use a generic petition without matching the case to the correct law and form.
Dismissed chargesUse the dismissal petition and instructions under G.S. 15A-146 when the case fits that statute.
Not guilty or not responsibleUse the separate petition designed for acquittals and not-responsible findings.
Eligible convictionsNonviolent misdemeanor, felony, youthful, identity-theft and other categories use different statutes and forms.
Search every case and charge first
Expunction review can require a complete North Carolina criminal-history picture.
Obtain certified dispositions
Confirm the exact result, conviction date and sentence completion.
Open the statewide expunction help topic
Match the case to the correct statute and petition.
Review North Carolina expunction eligibility
Download the current form and instructions
Do not reuse an older saved form.
Search current expunction forms
File in the correct county
File with the Clerk of Superior Court where the person was charged or convicted.
Pay the fee or request indigent filing
The general expunction filing fee is $175.
Check the fee exception
Dismissed and not-guilty cases usually do not require the fee unless the dismissal resulted from a diversion or deferred-prosecution agreement.
Provide supporting affidavits when required
Some conviction petitions require good-character affidavits and other documents.
Complete criminal-record checks and hearing steps
Local scheduling and judge-signature practices can differ by county.
Keep the signed expunction order
Confirm the court, arresting agency, jail and SBI implement it.
Expunctions can take several months because of statewide record checks, agency review and hearing schedules.
An expunction can affect state criminal records but may not remove news articles, screenshots, social-media posts or information previously copied by private companies.
Understand a Certificate of Relief
What it can do
- Provide relief from certain collateral consequences.
- Help address specified barriers connected to eligible convictions.
- Create a court record showing the judge granted relief.
What it does not do
- It does not erase or expunge the conviction.
- It does not guarantee a job, license or housing approval.
- It does not remove every statutory disqualification.
Obtain the complete conviction record
Confirm every eligible and ineligible offense.
Review Form AOC-CR-273 and instructions
Find the Certificate of Relief petition
Identify the collateral consequence
Explain the employment, licensing, housing or civic barrier for which relief is sought.
File in the proper court
Ask the Clerk about local scheduling and filing procedures.
Bring evidence of rehabilitation
Employment, treatment, education, references and compliance can help explain the request.
A Certificate of Relief is not a substitute for an expunction. Consult a North Carolina lawyer when the legal effect matters for professional licensing, immigration or firearms rights.
North Carolina arrest, court, SBI and corrections contact board
North Carolina Sheriffs’ Association
P.O. Box 20049
Raleigh, NC 27619-0049
919-743-7433
North Carolina Judicial BranchFind a courthouse, court date, case or form
North Carolina SBI
3320 Garner Road
Raleigh, NC 27626-0500
919-582-8660
Department of Adult Correction
214 W. Jones Street
Raleigh, NC 27603
919-733-2126
DAC Victim Support Services1-866-719-0108
NC SAVAN1-877-627-2826
Crime Victim Compensation1-800-826-6200
ConnectNetwork Deposit Help877-650-4249
North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation map
North Carolina Department of Adult Correction map
Confirm before traveling: Check office hours, appointments, identification, current fees and whether the requested service is offered at that location.
Avoid the mistakes that waste the most time
Search the booking countyThe home county may not be the county holding the person.
Use eCourts for the outcomeThe jail charge is not the prosecutor’s final filed charge.
Use the Clerk for background checksPortal is a case-search tool, not the recommended official background-check process.
Do not use DAC for a new county arrestDAC does not maintain county and city jail records.
Use fingerprints for identity disputesNames, ages and photographs can be shared by different people.
Ask for the exact police documentBroad “all records” requests can create delay and added staff charges.
Do not treat release as dismissalLeaving jail does not end the criminal court case.
Check the expunction fee exceptionDismissed and not-guilty cases can use different fee rules.
Keep personal calls case-freeOrdinary jail and prison communications can be monitored and recorded.
