A North Carolina criminal-record search can mean several very different things: finding a court case, ordering a certified criminal-record search, reviewing your own fingerprint-based SBI history, checking a recent arrest, locating someone in state prison, or finding a returned warrant. Those records are maintained by different agencies. This guide shows which official system to use, what it covers, what it does not cover, and what to try when your first search produces no result.
Which North Carolina agency has the record you need?
North Carolina does not combine every criminal-justice record into one public database. Start by identifying who created the record.
Court case
Use for filed charges, docket information, court dates, dispositions, judgments and qualifying public documents.
Official court-record search
The clerk can provide a certified name-based criminal-record search for one county and copies of official court records.
Your fingerprint-based history
SBI is North Carolina’s central repository for fingerprint-supported criminal-history record information.
Arrest and incident information
The investigating or arresting agency is normally the correct source for public arrest facts and police-report requests.
Local jail custody
County jail information is local. North Carolina does not use the NCDAC state offender database as a statewide county-jail roster.
State prison and supervision
NCDAC provides public information about state prison offenders, probationers and parolees, including historical information back to 1972.
North Carolina now uses eCourts in all 100 counties
North Carolina completed statewide implementation of its eCourts case-management system on October 13, 2025. All 100 counties now use the Enterprise Justice, also known as Odyssey, electronic filing and case-management platform.
That matters because older articles may still describe different online access rules depending on the county. For current statewide case information, the Judicial Branch now directs the public to its eCourts services and Portal.
View official eCourts informationHow to search North Carolina court cases online
The North Carolina Judicial Branch’s eCourts Portal allows members of the public to search court information online. Portal includes Smart Search, hearing searches and other court-information tools.
Open the official North Carolina Portal
Use the Judicial Branch or official Portal address rather than starting with an unofficial people-search website.
Use Smart Search
Search by supported information such as a party name or case number. Portal also provides filters for case type, case status, location and filing date.
Narrow common names
Add available identifying details or location filters rather than assuming the first matching name belongs to the person you are researching.
Open the case summary
Review charges, case status, events, hearings and disposition information. Public documents may also be available depending on the record and access rules.
Go to the clerk for an official record
If you need a certified background check or official court copy, contact the Clerk of Superior Court in the county where the case is maintained.
Portal wildcard searching
North Carolina’s Portal training materials support wildcard searches. For a name search, the guidance allows a minimum of three characters followed by an asterisk for the last name and at least one character followed by an asterisk for the first name.
Example: Smi* can help when you are unsure whether the record uses Smith, Smiley or another similarly beginning surname.
Portal search helpDo not confuse Portal with an official criminal background check
This distinction is especially important in North Carolina. The Judicial Branch states that eCourts Portal is not the official court record. It provides internet access to public case information and public docket entries, but individuals conducting criminal background checks are directed to the Clerk of Superior Court rather than relying on Portal alone.
Use Portal when you want to…
- look up a known court case;
- check public docket information;
- find a hearing or court date;
- review public case information online;
- research a case before contacting the clerk.
Use the Clerk when you need to…
- obtain an official certified criminal-record search;
- get certified court copies;
- inspect a paper file not available online;
- perform an official background-search workflow;
- resolve questions about the official court file.
Understanding North Carolina eCourts case numbers
Under Enterprise Justice, North Carolina case numbers contain four primary parts: filing year, case type, case sequence number and county identifier.
Official Portal training uses an example similar to: 21CR000003-910
Year
The two-digit year in which the case was created.
Case type
CR generally indicates that the case contains at least one criminal offense.
Sequence
The case sequence number.
County identifier
The county/location identifier used by Enterprise Justice.
District Court vs. Superior Court criminal records
North Carolina has two trial-court levels, and understanding the difference helps when reading a criminal case.
Misdemeanors and infractions
District Court primarily handles misdemeanors and infractions. Felony cases also commonly begin there for preliminary matters.
Felonies and appeals
Superior Court handles felony criminal cases and misdemeanor or infraction appeals from District Court. Felony trials are conducted in Superior Court.
A person convicted of a misdemeanor in District Court can generally appeal for a new trial in Superior Court. This means one criminal matter can generate records at more than one trial-court level.
North Carolina criminal-case guideNorth Carolina criminal background-check options
North Carolina provides several official options, but they are not equivalent. Choose based on whether you need certification, statewide court data or your own fingerprint-based SBI record.
| Method | Coverage | Current fee | Certified? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clerk certified name search | One county | $25 | Yes | Official county criminal-record search for yourself or another person. |
| Courthouse public terminal | Any county / statewide search capability | Free to search | No | Self-service review of criminal court records; printing may cost extra. |
| eCourts Portal | Online public case information | Free access | No | Finding and researching court cases online. |
| SBI Right to Review | North Carolina fingerprint-supported criminal history for yourself | $14 | SBI response letter | Reviewing your own NC criminal-history record. |
| FBI Identity History Summary | Federal/national fingerprint-based personal review | $18 | Federal response | Reviewing your own FBI Identity History Summary. |
Certified single-county background check
To obtain a certified criminal-record search for yourself or another person, submit North Carolina form AOC-CR-314, Criminal Record Search to the Clerk of Superior Court in the county you want searched.
The current clerk search fee is $25. The Judicial Branch says mailed requests can be paid by money order or certified check; personal checks are not accepted. In person, the clerk accepts the payment methods listed by the Judicial Branch, including cash and credit card.
Open Form AOC-CR-314 Official background-check instructionsFree statewide courthouse self-service search
The Judicial Branch states that the public computers located in clerk offices can be used to search, view or email criminal records for yourself or another person in one county or statewide without a search fee. The result is not certified and printing fees can apply.
How to get your own North Carolina SBI criminal-history record
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation is the state’s central repository for fingerprint-supported Criminal History Record Information. Individuals have a right to request their own record for personal review and to check whether the information is complete and accurate.
The SBI calls this a Right to Review. The current North Carolina-only fingerprint-based fee is $14.
Download the SBI Right to Review packet
Use the current application and instructions provided by the North Carolina SBI.
Prepare identification information
The SBI application requests identifying information including your full name, address, date of birth and other information specified on the form.
Get fingerprinted
Contact a local law-enforcement agency for fingerprinting. SBI no longer supplies blank FD-258 applicant cards for ordinary applicants.
Include the $14 payment
SBI states that certified check or money order payable to the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation is accepted for Right to Review. Cash, credit cards and personal checks are not accepted for this request.
Mail the complete request
Follow the current mailing instructions in the SBI Right to Review packet. Incomplete fingerprint or payment materials can delay processing.
North Carolina fingerprinting: practical tips
For a Right to Review request, contact your local police department, sheriff’s office or another law-enforcement agency that provides applicant fingerprinting. Procedures and local fingerprint-service fees can vary.
- Ask whether an appointment is required.
- Ask which government-issued photo ID is accepted.
- Explain that the fingerprints are for an SBI Right to Review.
- Confirm whether the agency supplies the FD-258 card.
- Check the local fingerprinting fee before visiting.
- Make sure prints are clear before mailing the card.
SBI’s fingerprinting guidance states that electronic submissions for certain authorized processes must come through North Carolina criminal-justice agencies; third-party vendors cannot simply submit electronic fingerprint records directly to SBI for every purpose.
SBI fingerprint informationNorth Carolina arrest records and police reports
If you are looking for a recent arrest, incident or police report, the local law-enforcement agency involved is usually more useful than the SBI or Portal.
North Carolina General Statute § 132-1.4 makes an important distinction: full criminal-investigation and criminal-intelligence records are generally not public records, but specific basic information remains public.
How North Carolina public-records law applies to criminal records
North Carolina’s Public Records Act is found in Chapter 132 of the General Statutes. Section 132-6 generally requires custodians to allow inspection of public records at reasonable times and to provide copies as promptly as possible upon payment of lawful fees.
Information that can be public
- basic reported-offense information;
- specified arrest and charging information;
- specified circumstances surrounding an arrest;
- returned arrest warrants unless sealed;
- returned search warrants unless sealed;
- indictments and criminal summonses unless sealed.
Information that can be restricted
- criminal-investigation records;
- criminal-intelligence records;
- confidential-informant information;
- certain victim/witness identifying information;
- sealed court records;
- active unreturned warrants available only to authorized users.
When asking a police department or sheriff’s office for records, be specific. A request for “everything you have” can involve a mix of public and non-public material. Asking for identifiable existing records or statutorily public information usually makes the request easier to process.
Read N.C.G.S. § 132-1.4North Carolina county jail and booking searches
There is no single NCDAC search that replaces every county jail roster. County detention centers are generally managed locally by sheriffs or county agencies.
If someone was arrested recently and does not appear in the state offender search:
- identify the county where the arrest occurred;
- open the official county sheriff or detention-center website;
- look for inmate, detention, arrest or jail-roster services;
- if no public roster is offered, contact the detention facility directly;
- use Portal separately to look for the related court case.
North Carolina SAVAN also provides custody-status notifications and can include county jail inmates, state prisoners, probationers, parolees and registered sex offenders.
NCDAC search and notification resourcesNorth Carolina arrest and search warrant records
Warrant access is more nuanced than many people expect. North Carolina law expressly provides that arrest warrants and search warrants that have been returned by law enforcement are public court records unless sealed by court order.
Returned warrant
Once a warrant meets the statutory definition of returned, it generally becomes a public court record unless a judge has sealed it.
Active / unreturned warrant
Ordinary Portal users should not expect access to every active unreturned warrant. Judicial Branch Portal materials list unreturned criminal warrants among records requiring elevated, legally authorized access.
Search warrants
Returned search warrants are expressly identified as public court records under N.C.G.S. § 132-1.4(k), unless sealed. A still-restricted or sealed search warrant will not necessarily be publicly accessible online.
North Carolina prison, probation and parole records
The North Carolina Department of Adult Correction provides an Offender Public Information Search / Offender Locator.
The public search includes current and historical information about North Carolina state prison offenders, probationers and parolees, with historical information reaching back to 1972.
Name or offender ID
Use identifying information to locate a specific NCDAC record.
Prison and supervision
Includes state prison offenders plus qualifying probation and parole information.
County jail rosters
NCDAC specifically states that its offender database does not include county jail information.
North Carolina Sex Offender Registry
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation maintains the state’s official Sex Offender Registry. The public can search registered offenders and use the registry’s available location-based search tools.
Was the North Carolina criminal case appealed?
Trial-court Portal information is not the end of the record trail when a criminal case has been appealed.
The North Carolina Judicial Branch publishes appellate opinions from the North Carolina Court of Appeals and Supreme Court of North Carolina. The opinions database can be searched for published and unpublished decisions.
How to get copies of North Carolina criminal court records
The clerk’s office in the county where the case is filed is the custodian of the official court file. The North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts does not act as the statewide custodian for individual court-case documents.
Paper or uncertified copy
Court records can be inspected at the appropriate clerk’s office, and copies can be made for statutory fees.
Certified copy
If an employer, government agency, licensing authority or legal proceeding requires certification, tell the clerk you need a certified copy rather than an ordinary printout.
| Service | Current listed amount | Practical note |
|---|---|---|
| Criminal-record search by clerk | $25 | Certified name-based search for one county. |
| Preparation of copy — first page of each document | $2.00 | Clerk copy-preparation fee under the miscellaneous-fee schedule. |
| Each additional page | $0.25 | Per additional page or fraction thereof. |
| Certificate under seal | $3.00 | Additional certification-related service where applicable. |
| Exemplification of records | $10.00 | Used when an exemplified record is specifically required. |
Fees can change. Confirm the amount with the clerk or current North Carolina Judicial Branch fee schedule before mailing payment.
Current court costs and feesWhen visiting a North Carolina courthouse is better than searching online
Every county clerk’s office provides public access to court information. A courthouse visit is particularly useful when you need an official background check, a certified document, an older paper file or information that is not available remotely.
- certified criminal-record search;
- certified copy of a court document;
- older paper case file;
- statewide self-service background search;
- help interpreting a case number;
- records that do not display through Portal;
- returned warrant records;
- confirmation of the official case file.
Use the Judicial Branch’s county directory to find the correct Clerk of Superior Court.
Find a North Carolina courthouseWake County Justice Center
300 S. Salisbury St.Raleigh, NC 27601
Main:
919-792-4000
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
The Judicial Branch states that Wake County criminal matters are handled at the Wake County Justice Center. This is only an example; criminal records for another county should be requested from that county’s clerk.
North Carolina SBI headquarters and criminal-history contact
North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation
Criminal Information and Identification Section3320 Garner Road
Raleigh, NC 27610
Background-check customer service:
919-582-8660
Email:
CIISHelp@ncsbi.gov
For mailed Right to Review requests, follow the exact mailing address and instructions printed on the current SBI form rather than relying only on a map address.
Criminal-history services
- Right to Review requests;
- fingerprint-supported criminal-history information;
- authorized employment/licensing background-check programs;
- criminal-history record correction procedures;
- state criminal-information services.
Are North Carolina juvenile criminal records public?
Juvenile delinquency matters are different from ordinary adult criminal cases. North Carolina District Court handles juvenile delinquency proceedings, but juvenile records are subject to special confidentiality and access rules.
Do not assume that the absence of a juvenile matter from ordinary Portal results means no juvenile proceeding exists. Public Portal users do not receive unrestricted access to confidential juvenile cases.
North Carolina expunctions: when a criminal record can be removed
North Carolina uses the term expunction for the legal process that can remove qualifying criminal charges or convictions from a person’s record and seal or destroy specified government records.
Eligibility depends on the charge, disposition, conviction, age, waiting period, prior record and the particular North Carolina statute involved. There is no single rule that makes every dismissed charge or conviction automatically eligible.
Identify the exact charge and disposition
Start with the official court case so you know whether the charge was dismissed, resulted in a conviction or ended another way.
Find the correct expunction category
The Judicial Branch provides different petition forms depending on the statute and circumstances.
Use the county where you were charged or convicted
The Judicial Branch says an expunction petition is filed with the clerk of court in the county where the charge or conviction occurred.
Keep your signed order
If an expunction is granted, preserve the copy provided to you. North Carolina warns that the clerk later destroys records associated with the expunction process, including the order, under applicable law.
What if your North Carolina SBI criminal history is wrong?
If you believe information in your SBI criminal-history record is incorrect, first complete the Right to Review process so you can see the record the SBI associates with your fingerprints.
SBI then provides a correction/challenge procedure using its Right to Review Criminal History Record Written Exception process. The challenge should identify the information you believe is inaccurate.
SBI’s current correction correspondence is directed to its Criminal Information and Identification Section at its Raleigh address.
SBI record-correction guidanceFederal criminal records in North Carolina
A federal criminal case is not a North Carolina state court case. North Carolina contains three federal judicial districts: the Eastern, Middle and Western Districts of North Carolina.
Federal case dockets and documents are generally accessed through PACER, the federal Public Access to Court Electronic Records service.
PACER
Search a specific federal court when you know where the case was filed, or use the nationwide PACER Case Locator when you do not.
Find a federal caseIdentity History Summary
The FBI provides fingerprint-based Identity History Summary Checks for personal review. The current federal fee is $18.
FBI Identity History SummaryEmployment, rental and licensing use requires extra care
Looking at a public court case is not automatically the same as obtaining a legally compliant consumer background report.
North Carolina’s SBI also restricts direct access to its non-public criminal-history information for employment and licensing. An employer or licensing entity generally needs specific statutory, federal or local legal authority and an SBI access agreement for authorized fingerprint-based CHRI access.
North Carolina criminal-record search tips
Use Portal to find, not certify
Portal is useful for research, but the Judicial Branch says it is not the official court record.
Know the county
Certified clerk background checks are county-specific, so identify every county that matters to the search.
Use wildcard searches
Portal wildcard syntax can help when spelling, nicknames or indexed names vary.
Search the disposition
Finding a charge is not enough. Follow the case through dismissal, plea, conviction or other final outcome.
Recent arrest? Go local
The arresting agency or county jail may have useful information before the court case is easy to locate.
County jail is not state prison
NCDAC’s offender locator specifically excludes county-jail custody.
Use fingerprints for identity
For your own SBI history, fingerprint-based identification is more reliable than a common-name search.
Returned warrants are different
Returned arrest and search warrants can become public records unless sealed, while active unreturned warrants are more restricted.
Check for an appeal
A trial-court result can later be reviewed by the Court of Appeals or Supreme Court.
North Carolina criminal records: frequently asked questions
1. Can I search North Carolina criminal court cases online for free?
Yes. North Carolina’s eCourts Portal provides free online access to public case information. However, Portal is not the official court record and the Judicial Branch directs people performing official background checks to the Clerk of Superior Court.
2. Does North Carolina now use eCourts statewide?
Yes. North Carolina completed eCourts implementation in all 100 counties on October 13, 2025. All counties now use the Enterprise Justice/Odyssey electronic case-management system.
3. How much is a certified North Carolina criminal-record search?
The North Carolina Judicial Branch currently lists a $25 fee for a certified name-based criminal-record search conducted by a Clerk of Superior Court. The search covers only that county.
4. Can I run a free statewide criminal background search at a courthouse?
Yes. The Judicial Branch says public-access computers in clerk offices can be used to search and view criminal court records statewide without a search fee. The result is not certified, and printing charges can apply.
5. How do I get my own North Carolina SBI criminal record?
Use the SBI Right to Review process. It is a fingerprint-based North Carolina criminal-history search for personal review. The current SBI fee is $14, and the request requires the materials and payment method specified in the current SBI form.
6. Does the North Carolina offender search include county jail inmates?
No. NCDAC states that its Offender Public Information Search covers state prison offenders, probationers and parolees but does not include county jail information. County custody should be checked through the appropriate sheriff or detention facility.
7. Are North Carolina police investigative files public records?
Not generally. N.C.G.S. § 132-1.4 excludes criminal-investigation and criminal-intelligence records from ordinary public-record status, while still requiring disclosure of specified basic information such as certain offense and arrest facts.
8. Are North Carolina arrest and search warrants public?
Returned arrest and search warrants are public court records under North Carolina law unless sealed by court order. Active unreturned warrants are subject to different access restrictions and are not generally available to ordinary Portal users.
9. Can a North Carolina criminal charge be removed from public records?
Some charges and convictions can qualify for expunction under North Carolina law. Eligibility depends on the specific charge, disposition, prior record, waiting period and applicable statute. Petitions are generally filed with the clerk in the county where the person was charged or convicted.
10. Does a North Carolina criminal-record search include federal cases?
No. Federal criminal cases are maintained by the federal courts and are generally searched through PACER. North Carolina state Portal, clerk and SBI searches do not replace a federal court-record search.
Primary official sources for this guide
Procedures, fees and online systems can change. These government sources should be checked before relying on a record for an important purpose.
- North Carolina Judicial Branch — eCourts
- North Carolina Judicial Branch — Portal Training and Resources
- North Carolina Judicial Branch — Obtaining Court Records
- North Carolina Judicial Branch — Criminal Background Check
- North Carolina Judicial Branch — Criminal Cases
- North Carolina Judicial Branch — Expunctions
- North Carolina SBI — Background Checks
- North Carolina SBI — Personal Review / Right to Review
- North Carolina Department of Adult Correction — Offender Searches
- North Carolina General Statutes § 132-1.4
- PACER — Federal Court Records
- FBI — Identity History Summary Checks