North Carolina uses the term "expunction" -- not expungement -- and its expunction law is meaningfully different from most states' sealing provisions: expunction in North Carolina is true destruction of the criminal record, not just restriction of access. When granted, the record is ordered removed from all official databases, the person may legally deny the arrest or conviction ever occurred, and an Administrative Office of Courts confidential file is the only remnant accessible to judges for specific limited purposes. North Carolina also has a practical public access quirk: the SBI permits individuals to request only their own records, while the primary public tool for searching anyone's criminal history is the NC Courts' free public access terminal system at county clerk of superior court offices. This guide covers both access and relief.
What Makes North Carolina Arrest Records Public
North Carolina's public records framework is governed by the NC Public Records Law at NCGS Chapter 132. Records produced by law enforcement agencies and courts are presumed public unless specifically exempted or sealed.
The State Bureau of Investigation's Criminal Information and Identification Section (CIIS) is the central repository for criminal history records in North Carolina, operated under NCGS 114-10. The SBI maintains fingerprint-based arrest records and conviction data submitted by law enforcement agencies and courts across all 100 counties.
The access structure in North Carolina has an important limitation: the SBI only permits individuals to request their own criminal history (called the Right to Review process). Third parties seeking someone else's criminal history through the state repository must be specifically authorized employers (healthcare, childcare, law enforcement, and similar fields). For the general public, the practical access point is the county Clerk of Superior Court's public access terminals or the NC Courts' online case search system.
Exemptions include sealed and expunged records, juvenile records, active investigation materials, and certain victim information.
What a North Carolina Arrest Record Contains
An arrest record is a booking document. It reflects the facts of an arrest at the time of booking and carries no presumption of guilt.
A North Carolina criminal history record from the SBI's CIIS database includes personal identifying information, fingerprint records, arrest data for all reported arrests (arresting agency, date, charges), and court dispositions. The database covers arrests and convictions reported by law enforcement and courts across all 100 counties.
At the local level, police department and sheriff office arrest records include name, date of birth, date and time of arrest, location, arresting agency or officer, charges, bail, court date, fingerprints, and booking photograph.
How to Search North Carolina Arrest Records
The NC Courts public access system is the primary free public tool. This includes public access terminals at the county Clerk of Superior Court's office, which allow statewide criminal case lookups. The NC Courts' online case search -- available through the NC Court system website at nccourts.gov -- provides public access to criminal case records from superior court, district court, and other court levels. Searches are by name and return case-level information including charges, case status, and dispositions.
For personal criminal history requests from the SBI: individuals may request their own records through the Right to Review process. Contact the CIIS Customer Service team at 919-582-8660 or CIIShelp@ncsbi.gov. The process is fingerprint-based.
County sheriff offices and local police departments maintain booking records for recent arrests. North Carolina has 100 counties and each county sheriff manages the local jail. Most county sheriff offices publish online inmate rosters or booking information. For anyone recently arrested, the county sheriff's website is where to look.
For broader multi-source searches that aggregate public record data across North Carolina's 100 counties and other jurisdictions, TruthFinder is a practical option.
VINELink at vinelink.com connects to the North Carolina DPS system and many county facilities and provides free real-time custody status and notification registration.
County Jail Records in North Carolina
North Carolina's 100 counties each operate a county jail. County jails hold people recently arrested, those awaiting trial, and individuals serving shorter sentences.
When someone is convicted and sentenced to state prison, they enter the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction system (formerly the Department of Public Safety). The NC DPS/DAC provides a free online offender public access search available through its website. You can search by name to locate current state inmates and get facility and sentence information.
Federal Arrests in North Carolina
Federal arrests in North Carolina are made by agencies including the FBI, the DEA, U.S. Marshals, the ATF, and Homeland Security Investigations. North Carolina is home to U.S. District Courts for the Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of North Carolina.
The BOP Inmate Locator at bop.gov/inmateloc is the official free tool for locating anyone serving a federal sentence. Search by name or BOP register number. Federal court records are available through the PACER system at pacer.gov.
Federal arrests and convictions are not part of the NC SBI criminal history system.
Arrest Records Versus Conviction Records
An arrest record documents that law enforcement took someone into custody. A conviction record documents a court's finding of guilt. North Carolina's public records law makes most arrest records public, and the NC Courts case search returns case-level information regardless of outcome.
Charges can be dropped, cases dismissed, and juries acquit. In all of those situations the arrest and case record remains in the NC Courts system and in SBI records unless expunged through the formal expunction process under NCGS Chapter 15A.
North Carolina Expunction Under NCGS 15A-145 Through 15A-150
North Carolina uses the term "expunction" (sometimes written "expungement") to describe record relief. North Carolina expunction is true record destruction -- it removes and destroys the record from courts, the SBI, and all law enforcement agency files. After expunction, the person is restored in the eyes of the law to the status they occupied before the record existed and may, with limited exceptions, deny the arrest or conviction ever occurred.
An Administrative Office of Courts confidential file is maintained under NCGS 15A-151, accessible only to judges (to determine prior expunctions for sentencing) and, for employment purposes only, to certain law enforcement and standards commissions.
The $175 filing fee applies to all expunction petitions. Fee waivers are available for indigent petitioners. Petitions are filed in the county where the arrest occurred.
For dismissed and acquitted cases: Under NCGS 15A-146, persons whose charges were dismissed or who were found not guilty may petition for expunction. The petition may be filed at any time after the dismissal or acquittal.
For non-violent misdemeanor convictions: Under NCGS 15A-145.5, petitions may be filed 5 years after the date of conviction for one nonviolent misdemeanor, or 7 years for multiple misdemeanor convictions, as long as active sentences, probation, and post-release supervision have been completed. Multiple misdemeanors from the same session of court may be treated as one conviction.
For non-violent felony convictions: Under NCGS 15A-145.5, petitions may be filed 10 years after the conviction once all sentence terms, probation, and post-release supervision are completed. Offenses that are categorically ineligible -- called "disqualified" offenses in the statute -- include crimes of violence, sex offenses, and other enumerated serious offenses listed in NCGS 15A-145.5(a).
For persons under 18 at the time of a non-violent misdemeanor: Under NCGS 15A-145, a reduced waiting period of 2 years from conviction or completion of probation applies.
After the court orders expunction, it directs all law enforcement agencies and courts to expunge their records. The clerk notifies state and local agencies under NCGS 15A-150.
InmateAid's guides on expunction cover North Carolina's framework in more detail. Mugshot removal from third-party sites after expunction is addressed in InmateAid's resources on that topic.
Frequently asked questions
Are North Carolina arrest records public?
Yes, under the NC Public Records Law at NCGS Chapter 132. Most adult criminal records are public. However, the SBI's central repository allows only the subject to request their own record -- public third-party access runs through county Clerk of Superior Court terminals and the NC Courts online case search. Sealed, expunged, and juvenile records are not publicly accessible.
How do I search North Carolina arrest records?
The NC Courts online case search at nccourts.gov is the primary free public tool for criminal case records statewide. Public access terminals at the county Clerk of Superior Court's office also provide statewide searches. For recent arrests, check the relevant county sheriff's website. For multi-source results, TruthFinder aggregates public record data. For custody notifications, VINELink at vinelink.com is free. For NC DPS state inmates, use the offender public access search at the DPS website. For your own criminal history from the SBI, contact CIIS at 919-582-8660 or CIIShelp@ncsbi.gov.
What does a North Carolina arrest record contain?
The SBI's CIIS criminal history record includes personal identifying information, fingerprint records, arrest data (agency, date, charges), and all court dispositions. Local law enforcement records include name, date of birth, arrest date/time/location, arresting officer, charges, bail, court date, and booking photograph.
Is an arrest the same as a conviction in North Carolina?
No. An arrest documents that someone was taken into custody. A conviction reflects a court's finding of guilt. The NC Courts case search returns case records regardless of outcome. Non-conviction cases (dismissed charges, acquittals) remain in the system until expunction is granted under NCGS 15A-146, which permits petition at any time after the dismissal or acquittal.
How do I find someone in a North Carolina county jail?
Check the county sheriff's website where the arrest occurred. North Carolina's 100 counties each operate a county jail and most publish online booking rosters. VINELink at vinelink.com connects to many NC facilities statewide. For someone in state prison, use the NC DPS/DAC offender public access search at the DPS website.
Can I search federal arrest records in North Carolina?
Federal court records are available through PACER at pacer.gov. For someone serving a federal sentence, the BOP Inmate Locator at bop.gov/inmateloc is the free official tool. Federal arrests and convictions are not part of the NC SBI criminal history system.
How long does an arrest stay on record in North Carolina?
Arrest and conviction records remain in the SBI system and NC Courts indefinitely unless expunged. Non-conviction cases (dismissed/acquitted) can be expunged at any time. Non-violent misdemeanor convictions become eligible after 5 years (7 years for multiple); non-violent felony convictions after 10 years. Disqualified offenses cannot be expunged.
Who qualifies for expunction in North Carolina?
Under NCGS 15A-145 through 15A-150: dismissed charges and acquittals qualify for petition at any time. Non-violent misdemeanor convictions qualify after 5 years (one misdemeanor) or 7 years (multiple), once all sentence terms are complete. Non-violent felony convictions qualify after 10 years, with all terms and obligations satisfied. Minors at the time of a non-violent misdemeanor may qualify after 2 years. Disqualified offenses (defined in NCGS 15A-145.5(a)) are permanently ineligible. The filing fee is $175 ($0 for indigent petitioners).
What is the difference between expunction and sealing?
In North Carolina, expunction is true destruction of the record -- not just restriction of access. After expunction, records are ordered removed and destroyed from courts, the SBI, and all law enforcement files. The person may legally deny the arrest or conviction ever occurred. A confidential file at the Administrative Office of Courts is maintained for judicial use only. Unlike sealing states where law enforcement broadly retains access, North Carolina's expunction is one of the more complete remedies in the country.
Why does my record show an arrest but no conviction?
Non-conviction arrests remain in the NC Courts system and SBI records until expunged under NCGS 15A-146. If charges were dismissed or you were acquitted, a petition for expunction may be filed at any time with no waiting period. Filing in the county superior court where the arrest occurred is the process. The $175 filing fee applies (waived for indigent petitioners). ---
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