>Durham County Arrest Records Online

Durham County, North Carolina Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in Durham County, North Carolina?

Arrest records in Durham County, North Carolina are considered public information pursuant to North Carolina General Statutes § 132-1, which defines public records as "all documents, papers, letters, maps, books, photographs, films, sound recordings, magnetic or other tapes, electronic data-processing records, artifacts, or other documentary material, regardless of physical form or characteristics, made or received pursuant to law or ordinance in connection with the transaction of public business." The North Carolina Public Records Law ensures transparency in government operations, including law enforcement activities.

Members of the public may access arrest records maintained by the Durham County Sheriff's Office and the Durham Police Department, except in cases where records have been sealed by court order, expunged, or otherwise restricted by state or federal law. Juvenile arrest records (individuals under 18 years of age) are generally not public information pursuant to North Carolina General Statutes § 7B-3000, which provides confidentiality protections for juvenile records.

The Durham County Clerk of Superior Court maintains official court records related to arrests and subsequent court proceedings. These records are accessible through the North Carolina Judicial Branch system, which provides various methods for obtaining public records.

Can Arrest Records be Found Online in Durham County?

Durham County arrest records are available through several online platforms maintained by state and local government agencies. The North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts provides electronic access to court records, including those related to arrests, through its eCourts system. This system allows authorized users to search for case information using various identifiers such as name, case number, or citation number.

The Durham County Sheriff's Office maintains an online inmate lookup system that provides information about individuals currently in custody, including their charges, booking date, and bond information. This database is updated regularly to reflect current incarcerations and releases.

Additionally, the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction offers a Criminal Offender Search service that allows the public to search for information about individuals who have been processed through the state's correctional system, including those arrested in Durham County.

It should be noted that while basic arrest information is available online, obtaining complete arrest records may require submitting a formal request to the appropriate agency or visiting in person. Online records may not include all details contained in the official arrest record maintained by law enforcement agencies.

How to Look Up Durham County Arrest Records in 2025

Durham County provides multiple methods for accessing arrest records, each with specific procedures and requirements. Individuals seeking arrest information may utilize the following options:

Submit a request to the Durham County Sheriff's Office Records Division located at 510 South Dillard Street, Durham, NC 27701. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM and can be reached at (919) 560-0897. Requestors must complete a records request form and may be required to pay a fee for copies of records.
Visit the Durham County Courthouse to access public terminals for searching court records related to arrests. The courthouse is located at 510 South Dillard Street, Durham, NC 27701 and is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.
Utilize the North Carolina Judicial Branch's online portal to search for case information. The eCourts system provides access to criminal case records, including those stemming from arrests in Durham County.
Contact the Durham Police Department Records Division at 602 East Main Street, Durham, NC 27701, or call (919) 560-4427 for records of arrests made by city police officers. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Submit a request under the North Carolina Public Records Law to the appropriate agency. Requests should be specific and include as much identifying information as possible, such as the full name of the individual, date of birth, and approximate date of arrest.

Pursuant to North Carolina General Statutes § 132-6.2, agencies may charge reasonable fees for providing copies of public records, limited to the actual cost of reproduction. Some agencies may require payment of these fees before releasing records.

Contents of a Durham County Arrest Record

Durham County arrest records contain standardized information as required by North Carolina law and local agency policies. A typical arrest record includes the following elements:

Full legal name of the arrested individual and any known aliases or alternative names
Demographic information including date of birth, gender, race, and physical descriptors (height, weight, identifying marks)
Date, time, and specific location of the arrest
Statutory charges filed at the time of arrest, including North Carolina General Statute references
Name and badge number of the arresting officer(s) and the law enforcement agency involved
Booking photographs (mugshots) taken during the intake process
Fingerprint information and other biometric data collected during booking
Case or incident number assigned to the arrest
Disposition information, including bond amount, release date, or continued detention status
Court case numbers associated with the arrest

The Durham County Sheriff's Office maintains these records in accordance with North Carolina General Statutes § 153A-98 and applicable records retention schedules established by the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. The level of detail available to the public may vary based on the status of the case and any applicable exemptions under state law.

Expungement of Arrest Records in Durham County

Durham County residents may petition for expungement of arrest records under specific circumstances as provided by North Carolina General Statutes § 15A-145 through § 15A-152. Expungement effectively removes arrest information from public records and, when granted, allows individuals to legally deny the arrest occurred in most circumstances.

Eligibility criteria for expungement in Durham County include:

Charges that were dismissed or resulted in a finding of not guilty
First-time nonviolent offenses after specified waiting periods (typically 5-15 years depending on the offense level)
Certain drug offenses committed before age 22
Charges resulting from identity theft or mistaken identity
Juvenile records upon reaching age 18 (with certain exceptions)

The expungement process requires filing a petition with the Durham County Clerk of Superior Court at 510 South Dillard Street, Durham, NC 27701. Petitioners must use standardized forms provided by the Administrative Office of the Courts and pay applicable filing fees, which may be waived for indigent petitioners. The petition is reviewed by a district attorney and a superior court judge, who determines whether the petitioner meets statutory requirements for expungement.

Individuals seeking expungement may obtain assistance through the Durham County Bar Association, Legal Aid of North Carolina (Durham office: 201 West Main Street, Suite 400, Durham, NC 27701, phone: 919-688-6396), or the North Carolina Justice Center's Second Chance Project.

Search Arrest Records in Durham County

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