Yes, arrest records are public in Gastonia, North Carolina. This accessibility is in line with the North Carolina Public Records Law, which mandates that records created by public agencies are available to the general public. This includes arrest records managed by local law enforcement agencies. The principle behind this law is to maintain transparency and accountability in government operations.
To get arrest records in Gastonia, several methods are available, particularly convenient as some options are accessible online. Here are the primary ways to search for arrest records in Gastonia:
A Gastonia arrest record typically includes the following information:
In Gastonia, the expungement of arrest records is allowed under certain conditions. Eligibility for expungement generally depends on the nature of the crime, the outcome of the arrest, and the individual's criminal history. The process involves filing a petition in the court that handled the case. This petition must demonstrate that the individual meets all statutory requirements for expungement as outlined by North Carolina law. If approved, the arrest record is effectively sealed, making it inaccessible through public records searches.