>Orange County Arrest Records Online

Orange County, North Carolina Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in Orange County, North Carolina?

Arrest records are public in Orange County, North Carolina, pursuant to the North Carolina Public Records Law (N.C.G.S. § 132-1). This statute establishes that records created or received by public agencies in the course of conducting public business are the property of the people. Law enforcement agencies within Orange County, including the Orange County Sheriff's Office, maintain arrest records that are accessible to the public under this law.

The North Carolina Public Records Law operates under the presumption that government records should be accessible to promote transparency and accountability. Specifically, N.C.G.S. § 132-1(b) states that public records "shall be the property of the people," and that the people "may obtain copies of their public records and public information free or at minimal cost" unless otherwise provided by law.

Certain exceptions to public disclosure exist for records that are:

Subject to specific statutory exemptions
Protected by federal privacy laws
Related to ongoing investigations
Involving juvenile offenders (governed by separate confidentiality provisions)

Members of the public seeking arrest records may contact:

Orange County Sheriff's Office
106 E. Margaret Lane
Hillsborough, NC 27278
Phone: (919) 245-2900
Official Website

Can Arrest Records be Found Online in Orange County?

Arrest records can be found online in Orange County through several digital platforms maintained by state and county agencies. The North Carolina Judicial Branch provides electronic access to court records, including those related to arrests, through its eCourts portal. This system allows members of the public to search for case information using various identifiers such as name, case number, or citation number.

The availability of online records is governed by Administrative Order of the North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts, which implements the public access provisions of N.C.G.S. § 7A-109. This statute mandates that the clerk of superior court shall maintain records of all judicial proceedings and make these records available for public inspection.

Digital access to arrest records is subject to the following conditions:

Records may be redacted to protect sensitive personal information
Some older records may not be digitized and require in-person requests
Certain case types may have restricted online access
Technical limitations may affect the completeness of online records

The Orange County Criminal Justice Resource Department also maintains information related to criminal justice proceedings, including arrest data, that may be accessible through their online systems.

How to Look Up Orange County Arrest Records in 2025

Members of the public seeking Orange County arrest records in 2025 have multiple methods available, as prescribed by N.C.G.S. § 132-6, which requires public agencies to provide access to public records. The following procedures are established for obtaining these records:

In-Person Requests

Individuals may visit the following locations to submit in-person requests:

Orange County Clerk of Superior Court
106 E. Margaret Lane, Suite 3000
Hillsborough, NC 27278
Phone: (919) 644-4500
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
North Carolina Judicial Branch - Orange County

Orange County Sheriff's Office Records Division
106 E. Margaret Lane
Hillsborough, NC 27278
Phone: (919) 245-2900
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Orange County Sheriff's Office

Online Access

Digital access to arrest records is available through:

The North Carolina Judicial Branch eCourts portal, which provides searchable court records
The Orange County Government website public records request system
Public access terminals located in the Orange County Courthouse and public libraries throughout the county

Written Requests

Written requests for arrest records may be submitted by mail to either the Clerk of Court or Sheriff's Office at the addresses listed above. Pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 132-6.2(a), agencies must respond to such requests "as promptly as possible."

Contents of an Orange County Arrest Record

Orange County arrest records contain standardized information as required by N.C.G.S. § 15A-502, which governs the collection and maintenance of arrest data. These records typically include the following components:

Biographical Information

Full legal name of the arrested individual
Any known aliases or nicknames
Date of birth and age at time of arrest
Physical description (height, weight, identifying marks)
Residential address (may be partially redacted in public versions)

Arrest Details

Date, time, and location of the arrest
Arresting agency and officer identification
Statutory authority for the arrest
Whether the arrest was made pursuant to a warrant
Booking number and processing information

Criminal Charges

Specific charges filed, with reference to applicable North Carolina General Statutes
Classification of offense (felony or misdemeanor)
Case number assigned by the court
Preliminary hearing information
Court appearance dates

Procedural Information

Bail or bond amount and conditions
Custody status
Magistrate's findings
Pretrial release conditions
Attorney representation information

Supplemental Documentation

Mugshot photographs
Fingerprint records (typically not included in public versions)
Property inventory from booking
Medical screening information (subject to HIPAA restrictions)

The North Carolina Court Records system maintains these records in accordance with state retention schedules established by the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

Expungement of Arrest Records in Orange County

Expungement of arrest records in Orange County is governed by various provisions of North Carolina General Statutes, primarily N.C.G.S. § 15A-145 through § 15A-152. These statutes establish the legal framework for removing arrest and conviction records from public access under specific circumstances.

Eligibility Criteria

Pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 15A-146, individuals may petition for expungement of arrest records when:

Charges were dismissed
The person was found not guilty
The case resulted in a finding of "not responsible"
The charge was resolved through a deferred prosecution or conditional discharge
The conviction was for certain first-time nonviolent offenses after prescribed waiting periods

The North Carolina Second Chance Act, effective December 1, 2020, expanded eligibility for expungements, particularly for individuals with multiple nonviolent misdemeanors.

Application Process

The expungement process requires:

Filing a petition with the Clerk of Superior Court in the county where the arrest occurred
Payment of filing fees (currently $175, with potential fee waivers available for indigent petitioners)
Obtaining a certificate of service from the District Attorney's Office
Submitting to a criminal background check conducted by the State Bureau of Investigation
Attending a hearing before a judge (if required)

Orange County Courthouse
106 E. Margaret Lane
Hillsborough, NC 27278
Phone: (919) 644-4500
North Carolina Judicial Branch - Orange County

Legal Effect of Expungement

Upon successful expungement:

All public records of the arrest are removed from public access
Law enforcement agencies must delete or seal records as directed
The individual may legally deny the occurrence of the arrest in most circumstances
Private background check companies are required to update their records

The Orange County Criminal Justice Resource Department provides assistance to eligible individuals seeking expungement of their records.

Search Arrest Records in Orange County

Cities

Chapel Hill