>Pender County Arrest Records Online

Pender County, North Carolina Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in Pender County, North Carolina?

Arrest records are public documents in Pender County, North Carolina, pursuant to the North Carolina Public Records Law (N.C.G.S. Chapter 132). This statute establishes that records created or received by public agencies in the course of conducting public business are the property of the people. The law specifically includes records generated by law enforcement agencies, such as arrest records, booking photographs, and incident reports. This legal framework ensures transparency in governmental operations and allows citizens to monitor law enforcement activities within their communities.

The Pender County Sheriff's Office maintains these records as part of their statutory obligations. While most arrest information is publicly accessible, certain exceptions exist under state law to protect ongoing investigations, juvenile records, and specific personal identifying information. Members of the public seeking arrest records should be aware that while the information is generally available, some details may be redacted in accordance with privacy protections established by North Carolina statutes.

Can Arrest Records be Found Online in Pender County?

Pender County arrest records are available through various online platforms, both governmental and third-party. The Pender County Sheriff's Office maintains an online inmate lookup system that provides current information about individuals currently in custody. This resource is updated regularly and serves as an official source of arrest information.

The North Carolina Court System also offers online access to court records through their eCourts Portal, which includes information about criminal cases that originated from arrests in Pender County. Users should note that the system primarily contains court case information rather than detailed arrest records.

Several limitations apply to online record searches:

Records may not be immediately available following an arrest
Certain sensitive cases may be restricted from online access
Historical records may not be fully digitized
Complete arrest details often require in-person requests

The Pender County online services provide additional resources for accessing public information, though comprehensive arrest details may require direct contact with the Sheriff's Office or Clerk of Court.

How to Look Up Pender County Arrest Records in 2025

Members of the public seeking Pender County arrest records have multiple official channels through which to obtain this information:

Pender County Sheriff's Office
605 E. Fremont Street
Burgaw, NC 28425
Phone: (910) 259-1212
Official Website

The Sheriff's Office maintains the most comprehensive arrest records and provides public access during regular business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM). Requestors must complete a public records request form and may be required to pay nominal fees for document reproduction as permitted under N.C.G.S. § 132-6.2.

Pender County Clerk of Superior Court
100 S. Wright Street
Burgaw, NC 28425
Phone: (910) 663-3900
Official Website

The Clerk's Office maintains court records related to arrests and criminal proceedings. These records can be accessed during regular court hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM). Requestors should provide specific case information when possible to facilitate the search process.

Pender County Jail Division
104 N. Walker Street
Burgaw, NC 28425
Phone: (910) 259-1484
Official Website

The Jail Division provides information about current inmates and recent bookings. Visitors may request basic arrest information in person during designated hours.

For electronic access, the North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts maintains the eCourts system, which provides case information for arrests that have proceeded to court. Users should note that pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 132-1.4, certain investigative information may be withheld from public disclosure.

Contents of a Pender County Arrest Record

Pender County arrest records typically contain comprehensive information about the arrest event and the individual taken into custody. These documents are standardized in accordance with North Carolina law enforcement protocols and generally include the following elements:

Full legal name of the arrested individual
Any known aliases or previous names
Date of birth and demographic information
Physical description (height, weight, identifying marks)
Residential address at time of arrest
Date, time, and specific location of the arrest
Arresting agency and officer identification
Statutory charges filed, including North Carolina General Statute references
Booking photographs ("mugshots") taken during processing
Fingerprint information and identification numbers
Case numbers and court docket information
Bail or bond amount set, if applicable
Detention status and facility information
Prior criminal history references, if available

The Court Security and Civil Division of the Pender County Sheriff's Office maintains these records in conjunction with the Jail Division. Pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 15A-502, law enforcement agencies are required to photograph and fingerprint individuals charged with felonies or certain misdemeanors, and these records become part of the official arrest documentation.

Members of the public should be aware that while most information in arrest records is publicly accessible, certain details may be redacted to protect privacy interests or ongoing investigations as permitted under North Carolina public records exceptions.

Expungement of Arrest Records in Pender County

Expungement (also called expunction) is the legal process through which arrest records and related criminal history information may be removed from public access in Pender County. North Carolina law provides several pathways for expungement under various statutes, primarily codified in N.C.G.S. § 15A-145 through § 15A-152.

Eligibility criteria for expungement in Pender County typically include:

Charges that were dismissed or resulted in not guilty verdicts
First-time nonviolent offenses after specified waiting periods
Certain misdemeanor convictions committed before age 18/22
Successful completion of drug treatment court programs
Identity theft victims whose names were used in criminal proceedings
DNA records after charges are dismissed or result in not guilty verdicts

The expungement process requires petitioners to:

File a petition with the Pender County Clerk of Superior Court
Pay applicable filing fees (currently $175 for most petitions)
Obtain an SBI (State Bureau of Investigation) criminal background check
Attend a hearing before a Superior Court judge, if scheduled
Await notification of the court's decision

Upon successful expungement, all public agencies including the Pender County Sheriff's Office, Clerk of Court, and North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts must remove the records from public access. Private entities that have previously obtained the records are required to delete them upon notification of expungement under N.C.G.S. § 15A-152.

The North Carolina Judicial Branch provides standardized forms for expungement petitions. Individuals seeking expungement may benefit from legal assistance, as the process involves complex statutory requirements and procedural rules.