>Rowan County Arrest Records Online

Rowan County, North Carolina Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in Rowan County, North Carolina?

Arrest records are public in Rowan County, North Carolina, pursuant to North Carolina General Statutes § 132-1, which establishes the North Carolina Public Records Law. This statute mandates that records created or received by government agencies in the course of conducting public business shall be accessible to the public. The law specifically includes documents pertaining to arrests of individuals within its scope. The North Carolina Public Records Law serves to promote governmental transparency and accountability by ensuring citizens have access to information regarding law enforcement activities within their communities.

Members of the public seeking arrest records in Rowan County should be aware that while these records are generally available, certain information may be redacted in accordance with privacy laws or ongoing investigation exemptions as outlined in § 132-1.4. The Rowan County Sheriff's Office maintains these records as part of their statutory obligations to document law enforcement activities.

Can Arrest Records be Found Online in Rowan County?

Arrest records can be accessed online in Rowan County through various governmental platforms. The Rowan County Sheriff's Office maintains an online database where recent arrest information is published and regularly updated. This digital accessibility is part of the county's commitment to public transparency and efficient information dissemination.

The online availability of arrest records is governed by North Carolina General Statutes § 132-6.2, which addresses electronic access to public records. The statute stipulates that agencies may provide public access to public records by electronic means, including the Internet. However, requestors should note that not all historical arrest records may be available through online platforms, as some older records may only be accessible through in-person requests.

Online arrest record databases typically include information about arrests made within Rowan County jurisdiction, including those conducted by the Sheriff's Office and municipal police departments such as the Salisbury Police Department. These records are maintained as part of the county's official documentation of law enforcement activities.

How to Look Up Rowan County Arrest Records in 2025

Multiple methods are available for obtaining Rowan County arrest records in 2025, including both in-person and digital options:

Visit the Rowan County Sheriff's Office: Individuals may request arrest records in person at the Sheriff's Office. Records requests are processed during regular business hours.

Rowan County Sheriff's Office
232 N Main Street
Salisbury, NC 28144
(704) 216-8700
Official Website

Rowan County Clerk of Superior Court: The Clerk's office maintains court records related to arrests and subsequent legal proceedings.

Rowan County Clerk of Superior Court
210 N Main Street
Salisbury, NC 28144
(704) 797-3220
Official Website

Online Public Records Database: The Rowan County Sheriff's Office P2C portal provides public access to recent arrest information. Users can search by name, date range, or case number.
North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts: The AOC maintains the Criminal Background Check system, which includes arrest records from counties across the state, including Rowan County.
Submit a Public Records Request: Pursuant to North Carolina General Statutes § 132-6, citizens may submit formal public records requests to obtain arrest information not readily available through other means.

Requestors should be prepared to provide identifying information such as the full name of the individual, approximate date of arrest, and any other relevant details that may assist in locating the specific records.

Contents of a Rowan County Arrest Record

Rowan County arrest records typically contain comprehensive information about the arrest event and the individual taken into custody. Standard elements included in these records are as follows:

Full legal name of the arrested individual and any known aliases
Date of birth and demographic information (age, gender, race)
Physical descriptors including height, weight, eye color, hair color, and identifying marks such as tattoos or scars
Residential address at time of arrest
Date, time, and specific location of the arrest
Arresting agency and officer identification
Booking photograph (commonly referred to as a "mugshot")
Fingerprint records collected during booking procedures
Enumeration of charges filed, including statute numbers and offense descriptions
Case or incident number assigned by law enforcement
Bail or bond information, if applicable
Detention facility information if the individual was incarcerated

These records are maintained in accordance with North Carolina General Statutes § 15A-502, which governs the collection and maintenance of arrest information. The statute requires law enforcement agencies to collect identifying information, including photographs and fingerprints, for individuals charged with felonies or certain misdemeanors.

It should be noted that arrest records document only the fact that an individual was taken into custody and the charges filed at that time. These records do not constitute proof of guilt, as all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Expungement of Arrest Records in Rowan County

Expungement (also referred to as expunction) is the legal process through which arrest records and related documentation may be removed from public access in Rowan County. This process is governed by North Carolina General Statutes § 15A-145 through § 15A-152, which outline various eligibility criteria and procedures.

Individuals may qualify for expungement of arrest records under several circumstances:

Charges were dismissed or resulted in a finding of not guilty
Completion of a diversion program for first-time offenders
Certain non-violent offenses after specified waiting periods
Juvenile records upon reaching adulthood
Identity theft victims whose names were used in criminal proceedings

The expungement process requires filing a petition with the Rowan County Clerk of Superior Court. Petitioners must complete the appropriate forms as prescribed by the North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts, pay applicable filing fees, and in some cases, obtain a certificate of good standing from the North Carolina Department of Public Safety.

Upon receipt of a properly filed petition, the court will schedule a hearing to determine whether the petitioner meets the statutory requirements for expungement. If granted, the court will issue an order directing all relevant agencies, including the Rowan County Sheriff's Office, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, to expunge their records of the specified arrest.

Successful expungement results in the physical destruction or sealing of arrest records, effectively removing them from public access. However, certain government agencies may retain limited access to expunged records for specific purposes as permitted by statute.