>Wake County Arrest Records Online

Wake County, North Carolina Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in Wake County, North Carolina?

Arrest records are public information in Wake 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 government agencies in the course of conducting public business are the property of the people. The law specifically includes arrest records maintained by local law enforcement agencies within Wake County.

The North Carolina Public Records Law operates under the presumption that government records should be accessible to citizens to ensure transparency and accountability in public institutions. Under N.C.G.S. § 132-6, any person has the right to inspect, examine, and obtain copies of public records during regular business hours. This provision extends to arrest records maintained by the Wake County Sheriff's Office and other municipal police departments within the county.

Certain limitations may apply to the disclosure of arrest information in specific circumstances, such as:

Records pertaining to ongoing investigations
Records involving juvenile offenders (governed by N.C.G.S. § 7B-3000)
Records that have been ordered sealed or expunged by a court

The Wake County Bureau of Forensic Services maintains a database of arrest records that have occurred in Wake County since April 27, 2007. These records are made available to the public in accordance with state law.

Can Arrest Records be Found Online in Wake County?

Wake County arrest records are accessible through various online platforms maintained by government agencies and authorized third-party providers. The Wake County Sheriff's Office provides a public-facing database where members of the public may search for arrest information. This system is updated regularly but may not contain real-time information in all instances.

The North Carolina Department of Adult Correction offers online search capabilities for county jail inmates, state prisoners, probationers, parolees, and registered sex offenders. This comprehensive database includes individuals who have been processed through the Wake County criminal justice system.

The North Carolina Judicial Branch maintains the eCourts Portal, which provides access to court records, including those related to arrests in Wake County. This system allows users to search for case information, including criminal charges resulting from arrests.

Users should be aware that online records may have limitations:

Some older records may not be digitized
Recent arrests may experience processing delays before appearing online
Certain sensitive information may be redacted from public view
Expunged records will not appear in public databases

Government-maintained databases typically provide the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding Wake County arrests, though third-party aggregators may offer additional search functionality.

How to Look Up Wake County Arrest Records in 2025

Multiple official channels exist for accessing Wake County arrest records in 2025:

Wake County Sheriff's Office 316 Fayetteville Street Raleigh, NC 27601 Phone: (919) 856-6900 Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM Official Website

The Sheriff's Office maintains records of arrests conducted by their deputies. Members of the public may request these records in person, by mail, or through their online portal. Pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 132-6.2, reasonable fees may be charged for copying services.

Wake County Clerk of Superior Court Wake County Justice Center 300 S. Salisbury Street Raleigh, NC 27601 Phone: (919) 792-4000 Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM Official Website

The Clerk's office maintains court records related to arrests, including case dispositions. Individuals seeking criminal background checks may request certified record searches through this office.

North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation 3320 Garner Road Raleigh, NC 27626 Phone: (919) 582-8660 Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Official Website

The SBI provides background check services that include arrest information. These checks require fingerprint submission and proper identification.

When requesting arrest records, individuals should be prepared to provide:

Full name of the subject
Date of birth
Approximate date of arrest (if known)
Case number (if available)
Valid government-issued photo identification

Requests may be subject to processing fees as permitted under N.C.G.S. § 132-6.2(b), which allows agencies to charge the actual cost of providing the record.

Contents of a Wake County Arrest Record

Wake County arrest records contain standardized information as required by North Carolina law and departmental policies. These records typically include the following elements:

Biographical Information:

Full legal name and any known aliases
Date of birth and age at time of arrest
Gender and race
Physical descriptors (height, weight, hair color, eye color)
Residential address (may be partially redacted in public records)
Identifying marks such as tattoos or scars

Arrest Details:

Date, time, and location of arrest
Arresting agency and officer identification
Booking number and facility
Arrest type (warrant, on-view, summons)
Miranda rights acknowledgment
Property inventory

Criminal Charges:

Specific charges filed (with statute references)
Charge classification (misdemeanor or felony)
Charge severity level
Warrant or citation numbers
Incident report numbers

Case Processing Information:

Booking photograph (mugshot)
Fingerprint classification
Bond/bail amount and type
Court appearance dates
Case disposition (if available)

Pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 15A-502, law enforcement agencies are required to fingerprint and photograph individuals charged with felonies, certain misdemeanors, and impaired driving offenses. These records become part of the official arrest documentation maintained by Wake County agencies.

Expungement of Arrest Records in Wake County

Expungement (also called expunction) is the legal process by which arrest records and related court documents are removed from public access in Wake County. North Carolina law provides several pathways for expungement under various statutes, including N.C.G.S. § 15A-145 through § 15A-152.

Eligibility criteria for expungement in Wake County vary based on:

The nature and severity of the charge
The disposition of the case (dismissal, not guilty, etc.)
The petitioner's age at the time of offense
The petitioner's prior criminal history
The amount of time elapsed since the arrest or conviction

Common expungement scenarios in Wake County include:

Charges that were dismissed or resulted in not guilty verdicts (N.C.G.S. § 15A-146)
First-time nonviolent offenses committed before age 18 or 22, depending on the offense (N.C.G.S. § 15A-145)
Certain drug offenses, particularly for first-time offenders (N.C.G.S. § 15A-145.2)
Identity theft victims who had charges brought against them due to another person's criminal activity (N.C.G.S. § 15A-147)

The expungement process requires filing a petition with the Wake County Clerk of Superior Court, payment of filing fees (currently $175 for most petitions), and in some cases, a hearing before a judge. If granted, the expungement order directs all government agencies to seal the records, including the arresting agency, the clerk's office, and state repositories.

Following expungement, pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 15A-152, the individual may legally deny the existence of the arrest or charge in most circumstances, with limited exceptions for certain professional licensing boards and law enforcement agencies.

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