>Wayne County Arrest Records Online

Wayne County, North Carolina Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in Wayne County, North Carolina?

Arrest records are public in Wayne 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 North Carolina, including law enforcement entities, are the property of the people. The Wayne County Sheriff's Office and other local law enforcement agencies maintain these records as part of their official duties. Under state law, these documents must be made accessible to citizens upon request, unless specifically exempted by statute.

The North Carolina Public Records Law serves multiple governmental purposes, including:

Ensuring transparency in governmental operations
Providing accountability of public officials
Facilitating informed participation in civic affairs
Documenting the activities of public agencies

Certain portions of arrest records may be redacted or restricted if they contain sensitive information protected by privacy laws or if their release could compromise an ongoing investigation pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 132-1.4.

Can Arrest Records be Found Online in Wayne County?

Wayne County arrest records are available through various online platforms in accordance with North Carolina's commitment to public information accessibility. The Wayne County Clerk of Superior Court maintains electronic records that may be accessed through the North Carolina Judicial Branch's online portal. Additionally, the Wayne County Sheriff's Office provides limited booking information through their official website.

Online access to these records is governed by N.C.G.S. § 132-6.2, which permits agencies to provide electronic access to public records. Users should be aware that:

Information available online may be limited compared to records available in person
Some records may require registration or payment of nominal fees
Certain sensitive information may be redacted from online versions
Records may not be updated in real-time and could have processing delays

The North Carolina Department of Public Safety also maintains a searchable database of offenders that includes arrest information for individuals processed through the state correctional system.

How to Look Up Wayne County Arrest Records in 2025

Members of the public seeking Wayne County arrest records have multiple official channels through which these documents may be obtained. Each method offers varying levels of detail and accessibility:

Wayne County Sheriff's Office: Citizens may request arrest records in person at the Records Division.

Wayne County Sheriff's Office
207 E. Chestnut Street
Goldsboro, NC 27530
(919) 731-1481
Wayne County Sheriff's Office
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wayne County Clerk of Superior Court: Court records related to arrests can be accessed through the Clerk's office.

Wayne County Courthouse
224 E. Walnut Street
Goldsboro, NC 27530
(919) 722-6100
Wayne County Court Records
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts: The AOC maintains the statewide court information system that includes arrest data.

North Carolina Judicial Branch
901 Corporate Center Drive
Raleigh, NC 27607
(919) 890-1000
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Online Court Information System: The North Carolina Court System provides electronic access to court records through its eCourts platform, which includes Wayne County arrest information.

Pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 15A-502, requestors must provide sufficient identifying information to locate specific records, which typically includes the full name of the individual and, if possible, their date of birth or approximate date of arrest.

Contents of a Wayne County Arrest Record

Wayne County arrest records contain standardized information as mandated by North Carolina law enforcement protocols and N.C.G.S. § 15A-502. These official documents typically include the following elements:

Full legal name of the arrested individual and any documented aliases
Date, time, and location of the arrest
Statutory citations and descriptions of alleged offenses
Name and jurisdiction of the arresting agency
Booking photograph (mugshot)
Fingerprint impressions
Physical descriptors including height, weight, eye color, hair color, and identifying marks
Date of birth and age at time of arrest
Residential address at time of processing
Booking number and case identification
Custody status and bail information
Arresting officer's name and badge number

These records serve as official documentation of law enforcement actions and form the basis for subsequent judicial proceedings. The information contained within arrest records is collected pursuant to the North Carolina Criminal Procedure Act and maintained according to state record retention schedules.

Law enforcement agencies in Wayne County utilize the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation's record management systems to standardize the format and content of arrest documentation across jurisdictions.

Expungement of Arrest Records in Wayne County

Under North Carolina law, certain individuals may petition for expungement of arrest records in Wayne County pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 15A-145 through § 15A-146. Expungement is the legal process by which arrest records are removed from public access and, in some cases, physically destroyed.

Eligibility criteria for expungement in Wayne County include:

Charges that were dismissed or resulted in not guilty verdicts
First-time nonviolent offenses after specified waiting periods
Certain juvenile offenses upon reaching adulthood
Arrests resulting from identity theft or mistaken identity
Certain drug offenses committed before age 22

The expungement process requires petitioners to:

File a petition with the Wayne County Clerk of Superior Court
Pay the required filing fee (currently $175 as of 2025)
Obtain a certificate of verification from the Administrative Office of the Courts
Submit to fingerprinting and criminal background check
Attend a hearing before a Superior Court judge

Wayne County Clerk of Superior Court
224 E. Walnut Street
Goldsboro, NC 27530
(919) 722-6100
North Carolina Expungement Information

Upon successful expungement, all public agencies including the Wayne County Sheriff's Office, North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, and Administrative Office of the Courts are required to remove the records from public databases and seal physical copies pursuant to court order.