Durham Criminal Records
Durham criminal records are available through the Durham Police Department, the Durham County Sheriff's Office, and the Durham County court system. Durham is the fourth-largest city in North Carolina and the county seat of Durham County. The police department provides a Police-to-Citizen portal for searching records online, while the sheriff's office handles fingerprinting and report copies at 510 South Dillard Street. This page explains the primary channels for obtaining criminal records in Durham.
Durham Quick Facts
Durham Police Criminal Records
The Durham Police Department generates and maintains criminal records from law enforcement activities throughout the city. You can reach the department at 919-560-1200 for general inquiries about criminal records in Durham. The department offers a Police-to-Citizen (P2C) portal at durhampdnc.policetocitizen.com that allows the public to file reports and search records online.
The P2C portal is one of the most accessible tools for searching criminal records in Durham. Through this system, you can look up incidents, review recent reports, and access certain arrest information. The portal is available around the clock, making it convenient for anyone needing to search Durham criminal records outside of normal business hours.
The following image shows the North Carolina Judicial Branch court records page, which serves as a resource for accessing criminal court records in Durham and throughout the state.
The statewide court system processes criminal cases from Durham and provides online access to case information. Under GS 132-1, criminal records created by the Durham Police Department are public documents that can be requested by any person.
Note: The Durham P2C portal provides current data and may not include older criminal records that predate the system.
Durham County Sheriff Records
The Durham County Sheriff's Office maintains criminal records and provides several records-related services at 510 South Dillard Street in Durham. The records division is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM and can be reached at 919-560-0899. The office handles fingerprinting for a fee of $15 and provides copies of reports for $3 per document.
You can learn more about the sheriff's records services by visiting the Durham County Sheriff's Office page. The sheriff's office processes criminal records related to warrant service, arrests made by deputies, and jail bookings for Durham County. These records complement the criminal records maintained by the Durham Police Department and together provide a more complete picture of criminal activity in the area.
The sheriff is responsible for operating the Durham County detention facility, which means booking and release records for individuals arrested in Durham pass through this office. Inmate information may be available through the sheriff's office for individuals currently in custody. The office also handles civil process and court security functions that may generate records related to criminal proceedings in Durham.
Durham County also provides a public records request portal at dconc.gov for formal records requests. This portal covers all county departments including the sheriff's office. You can use it to request criminal records that may not be available through other online tools in Durham.
Criminal Court Records in Durham
Criminal cases from Durham are heard in the Durham County court system. The Clerk of Superior Court is located at 510 South Dillard Street and can be reached at 919-808-3000. The clerk maintains the official court file for each criminal case, which includes the charging documents, motions, orders, and the final disposition. These court records are accessible to the public under North Carolina law.
The North Carolina eCourts portal at portal-nc.tylertech.cloud provides online access to Durham County criminal court records. You can search by defendant name or case number to find information about pending and resolved criminal cases in Durham. The system provides basic case details for free, including charges, hearing dates, and outcomes.
The following image shows the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation background check page, which is another avenue for accessing criminal records that include Durham cases.
The NCSBI background check service searches criminal records across all North Carolina counties, including Durham County. This statewide search provides a broader perspective than searching Durham records alone and may reveal criminal history from other jurisdictions.
Public Access to Criminal Records
North Carolina's public records law under GS 132-1 establishes that government records in Durham belong to the people of North Carolina. This includes criminal records maintained by the Durham Police Department, the Durham County Sheriff, and the Durham County courts. Anyone can request these records, and agencies must provide them unless a specific exemption applies under GS 132-1.4.
Exemptions that may limit access to criminal records in Durham include active investigation files, sealed records, and juvenile records. Records that have been expunged under GS 15A-145.5 are also removed from public access. Despite these exceptions, the majority of criminal records in Durham are available to the public through the channels described on this page.
The NC Courts website at nccourts.gov/help-topics/court-records provides guidance on accessing court records statewide, including Durham County. The site explains what records are available, how to request them, and what restrictions may apply to certain types of criminal records.
Note: Some criminal records in Durham may require an in-person visit to obtain copies, particularly for older cases not yet digitized.
Durham Sex Offender Information
Registered sex offenders living in Durham are listed on the North Carolina Sex Offender Registry. This statewide database, maintained by the State Bureau of Investigation, can be searched at sexoffender.ncsbi.gov. You can search by name or by address to find registered offenders in Durham neighborhoods. The registry includes photographs, addresses, and details about the offenses that required registration.
Sex offender registration in North Carolina is governed by state statute and applies to individuals convicted of specified criminal offenses. The criminal records associated with these convictions remain publicly accessible through the registry even when other types of records might be restricted. Durham residents can check the registry at any time without paying a fee.
Durham County Criminal Records
Durham is the county seat of Durham County. The city and county share a name, and most criminal records activity in Durham County originates within the city limits. The county court system handles all criminal cases from Durham and the surrounding unincorporated areas. For more information about criminal records throughout Durham County, visit the county page.