Alamance County Criminal Records Search Guide

Alamance County criminal records are held by the Clerk of Superior Court at the courthouse in Graham, North Carolina. The county seat of Graham serves as the hub for all criminal case filings in Alamance County. Residents and members of the public can search court records, arrest records, and criminal history data through several local offices. The Alamance County Sheriff's Office and the Register of Deeds also hold records that may tie to criminal cases. This guide walks through how to search and obtain criminal records in Alamance County.

Alamance County Clerk of Court Criminal Records

The Clerk of Superior Court in Alamance County is the main keeper of criminal records for the county. This office stores case files for all criminal matters heard in Alamance County courts. That includes both felony cases in Superior Court and misdemeanor cases in District Court. Staff at the clerk's office can help you look up a case by name or case number. The courthouse sits at 212 W Elm Street in Graham, NC 27253. You can call (336) 570-5200 to ask about criminal records before you visit.

Criminal case records in Alamance County are public under North Carolina law. Under N.C.G.S. 132-1, most court records are open to the public. You do not need to be a party in the case to view them. Walk into the clerk's office and ask to view a file. Some records may have parts that are sealed or redacted per N.C.G.S. 132-1.4, which limits access to certain law enforcement records.

The NC Judicial Branch website lists Alamance County court details and services available to the public.

Visit nccourts.gov to see court hours, judge schedules, and contact details for the Alamance County courthouse.

How to Search Criminal Records in Alamance County

There are a few ways to look up criminal records in Alamance County. The method you pick depends on what you need and how fast you need it. Online tools work well for basic case data. In-person visits let you see the full court file and get certified copies the same day.

The Alamance County court records portal provides an online way to search criminal case filings. You can look up cases by the name of the defendant or by case number. The site shows charge details, court dates, and case outcomes for criminal records filed in Alamance County.

Go to alamancerecords.us/court-records to start an online search for Alamance County criminal records.

To search Alamance County criminal records, you will need at least one of these items:

• Full legal name of the person
• Date of birth or age range
• Case number if known
• Type of charge or offense

You can also visit the courthouse in person. Go to 212 W Elm Street in Graham. Bring your ID. The clerk can search by name and pull up criminal case files for you to view. Older Alamance County criminal records may be stored off-site and could take a day or two to retrieve.

Note: The North Carolina eCourts system is rolling out across all counties and may change how you search Alamance County criminal records online.

Alamance County Sheriff Arrest Records

The Alamance County Sheriff's Office keeps arrest records for the county. When a person is arrested in Alamance County, the sheriff creates a booking record. This record has the person's name, charges, booking date, and bond amount. Arrest records are separate from court records but they often tie to criminal cases filed at the courthouse.

The sheriff's office website shows recent arrest data for Alamance County.

Check alamancerecords.us/arrest-records for the latest arrest records from Alamance County.

Arrest records in Alamance County are public. You can request them in person at the sheriff's office or by mail. North Carolina's public records law under N.C.G.S. 132-1 gives you the right to view these records. The sheriff may charge a small fee for copies. Some parts of arrest records may be held back if they could harm an active investigation, as allowed by N.C.G.S. 132-1.4.

Criminal History Checks in Alamance County

A criminal history check pulls records from across North Carolina, not just Alamance County. The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation runs statewide criminal history searches. This is different from a local court records search. The SBI check includes all criminal records tied to a person's fingerprints across the state.

For a statewide criminal history, you submit a request through the SBI. Local Alamance County criminal records only cover cases filed in this county. If you need a full picture, you may want both. The Alamance County clerk handles local records. The SBI handles the state-level search.

Under N.C.G.S. 15A-145.5, some criminal records in Alamance County may be eligible for expunction. If a record has been expunged, it will not show up in a search. The clerk's office can tell you if a record has been sealed or removed from the public file.

Note: Expunged Alamance County criminal records are removed from public view and will not appear in standard searches.

Alamance County Register of Deeds

The Alamance County Register of Deeds handles property records, liens, and other documents that may connect to criminal cases. For instance, a criminal restitution order or a lien from a court judgment may be filed with this office. While the Register of Deeds does not keep criminal records directly, it can be a useful source when tracing the full impact of a criminal case in Alamance County.

The Register of Deeds office provides online access to many of its records.

Visit alamance-nc.com/register-of-deeds to search property and lien records for Alamance County.

North Carolina Criminal Records Laws

Criminal records in Alamance County fall under North Carolina's Public Records Act. This law gives the public broad access to government records, including court records and arrest records. The core statute is N.C.G.S. 132-1, which says that records made or received by state agencies belong to the people.

There are limits. Law enforcement records that could compromise an investigation have some protection under N.C.G.S. 132-1.4. Juvenile criminal records in Alamance County are not open to the public in most cases. Records that have been expunged under N.C.G.S. 15A-145.5 are also removed from public access. But for adult criminal cases that have reached a final outcome, the records are almost always open for public viewing in Alamance County.

The North Carolina Department of Administration provides guidance on how public records requests work across the state, including for criminal records in Alamance County.

Note: Juvenile case records in Alamance County are sealed and not available for public search.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Alamance County. If the person you are searching for lived in a neighboring area, their criminal records may be filed in a different county courthouse.