Criminal Records for Buncombe County

Buncombe County criminal records are held at the courthouse in Asheville, North Carolina. As the most populous county in western North Carolina, Buncombe County processes a large number of criminal cases each year. The Clerk of Superior Court in Judicial District 40 handles all criminal filings. The county also has alternative sentencing programs and specialty courts. This guide covers how to search court records, arrest records, and criminal history in Buncombe County.

Buncombe County Criminal Court Records

The Buncombe County Clerk of Superior Court is at 60 Court Plaza in Asheville, NC 28801. The phone number is (828) 259-3400. This office stores all criminal case files for the county. Buncombe County is part of Judicial District 40 and handles a high volume of criminal cases due to its large population and role as a regional hub.

The NC Judicial Branch website provides official court information for Buncombe County.

Visit nccourts.gov/locations/buncombe-county for court schedules, office hours, and contact details.

Criminal records in Buncombe County are public under N.C.G.S. 132-1, also known as the North Carolina Public Records Act. Any person can visit the clerk's office and ask to see a criminal case file. You do not need to be involved in the case. The clerk searches by name or case number. Viewing is free. Copies have a per-page fee, and certified copies cost more.

Buncombe County has specialty courts that handle certain criminal matters differently. The county operates veteran treatment court and family treatment court programs. These courts focus on rehabilitation for qualifying defendants. Criminal records from specialty courts are still filed with the clerk and are accessible to the public.

Note: Buncombe County's courthouse in downtown Asheville can be busy, so plan for possible wait times during peak hours.

Searching Buncombe County Criminal Records Online

Several online tools give access to Buncombe County criminal records. The NC eCourts portal is the primary state system for court records. Search by name to find criminal cases from Buncombe County. The portal shows charges, hearing dates, case status, and outcomes. It is free for basic case information.

The Buncombe County court records page has additional details about online access.

Check nccourtaccess.org/buncombe-county for options to search Buncombe County criminal records.

The Buncombe County criminal records guide provides local search tools as well. The Police to Citizen Portal is one local resource. Visit buncomberecords.us/criminal-records for details on searching criminal records in Buncombe County through local systems.

Online systems work well for recent cases. Older Buncombe County criminal records may only be at the courthouse in paper form. For a complete search, use both online and in-person methods.

Buncombe County Sheriff Arrest Records

The Buncombe County Sheriff's Office maintains arrest records for the county. The sheriff can be reached at (828) 250-4503. When a person is arrested in Buncombe County, a booking record is created with the person's name, charges, arrest date, and bond information.

Arrest records in Buncombe County are public under N.C.G.S. 132-1. You can request them from the sheriff's office. Some records connected to active investigations may be limited per N.C.G.S. 132-1.4. Buncombe County sees a higher volume of arrests than most western North Carolina counties, so the sheriff's office has a larger database of arrest records.

Visit the Buncombe County Sheriff's Office website for information about the Buncombe County Sheriff's Office.

Buncombe County Criminal Record Expunction

Some Buncombe County criminal records can be expunged. Under N.C.G.S. 15A-145.5, qualifying nonviolent convictions may be removed from the public record after a waiting period. Dismissed cases and not guilty verdicts may also qualify for expunction in Buncombe County.

The petition for expunction is filed at the Buncombe County courthouse. A judge reviews it. If granted, the criminal record is sealed from public view. It will not appear in searches at the clerk's office or online. The Buncombe County criminal records guide at buncomberecords.us notes that public access to records is governed by N.C.G.S. 132-1, and expunged records are an exception to that access.

Note: Expunction in Buncombe County requires filing a petition with the court and meeting specific eligibility criteria under state law.

Buncombe County Related Records

The Buncombe County Register of Deeds is at 35 Woodfin Street in Asheville, NC 28801. This office records property documents, liens, and judgments. Criminal cases in Buncombe County sometimes lead to liens on property when courts order fines or restitution. Check the Buncombe County Register of Deeds website for property records.

The North Carolina SBI offers statewide criminal history checks. A Buncombe County search covers only local cases. The SBI check pulls records from all 100 counties using fingerprints. For a full criminal history, the SBI search is the most thorough option.

The NC Sex Offender Registry is free and lists registered offenders in Buncombe County. The NC Department of Administration provides guidance on public records requests if you encounter any issues accessing criminal records in Buncombe County.

The NC eCourts portal at portal-nc.tylertech.cloud continues to expand electronic access to court records across the state. Buncombe County criminal records are increasingly available through this statewide system. The Buncombe County clerk's office in downtown Asheville remains the best starting point for any criminal record request. Whether you search online or visit the courthouse, criminal records from Buncombe County are available under state law to anyone who asks.

Note: Buncombe County criminal records from specialty courts follow the same public access rules as standard criminal cases.

Nearby Counties

Buncombe County is in the heart of western North Carolina. These neighboring counties each maintain their own criminal records at their courthouses.