Search Burke County Criminal Records
Burke County criminal records are maintained at the courthouse in Morganton, North Carolina. Part of Judicial District 36 and the 25B Judicial District, Burke County sits in the western foothills along the Catawba River. The Clerk of Superior Court handles all criminal case filings, and the county also has a Family Court division. The Sheriff's Office and Register of Deeds hold related records. Below is a complete guide to finding criminal records in Burke County.
Burke County Criminal Court Records
The Burke County Clerk of Superior Court is at 201 South Green Street in Morganton, NC 28655. The phone number is (828) 433-3200. This office processes and stores all criminal case files for Burke County. Both Superior Court felony cases and District Court misdemeanor cases are handled here.
Burke County is part of the NC Judicial Branch court system. The state page for Burke County provides courthouse information.
Go to nccourts.gov/locations/burke-county for court schedules, directions, and contact details for Burke County.
Burke County also operates a Family Court. While Family Court deals primarily with domestic matters, some cases cross over into criminal territory. Domestic violence cases, for example, may involve both protective orders in Family Court and criminal charges in the main criminal court. All criminal records, regardless of which court division handled them, are filed with the clerk in Burke County.
Under N.C.G.S. 132-1, criminal records in Burke County are public. You can visit the clerk's office and ask to view any adult criminal case file. No appointment is needed. Copies are available for a fee.
| Court |
Burke County Clerk of Superior Court 201 South Green Street Morganton, NC 28655 Phone: (828) 433-3200 |
|---|---|
| District | Judicial District 36 / 25B Judicial District |
| Website | nccourts.gov/locations/burke-county |
Online Burke County Criminal Records Search
You can search Burke County criminal records online through the state eCourts system. The NC eCourts portal lets you look up cases by defendant name or case number. Results include charges, court dates, and the current status of each case. Basic searches are free.
The Burke County court records page offers local access information.
Visit nccourtaccess.org/burke-county to learn more about accessing Burke County criminal records.
Online results are helpful for quick checks but may not include every record. Older Burke County criminal records filed before the digital era may only exist in paper form at the Morganton courthouse. For a complete search, use both online tools and the clerk's office. The online system continues to grow as more Burke County records are digitized.
Note: The NC eCourts system is free for basic searches of Burke County criminal records, but document copies require a separate request.
Burke County Sheriff Arrest Records
The Burke County Sheriff's Office is at 110 Government Drive in Morganton, NC 28655. The phone number is (828) 438-5500. The sheriff creates booking records each time a person is arrested in Burke County. These records include the person's name, charges, booking date, and bond amount.
The Burke County Sheriff's Office provides law enforcement services across the county.
Check burkenc.org/sheriff for contact information and services from the Burke County Sheriff.
Arrest records in Burke County are public under North Carolina law. Request them from the sheriff's office in person or by mail. Under N.C.G.S. 132-1.4, records tied to active criminal investigations may have some restricted portions. Once charges are formally filed, arrest records become part of the public court file in Burke County.
| Sheriff |
Burke County Sheriff's Office 110 Government Drive Morganton, NC 28655 Phone: (828) 438-5500 |
|---|
Criminal Record Expunction in Burke County
North Carolina allows expunction of certain criminal records. Under N.C.G.S. 15A-145.5, people with qualifying nonviolent convictions can petition to have their Burke County criminal records sealed. The petition is filed at the courthouse in Morganton. A judge decides whether to grant it.
If approved, the record is removed from public access in Burke County. It will not show up in clerk searches or online portal results. Dismissed cases and acquittals may also qualify for expunction under different sections of the statute. Each type has its own eligibility rules and waiting periods.
The NC courts help page explains more about how court records work in North Carolina, including what records are available and what can be expunged. Burke County follows the same rules as every other county in the state.
Burke County Related Records
The Burke County Register of Deeds records property documents and liens. Criminal judgments in Burke County may lead to liens filed at this office. Visit the Burke County Register of Deeds website for property and lien records.
For a statewide criminal history check, the North Carolina SBI provides fingerprint-based searches that cover all 100 counties. A Burke County search only shows local cases. The SBI search shows everything on file across the state. The NC Sex Offender Registry is free and lists registered offenders in Burke County and throughout North Carolina.
The NC Department of Administration can help if you have trouble getting criminal records from any Burke County office. Contact them for assistance with public records disputes in Burke County or other North Carolina counties.
The NC eCourts portal at portal-nc.tylertech.cloud provides another way to look up criminal records from Burke County and across North Carolina.
The Morganton courthouse serves as the sole filing location for all criminal cases that occur anywhere within Burke County boundaries.
Note: All criminal cases in Burke County, including those from local police departments in Morganton and Valdese, are filed at the county courthouse.
Nearby Counties
Burke County borders several counties in the western foothills of North Carolina. Criminal records from these areas are filed at their respective courthouses.