Craven County Criminal Records Search

Craven County criminal records are managed by the Clerk of Superior Court in New Bern, North Carolina. The county seat has served as the center for criminal case filings in Craven County since the colonial era. Public access to criminal records is available through the courthouse on Broad Street and through the sheriff's office on Clarks Road. Whether you need arrest records, court case details, or criminal history data, several offices in Craven County can assist. This page explains how to find and obtain criminal records from Craven County offices.

Craven County Clerk of Court Criminal Records

The Clerk of Superior Court handles all criminal records in Craven County. This office maintains case files for felony and misdemeanor charges heard in Craven County courts. Superior Court handles felony cases and civil matters over $25,000. District Court covers misdemeanors. Both courts operate from the courthouse at 302 Broad Street in New Bern, NC 28560. You can reach the clerk at (252) 639-3000.

Criminal records in Craven County are public. North Carolina law under N.C.G.S. 132-1 grants broad access to government records. Anyone can visit the courthouse and request to view a criminal case file. You do not need to be involved in the case. The clerk can pull records by defendant name or case number. Some records may be partially restricted under N.C.G.S. 132-1.4, which protects certain law enforcement materials.

The Craven County criminal records guide provides details on how to request records from the clerk's office.

Visit cravenrecords.us/criminal-records for a full overview of how criminal records work in Craven County.

It is important to understand the difference between arrest records and conviction records in Craven County. An arrest record shows that a person was taken into custody. It does not mean guilt. A conviction record shows that a court found a person guilty or the person entered a plea. Both types appear in Craven County criminal records, but they carry different weight.

Note: Craven County criminal records from the colonial period may be held at the North Carolina State Archives rather than the local courthouse.

Searching Criminal Records in Craven County

There are several ways to look up criminal records in Craven County. Online tools provide basic case data. In-person visits give you access to full court files. The method you choose depends on what you need and how quickly you need it.

The Craven County court records portal lets you search criminal case filings online. You can look up cases by name or case number. The site shows charges, court dates, and outcomes for criminal records filed in Craven County.

Go to cravenrecords.us/court-records to start searching Craven County court records online.

You can also visit the courthouse in person. Bring a valid ID. The clerk staff will search by name and pull the criminal case files you need. Older Craven County criminal records may be stored off-site and could take extra time to retrieve. The North Carolina State Archives holds historical records for Craven County dating back to the colonial period, accessible through their research guide.

To search Craven County criminal records, you will need at least one piece of identifying information:

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

Craven County Sheriff Criminal Records

The Craven County Sheriff's Office maintains arrest records and booking data for the county. The office is located at 1100 Clarks Road in New Bern, NC 28562. You can call (252) 636-6620 for records requests. When a person is arrested in Craven County, the sheriff creates a booking record with the person's name, charges, date, and bond amount.

Arrest records are separate from court records. They document the initial detention. Court records track what happens after charges are filed. Both sets of records are public in Craven County under state law. The sheriff may charge a fee for copies.

The Craven County Sheriff's Office website shows arrest and booking information.

Check cravencountync.gov/sheriff for the latest arrest data from Craven County.

Under N.C.G.S. 132-1.4, the sheriff can withhold parts of arrest records that might compromise an active investigation. Once a case is closed, the full record is typically available to the public in Craven County.

Note: Juvenile criminal records in Craven County are protected under N.C.G.S. 7B-3000 and are not available for public viewing.

Criminal History Checks in Craven County

A criminal history check goes beyond Craven County. The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation runs statewide searches. These checks pull criminal records from every county in the state, not just Craven County. The SBI search is fingerprint-based and covers arrests and convictions across North Carolina.

Local Craven County criminal records only include cases filed in this county. If a person has records in other counties, those will not appear in a Craven County search. For a complete picture, you may want both a local search and an SBI check. The clerk handles local records. The SBI handles statewide criminal history.

Some Craven County criminal records may qualify for expunction. Under N.C.G.S. 15A-145.5, certain offenses can be removed from public records. Expunged records will not appear in standard searches. The Craven County clerk's office can confirm whether a specific record has been sealed or expunged.

Craven County Criminal Records and State Law

Criminal records in Craven County fall under the North Carolina Public Records Act. The core statute is N.C.G.S. 132-1. It says that government records belong to the people. This includes court files, arrest records, and criminal history maintained by Craven County offices.

There are exceptions. Records tied to active investigations may be withheld. Juvenile records are sealed. Expunged records are removed from public access. But for adult criminal cases with a final disposition, the records are almost always open in Craven County. You can request them at the courthouse or through a public records request.

The NC Courts website provides guidance on accessing court records across North Carolina, including Craven County criminal records. The NC eCourts system is expanding access to electronic records statewide.

Note: The NC eCourts portal may provide additional online access to Craven County criminal records as the system continues to roll out across the state.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Craven County. Criminal records for a person may be filed in a neighboring county if the offense occurred there.