Davidson County Criminal Records Access
Davidson County criminal records are available through the Clerk of Superior Court in Lexington, North Carolina. Lexington is the county seat and houses the main courthouse on West Center Street. Criminal case filings, arrest records, and related documents are accessible to the public through the clerk's office and the Davidson County Sheriff's Office. This page covers how to search and obtain criminal records in Davidson County.
Davidson County Criminal Records at the Courthouse
The Clerk of Superior Court in Davidson County manages all criminal case records. The courthouse is at 110 W Center Street in Lexington, NC 27293. For criminal case inquiries, call (336) 242-6701 or the criminal division at extension 249-0351. The office maintains files for felonies heard in Superior Court and misdemeanors handled in District Court.
Criminal records in Davidson County are public under N.C.G.S. 132-1. You can visit the courthouse and request to view any criminal case file. The clerk searches by defendant name or case number. You do not need to be involved in the case to access Davidson County criminal records.
The Davidson County Clerk of Court page shows office details and services for the public.
Visit nccourts.gov for court hours and judge schedules in Davidson County.
The clerk's office handles a steady volume of criminal cases. Davidson County sits in the Piedmont region of North Carolina. The county includes Lexington, Thomasville, and several smaller towns. All criminal charges from these areas are filed at the courthouse in Lexington.
| Court |
Davidson County Clerk of Superior Court 110 W Center Street Lexington, NC 27293 Phone: (336) 242-6701 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | nccourts.gov/locations/davidson-county |
How to Look Up Davidson County Criminal Records
There are several ways to search criminal records in Davidson County. In-person visits give you access to full case files. Online tools provide basic case information. The approach you take depends on what level of detail you need.
To visit in person, go to 110 W Center Street in Lexington. Bring a valid ID. Tell the clerk what you are looking for. They can pull criminal case files within minutes for recent cases. Older Davidson County criminal records may be in off-site storage and could take longer to retrieve.
Some records may be restricted. Under N.C.G.S. 132-1.4, certain law enforcement records are exempt from public access. Sealed and expunged records will not appear in Davidson County criminal records searches. The clerk can tell you if a record has been removed from the public file.
The NC eCourts portal at portal-nc.tylertech.cloud is expanding across the state. Davidson County criminal records may be available through this electronic system as it rolls out.
Note: Common names may return multiple results when searching Davidson County criminal records, so having a date of birth or case number helps narrow results.
Davidson County Sheriff Arrest Records
The Davidson County Sheriff's Office manages arrest records. The office is at 110 West Center Street in Lexington, NC 27292. Call (336) 242-2105 for arrest record inquiries. The sheriff creates booking records when a person is arrested in Davidson County. These records include the person's name, charges, arrest date, and bond details.
Arrest records are public in Davidson County. They are separate from court case files. An arrest record means a person was detained. It does not indicate guilt. Court records show the outcome of criminal proceedings. You may need records from both offices for a full picture of criminal records in Davidson County.
The sheriff can restrict access to arrest records tied to open investigations under N.C.G.S. 132-1.4. Once a case closes, the full record becomes available. The Davidson County Sheriff's Office also assists other agencies with warrant service and criminal investigations within the county.
Statewide Criminal History for Davidson County
A Davidson County search only covers local cases. The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation runs statewide criminal history checks. These searches are fingerprint-based. They pull records from all 100 North Carolina counties. If someone has criminal records in Davidson County and elsewhere, the SBI check will show both.
Under N.C.G.S. 15A-145.5, some Davidson County criminal records may be eligible for expunction. Expunged records do not appear in public searches. The clerk can confirm if a particular record has been expunged.
The NC Courts help page explains how to access court records across the state. This includes information on record types, fees, and methods of access for Davidson County and all other North Carolina counties.
Note: The Davidson County Register of Deeds at 203 West 2nd Street in Lexington handles property records and liens that may relate to criminal restitution cases.
Davidson County Criminal Records Under State Law
North Carolina's Public Records Act gives broad access to criminal records in Davidson County. The statute is N.C.G.S. 132-1. It says government records belong to the people. Court filings, arrest records, and criminal history data held by Davidson County offices are included.
Exceptions apply. Juvenile records are sealed. Active investigation records may be restricted. Expunged records are removed. But adult criminal cases with a final outcome are open to the public in Davidson County. You can view them at the courthouse or request copies.
The NC Sex Offender Registry at sexoffender.ncsbi.gov is another tool for checking criminal records. It covers all of North Carolina, including Davidson County. Registration is required for qualifying offenses under state law.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Davidson County. Criminal records for a person may be filed in a neighboring county if the offense occurred outside Davidson County.