Durham County Criminal Records Search
Durham County criminal records are managed by the Clerk of Superior Court at 510 South Dillard Street in Durham, North Carolina. Durham is a major urban county in the Triangle region of the state. The clerk's office handles criminal, civil, probate, family, and traffic divisions. Criminal records from across Durham County are filed and stored at this location. The Durham County Sheriff also maintains arrest records and provides fingerprint services. This guide covers how to access criminal records in Durham County.
Durham County Clerk of Court Criminal Records
The Clerk of Superior Court in Durham County is the primary keeper of criminal case records. The office is at 510 South Dillard Street in Durham, NC 27701. The mailing address is PO Box 609. Call (919) 808-3000 for general inquiries. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.
Durham County criminal records include case files for felonies and misdemeanors. The criminal division handles all criminal case filings. The traffic division handles motor vehicle offenses. Both are part of the clerk's office. Each case file contains charges, court dates, plea entries, verdicts, and sentencing details.
The Durham County Clerk of Court page provides details on office services and contact information.
Visit durhamcountycourts.org/clerk-of-court for information about the Durham County Clerk of Superior Court.
Criminal records in Durham County are public under N.C.G.S. 132-1. Walk into the clerk's office and request to view a case file. The clerk can search by name or case number. You do not need to be a party in the case. Some records may be partially restricted under N.C.G.S. 132-1.4.
| Court |
Durham County Clerk of Superior Court 510 South Dillard Street Durham, NC 27701 Phone: (919) 808-3000 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | durhamcountycourts.org/clerk-of-court |
Searching Durham County Criminal Records
There are multiple ways to find criminal records in Durham County. Online tools offer quick access to basic case data. In-person visits let you review full case files and get copies on the spot. The method you pick depends on what you need.
The Durham County court services page provides an additional way to search for criminal records and court case information.
Go to Durham County court services for additional record search options.
For an in-person visit, go to 510 South Dillard Street in Durham. Bring your ID. The clerk can search criminal records by name or case number. Recent cases are retrieved quickly. Older Durham County criminal records may take more time if stored off-site.
To search effectively, have at least one of these ready:
- Full legal name of the person
- Date of birth
- Case number if known
Note: Durham County handles a high volume of criminal cases due to its urban population, so searches by common names may produce many results.
Durham County Sheriff Criminal Records
The Durham County Sheriff maintains arrest records through its Records Division. Call (919) 560-0899 for records requests. The sheriff's office creates booking records when a person is arrested in Durham County. These records include the person's name, charges, arrest date, and bond information.
The Durham County Sheriff also offers fingerprint services for $15. Report copies cost $3. These services are available through the Records Division. Arrest records in Durham County are public under N.C.G.S. 132-1. You can request copies in person or by mail.
Some arrest records may be restricted if tied to an open investigation under N.C.G.S. 132-1.4. Once the case is resolved, the full record is accessible. Visit the Durham County Sheriff's records division for details on the Durham County Sheriff's records services.
Statewide Criminal History from Durham County
A Durham County search only covers local cases. For a statewide criminal history check, contact the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. The SBI runs fingerprint-based searches. They pull criminal records from all 100 counties in North Carolina.
Durham County criminal records provide case-level detail. The SBI check provides a state-level summary. You may need both for a thorough review. The Durham County clerk handles local case files. The SBI handles the statewide search.
Under N.C.G.S. 15A-145.5, some Durham County criminal records may qualify for expunction. Expunged records are removed from public view. They will not appear in any search. The clerk can confirm if a record has been expunged.
Note: The NC Sex Offender Registry at sexoffender.ncsbi.gov covers all of North Carolina, including Durham County registrants.
Durham County Records Under State Law
Criminal records in Durham County fall under North Carolina's Public Records Act. The law is N.C.G.S. 132-1. Government records belong to the people. This includes court files, arrest records, and criminal history data held by Durham County offices.
There are limits. Juvenile records are sealed. Active investigation records may be restricted. Expunged records are erased. But adult criminal cases with a final disposition are open in Durham County. The NC Courts website explains court records access across the state.
The NC eCourts portal at portal-nc.tylertech.cloud is expanding access to electronic records statewide. Durham County criminal records may be available through this system as it continues its rollout across North Carolina. The NC Sex Offender Registry covers all counties, including Durham County. The NC Department of Administration can help resolve questions about public records access in Durham County. Contact them if you encounter difficulties obtaining criminal records from any county office. The courthouse on South Dillard Street in Durham remains the primary location for accessing criminal case files and requesting official copies of court documents.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Durham County. Criminal records for a person may be on file in a neighboring county if the offense took place there.