New Hanover County Criminal Records in Wilmington

New Hanover County criminal records are available through the Clerk of Superior Court in Wilmington, North Carolina. The courthouse on Princess Street serves as the primary location for criminal case filings. The New Hanover County Sheriff's Office also maintains arrest records and operates a Records Division for public requests. Both offices provide assistance with criminal record searches during regular business hours. This guide covers how to access criminal records from New Hanover County offices in Wilmington.

New Hanover County Clerk of Court Criminal Records

The New Hanover County Clerk of Superior Court is located at 316 Princess Street in Wilmington, NC 28401. The phone number is (910) 772-6600. This office manages all criminal case records filed in New Hanover County courts. Superior Court handles felony charges while District Court processes misdemeanor cases. Both levels of court produce criminal records that are stored and maintained at the courthouse in Wilmington.

Criminal records at the New Hanover County courthouse include charging documents, court orders, plea records, trial records, and sentencing information. Each case receives a unique case number that is used to track the record through the system. The clerk's staff can search criminal records by defendant name or by case number. Visitors can request copies at the counter during business hours, Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.

The New Hanover County public records page provides details on accessing records in Wilmington.

Visit newhanoverrecords.us for an overview of public record access in New Hanover County.

Under N.C.G.S. 132-1, criminal records in New Hanover County are public documents. Anyone may request to view or copy these files without providing a reason. The New Hanover County courthouse in Wilmington sees a high volume of record requests due to the city's population, so allow extra time during busy periods.

Obtaining Criminal Records in New Hanover County

New Hanover County offers both certified and uncertified copies of criminal records. A certified copy costs $25 and bears the official seal of the clerk's office. Certified copies are often required for legal proceedings and official submissions. Uncertified copies cost $3 per page and are suitable for personal reference. Both types of copies can be obtained at the clerk's counter in the Wilmington courthouse.

The criminal records page for New Hanover County details the costs and procedures for obtaining records.

Go to newhanoverrecords.us/criminal-records for detailed information about criminal record requests in New Hanover County.

When requesting criminal records from the New Hanover County courthouse, you should have the full legal name of the individual whose records you are seeking. A date of birth helps narrow results when common names are involved. If you have a case number, the clerk can pull the specific criminal record file directly. The Records Division at the sheriff's office can also be reached at (910) 798-4190 for arrest record inquiries.

New Hanover County Sheriff Criminal Records

The New Hanover County Sheriff's Office is located at 3950 Juvenile Center Road in Castle Hayne, NC 28429. The main phone number is (910) 798-4200. The sheriff maintains arrest records, booking data, and incident reports for New Hanover County. The Records Division handles public requests for arrest records and can be reached at (910) 798-4190.

Arrest records from the New Hanover County Sheriff document when a person was taken into custody, the charges filed at booking, and the bond amount. These records are separate from the court's criminal case files. An arrest in New Hanover County does not equal a conviction. Many arrests lead to charges that are later amended, reduced, or dismissed. The court record from the clerk's office shows the final outcome of each criminal case.

Under N.C.G.S. 132-1.4, certain records held by the New Hanover County Sheriff may be restricted during active investigations. After a case reaches its conclusion, the full records become available for public review.

Criminal History Searches and Expunction in New Hanover County

A criminal records search limited to New Hanover County only returns cases filed in this jurisdiction. For a statewide search, the NC State Bureau of Investigation offers fingerprint-based criminal history checks covering all 100 North Carolina counties. This is the most thorough way to discover criminal records that may exist outside New Hanover County.

Certain criminal records in New Hanover County qualify for expunction under N.C.G.S. 15A-145.5. Eligible cases include dismissed charges, not guilty verdicts, and certain first-time offenses after a waiting period. The expunction petition is filed through the clerk's office at the Wilmington courthouse. An expunged record is removed from public access and will not appear in standard criminal record searches in New Hanover County.

The NC Courts website provides guidance on how court records are managed across the state. The NC eCourts system at portal-nc.tylertech.cloud is expanding electronic access to criminal records in New Hanover County and other North Carolina jurisdictions.

What New Hanover County Criminal Records Contain

Criminal records from New Hanover County document each stage of a case from arrest through final disposition. A typical record includes the defendant's name and identifying details, criminal charges, court dates, hearing outcomes, and the final disposition with sentencing information. The clerk maintains these files permanently at the Wilmington courthouse unless a court grants an expunction order. Both felony and misdemeanor criminal records are preserved in the New Hanover County court system for the full duration of the record.

Nearby Counties

Offenses that took place near the New Hanover County border may have criminal records filed in an adjacent county.