Asheville Criminal History Records
Asheville criminal history records are held by several agencies in Buncombe County. The city sits in the mountains of western North Carolina and serves as the county seat. Those who need criminal history from Asheville can search through the Buncombe County Clerk of Court, the Asheville Police Department, and state databases. Each source holds a different type of record. Knowing where to look saves time and helps you find the right criminal history data.
Asheville Police Criminal History Access
The Asheville Police Department handles crime reports and incident records for the city. APD is located at 100 Court Plaza, Asheville NC 28801. The mailing address is PO Box 7148, Asheville NC 28802. You can reach the records unit at (828) 259-5870. The non-emergency line is 828-252-1110.
APD offers a public records request portal through JustFOIA. Visit the Asheville JustFOIA portal to submit a request. You can ask for incident reports, crash reports, and other police documents through this tool. Crash reports and standard police reports are free in Asheville. Requests are handled under NCGS 132-1, the state public records law. Staff process these requests and send results back to you.
Asheville also runs a Police to Citizen portal, known as P2C. This tool shows events, arrests, and incidents dating back to 2003. It is free and open to the public. The P2C portal is useful for quick lookups. It gives basic details on calls for service, arrest data, and incident reports filed by Asheville police. For a full criminal history, you still need to check with the Buncombe County Clerk of Court.
Note: Police reports from APD show what officers documented at the scene. They are not the same as court records, which track the legal outcome of a criminal case in Asheville.
Asheville Criminal Records Open Data
The City of Asheville publishes open data sets online. These include contracts, salaries, and use of force data from the police department. The open data program adds transparency to city operations. You can reach the open government team at opengov@ashevillenc.gov for questions about available data sets.
Use of force data from Asheville police is public. This data shows when officers used force during encounters. It is part of a broader push for transparency in Asheville. The data does not include full criminal history details, but it does give context on law enforcement activity in the city. Open data sets are updated on a regular basis and can be accessed through the city website at ashevillenc.gov.
Buncombe County Criminal History Records
The Buncombe County Clerk of Superior Court is the main source for criminal history records in Asheville. Call (828) 259-3000 for hours and case information. Court records are public under NCGS 132-1, which means most criminal case files can be viewed by anyone. This includes charges, trial dates, verdicts, and sentencing details for cases filed in Asheville.
You can search criminal records in Buncombe County through the North Carolina eCourts portal. This free tool lets you look up cases by name or case number. It covers all courts in Asheville and the rest of Buncombe County. The portal shows basic case data like charges, court dates, and dispositions. For full documents or certified copies, visit the clerk in person or call first. Certified copies cost $25 per document.
Buncombe County courts handle cases from all towns in the county. Every criminal charge filed in Asheville goes through this court system. The clerk can search by name and date of birth. Results show all criminal cases filed in Buncombe County courts. This is the best way to get a full local criminal history check tied to Asheville.
State Criminal History for Asheville
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation maintains the statewide criminal history database. This covers all arrests and convictions across the state, including Asheville. You can request a state-level check through the NCSBI. The SBI database pulls records from all 100 counties. A state search gives a broader picture than a local check limited to Buncombe County.
State criminal history checks are governed by NCGS 114-19. The SBI charges a fee for these searches. Results show arrests, charges, and dispositions from across North Carolina. If someone lived in Asheville but had charges in other counties, those will show up on a state check but not on a local one. Many people run both searches to get a full picture of criminal history tied to Asheville residents.
The NC Department of Public Safety at ncdps.gov offers an offender search tool. Visit the offender search page to look up anyone currently or formerly in the state prison system. This covers people convicted of felonies in Asheville who served time in state prison. The tool is free and shows offense details, sentence length, and release dates.
Criminal History Expunctions in Asheville
Some criminal records in Asheville can be erased through expunction. North Carolina law allows certain charges and convictions to be removed from a person's criminal history. The rules are in NCGS 15A-145 through 15A-150. Not all records qualify. The type of charge, the outcome, and how much time has passed all matter.
Dismissed charges are often eligible. So are some first-time convictions after a waiting period. You file the petition at the Buncombe County Clerk of Court. Forms are free at nccourts.gov/documents/forms. A judge reviews the petition and decides whether to grant it. If approved, the record is removed from public view. Law enforcement can still see expunged records in limited cases, but they will not show up on most searches in Asheville.
Free legal help with expunctions in Asheville may be available through Legal Aid of North Carolina. They can review your case and help with the paperwork. The nccourts.gov expunctions page has more details on the full process.
Note: Expunged records are not available through public records requests, even under NCGS 132-1.
Asheville Records and Public Access
North Carolina has strong public records laws. Under NCGS 132-1, most government records are open to the public. This includes criminal history records held by Asheville police, the courts, and county offices. You do not need to give a reason to ask for criminal records. Agencies must provide them promptly. NCGS 132-6.2 sets rules for how copies are provided and what fees can be charged.
Asheville police reports and crash reports are available at no cost through the JustFOIA portal. Court records from the Buncombe County clerk require a fee for certified copies. The eCourts portal provides free basic data online. Between these sources, most criminal history tied to Asheville can be found without visiting an office in person. For detailed records or certified documents, plan a trip to the courthouse or send a written request to the clerk.
Buncombe County Criminal History
Asheville is in Buncombe County. All criminal cases filed in Asheville go through the Buncombe County court system. The county clerk, sheriff, and district attorney all play a role in criminal history records. For more on county-level resources, fees, and record access across all of Buncombe County, visit the full county page.