Durham Criminal History Records
Durham criminal history records are maintained by the Durham Police Department, Durham County Sheriff, and Durham County Clerk of Court. Durham is the county seat of Durham County and part of the Research Triangle area. Searching for criminal history in Durham involves knowing which agency holds the records you need. This page covers how to access criminal history through each Durham office, what to expect from online tools, and how state resources can supplement a local search.
Durham Police Criminal History Access
The Durham Police Department has two main offices. The headquarters is at 505 W. Chapel Hill Street. The other office is at 602 E. Main Street, Durham NC 27701. The general line is (919) 560-4427. The records division is at (919) 560-4423. The fax number is (919) 560-4987. Contact the records unit for police reports and incident records from Durham.
DPD processes records requests under NCGS 132-1, the state public records law. Police reports from Durham show details about specific incidents. They include names, dates, locations, and charges. These are different from a full criminal history. A police report covers one event. A criminal history covers all of a person's arrests and court cases in Durham.
Records requests by mail take 5 to 7 business days to process in Durham. You need to provide the report number, your driver license number, or enough details to locate the record. In-person requests at the records window may be faster. Call ahead at (919) 560-4423 to ask what you need to bring for criminal history requests at DPD.
Note: Mail requests for Durham police records take 5 to 7 business days, so plan ahead if you have a deadline for your criminal history search.
Durham Criminal Records Online
Durham Police runs a Police-to-Citizen portal at durhampdnc.policetocitizen.com. This free tool lets you search recent incidents, arrests, and calls for service in Durham. The portal is updated regularly. It shows booking information, charges, and basic case details. It is not a complete criminal history tool, but it covers recent criminal activity in Durham.
Durham County has a separate online records request system at dconc.gov. This portal accepts requests for records from any county department. You can ask for sheriff records, court documents, and other public files tied to criminal history in Durham County. Requests are processed under North Carolina public records law. Response times depend on the size and type of request.
The North Carolina eCourts portal covers Durham County court records. Search by name to find all criminal cases filed in Durham. The portal shows charges, court dates, and outcomes for free. For copies of actual documents, contact the Durham County Clerk of Court. This is the best free online starting point for criminal history from Durham courts.
Durham County Sheriff Criminal Records
The Durham County Sheriff manages the county jail and processes all arrests in Durham. The sheriff records office can be reached at (919) 560-0897 or (919) 560-0900. They keep booking records, mugshots, and arrest logs. Mugshots from the Durham County Sheriff cost between $5 and $10 depending on the format.
The sheriff records show who was booked into the Durham County jail, what charges they faced, and their bond status. This is useful for recent arrests. For older criminal history records from Durham, the clerk of court is a better source. The sheriff focuses on current and recent detention records. The clerk has the full court file going back many years for criminal cases in Durham.
Durham County Criminal Court Records
The Durham County Clerk of Superior Court is at 510 South Dillard Street. Call (919) 808-3000 for information. All criminal cases from Durham are filed here. Court records are public under NCGS 132-1. The clerk keeps files for both district court and superior court criminal cases originating in Durham.
You can access criminal court records from Durham in several ways:
- Search the eCourts portal by name or case number
- Visit the clerk at 510 South Dillard Street in person
- Call (919) 808-3000 for case information
- Submit a written records request
Court records from Durham include all charges, plea entries, trial results, and sentencing details. Misdemeanors go through district court. Felonies are heard in superior court. Both levels of criminal records are available from the clerk. Certified copies carry the court seal and cost more than plain copies. The clerk can tell you exact fees for criminal history records from Durham County courts.
Note: The Durham County Clerk of Court at 510 South Dillard Street handles all certified criminal history copies from the county court system.
State Criminal History for Durham
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation maintains the statewide criminal history database. A state check under NCGS 114-19 covers all arrests and convictions across North Carolina. This is wider than a Durham-only search. If someone had charges in Durham and in another county, both appear on the state criminal history report.
The NC Department of Public Safety runs a free offender search at the offender search page. It shows anyone who served time in state prison, including those convicted of felonies in Durham. The tool is open to the public at no cost. It shows conviction details, sentence length, and release information for people from Durham who went to state prison.
For the fullest criminal history picture on someone tied to Durham, combine a local check with a state check. The local search covers Durham County records. The state search covers the rest of North Carolina. Together they provide a thorough criminal history review for Durham.
Criminal History Expungement in Durham
North Carolina law allows some criminal records to be erased. NCGS 15A-145 through 15A-150 govern the process. Dismissed charges often qualify for expungement. Some first offenses may also be eligible after a waiting period. The rules depend on the charge type and case outcome for criminal history records in Durham.
You file the petition at the Durham County Clerk of Court. A judge reviews the request. If granted, the criminal history entry is removed from public view. Most searches will no longer show the expunged record from Durham. The NC Judicial Branch forms page has the required paperwork. Legal Aid of North Carolina offers free help to people who qualify based on income for criminal history expungement in Durham.
Durham Criminal Records and Public Law
Criminal history records in Durham are subject to North Carolina public records law. NCGS 132-1 makes government records open to the public. No reason is needed to request criminal records. NCGS 132-6.2 allows agencies to charge a fair fee for copies. These rules apply to every office in Durham that holds criminal history records, from the police department to the clerk of court.
Exceptions exist for sealed cases, expunged records, and juvenile files. Active investigation records may be withheld until the case closes. If Durham denies a records request, they must cite the specific statute. You can challenge a denial in court if you believe the criminal history records should be public under North Carolina law.
Note: All criminal history records in Durham are presumed public under NCGS 132-1 unless a specific statute restricts access.
Durham County Criminal History
Durham is the county seat of Durham County. All criminal cases from the city go through Durham County courts. The clerk, sheriff, and district attorney manage criminal history records across the county. For more details on county resources, office locations, and contact information, visit the full Durham County page.