Bladen County Criminal History
Bladen County criminal history records are held at the courthouse in Elizabethtown, North Carolina. The county is in the southeastern part of the state and belongs to Judicial District 13. Criminal records here cover felonies, misdemeanors, and traffic violations. The Clerk of Superior Court stores all case files. You can search these records at the courthouse, by mail, or online. Criminal history in Bladen County is public under state law. Anyone can request access to these records without giving a reason.
Bladen County Clerk of Court
Niki S. Dennis is the Clerk of Superior Court for Bladen County. The office is at 166 East Broad Street in Elizabethtown. All criminal case records are kept here. You can also write to PO Box 2619, Elizabethtown, NC 28337. Call (910) 872-7200 or (910) 872-7204 for questions. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.
Bladen County is part of Judicial District 13, which also includes Brunswick and Columbus counties. The Elizabethtown courthouse handles all district and superior court matters for Bladen County. District court covers misdemeanors. Superior court handles felonies and appeals. Criminal history records from both courts are stored at the clerk's office. Staff can look up records by name or case number. Walk-ins are welcome during normal hours.
A certified criminal background check costs $25 at the Bladen County clerk's office. The clerk uses Form AOC-CR-314 for certified criminal record searches. You fill out the form with the person's name and other details. The clerk searches the local records and issues a certified report. This form is a standard North Carolina court document used across all counties.
| Court |
Bladen County Clerk of Superior Court 166 East Broad Street Elizabethtown, NC 28337 PO Box 2619 Phone: (910) 872-7200 / (910) 872-7204 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | nccourts.gov/locations/bladen-county |
Note: The AOC-CR-314 form is available at the clerk's office or from the NC courts forms page.
Searching Criminal History in Bladen County
There are three main ways to search criminal history records in Bladen County. Each method has its own pros. The right choice depends on what you need and how fast you need it.
The NC eCourts portal is the fastest option. It is free and available around the clock. You can search by name or case number. The portal shows charges, court dates, and case outcomes from Bladen County. It covers recent cases and many older ones. This is a good starting point for any criminal history search.
Visiting the courthouse in Elizabethtown gives you the most access. You can review full case files, not just the summary. Bring a photo ID. The clerk's staff will pull files for you. Copy costs are standard. NCGS § 132-1 guarantees public access to these criminal records in Bladen County. You do not need to explain why you want them.
Mail requests also work. Send a letter to PO Box 2619, Elizabethtown, NC 28337. Include the person's full name, any known case numbers, and a check for the fees. The clerk processes mail requests and sends copies back. Allow a week or two for processing time on criminal history requests in Bladen County.
Bladen County Court Information
The Bladen County page on the NC courts site has details about the courthouse, contact information, and court schedules.
The Bladen County court system handles criminal cases from across the county. The courthouse in Elizabethtown is the central location for all records. Criminal history files are stored on site and available for public review.
Criminal Record Types in Bladen County
Criminal history records in Bladen County come in several forms. The type of record depends on the charges and how the case was resolved. Each record is kept at the clerk's office.
Felony records are the most detailed criminal history documents in Bladen County. They include the indictment from the grand jury, all pretrial filings, trial records if the case went to trial, and the sentencing order. These cases go through superior court. Misdemeanor records are handled in district court and are usually shorter. They include the charging document, any plea agreement, and the judgment.
Common records in Bladen County criminal history files include:
- Arrest warrants and criminal summons
- Indictments and informations
- Plea agreements
- Trial transcripts when available
- Judgments and sentences
Traffic offenses also create criminal records in Bladen County. DWI cases are criminal matters heard in district court. Speeding tickets and other infractions create records too. All of these are public under NCGS § 132-1. You can get copies of any of these records from the Bladen County clerk.
Note: Sealed or expunged records will not appear in a standard criminal history search in Bladen County.
Bladen County Criminal History Expunctions
Certain criminal records in Bladen County can be removed through expunction. The rules are in NCGS § 15A-145 through § 15A-150. Each statute covers a different situation. Dismissed charges, not guilty verdicts, and some first offenses may be eligible. The process takes time and involves filing a petition at the courthouse.
To start, get the right form from the NC courts forms page. Fill it out and file it at the Bladen County courthouse. There is a filing fee. A judge will review your petition. If the judge grants it, the expunction order goes to the clerk, the sheriff, and the SBI. They all remove the record from their systems. The criminal history entry in Bladen County is then sealed from public view.
People who cannot afford a lawyer can contact Legal Aid of North Carolina for help. They assist with expunctions for those who qualify based on income. The NC Courts expunction page also has useful information about the process.
Statewide Criminal Record Tools
North Carolina provides several tools for criminal history searches beyond Bladen County. The NC State Bureau of Investigation runs a central criminal records database. Under NCGS § 114-19, the SBI collects criminal data from all 100 counties. A certified statewide check costs $25. This covers records from Bladen County and every other county in the state.
The NC DPS offender search is a free tool. It shows people in state prison or under supervision. The NC Department of Public Safety runs this database. It is updated often and covers the entire state. For questions about how records work at the state level, visit the NC Courts records help page. NCGS § 132-6.2 allows limited restrictions on access, but most criminal history records in Bladen County stay open to the public.
The General Statutes page shown above contains the laws that control how criminal records are handled in Bladen County and across North Carolina. You can look up specific statutes there.
Bladen County Sheriff Records
The Bladen County Sheriff's Office is at (910) 862-6960. The sheriff handles arrests, serves warrants, and maintains booking records. These records are separate from court records but add to the overall criminal history in Bladen County. Arrest reports and booking details are kept at the sheriff's office.
If you need a full picture of someone's criminal history in Bladen County, check both the clerk and the sheriff. The court has case outcomes and sentencing. The sheriff has arrest details and booking data. Together, they give you the most complete criminal history available at the county level.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Bladen County. Criminal cases are filed in the county where the offense took place. If a record is not in Bladen County, it may be in one of these neighboring counties.