Brunswick County Criminal History Search

Brunswick County criminal history records are managed by the courthouse in Bolivia, North Carolina. The county is on the southeastern coast and is one of the fastest growing areas in the state. Criminal records in Brunswick County cover all types of offenses heard in local courts. The Clerk of Superior Court keeps these files. You can search criminal history records in person, by mail, or through state online tools. All records are public under North Carolina law. The process is simple and open to everyone.

Brunswick County Court Records Office

James J. Maccallum serves as Clerk of Superior Court for Brunswick County. The courthouse is at 310 Government Center Drive NE in Bolivia. All criminal case files for the county are stored here. You can visit during office hours to search records. Staff will help you find what you need. Call (910) 253-3900 with questions about criminal history records in Brunswick County.

Brunswick County is part of Judicial District 13, along with Bladen and Columbus counties. The Bolivia courthouse handles both district and superior court matters. District court in Brunswick County covers misdemeanors, infractions, and minor criminal cases. Superior court hears felony charges, appeals, and complex matters. Criminal history records from both levels of court are kept at the clerk's office. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.

A certified criminal background check at the Brunswick County clerk's office costs $25. Regular copies are $0.25 per page. You can request copies of any public criminal record on file. The clerk can search by the defendant's name or by case number.

How to Search Brunswick County Criminal Records

The NC eCourts portal is the quickest way to search criminal history in Brunswick County. The portal is free. Search by name or case number. It shows charges, court dates, and how each case ended. The system covers Brunswick County along with all other counties in the state. It works best for cases from the past several years.

For a deeper search, go to the courthouse in Bolivia. You can review full case files there. The clerk's staff will pull records for you. Bring your ID. Under NCGS § 132-1, all court records are public in North Carolina. You do not have to give a reason for looking at criminal history records in Brunswick County. Copy fees are $0.25 per page for standard copies.

You can also submit a written request by mail. Send it to the Clerk of Superior Court, 310 Government Center Drive NE, Bolivia, NC 28422. Include the full name of the person, any case numbers, and payment. The clerk will send copies back. For a certified criminal background check, include $25 and ask for the formal report.

Note: Online records for Brunswick County may not include cases that are still pending or very recently filed.

Brunswick County Criminal Court Access

You can find details about the Brunswick County court system through the NC Judicial Branch site for Brunswick County.

The image above shows the Brunswick County court page. Criminal records from all courts in the county are managed from the Bolivia courthouse. The clerk's office there handles record requests, copies, and certified background checks.

Criminal History Record Contents

A criminal history record in Brunswick County tells the story of a case from start to finish. The amount of detail varies by the type of charge and how the case was resolved. Felony records tend to be the most thorough. Misdemeanor and traffic records are shorter.

Criminal records in Brunswick County typically contain:

• Defendant's name and identifying details
• Charges and the statutes they fall under
• Date of arrest and name of arresting agency
• All court dates and any continuances
• Final disposition of each charge
• Sentence if the defendant was found guilty

Felony files in Brunswick County may also include grand jury indictments, pretrial motions, and sentencing worksheets. These documents give more context about the case. All of these are part of the public record under NCGS § 132-1. Anyone can request copies from the Brunswick County clerk. Only records that a judge has sealed or that have been expunged are kept from public view.

Brunswick County Sheriff Criminal Data

The Brunswick County Sheriff's Office adds to the criminal history records kept by the court. Call them at (910) 253-2777. The sheriff handles all arrests in the county. Booking records, arrest reports, and warrant records are held at the sheriff's office. These records have details that may not appear in the court file.

Warrants are issued by a judge or magistrate. They give the sheriff authority to make an arrest. Once someone is arrested, the criminal case moves to the court system. At that point, the clerk's office in Brunswick County takes over the record. For the most complete criminal history in Brunswick County, check both the sheriff's records and the court files.

Note: The sheriff's office in Brunswick County may have separate hours or procedures for record requests.

Expunging Criminal Records in Brunswick County

North Carolina law allows some criminal records to be expunged. The rules are in NCGS § 15A-145 through § 15A-150. Expunction removes a record from public access. Dismissed charges and not guilty verdicts are often eligible. Some first-time offenses may also qualify after a waiting period. The process starts with a petition at the Brunswick County courthouse.

Forms for expunction petitions are available at nccourts.gov/documents/forms. There is a filing fee. The judge reviews the petition and may hold a hearing. If the petition is granted, the expunction order goes to the Brunswick County clerk, the sheriff, and the State Bureau of Investigation. Each one must remove the criminal history record from their files. After that, the record is sealed and will not show up in most searches.

Legal Aid of North Carolina offers help with expunctions for people who qualify. The NC Courts expunction page explains the process in detail. Getting an expunction in Brunswick County can take several months from filing to final order.

Statewide Criminal History Searches

Beyond Brunswick County, the state runs several criminal record databases. The NC State Bureau of Investigation keeps a statewide criminal records repository. Under NCGS § 114-19, the SBI collects data from all counties. A certified statewide check costs $25 and pulls records from Brunswick County and every other county in North Carolina.

The DPS offender search tool is free. It shows people in state prison or on probation. The NC Department of Public Safety maintains this tool. Visit the court records help page at nccourts.gov for more details on how public access works. NCGS § 132-6.2 permits limited restrictions for safety reasons, but the vast majority of criminal history records in Brunswick County and across the state are open to the public.

The NC Department of Public Safety site above is a key resource. It links to offender searches, probation data, and other criminal justice tools that supplement what is available at the Brunswick County level.

Nearby Counties

These counties are near Brunswick County. If a case was filed in a neighboring county, contact that county's clerk for records. Criminal records are kept in the county where the case was heard.