Craven County Criminal History Search
Craven County criminal history records are maintained at the courthouse in New Bern. The county is located in eastern North Carolina along the Neuse River. Criminal records here cover a wide range of cases heard in both District and Superior Court. You can search records in person at the Craven County clerk's office or use online state court tools. The public has broad access to criminal case files, arrest data, and conviction records from Craven County under North Carolina's open records laws.
Craven County Criminal Court Records
The Craven County Clerk of Superior Court stores all criminal case records at 302 Broad Street in New Bern. Craven County belongs to Judicial District 6 along with Carteret and Pamlico counties. Court sessions rotate among the three counties, but each county's records stay with its own clerk's office.
Walk into the Craven County courthouse during business hours to request a criminal record search. Give the clerk a name or case number. They will pull the file for you to review. You can get copies at the counter. Certified copies of criminal records cost $25 in Craven County. These carry the official court seal and are accepted for legal purposes. Regular copies cost less and work fine for personal use.
The Craven County clerk can be reached by phone at (252) 639-9000. Visit the Craven County court page for current office hours and directions to the courthouse in New Bern.
| Court |
Craven County Clerk of Superior Court 302 Broad Street New Bern, NC 28560 Phone: (252) 639-9000 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | nccourts.gov/locations/craven-county |
Searching Criminal History Online
Online tools make it possible to search Craven County criminal history without leaving home. The NC eCourts portal is the main free resource. It lets you search by name or case number across all North Carolina counties. Results from Craven County show charge types, court dates, and whether the case is open or closed.
The portal gives summaries, not full files. If you need the actual documents from a Craven County criminal case, contact the clerk by phone or mail. Include the full case number in your request. This speeds up the process and helps the clerk find the right file quickly.
For a statewide criminal history check, the NC State Bureau of Investigation maintains a central database under NCGS 114-19. This system pulls arrest and conviction records from Craven County and every other county. It is the most complete single source for North Carolina criminal history data.
Craven County Sheriff Criminal Reports
The Craven County Sheriff handles arrests, warrant service, and jail operations. Arrest records from the sheriff show the charge, date, and bond information. These records exist before a case enters the court system. Once charges are filed, the court clerk becomes the record keeper for that case in Craven County.
You can reach the Craven County Sheriff at (252) 636-6620. Ask about recent arrests, booking records, or warrant status. The sheriff covers the unincorporated areas of Craven County. The New Bern Police Department handles law enforcement within city limits. Both agencies feed records into the court system and the statewide criminal history database.
Note: Booking records may show charges that change before the case goes to court. The district attorney in Craven County decides the final charges. Always verify outcomes through court records.
Criminal Case Types in Craven County
Craven County courts handle many kinds of criminal cases. The type of charge determines which court hears the matter and what records are created.
Felonies are the most serious criminal charges in Craven County. They include crimes like robbery, drug trafficking, and assault with a deadly weapon. Felony cases start with an arrest and move through a grand jury process. If the grand jury issues an indictment, the case goes to Superior Court for trial or plea. Every step produces records that become part of the criminal history file in Craven County.
- Felony indictments and Superior Court judgments
- Misdemeanor citations and District Court dispositions
- DWI charges with chemical test records
- Drug possession and distribution cases
- Assault and domestic violence criminal charges
- Probation violation hearings and outcomes
Misdemeanors in Craven County go through District Court. These include simple assault, petty theft, and low-level drug charges. Most misdemeanor cases resolve faster than felonies. The records are stored the same way at the clerk's office. Traffic crimes like DWI also create criminal records in Craven County.
Craven County Criminal Record Expunction
Some criminal records in Craven County can be expunged. Expunction erases the record from public databases. North Carolina statutes NCGS 15A-145 through 15A-150 govern who qualifies and what types of records can be removed. Once granted, the Craven County criminal history record is treated as if it never existed.
Common grounds for expunction include dismissed charges, acquittals, and certain first-time offenses after a waiting period. The process starts with filing a petition at the Craven County Clerk of Superior Court. You can find the right forms on the NC Courts expunction page. A hearing is set. The judge reviews the petition and the person's full record before making a decision.
Contact Legal Aid of North Carolina if you need help with expunction and cannot pay for a lawyer. They serve Craven County residents who meet income guidelines.
Craven County Public Records Access
Criminal history records in Craven County are public under NCGS 132-1. This statute makes most government records open to inspection. You do not need a reason to ask for criminal records. The clerk cannot require you to explain your interest.
Under NCGS 132-6.2, government agencies must handle record requests promptly. The law does not set a hard deadline. However, delays without good cause violate the spirit of the law. If a record has been sealed or expunged, the clerk will tell you. Juvenile criminal records and certain sealed cases are off limits to the public in Craven County. Everything else is open.
Criminal History Beyond Craven County
People move. Crimes can happen in more than one county. A search limited to Craven County may miss important records. State-level tools fill this gap.
The NC Offender Search from the Department of Public Safety shows people under state correctional supervision. This includes inmates, parolees, and people on probation from all counties. It is free and updated frequently. The NC General Statutes at ncleg.gov detail every law that affects criminal records in Craven County and statewide.
Note: For the most current Craven County criminal records, contact the clerk at (252) 639-9000. Online databases may have a brief delay before new records appear.
Nearby Counties
These counties are near Craven County in eastern North Carolina. Make sure to search the right county for the criminal history records you need.