Durham County Criminal History Records
Durham County criminal history records are kept by the Clerk of Superior Court at 510 South Dillard Street in Durham. The clerk serves Judicial District 14. Durham is home to Duke University and has a population of over 300,000 residents. The court handles all criminal cases filed in Durham County. Criminal records here date back decades. The clerk can help you find case files, look up charges, and get copies of court documents. Both felony and misdemeanor records are on file at this office.
Durham County Criminal Court Records
The Durham County Clerk of Superior Court is the main source for criminal history in this county. Staff at the clerk office can pull up case files by name or case number. You can visit in person or call ahead. The phone number is (919) 808-3000. Walk-in requests are common. The office is open on weekdays.
Criminal records at the Durham County courthouse include charges, pleas, verdicts, and sentences. Each case file has the original charging document. It also has any motions filed by the state or defense. Court orders and the final judgment are part of the file too. These records are public under NCGS § 132-1, the Public Records Act. Anyone can ask to see them.
The Durham County courthouse has public terminals. You can use these to look up cases on your own. The self-service terminal is free to use. It shows basic case data like charges, dates, and status. For full documents, ask the clerk staff. They can print pages for you.
The Durham County criminal history image below shows the courthouse and sheriff facilities that serve this area.
Durham County courts process a high volume of cases each year. The clerk keeps all records organized by case number. Older files may be stored off-site. Ask the clerk how long it takes to pull older records.
| Court |
Durham County Clerk of Superior Court 510 South Dillard Street Durham, NC 27701 Phone: (919) 808-3000 |
|---|---|
| District | Judicial District 14 |
| Website | nccourts.gov/locations/durham-county |
Durham County Criminal History Search
You can search Durham County criminal history records in several ways. The quickest way is online. The NC eCourts portal lets you search by name. Type in the person's full name. The system returns matching cases from Durham County and all other NC counties. Basic case data is free. You do not need an account to search.
In-person searches work well too. Go to 510 South Dillard Street in Durham. Bring a valid ID. The clerk can look up any criminal case by name or case number. You can view the file at the counter. If you need copies, the clerk can make them. Certified copies cost $5 per document. A full criminal history search costs $25 for a certified result.
Note: The clerk can only search records for cases filed in Durham County. For a statewide criminal history, you must contact the NC State Bureau of Investigation under NCGS § 114-19.
You can also call the Durham County Sheriff at (919) 560-0890. The sheriff keeps arrest records. Durham Police Department Records Division is at (919) 560-4600. They handle city arrest records. These offices can confirm arrests but may not have full court outcomes. For complete criminal history, the clerk of court is the best source in Durham County.
Durham County Record Fees
Durham County follows the state fee schedule for court records. A certified criminal history search costs $25 per name. This is the standard rate across North Carolina. The fee covers the clerk's time to search and certify the results.
Copy fees are separate. A certified copy of any document costs $5. Plain copies cost less. You pay at the clerk window. Cash and checks are accepted. Some offices also take credit cards. Call (919) 808-3000 to ask about payment methods before you go to the Durham County courthouse.
If you need records by mail, send a written request to the clerk. Include the full name of the person, date of birth if known, and a check or money order for the fee. Mail it to 510 South Dillard Street, Durham, NC 27701. Allow one to two weeks for a response from Durham County.
Criminal History Record Types
Durham County criminal history records cover many case types. Felony cases are the most serious. These include charges like assault, robbery, drug trafficking, and fraud. Felonies are tried in Superior Court. The clerk keeps all felony files.
Misdemeanor cases are less serious. They include DWI, simple assault, shoplifting, and trespass. District Court handles most misdemeanors in Durham County. The clerk stores these files too. Both felony and misdemeanor records are part of your criminal history.
A Durham County criminal history record shows:
- Name and date of birth of the defendant
- Charges filed and statute numbers
- Arrest date and arresting agency
- Court dates and case outcomes
- Sentence details if convicted
Traffic cases that are criminal in nature also appear. DWI is the most common. Driving while license revoked is another. These are misdemeanors but show up on a criminal history search in Durham County. Simple traffic tickets like speeding are not criminal and do not appear.
The North Carolina courts website at nccourts.gov has more details on what court records include. Durham County follows the same rules as every other county in the state.
Durham County Criminal Record Expunction
North Carolina law allows some criminal records to be expunged. This means the record is erased. It will not show up on a criminal history search. Durham County handles expunctions through the clerk of court. You must file a petition with the court. The rules are strict.
Under NCGS § 15A-145 through § 15A-150, certain offenses qualify. Dismissed charges can often be expunged. Not guilty verdicts qualify too. Some first-time drug offenses are eligible. Age at the time of the offense matters. The waiting period varies by charge type. A Durham County judge must approve the petition.
The state courts website has the forms you need. Go to nccourts.gov/documents/forms and search for expunction forms. Form AOC-CR-281 is the petition for expunction of records. Fill it out and file it with the Durham County Clerk of Superior Court. There is a filing fee. You may also need to get your fingerprints taken.
Note: Expunged records are sealed. Once a Durham County judge grants the petition, the criminal history record is removed from public view. The SBI also removes it from the state database. You can legally say the arrest or charge did not happen.
Durham County and State Records
The NC State Bureau of Investigation keeps a central criminal history database. This covers all counties, including Durham. You can request a state-level search under NCGS § 114-19. The fee is $14 for a name-based search. Fingerprint-based searches cost $38. Go to ncsbi.gov for more details.
The North Carolina Department of Public Safety runs the prison system. If someone was sentenced in Durham County and sent to state prison, the NC DPS has their records. You can search the offender search tool online. It shows current and past inmates. It is free to use.
The NC General Assembly posts all statutes online. You can read the criminal law statutes at ncleg.gov. This helps you understand what charges mean and what penalties apply. Durham County courts follow these same laws.
For free legal help, contact Legal Aid of North Carolina. They serve Durham County residents who qualify based on income. They can help with expunctions and other criminal record matters.
Public Access to Durham Records
Criminal history records in Durham County are public. The NC Public Records Act, NCGS § 132-1, gives everyone the right to inspect government records. You do not need to be the person named in the record. You do not need a reason to ask. The clerk must provide access.
Some records are restricted. Sealed cases are not public. Juvenile records are closed. Grand jury proceedings are secret. Expunged records are gone from public view. Everything else is open. Durham County follows NCGS § 132-6.2 for court records access.
The North Carolina state courts system provides online access to many Durham County criminal records through the eCourts portal. This gives basic case information to the public at no cost.
Durham County courts hear thousands of criminal cases each year. The clerk office is busy. Plan your visit early in the day. Lines can be long in the afternoon. Call ahead if you have questions about Durham County criminal history records.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Durham County. If you need criminal history records from a neighboring county, visit that county's clerk of court. Each county keeps its own case files.