Edgecombe County Criminal History

Edgecombe County criminal history records are on file at the courthouse in Tarboro, North Carolina. The county is part of Judicial District 8/8BC. Criminal cases from across Edgecombe County are heard here. The Rocky Mount Judicial Center also serves parts of the county. Tarboro is the county seat. The clerk of court maintains all criminal records. You can search these records in person or request them by mail. Edgecombe County has a rural character with a population of about 50,000.

Edgecombe County Court Records

The Edgecombe County Clerk of Superior Court keeps all criminal history files. This includes felony and misdemeanor cases. Each file has the charges, court dates, and outcome. The clerk stores these records at the courthouse in Tarboro. Staff can pull files for you.

Criminal records in Edgecombe County are public. NCGS § 132-1 gives you the right to view them. You can walk into the clerk office and ask. No appointment is needed. Bring a valid ID. The clerk can search by name or case number. Results show cases from Edgecombe County courts.

The Edgecombe County criminal history image below shows the local court and sheriff facilities.

The Rocky Mount Judicial Center also handles some Edgecombe County cases. Rocky Mount sits on the border of Edgecombe and Nash counties. Some criminal cases from the Rocky Mount area are processed at that facility. Check with the clerk to find out which location has your records.

Criminal History Search in Edgecombe

You can search Edgecombe County criminal history records online. The NC eCourts portal covers all counties. Type in a name. The system returns matches. It is free for basic data. You can see charges, dates, and case status. For full documents, go to the courthouse.

In-person searches are also an option. Visit the courthouse in Tarboro. The clerk can search records for you. A certified criminal history search costs $25 per name. You must fill out Form AOC-CR-314 to request the search. The form asks for the person's name and date of birth. The clerk runs the search and gives you the results.

Note: Payment methods differ based on how you request records. For in-person requests at the Edgecombe County courthouse, you can pay with cash, credit card, money order, or certified check. For mail requests, only money orders and certified checks are accepted.

Mail your request to the clerk office in Tarboro. Include the completed Form AOC-CR-314 and your payment. Allow extra time for processing. The clerk will mail the results back to you. This is a good option if you live far from Edgecombe County.

Edgecombe County Criminal Cases

Criminal cases in Edgecombe County follow North Carolina law. An arrest starts the process. The arresting agency files charges with the court. The clerk creates a case file. A first appearance happens within 48 hours of arrest. The judge sets bond at that hearing.

Misdemeanor cases stay in District Court. A judge hears the case. If the defendant wants a jury trial, the case moves to Superior Court. Felony cases go through grand jury. The grand jury decides if there is enough evidence. If so, the case proceeds in Superior Court. All of this creates records in Edgecombe County.

Each case file grows as the case moves through court. Motions, orders, and plea agreements get added. The final judgment shows the outcome. This could be a conviction, acquittal, or dismissal. Sentencing details are in the file too. All of these documents are part of the Edgecombe County criminal history for that person.

Under NCGS § 132-6.2, court records are open to the public. There are a few exceptions. Sealed cases are not public. Grand jury records are secret. Juvenile cases are closed. But most adult criminal history records in Edgecombe County are available for anyone to see.

Edgecombe Record Search Fees

Edgecombe County charges standard state fees for criminal history searches. A certified search costs $25 per name. This is the same fee charged across North Carolina. The clerk searches local records and certifies the results.

Copy fees apply if you need documents. The NC Courts website lists the current fee schedule. Certified copies cost more than plain copies. You can get copies of any document in a public case file at the Edgecombe County courthouse.

Criminal History Expunction Process

Some criminal records in Edgecombe County can be expunged. Expunction erases the record. It no longer shows on a criminal history search. North Carolina statutes NCGS § 15A-145 through § 15A-150 set the rules. Not all records qualify. The type of charge and outcome matter.

Dismissed charges often qualify for expunction. So do not guilty verdicts. Some first-time offenses are eligible after a waiting period. You must file a petition with the Edgecombe County clerk. The NC Courts forms page has the petition forms. A judge in Edgecombe County must approve it.

Expunction is a legal process. It takes time. You may need to get fingerprints. There is a filing fee. If the judge grants the petition, the clerk removes the record. The NC SBI also removes it from the state database. After expunction, the Edgecombe County criminal history record is sealed from public view.

For help with expunction, contact Legal Aid of North Carolina. They offer free legal help to people who qualify. They can assist with the petition process in Edgecombe County.

Edgecombe County and State Records

The Edgecombe County clerk only has local records. For a statewide criminal history, contact the NC State Bureau of Investigation. Under NCGS § 114-19, the SBI maintains a central database. A name-based search costs $14. A fingerprint search costs $38. Visit ncsbi.gov for details.

The NC courts system provides online tools for record searches. The eCourts portal covers all 100 counties. This is the best way to search Edgecombe County criminal records from home. You can also check the NC offender search for people in state prison. The NC Department of Public Safety runs that tool.

The NC General Assembly posts all statutes online at ncleg.gov. You can look up criminal law statutes there. This helps you understand what charges mean in an Edgecombe County criminal history report.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Edgecombe County. Each county clerk keeps its own criminal history records. If the case was filed in another county, you must search there.