Wilkes County Criminal History Search

Wilkes County criminal history records are held at the Clerk of Superior Court in Wilkesboro. The county seat sits in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Wilkes County courts handle all criminal cases filed in the area. You can request records in person, by mail, or through the state online system. The clerk's office keeps both current and older criminal case files. Staff can help you find what you need during business hours at the courthouse on North Street.

Wilkes County Criminal Records Office

The Wilkes County Clerk of Superior Court is at 110 North Street in Wilkesboro, NC 28697. Call (336) 651-7300 for questions. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Walk-in requests are welcome. Staff will look up criminal history records by name or case number for you.

Wilkes County is part of Judicial District 23. All criminal cases from towns like Wilkesboro, North Wilkesboro, and Ronda go through this courthouse. The clerk keeps files for misdemeanors and felonies alike. Under NCGS § 132-1, criminal records are public. Anyone may ask to see them. You do not have to be part of the case. Bring a valid ID when you go. The clerk can give you plain or certified copies of any criminal record in Wilkes County.

How to Search Wilkes County Criminal History

The NC eCourts portal is the fastest way to search Wilkes County criminal cases online. Wilkes County went live on eCourts in July 2025 as part of Track 9. The portal is free. Type a name and pick Wilkes County to filter results. You will see charges, court dates, and outcomes. It works on any phone or computer.

For records not in the online system, go to the clerk in person. Some older Wilkes County criminal history files are on paper only. The staff can pull these by hand. Give them a full name and a rough date range. A case number speeds things up. The clerk will search and let you know what is on file in Wilkes County.

Mail requests are also an option. Send a letter to the Wilkes County Clerk of Superior Court at 110 North Street, Wilkesboro, NC 28697. State the name you want searched, your own address, and include payment. The clerk will mail back the results. Allow one to two weeks for a response from Wilkes County.

Note: The Wilkes County Sheriff's Office may have arrest records that have not yet reached the court file.

Wilkes County Criminal History Fees

A certified criminal record check in Wilkes County costs $25. This is set by NCGS § 114-19 and applies across North Carolina. The clerk uses Form AOC-CR-314. You fill it out, pay the fee, and the clerk runs the search. The result comes back as a certified document.

Plain copies of court documents from Wilkes County cases follow the schedule in NCGS § 132-6.2. The per-page cost is low. Certified copies cost more. Ask the clerk for exact rates. Most offices accept checks, money orders, and sometimes cash. Confirm with the Wilkes County clerk before your visit so you bring the right form of payment.

Wilkes County Criminal Case Files

A criminal case file in Wilkes County starts with the charging document. For misdemeanors, this is a citation or summons. For felonies, it may be a grand jury indictment. The Wilkes County clerk stores all of these in the case folder.

As the case moves through court in Wilkes County, more papers are added. Motions from the defense or state go in. Court orders from the judge are filed. If there was a plea deal, the terms are recorded. Trial transcripts may be available for cases that went before a jury. The final judgment lists the outcome and any sentence. Fines, probation terms, and restitution all appear in the Wilkes County record.

Post-conviction actions show up in the same file. Appeals are noted. Motions to change a sentence are included. If someone violated probation in Wilkes County, that hearing and its result appear in the record too. The file gives a full timeline from arrest to final resolution.

Clearing Criminal Records in Wilkes County

North Carolina law allows some criminal records to be erased through expunction. The rules are in NCGS § 15A-145 through § 15A-150. Dismissed charges can qualify. Not guilty verdicts often qualify. Some first offenses may also be eligible. The NC Courts expunction page has the full list of categories.

To file in Wilkes County, get the right form from the NC Courts forms page. Fill it out and bring it to the clerk in Wilkesboro. There is a filing fee for most petitions. The district attorney reviews the request. A judge then rules on it. If granted, the criminal history record is sealed from public view in Wilkes County. The SBI also removes it from the state database.

Note: Legal Aid of North Carolina may help Wilkes County residents with expunction petitions at no cost if you meet income guidelines.

State Criminal History Resources

The NC State Bureau of Investigation runs the central criminal record database for North Carolina. A statewide search under NCGS § 114-19 covers Wilkes County and all other counties. You submit fingerprints and a form to the SBI. The fee is $25. This gives a complete state-level criminal history check that includes any Wilkes County records.

The NC Offender Search is a free tool from the Department of Public Safety. It shows people who are or were in the state prison system. Anyone convicted in Wilkes County and sent to state prison will appear here. You can search by name. Probation and parole records for Wilkes County cases may also be found through DPS.

Nearby Counties

Wilkes County is in the foothills of northwest North Carolina. These counties border it. Be sure you search the right county for any criminal history record you need.