Edgecombe County Criminal Records
What Is Edgecombe County Criminal Records
Criminal records in Edgecombe County are official government documents that chronicle an individual's interactions with the criminal justice system, from initial law enforcement contact through final court disposition. These records are maintained by multiple agencies across the county and state, each responsible for a distinct segment of the criminal justice process.
Key distinctions among criminal record types include:
- Arrest records vs. conviction records: An arrest record documents that law enforcement took an individual into custody based on probable cause; a conviction record reflects a formal finding of guilt by a court of law. An arrest does not constitute a conviction.
- Felony vs. misdemeanor: Felonies are serious offenses punishable by more than one year of imprisonment under North Carolina law, while misdemeanors carry lesser penalties, typically up to 150 days in a county jail.
- Adult vs. juvenile records: Adult criminal records are generally accessible to the public, whereas juvenile adjudication records are sealed by default under North Carolina General Statutes § 7B-3000 and are not available for public inspection except under specific court-ordered circumstances.
- Active warrants vs. historical records: Active warrants represent current judicial orders for arrest, while historical records document past charges, proceedings, and outcomes.
Criminal records in Edgecombe County may include charges filed, arraignment proceedings, pleas entered, trial outcomes, sentencing details, probation terms, and parole conditions. The principal agencies maintaining these records are:
Edgecombe County Sheriff's Office 301 St. Andrew St, Tarboro, NC 27886 (252) 641-7911 Edgecombe County Sheriff's Office
Edgecombe County Clerk of Superior Court 301 St. Andrew St, Tarboro, NC 27886 (252) 641-7933 North Carolina Judicial Branch – Edgecombe County
North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation 3320 Garner Rd, Raleigh, NC 27610 (919) 662-4500 North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation
Are Criminal Records Public In Edgecombe County
Under North Carolina law, adult criminal records are presumptively public documents. The North Carolina Public Records Law, N.C. Gen. Stat. § 132-1, establishes that public records are the property of the people and shall be open for inspection and examination at reasonable times and under reasonable supervision. This statute broadly covers records made or received by government agencies in the course of official business, including law enforcement and court records.
Records that are generally accessible to the public include:
- Adult conviction records and court case dispositions
- Arrest logs and booking records maintained by the Sheriff's Office
- Court proceedings, docket entries, and filed documents in Superior and District Court
- Sex offender registration information maintained by the North Carolina Sex Offender and Public Protection Registry
Records that are restricted or exempt from public disclosure include:
- Juvenile adjudication records, which are sealed pursuant to state statute
- Records pertaining to ongoing criminal investigations, where disclosure would compromise law enforcement operations
- Expunged records, which are ordered removed from public access by a court
- Confidential informant identities and certain victim information in sensitive cases
Members of the public may inspect court records during regular business hours at the Edgecombe County Courthouse without providing a reason for the request, consistent with the open records mandate.
How To Look Up Criminal Records In Edgecombe County in 2026
Obtaining criminal records in Edgecombe County involves several distinct pathways depending on the type of record sought and the intended use. The following steps outline the process currently in effect:
Step 1 – Identify the appropriate agency. Arrest and booking records are held by the Edgecombe County Sheriff's Office or the Tarboro Police Department. Court case records, including charges, pleas, and dispositions, are maintained by the Clerk of Superior Court.
Step 2 – Submit a public records request. Members of the public may submit written requests to the relevant agency. The North Carolina Public Records Law does not require requesters to state a purpose or provide identification for most public records.
Step 3 – Request a criminal background check through the SBI. For certified criminal history records, individuals or authorized entities may submit a request to the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. The SBI processes statewide criminal history record checks through its Criminal History Record Search portal.
Step 4 – Visit the Clerk of Court in person. For case-specific documents such as indictments, judgments, or sentencing orders, members of the public may visit the Edgecombe County Clerk of Superior Court during public counter hours.
Public Counter Hours – Edgecombe County Clerk of Superior Court: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., excluding state holidays.
Step 5 – Pay applicable fees. Certified copies of court records are subject to statutory fees. The Clerk of Court charges fees as established under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7A-308, which governs court costs and fees in North Carolina.
How To Find Criminal Records in Edgecombe County Online
Several official online portals currently provide access to Edgecombe County criminal records without requiring an in-person visit.
North Carolina Courts – eCourts Case Search The North Carolina Judicial Branch operates the eCourts public case search portal, which allows members of the public to search Superior Court and District Court case records statewide, including Edgecombe County. Users may search by name, case number, or filing date. The portal contains case numbers, charge descriptions, court dates, and disposition information. No registration is required for basic searches.
North Carolina Department of Adult Correction – Offender Search The NC Department of Adult Correction Offender Public Information portal allows searches of individuals currently or previously incarcerated in state correctional facilities. Records include offense type, sentence length, and projected release dates.
North Carolina Sex Offender Registry The North Carolina SBI maintains the statewide Sex Offender and Public Protection Registry, which is searchable by name, county, or zip code and includes registrant photographs, addresses, and offense details.
Edgecombe County Sheriff's Office – Jail Roster Current inmate information may be available through the Sheriff's Office. Members of the public are encouraged to contact the Sheriff's Office directly at (252) 641-7911 for current booking and jail roster information, as online availability may vary.
Records that are available only through in-person inspection include sealed case files, expungement orders, and certain pre-trial documents not yet entered into electronic systems.
Can You Search Edgecombe County Criminal Records for Free?
North Carolina law currently mandates that public records be made available for inspection free of charge. Under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 132-6, any person may inspect and examine public records at no cost during regular business hours. Fees may only be charged for the actual cost of reproducing records, such as photocopying or certification.
Free resources currently available to the public include:
- eCourts Case Search – Free online access to court case records statewide, including Edgecombe County Superior and District Court cases, available through the North Carolina Judicial Branch
- NC SBI Criminal History Search – Free self-search for individuals seeking their own criminal history record
- Sex Offender Registry – Free public search available through the NC SBI registry portal
- In-person inspection at the Clerk of Court – Free inspection of court files during public counter hours; fees apply only to copies or certified documents
Third-party background check services may charge fees for aggregated data, but those fees are not mandated by county or state government.
What's Included in a Edgecombe County Criminal Record
A complete criminal record in Edgecombe County may contain several categories of information compiled from law enforcement and court sources.
Identifying Information: Name and known aliases, date of birth, physical description (height, weight, eye and hair color), photograph or mugshot, last known address, State Identification (SID) number, and FBI number where applicable.
Arrest Information: Date, time, and location of arrest; arresting agency; booking number; charges filed at the time of arrest; bail or bond amount set; and the jail facility where the individual was held.
Court Case Information: Case number and court jurisdiction (Superior or District Court); filing date; statutory charges including felony or misdemeanor classification; plea entered; and attorney of record or public defender assignment.
Disposition Information: Verdict rendered; conviction date if applicable; sentencing details including type of sentence (active, suspended, or community), length of incarceration, fines, restitution ordered, and any special conditions; appellate proceedings; and probation or parole terms.
Additional Record Elements: Outstanding warrants, domestic violence protective orders, sex offender registration requirements, DUI or DWI adjudications, serious traffic violations, and any pending charges not yet adjudicated.
How Long Does Edgecombe County Keep Criminal Records?
Criminal records in Edgecombe County are subject to retention schedules established by the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, which governs records management for all county and state agencies. Under the North Carolina Records Retention and Disposition Schedule for Judicial Branch Records, the following general retention periods apply:
- Felony conviction records: Retained permanently by the Clerk of Superior Court
- Misdemeanor conviction records: Retained for a minimum of 10 years following case closure
- Arrest records without conviction: Retained according to agency policy; may be subject to expunction upon court order
- Juvenile records: Retained until the subject reaches age 18, at which point sealed records are destroyed unless otherwise ordered
- Jail booking records: Retained by the Sheriff's Office for a minimum of 3 to 5 years depending on the nature of the offense
- Probation and parole records: Maintained by the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction for the duration of supervision plus a defined post-supervision period
The North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources publishes official retention schedules applicable to county agencies, accessible through the NC Archives and Records Management division. Agencies are required to adhere to these schedules and may not destroy records prior to the expiration of the mandated retention period.