Burlington Criminal Court Records Database
Burlington criminal court records are filed at the Alamance County Clerk of Superior Court in Graham. Burlington is the largest city in Alamance County but is not the county seat. Graham holds that role. The city does not have its own criminal court. All criminal cases from Burlington go through the Alamance County court system in Judicial District 17. You can search these records at the courthouse in Graham or through the NC eCourts portal online. This page tells you how to find criminal court records from Burlington.
Burlington Quick Facts
Burlington Criminal Court Records Cases
North Carolina does not allow cities to run criminal courts. Burlington follows this statewide rule. When Burlington police arrest someone, the case is filed with the Alamance County clerk in Graham. The criminal division is at 212 W. Elm Street. The civil division is at a separate address on Court Square.
Misdemeanors are tried in District Court. A judge hears the case. No jury. Felonies go to Superior Court with a 12-person jury. Appeals from District Court move up to Superior Court as well. All of these cases create records that the Alamance County clerk maintains.
| Court | Alamance County Clerk of Superior Court |
|---|---|
| Criminal Division | 212 W. Elm Street Graham, NC 27253 |
| Phone | (336) 570-5200 |
| Criminal Phone | (336) 570-5202 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | nccourts.gov/locations/alamance-county |
Graham is about 8 miles west of Burlington. The drive takes roughly 15 minutes. This is where all Burlington criminal court records are stored and managed.
How to Find Burlington Criminal Court Records
The NC eCourts Portal is the fastest way to look up Burlington criminal court records. It is free. You can search by party name, case number, or citation number. The portal covers Alamance County and every other county in the state.
At the courthouse in Graham, self-service terminals are open to the public. Search by name or case number at no cost. The clerk's staff can also pull paper files for you. If you need copies, the first page is $2.00 and each page after is $0.25. A certified copy costs $3.00.
You can also email the Alamance County public records office at alamance.publicrecords@nccourts.org. Include the case number or defendant name and the type of record you need. Response times vary, but the clerk follows NC Public Records Law.
Note: Cases filed before October 2023 may not appear on the eCourts portal and will need to be searched in person or by contacting the Alamance County clerk directly.
Alamance County Sheriff and Burlington Police
The Burlington Police Department handles law enforcement inside city limits. Their records division is at 267 W. Front Street. Call (336) 570-6310 for police reports. The non-emergency number is (336) 570-6300. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
The Alamance County Sheriff's Office serves the wider county and runs the detention center. The sheriff is at 109 S. Maple Street in Graham. Main phone is (336) 570-6300. The detention center line is (336) 570-6317. Inmate searches are available online.
Police records track arrests and incidents. Court records track the legal case from charge to verdict. For the court file on a Burlington criminal case, contact the Alamance County clerk, not the police or sheriff.
Statewide Criminal Court Records Tools
Other state agencies can help you find criminal records beyond what Alamance County holds. The NC State Bureau of Investigation is the state's main criminal records repository. A state fingerprint check is $14. A national FBI check is $18. The SBI has data going back to 1937.
The NC Department of Adult Correction offender search covers people in state prison, on probation, or on parole. It does not include inmates at the Alamance County jail. Data goes back to 1972.
The NC Judicial Branch website has links to court calendars, forms, and help topics. You can check upcoming court dates for Burlington cases through the Alamance County criminal calendar.
Restricted Criminal Records in Burlington
Not all Burlington criminal court records are public. Juvenile cases are sealed under N.C.G.S. 7B-3000. Expunged records are removed from public view. Grand jury proceedings are secret under G.S. 15A-623. Active law enforcement investigation files are exempt under G.S. 132-1.4.
Sealed or expunged records will not show up on the eCourts portal or at the courthouse terminals. The Alamance County clerk cannot give out these records. If a case was expunged, it is treated as though it never existed for public search purposes. Presentence reports and mental health records from Burlington cases are also confidential.
Burlington is the largest city in Alamance County. It sits along Interstate 85 between Greensboro and Durham. The area sees steady traffic from the interstate corridor. The Alamance County court system handles cases from Burlington, Graham, Mebane, and other towns in the county. Be precise with your search details to find the right case.
Under N.C.G.S. Chapter 132, most court records in North Carolina are open to the public. Criminal case files, docket entries, sentencing records, and judgments from Burlington cases can all be viewed at the Alamance County courthouse. No special reason is needed. Visit the clerk's office during business hours and ask for the file you need.
The District Attorney for Alamance County can be reached at (336) 570-5252. The DA's office handles all criminal prosecutions for Burlington cases. For questions about specific charges or court dates, contact the DA or check the Alamance County criminal calendar through the NC Courts website.
Burlington Criminal Court Record Costs
Record fees in Alamance County follow the statewide schedule. All payments are made at the clerk's office in Graham.
- Certified criminal record check: $25 per name
- Uncertified copy: $2.00 first page, $0.25 each added page
- Certified copy: $3.00 per document
- Exemplified copy: $10.00
- Public terminal search: free
Call (336) 570-5202 to ask about fees before you visit. The eCourts portal also allows online payments for some case types using Visa, MasterCard, or Discover.
Alamance County Criminal Court Records
Burlington is in Alamance County. All criminal court records for the city are filed at the Alamance County courthouse in Graham. For a full county overview, sheriff contacts, and more detail on court services, visit the Alamance County page.