Access Durham Criminal Court Records

Durham criminal court records are stored at the Durham County Clerk of Superior Court. Durham is a major city in the Research Triangle region with over 285,000 residents. Criminal cases in Durham do not go through a city court. All charges are processed by the Durham County court system at the courthouse on South Dillard Street. Search Durham criminal court records online or in person at the clerk's office.

Durham Criminal Court Records Overview

Durham does not have its own criminal court. North Carolina runs all criminal courts at the county level. Every crime that happens in Durham goes to Durham County court. Felonies go to Superior Court. Misdemeanors go to District Court.

The Durham County Clerk of Superior Court is the keeper of all criminal case files. The clerk's office is at 510 South Dillard Street. The criminal division phone is (919) 808-3026. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Public access terminals are free to use. A certified criminal record search costs $25 per name. Uncertified copies are $2 for the first page and $0.25 for each page after that. Certified copies are $3 per document.

Search Durham Criminal Court Records

The NC eCourts portal is the fastest way to look up Durham criminal court records. It is free. Search by name, case number, or citation. The portal shows charges, case status, and court dates. No account is needed for basic searches.

You can also visit the Durham County courthouse in person. The clerk's office has public terminals. Staff can help you search by name or case number. You can view the full paper file for any case during business hours. If you need a certified record check, bring a completed Form AOC-CR-314 and $25 to the clerk's office. Results show all criminal cases on file in Durham County.

For Durham criminal court records older than October 2023, the eCourts portal may not have them. In that case, an in-person visit or mail request to the clerk is the best option.

Note: Durham County is in Prosecutorial District 14, and the District Attorney's office at (919) 808-3010 handles all criminal prosecutions for the city.

Durham Criminal Court Records Sources

The Durham Police Department investigates crimes and makes arrests in the city. Police records include arrest reports and incident logs. These are not the same as court records. The court records come from the county clerk.

Durham Police headquarters is at 602 East Main Street. The Records Division phone is (919) 560-4427. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. You can get arrest reports and incident reports from this office. Online crime data is available through the DPD website. Accident reports for Durham are on Crashdocs.org.

Form AOC-CR-314, shown above, is the standard form used to request a certified criminal record search in Durham and every other North Carolina county.

Durham County Criminal Justice Agencies

The Durham County Sheriff's Office is at 510 South Dillard Street. Phone is (919) 560-0897. The county jail is at (919) 560-0980. The sheriff handles warrants, court security, and civil process. An inmate search is available on the sheriff's website.

The Durham County District Attorney's Office is in the same building at 510 South Dillard Street. Phone is (919) 808-3010. The DA runs a misdemeanor diversion program. This program may allow some Durham defendants to avoid a criminal conviction on their record. Victim and witness services are also provided through the DA's office.

The NC State Bureau of Investigation keeps statewide criminal data. A fingerprint-based state check costs $14. The NC Department of Adult Correction offender search covers state inmates and people on parole or probation. It does not include Durham County jail data.

Durham Criminal Court Records Types

Durham criminal court records cover felonies and misdemeanors. Felony cases go to Superior Court. A grand jury must return an indictment before a felony trial can begin. Superior Court uses a 12-person jury if the defendant pleads not guilty. Felony records include indictments, motions, plea agreements, trial transcripts, and judgments.

Misdemeanor cases are heard in District Court. A judge decides the case. There is no jury at this level. If the defendant is convicted, they can appeal to Superior Court for a new trial with a jury. Misdemeanor records in Durham include arrest warrants, citations, court orders, and dispositions.

Infractions are also part of the court record. These are minor violations like traffic tickets. They do not carry jail time. Infractions are handled in District Court as well. All of these case types are searchable through the Cabarrus County clerk.

Under N.C.G.S. Chapter 132, most court records in Durham are public. Anyone can view them at the courthouse or search them through the eCourts portal. Some records have restrictions, which are listed below.

State Tools for Durham Criminal Records

The NC Sex Offender Registry lets you look up registered sex offenders in Durham by name, address, or county. The registry is free and run by the SBI. You can sign up for email alerts when an offender moves to your area.

For older Durham criminal court records, the NC State Archives in Raleigh holds historical court documents from the 1800s. Microfilm copies are available. The archives is at 109 East Jones Street. Phone is (919) 814-6840. Most Durham County records from the modern era are at the county clerk's office.

Restricted Records in Durham

Not every criminal court record in Durham is public. Juvenile cases are sealed. Expunged records are gone from public view. Grand jury records are secret. Active investigation files held by Durham police are also restricted under G.S. 132-1.4.

North Carolina lets people apply to expunge some criminal records. If granted, the Durham case is removed from all public databases. The NC Courts records access page has the full list of what is and is not open to the public.

Note: Mental health proceedings and presentence reports are also confidential under North Carolina law and will not appear in Durham criminal court record searches.

Durham County Criminal Court Records

Durham is the county seat of Durham County. All criminal charges from the city go through the Durham County Clerk of Superior Court. For the full county guide with fee details, court structure, and more resources, visit the Durham County criminal court records page.

View Durham County Criminal Court Records