Find Fayetteville Criminal Court Records
Fayetteville criminal court records are maintained at the Cumberland County Clerk of Superior Court. Fayetteville is the sixth-largest city in North Carolina and home to Fort Liberty. The city does not have a criminal court. All criminal cases in Fayetteville go through Cumberland County courts on Dick Street. Search Fayetteville criminal court records online or visit the clerk's office for in-person access to case files and certified record checks.
Fayetteville Quick Facts
Fayetteville Criminal Court Records Cases
Fayetteville does not run a criminal court. North Carolina assigns criminal cases to county courts. All charges filed in Fayetteville go to the Cumberland County court system. Felonies are heard in Superior Court with a 12-person jury. Misdemeanors go to District Court where a judge decides the case.
The Cumberland County Clerk of Superior Court manages all criminal case records for Fayetteville. The courthouse is on Dick Street in downtown Fayetteville. Phone is (910) 475-3000. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Free public access terminals let you search case data at the courthouse. A certified criminal record check costs $25 per name.
| Court | Cumberland County Clerk of Superior Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 117 Dick Street Fayetteville, NC 28301 |
| Phone | (910) 475-3000 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | nccourts.gov/locations/cumberland-county |
Fayetteville's proximity to Fort Liberty means the court handles a large number of cases each year. Military personnel charged off base go through the same Cumberland County court system as civilians.
Note: Crimes on Fort Liberty are handled by federal courts, not Cumberland County, so those records will not appear in Fayetteville criminal court record searches.
Search Fayetteville Criminal Court Records
The NC eCourts portal is the best online tool for Fayetteville criminal court records. It covers Cumberland County and all 100 NC counties. Search by name, case number, or citation. The system is free. It shows charges, case status, and court dates.
You do not need an account. Just go to the portal and start typing. Cases filed after October 2023 are typically online. For older records from Fayetteville, you may need to visit the courthouse or call the clerk's office. You can also mail a request using Form AOC-CR-314 with a $25 fee for a certified check.
At the clerk's office, the public terminals are free. Staff can assist with searches. You can view case files during business hours. Printed copies have a small fee. Certified copies cost more than plain ones.
Fayetteville Criminal Court Records Sources
The Fayetteville Police Department handles arrests in the city. Police records are separate from court records. Arrest reports and incident logs come from the police. Court case files come from the county clerk.
FPD is at 467 Hay Street in Fayetteville. The Records Division phone is (910) 433-1808. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Police reports are available in person or by mail. Online crime mapping is on the FPD website.
The NC Courts public records request form shown above can be used to request Fayetteville criminal court records by mail if you cannot visit the Cumberland County courthouse in person.
Cumberland County Criminal Justice Resources
The Cumberland County Sheriff's Office is at 131 Dick Street in Fayetteville. Phone is (910) 323-1500. The detention center is at (910) 678-6350. An inmate search is available at ccsonc.org. The sheriff handles warrants, court security, and civil process for all Fayetteville criminal cases.
The Cumberland County District Attorney prosecutes criminal cases from Fayetteville. The DA's office works with both the Fayetteville Police and the sheriff. The NC State Bureau of Investigation maintains the statewide criminal records database. A state fingerprint check is $14. The NC Department of Adult Correction offender search covers state inmates and people on probation or parole.
Criminal Case Types in Fayetteville
Fayetteville criminal court records include felony and misdemeanor cases. Felonies are tried in Superior Court with a jury. These include violent crimes, drug offenses, and property crimes over certain values. Misdemeanors go to District Court where a judge decides the outcome. DWI, simple assault, and minor theft are common misdemeanors in Fayetteville.
The Cumberland County court also handles infractions. These are minor violations like speeding tickets. They carry no jail time but are part of the public court record. All case types from Fayetteville are searchable through the clerk's office or the eCourts portal.
Under N.C.G.S. Chapter 132, most Fayetteville criminal court records are open to the public. Anyone can view them at the courthouse during business hours. The eCourts portal makes many of them available online as well.
State Tools for Fayetteville Criminal Records
The NC Sex Offender Registry lets you look up registered sex offenders in Fayetteville. Search by name, address, or county. The registry is free and run by the SBI. You can set up email alerts for your area.
For historical records, the NC State Archives at 109 East Jones Street in Raleigh has court documents from the 1800s on microfilm. Phone is (919) 814-6840. For modern Fayetteville criminal court records, the Cumberland County clerk remains the primary source.
Restricted Fayetteville Criminal Court Records
Some criminal records in Fayetteville are not available to the public. Juvenile cases, expunged records, and sealed files are all restricted. Grand jury proceedings are secret under North Carolina law.
Expunged records from Fayetteville criminal cases are completely removed from public view. The person can deny the charge ever existed. For more on what records you can and cannot access, visit NC Courts obtaining records.
Records you cannot get in Fayetteville include:
- Juvenile case records under N.C.G.S. 7B-3000
- Expunged criminal records
- Sealed cases by court order
- Grand jury proceedings under G.S. 15A-623
- Active law enforcement investigation files
Note: Active law enforcement investigation files from the Fayetteville Police Department are also exempt from public records requests under G.S. 132-1.4.
Cumberland County Criminal Court Records
Fayetteville is the county seat of Cumberland County. Every criminal case from the city goes through the Cumberland County Clerk of Superior Court. The county court handles cases for Fayetteville and all other municipalities in the area. For the full county guide, visit the Cumberland County page.