Gastonia Criminal Court Records Lookup

Gastonia criminal court records are filed at the Gaston County Clerk of Superior Court. The city is the county seat of Gaston County, west of Charlotte. Gastonia does not operate its own criminal court. Every criminal charge from the city enters the Gaston County court system. You can search for these records at the courthouse or use the NC eCourts portal online. This page walks you through finding criminal court records tied to Gastonia cases.

Gastonia Criminal Cases at Gaston County Court

All criminal cases from Gastonia go through Gaston County courts. The state of North Carolina does not allow cities to run criminal courts. When Gastonia police arrest someone, the charges are filed with the Gaston County clerk. A magistrate handles the first steps. Bail is set. The case moves forward in District Court or Superior Court.

Misdemeanors are tried in District Court without a jury. Felonies go to Superior Court with a 12-person jury. Both courts operate from the Gaston County courthouse on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way in Gastonia. The magistrate office is at a separate location nearby at 425 Dr. ML King Jr. Way.

Note: The magistrate office at (704) 852-3192 handles after-hours warrants and initial appearances for Gastonia arrests.

How to Find Criminal Court Records in Gastonia

The NC eCourts Portal lets you search Gastonia criminal court records from any device. It is free. No sign-up is needed. Type in a name or case number to see charges, dates, and outcomes.

For in-person searches, visit the Gaston County clerk's office in Gastonia. Self-service terminals are open to the public. Staff can also pull paper files from the records room. If you want copies, bring cash or a check. The first page costs $2.00 and each page after that costs $0.25.

A certified criminal record check requires Form AOC-CR-314. Fill it out and submit it with $25 to the clerk. The AOC-CR-314 form is available as a free PDF on the NC Courts site. You can mail it in or drop it off at the Gaston County courthouse.

Older Gastonia records may not appear on the eCourts portal. The system mainly covers cases from late 2023 onward. For anything before that, contact the clerk by phone or visit in person. The clerk can search older case files that have not been digitized yet.

Gastonia Criminal Court Records Sources

The Gastonia Police Department keeps arrest reports and incident reports. These are separate from court records. Court records track a case from filing to verdict. Police reports track what happened at the scene of an arrest or crime.

The police records division is at 200 E. Long Avenue. Call (704) 866-6710 to request a report. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The non-emergency number is (704) 866-6700.

If you need the full court file for a Gastonia criminal case, you must go to the Gaston County clerk, not the police. The NC Courts records page explains the steps for getting court documents.

Statewide Criminal Court Records Tools

Beyond the Gaston County courthouse, other state tools can help you find criminal records tied to Gastonia residents. The NC State Bureau of Investigation maintains the state's central criminal records repository. Fingerprint checks cost $14 for a state search and $18 for a national FBI search.

The NC Department of Adult Correction has an offender search for people serving state prison time or on probation or parole. It does not cover county jail inmates in Gaston County.

The Gaston County Sheriff's Office manages the county jail. Their main line is (704) 869-6800. They handle inmate searches, civil process, and fingerprinting. The detention center number is (704) 869-6820.

Gastonia Criminal Court Records Costs

Court record fees in Gastonia follow the state fee schedule. The Gaston County clerk collects all payments at the courthouse.

• 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

Self-service terminal searches are free. You can look up any Gastonia criminal court record on the public terminals at the Gaston County courthouse without paying a fee. Call (704) 852-3100 to check current rates.

Note: The eCourts portal accepts Visa, MasterCard, and Discover for online payments on certain case types in Gaston County.

Restricted Criminal Records in Gastonia

Not all Gastonia criminal court records are public. Juvenile cases are sealed under N.C.G.S. 7B-3000. Expunged records are fully removed from public view. Grand jury proceedings are secret under G.S. 15A-623. Active police investigation files are also exempt from public access under G.S. 132-1.4.

Sealed and expunged records will not show on the eCourts portal. They will not appear on a certified check at the Gaston County courthouse either. If a case has been expunged, the clerk cannot release it. Presentence reports and mental health proceedings in Gastonia cases are also confidential. The NC Courts records page lists all restricted record types.

Gastonia is the largest city in Gaston County. The county borders Mecklenburg County to the east. The court system handles a steady flow of cases. If you have trouble finding a specific criminal court record from Gastonia, contact the Gaston County clerk for help. They can check older files and verify whether a case has been sealed or expunged.

North Carolina public records law under N.C.G.S. Chapter 132 makes most court records open to the public. This includes criminal case files, docket entries, and judgments. The law applies to all Gastonia criminal court records held at the Gaston County courthouse. You can review files during business hours at the clerk's office. No reason is needed to view a public court record.

Gaston County Criminal Court Records

Gastonia is the county seat of Gaston County. All criminal filings from the city are part of the Gaston County court system. For more details on the county sheriff, court contacts, and available resources, visit the Gaston County page.

View Gaston County Criminal Court Records