Search Raleigh Criminal Court Records
Raleigh criminal court records are managed by the Wake County Clerk of Superior Court. As the state capital and the second-largest city in North Carolina, Raleigh generates a high volume of criminal cases each year. The city does not run its own criminal court. All criminal charges filed in Raleigh go through the Wake County court system. You can search Raleigh criminal court records online through the eCourts portal or visit the Wake County Justice Center in person.
Raleigh Quick Facts
Raleigh Criminal Court Records
Raleigh has no municipal criminal court. In North Carolina, criminal cases are handled at the county level. Every arrest made in Raleigh leads to a case at the Wake County courthouse. Felony cases go to Superior Court. Misdemeanors are heard in District Court. The Wake County Justice Center houses both courts.
The Wake County Clerk of Superior Court maintains all criminal case files for Raleigh. This includes arrest records, indictments, motions, plea agreements, and final judgments. The clerk's office has public access terminals where you can search for free. Staff can help you look up cases by name or case number. Certified criminal record checks cost $25 per name.
| Court | Wake County Clerk of Superior Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 300 S. Salisbury Street Raleigh, NC 27601 |
| Phone | (919) 792-4000 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | nccourts.gov/locations/wake-county |
Note: Wake County is one of the busiest court systems in North Carolina, so plan extra time if you visit in person for Raleigh criminal court records.
Search Raleigh Criminal Court Records
There are two main ways to search Raleigh criminal court records. You can go online or visit the courthouse. Each method has its own strengths.
The NC eCourts portal lets you search Wake County criminal cases from home. Type in a name, case number, or citation number. The portal shows basic case data like charges, court dates, and outcomes. It is free and open all day, every day. You do not need to create an account for basic searches. Cases filed after October 2023 are generally online. Older Raleigh criminal court records may not appear in the portal.
For in-person searches, go to the Wake County Justice Center at 300 South Salisbury Street. Use the self-service terminals in the clerk's office. These are free to use. You can look up any criminal case from Raleigh or elsewhere in Wake County. If you need copies, staff can print them for a fee. Certified copies cost more than plain ones.
To get a certified criminal record check for Raleigh, fill out Form AOC-CR-314. The fee is $25. You can submit the form at the clerk's office or by mail. Results come from the Wake County court database.
Raleigh Criminal Court Records Sources
The Raleigh Police Department makes arrests and files charges. But the court records are stored by Wake County. If you want an arrest report or incident report, contact RPD. For court case files, go to the Wake County clerk.
RPD headquarters is at 6716 Six Forks Road in Raleigh. The Records Division is at (919) 996-3355. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. You can request police reports in person. Accident reports are available through Crashdocs.org. The Raleigh Police Department also shares crime data on its website.
It is key to know the difference. Police records are arrest and incident reports. Court records are the case files that show what happened after charges were filed. For a full picture of a Raleigh criminal case, you may need both.
The eCourts portal shown above is the state system used to look up Raleigh criminal court records online. It covers all 100 North Carolina counties.
Wake County Criminal Justice Resources
The Wake County Sheriff's Office handles warrants, court security, and the county jail. The main office is at 330 South Salisbury Street in Raleigh. Call (919) 856-6900 for general questions. For inmate data, call (919) 773-4170. The sheriff's office has an online inmate search tool.
The Wake County District Attorney's Office prosecutes all criminal cases from Raleigh. The DA is in Prosecutorial District 10. The office is at 300 South Salisbury Street. Phone is (919) 792-5000. Victim Witness Services can be reached at (919) 792-5100. The DA's office runs diversion programs for some cases that may keep charges off a person's criminal court record in Raleigh.
Note: Diversion program outcomes may not appear in standard criminal record searches for Raleigh cases.
State Resources for Raleigh Criminal Records
The NC State Bureau of Investigation is the central repository for criminal data in North Carolina. The SBI office is in Raleigh at 3320 Garner Road. A state fingerprint-based check costs $14. A national FBI check costs $18. The SBI has records going back to 1937.
The NC Department of Adult Correction lets you search for state prison offenders, probationers, and parolees. This tool does not cover people in the Wake County jail. Records date back to 1972. You can search by name or offender ID. The department is based in Raleigh at 5201 Mail Service Center.
For historical Raleigh criminal court records, the NC State Archives at 109 East Jones Street in Raleigh has court documents from the 1800s. Microfilm copies of old court records are available for viewing. The archives phone number is (919) 814-6840.
Sealed and Restricted Records in Raleigh
Some Raleigh criminal court records are not open to the public. North Carolina law blocks access to certain case types. Juvenile records 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 files are also restricted.
If your record was expunged in Raleigh, it will not show up in a search. You can legally deny the charge. The NC Courts records page explains what records are and are not available to the public.
Wake County Criminal Court Records
Raleigh is the county seat of Wake County. All criminal court cases from Raleigh are filed at the Wake County Clerk of Superior Court. The county court system also handles cases from Cary, Apex, and other Wake County towns. For the full county guide, fee details, and related resources, see the Wake County page.