Craven County Criminal Court Records

Craven County criminal court records are stored at the courthouse in New Bern, North Carolina. The Clerk of Superior Court in Craven County is the official keeper of all criminal case files in District 3. You can search for criminal court records using the state eCourts Portal online or by visiting the clerk's office in person. Public access is available for viewing case details, checking court dates, and requesting copies of criminal filings. New Bern is the county seat and home to the Craven County courthouse that serves the entire area.

Criminal Records at the Craven County Courthouse

The Craven County Courthouse is at 302 Broad Street in New Bern. This building houses the Clerk of Superior Court, who maintains all criminal case records for the county. You can walk in to view case files, search records at public access terminals, or request copies from staff.

Craven County is located in eastern North Carolina along the Neuse River. New Bern, one of the state's oldest cities, serves as the county seat. The area includes Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune to the south and the Cherry Point Marine Corps Air Station within the county. With about 102,000 residents, Craven County has a significant case volume. The courthouse handles everything from minor traffic offenses to serious felony charges. Criminal and civil calendars are viewable online through the Craven County NC Courts page, which also lists contact numbers and local court procedures.

The NC Courts page for Craven County provides access to court calendars, the clerk's contact directory, and jury service information.

How to Search Craven County Criminal Court Records

Two main methods exist for finding criminal court records in Craven County. Online searches through the eCourts Portal work well for quick lookups. Visiting the clerk's office in New Bern gives you full access to case files and the ability to get certified copies.

The NC eCourts Portal allows free searches of Craven County criminal records. Enter a name, case number, or citation number to find cases. The portal shows charges, court dates, case status, and outcomes. You can view and print documents at no cost. No account is needed for basic searches.

For a certified search, fill out Form AOC-CR-314 and submit it with $25 to the Craven County clerk's office. You can do this in person or by mail. The certified search covers all criminal cases on file under the name you provide. Under G.S. 7A-308(a)(17), this fee is set by state law. You can also use the free self-service terminals at the courthouse to run a non-certified search of criminal records.

Note: The eCourts Portal does not show sealed records, juvenile cases, or unreturned warrants from Craven County.

Criminal Court Records in Craven County

Craven County processes both felony and misdemeanor criminal cases at the New Bern courthouse.

Superior Court in Craven County hears all felony charges. Drug trafficking, robbery, breaking and entering, and assault with a deadly weapon are common felony cases. A 12-person jury hears trials when the defendant pleads not guilty. The clerk stores every document from these cases. Misdemeanor criminal court records in Craven County come from District Court. These cover lesser charges like simple assault, disorderly conduct, and minor theft. A judge decides these cases without a jury. If a defendant wants to appeal a misdemeanor ruling, the case goes to Superior Court in Craven County for a new trial.

All criminal court records from both courts in Craven County are kept by the Clerk of Superior Court. This includes warrants, charging documents, motions, plea agreements, and sentencing orders. Under the North Carolina Public Records Act and G.S. Chapter 132, most of these records are open to the public.

Traffic-related criminal charges also produce court records in Craven County. DWI cases, driving while license revoked, and reckless driving to endanger are all heard at the New Bern courthouse. The military presence at Cherry Point can lead to cases involving service members. These cases follow the same process as any other criminal matter in Craven County courts. All records stay on file with the clerk. Expunged cases will not show up in public searches of Craven County criminal court records.

Craven County Law Enforcement and Court Records

The Craven County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement and warrant service for areas outside New Bern city limits. The office is at 1100 Clarks Road in New Bern. Call (252) 633-1540 for general inquiries. Criminal arrests by the sheriff lead to cases that are filed at the Craven County courthouse.

Arrest records from the sheriff's office are separate from criminal court records at the clerk's office. If you need copies of court documents from a criminal case in Craven County, contact the Clerk of Superior Court at (252) 639-3000. The NC Courts help page on obtaining records explains the different ways to access court files across the state.

Craven County Criminal Court Records Resources

State agencies provide additional tools for criminal record searches that may relate to Craven County cases. The NC Department of Adult Correction offender search covers state prison inmates, probationers, and parolees with records going back to 1972. It does not include Craven County jail inmates.

The NC Sex Offender Registry lets you search for registered offenders by name or address. The NC State Bureau of Investigation is the state's central criminal records repository. Their fingerprint-based background checks are more thorough than name-based court searches. For bulk or repeated searches, the Remote Public Access Program offers licensed data access to criminal records in all 100 counties, including Craven County.

Name-based searches may miss records if a person used different name variations in Craven County. Under G.S. 14-208.5, the sex offender registry requires people convicted of qualifying offenses to register with law enforcement. You can search near any Craven County address for registered offenders.

Nearby Counties

These counties are near Craven County. Make sure you search for criminal records in the county where the case was filed.