Edgecombe County Criminal Court Records

Edgecombe County criminal court records are on file at the Clerk of Superior Court in Tarboro. The county sits in Judicial District 7 and also uses the Rocky Mount Judicial Center for some court functions. You can search for criminal cases filed in Edgecombe County online or by visiting the courthouse. Records cover all felony and misdemeanor charges processed in the county. The clerk's office can help you find the case files you need. Edgecombe County criminal court records are open to the public under North Carolina law.

Edgecombe County Clerk of Court

The Clerk of Superior Court in Edgecombe County maintains all criminal case records. The main courthouse is at 301 St. Andrew Street in Tarboro. You can call the office at (252) 823-2061 for questions about records.

Edgecombe County also has a second court location at the Rocky Mount Judicial Center. Some criminal cases may be heard there depending on the court schedule. Both locations fall under the same clerk's office. Criminal and civil calendars for Edgecombe County are posted online through the NC Courts website. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Public access terminals at the courthouse let you search criminal court records on your own.

Searching Edgecombe County Criminal Records

You have two main ways to search for criminal court records in Edgecombe County. Online searches through the eCourts Portal give you quick access from home. In-person visits let you see the full case file at the courthouse.

The North Carolina eCourts Portal is free to use. You can search by name, case number, or citation. The system shows charges, court dates, case status, and more for Edgecombe County criminal cases. You do not need an account for basic lookups. If you want to save cases and come back to them, you can register for free.

At the Edgecombe County Courthouse, go to the clerk's office on the main floor. Use the public access terminals to run your search. Staff at the counter can also look up records for you. Bring your ID when you visit. If you need copies, ask at the counter. The clerk can make both certified and plain copies of criminal court records in Edgecombe County.

Note: Printed copies from the public terminal may have a small fee per page at the Edgecombe County clerk's office.

You can also request a certified criminal background check at the Edgecombe County clerk's office. Fill out Form AOC-CR-314 and submit it with $25 in payment. The fee is set under G.S. 7A-308(a)(17). Each extra copy costs $15 when ordered at the same time. The clerk searches all criminal court records on file in Edgecombe County and provides a signed result. For a statewide search, the NC State Bureau of Investigation offers fingerprint-based checks that cover all 100 counties at once.

Edgecombe County Criminal Court Records Info

The North Carolina Judicial Branch lists Edgecombe County court details on its official page. This includes the contact directory, jury service, and local court rules.

The page also provides links to the Guardian ad Litem program and online services for Edgecombe County. Criminal calendars are viewable so you can check upcoming court dates for cases in this county.

Edgecombe Criminal Court Records Process

A criminal case in Edgecombe County starts with an arrest or a citation. The case then moves through the court system in stages. Each stage creates new records that go into the case file.

After an arrest, a magistrate in Edgecombe County sets the initial bond and schedules a first court date. For misdemeanors, the case stays in District Court. A judge hears the case and makes a ruling. For felonies, the case goes to a grand jury. If the grand jury returns a true bill of indictment, the case moves to Superior Court in Edgecombe County. The defendant then enters a plea or goes to trial before a 12-person jury. Under North Carolina law, Superior Court has jurisdiction over all felony charges.

At each step, documents are added to the file. These include warrants, bond orders, indictments, motions, plea forms, and sentencing orders. All of these are part of the criminal court record in Edgecombe County. You can request copies of any document in the file from the clerk.

Edgecombe County Sheriff and Arrest Records

The Edgecombe County Sheriff's Office handles arrests and keeps its own records. The office is at 300 W. Wilson Street in Tarboro. You can reach them at (252) 823-4151.

Arrest records and incident reports are separate from court records. The sheriff's office can tell you about recent arrests and current inmates. Court records are at the clerk's office. If you need both types of records in Edgecombe County, you will need to contact both offices. The NC Department of Adult Correction also provides an offender search for people who have served time in state prison. This tool covers records from 1972 to the present.

Note: The NC Department of Adult Correction does not have records for county jail inmates in Edgecombe County.

The NC Sex Offender Registry is a free tool run by the SBI. You can search by name, address, or zip code to find registered offenders near Edgecombe County. Under G.S. 14-208.5, offenders must register with their local sheriff. This data is public. The Tarboro Police Department also handles law enforcement within the town limits. Incident reports from the police are separate from the criminal court records stored by the clerk in Edgecombe County.

Expungement of Criminal Court Records in Edgecombe County

North Carolina law allows some criminal records to be expunged. This means the record is erased from public view. Once a case is expunged, it will not show up in searches at the Edgecombe County clerk's office or on the eCourts Portal.

Eligibility depends on the type of charge and the outcome. Dismissed charges and not guilty verdicts are the easiest to expunge. Some low-level convictions may also qualify after a waiting period. You must file a petition with the court in Edgecombe County to start the process. The clerk's office can provide the right forms. A judge then reviews the petition and decides whether to grant it. If approved, the Edgecombe County clerk removes the record from public access. The NC Courts expunction page explains the full process and lists every form you need.

Nearby Counties

These counties are close to Edgecombe County. Criminal cases are filed where the offense took place. Check the right county before you start your search.