Guilford County Criminal Court Records

Guilford County criminal court records can be searched through the Clerk of Superior Court in Greensboro. This is the third most populous county in North Carolina. The clerk maintains all criminal case files for Guilford County, from misdemeanor charges to serious felony cases. Residents and the public can look up criminal court records using the eCourts portal or by visiting the courthouse. Criminal cases filed in Guilford County are part of the public record under state law, and the clerk can help you find what you need.

Guilford Criminal Court Records Clerk

The Clerk of Superior Court is the keeper of all criminal court records in Guilford County. This office stores case files, logs new filings, and gives out copies of court papers. Staff at the clerk's office can help you look up a case by name or case number. The main courthouse is in downtown Greensboro.

Guilford County is one of the largest court systems in North Carolina. The county has two courthouse sites. One is in Greensboro and the other is in High Point. Both serve Guilford County residents. Criminal cases from all parts of the county are filed through this system. The clerk handles felony and misdemeanor records alike. Guilford County also has an eCourts kiosk at the courthouse, which lets visitors scan, print, and pay for court documents on the spot. You can visit the Guilford County NC Courts page for more details on hours and contact info.

The clerk's office is open on weekdays. Walk in and ask for help at the front desk. You can also call ahead to check on a specific record.

How to Search Criminal Records in Guilford County

There are a few ways to search for criminal court records in Guilford County. The fastest option for most people is the online portal. You can also go to the courthouse and use a public terminal. Both give you access to case data going back many years.

The North Carolina eCourts portal at portal-nc.tylertech.cloud lets you search by party name, case number, or citation number. It is free for basic case details. You do not need to sign up. The portal shows charges, court dates, and case status for criminal cases filed in Guilford County. For copies of the actual documents in a case file, you will need to contact the clerk or visit in person. Guilford County criminal court records are also available through the public access terminals at the courthouse in Greensboro.

To look up a criminal case, you need at least one of these:

• Full name of the person charged
• The case number
• A citation or ticket number
• The date the case was filed

Staff at the Guilford County clerk's office can also run a search for you. Bring your ID when you visit. Older records may take more time to pull up.

Note: The eCourts portal does not show sealed or expunged records from Guilford County.

Guilford Criminal Court Records Checks

A certified criminal record check costs $25 in Guilford County. You fill out Form AOC-CR-314, which is the standard form used across North Carolina. Submit it at the clerk's office in Greensboro or send it by mail with a check or money order. The clerk searches the county's criminal records and gives you a certified result. This is the most reliable way to get an official criminal record check for Guilford County cases.

You can also do a free, non-certified search at the public terminal inside the courthouse. This lets you view criminal records for yourself or anyone else. It shows the same data as the online portal. Printing may cost a small fee. For a statewide criminal search, the NC State Bureau of Investigation offers fingerprint-based checks. These are more thorough than name-based searches. The SBI is the central storage for criminal data in North Carolina.

Note: Name-based checks may miss records if a person used a different name or spelling in Guilford County.

Criminal Courts in Guilford County

Guilford County has both Superior Court and District Court. Each handles different types of criminal cases. Knowing which court heard a case helps you find the right records faster.

Superior Court in Guilford County handles all felony cases. This includes serious crimes such as robbery, drug trafficking, and assault with a deadly weapon. Under N.C.G.S. 7A-271, the Superior Court has sole jurisdiction over felonies. A 12-person jury decides guilt when a defendant pleads not guilty. The case file for each felony is kept by the Guilford County Clerk of Superior Court.

District Court in Guilford County handles misdemeanors and infractions. These include minor drug charges, simple assault, shoplifting, and traffic offenses like DWI. A judge decides these cases without a jury. If a defendant appeals a District Court verdict, the case moves to Superior Court for a new trial. All of these records are stored at the Guilford County courthouse and can be searched through the clerk's office or online.

Getting Copies of Guilford County Court Records

Criminal court records in Guilford County are public under the North Carolina Public Records Act, N.C.G.S. Chapter 132. Anyone can ask to see them. You do not have to be part of the case.

To get copies, visit the clerk's office at the Guilford County courthouse. Ask for the case file by name or number. Staff will pull the file and make copies for you. Plain copies cost a small per-page fee. Certified copies cost more but carry the court's official seal. Many people need certified copies of criminal court records from Guilford County for legal matters. You can also file a written request by mail. Include the case details, your return address, and payment for the copy fees.

Some records from Guilford County criminal cases have restricted access. Juvenile cases are sealed under N.C.G.S. 7B-3000. Expunged records will not show up in any search. Cases sealed by a judge are also off limits to the general public.

State Criminal Court Records Tools

Several state agencies keep criminal records that may relate to Guilford County cases. The NC Department of Adult Correction has records on anyone who served time in a state prison or was on probation or parole. This database goes back to 1972. It does not include people held only in the Guilford County jail.

The NC Sex Offender Registry shows registered sex offenders by area. You can search by name or address. The NC State Archives at archives.ncdcr.gov holds old court records from the 1800s and early 1900s for counties across the state, including Guilford County. For help with court forms or to learn how to request records by mail, visit the NC Courts help page on obtaining court records.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Guilford County. If you need criminal court records from a nearby area, check which county has jurisdiction. The case is filed in the county where the crime took place.