Find Washington County Criminal Court Records
Washington County criminal court records are maintained at the Clerk of Superior Court in Plymouth, North Carolina. The county sits in Judicial District 2 and handles criminal cases at both the Superior and District Court levels. You can search court records online or go to the courthouse in Plymouth. The clerk office stores case files, court orders, and sentencing documents. Washington County is one of the smaller counties in eastern North Carolina, and the courthouse serves the whole area from one location.
Washington County Quick Facts
Washington County Criminal Court Clerk
The Clerk of Superior Court in Washington County is the keeper of all criminal court files. The office handles new case filings, stores old records, and provides copies to the public. You can call (252) 791-4000 to ask about a case or learn what you need to bring.
The courthouse mailing address is PO Box 901, Plymouth, NC 27962. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Parking can be tight on court days. The DSS lot and nearby street parking are options. The building has wheelchair access and vending machines. Public terminals inside let you search criminal records at no cost. The Washington County NC Courts page has links to local rules, calendars, and contact numbers.
Washington County shares District 2 with several nearby counties. Superior Court judges for this district can be reached at (252) 940-4016. The District Attorney handles all criminal cases and can be contacted at (252) 940-4010. Official court reporters are at (252) 940-4076. The Guardian ad Litem office at (252) 974-7864 handles cases that involve children. Each of these offices plays a role in the criminal court process in Washington County.
| Court |
Washington County Clerk of Superior Court PO Box 901 Plymouth, NC 27962 Phone: (252) 791-4000 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | nccourts.gov/locations/washington-county |
Search Washington Criminal Court Records
Start your search at the NC eCourts Portal. It is free. Go to the eCourts Portal and enter a name or case number. The system shows charges, court dates, and case status for criminal matters in Washington County and all other NC counties.
If you need a certified search, use Form AOC-CR-314. The fee is $25 per name. Hand it in at the clerk window or mail it to the courthouse. Under G.S. 7A-109, the clerk maintains the official criminal case database for Washington County. A certified result can be used for legal purposes.
You can also go to the courthouse and use the public access terminals. This is a quick way to check records without any cost. Bring your ID. Staff can help if you have questions about finding a specific case in Washington County.
Most criminal court records in Washington County are public under the NC Public Records Act, G.S. Chapter 132. However, sealed records, juvenile cases, and certain protective orders will not show in any public search. The Remote Public Access Program gives licensed users real-time criminal and civil case data from all 100 North Carolina counties. This program runs under G.S. 7A-109(d) and G.S. 7A-343.2. Organizations can apply for bulk data access through the NCAOC.
Washington County Court Information
The NC Courts website provides a dedicated page for Washington County. It has links to the contact directory, criminal calendars, and court rules. Visit the Washington County courts page for the latest information.
Use this page to find court dates, pay fines, or check on the status of a criminal case in Washington County. You can also view jury service details and download local court forms from this page.
Under G.S. 7A-308(a)(17), the $25 fee for a certified criminal record search is set by state law. Each additional copy of the same record costs $15 when ordered at the same time. You can submit Form AOC-CR-314 by mail or in person at the Washington County clerk office. The form is available as a PDF from the NC Courts forms page.
Note: Court calendars may change on short notice; call the clerk to confirm your date before traveling to Plymouth.
Criminal Court Records in Washington County
Superior Court in Washington County hears all felony criminal cases. Drug charges, burglary, and violent crimes are tried here. A 12-person jury decides the outcome when the case goes to trial. The NC Superior Court system applies the same rules across all counties.
District Court handles misdemeanors and traffic offenses. Simple assault, DWI, and shoplifting are typical cases. A judge decides these without a jury. Magistrates at (252) 791-4019 issue warrants and set bail in Washington County. They also accept guilty pleas for minor offenses. All of these create records that the clerk office stores for public access.
- Felony cases tried in Superior Court
- Misdemeanors decided in District Court
- Warrants issued by magistrates
- All records kept at the clerk office in Plymouth
State Criminal Court Records Tools
The NC State Bureau of Investigation offers fingerprint-based background checks for the entire state. These are the most accurate option. Name-based searches can miss records or return false matches. The SBI is the central repository for criminal data in North Carolina. Their office is at 3320 Garner Road, Raleigh, NC 27626. You can call (919) 582-8660 for more details.
The NC Department of Adult Correction maintains an offender search tool. It covers state prison inmates and people on probation or parole. The database goes back to 1972. It does not include local jail records from Washington County. For court records specifically, the clerk of court in Plymouth is the official source.
The NC Sex Offender Registry lets you search for registered offenders in Washington County. Under G.S. 14-208.5, certain convicted individuals must register with local law enforcement. You can search by name, address, or zip code. Victims can sign up for alerts through VineLink when an offender's status changes. This tool is free and covers the entire state.
Historical criminal court records from Washington County may be stored at the State Archives of North Carolina in Raleigh. Most court records from the 1800s have been moved there. The State Archives preserves old case files, including records from the County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, which handled criminal matters before 1868. Contact the State Archives at (919) 814-6840 for help finding old Washington County court records.
Nearby Counties
Washington County borders several other counties in eastern North Carolina. Make sure you search for criminal records in the county where the case was filed.