Search North Carolina Busted Mugshots
North Carolina busted mugshots and arrest records are public documents held by local jails, courts, and state agencies. The state had more than 241,000 arrests in 2021 alone, and records stretch back decades. You can search booking photos and criminal case data through free state portals, county sheriff sites, and court databases. This page covers every major source for finding North Carolina arrest records, from the NC Department of Public Safety to local courthouse clerks across all 100 counties.
North Carolina Arrest Records Quick Facts
North Carolina Busted Mugshots Through DPS
The NC Department of Public Safety runs a free offender search tool for North Carolina busted mugshots and arrest records. It covers state prisoners, people on probation, and those on parole. You can look up any person by name or offender ID number. The database of North Carolina arrest records goes back to 1972, so it holds decades of booking records and mugshots. This tool does not show county jail bookings. It only tracks people in the North Carolina state prison system or under state supervision.
Visit the NC DPS Offender Search to start your North Carolina mugshots lookup. Type in a first and last name. Results show the arrest charge, sentence length, and release date. You can also find the facility where someone is held. The search for North Carolina busted mugshots is open to all members of the public at no cost. For more help, contact the NC DPS at P.O. Box 29500, Raleigh, NC 27626-0500, or call (919) 733-2126.
Under N.C.G.S. § 132-1, all government records in North Carolina are public. This law forms the base of the North Carolina Public Records Act. It means that arrest data, booking logs, and mugshot photos held by North Carolina government agencies can be viewed by anyone. There are some limits, but the default rule is open access for North Carolina arrest records and busted mugshots.
Busted Mugshots and NC eCourts Records
The NC eCourts Portal is a free tool for searching North Carolina arrest records and court records across all 100 counties. It replaced the old ACIS system. You do not need to sign up or pay to use it for North Carolina busted mugshots research. Smart Search lets you find cases by party name, case number, or citation. Criminal case results show arrest charge details, hearing dates, and case outcomes for bookings across North Carolina.
You can view the NC eCourts Portal at portal-nc.tylertech.cloud to look up any arrest case filed in North Carolina courts.
The portal shows case status, arrest charge descriptions, and filing dates for North Carolina records. It does not display actual mugshot photos. For booking photos and busted mugshots, you will need to check the county sheriff or local jail site where the arrest took place in North Carolina. Many North Carolina counties post recent bookings with mugshot photos on their own sites.
The NC eCourts search page below shows the interface you will use to look up North Carolina arrest records and busted mugshots data.
Note: The eCourts portal is free but does not include photos or sealed records from North Carolina courts.
NC SBI Arrest Data and Busted Mugshots
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation serves as the central place for arrest records and busted mugshots in the state. The SBI was formed in 1937. It keeps records for every felony arrest in North Carolina on a permanent basis. The bureau collected data on 241,242 North Carolina arrests in 2021 alone. That number shows the scale of the North Carolina criminal records and mugshots system.
You can learn more about the SBI's role in managing North Carolina busted mugshots at ncsbi.gov, the bureau's main site.
Under N.C.G.S. § 114-19.1, the SBI sets rules for who can access North Carolina criminal history records and busted mugshots. Law enforcement gets full access to North Carolina arrest records. The general public can request mugshots and records, but some details may be held back. Felony arrest records stay on file forever in North Carolina. Misdemeanor booking records are also kept but may be harder to find if they are old. The SBI handles statewide criminal background checks for a fee of $14.
North Carolina Prison Records and Mugshots
The NC Department of Adult Correction holds North Carolina arrest records and mugshots for state prison inmates. This agency split from the Department of Public Safety in January 2023. It manages all state prisons and keeps booking records on current and past inmates in North Carolina. North Carolina prison records include busted mugshots, booking photos, arrest charges, sentence data, and release dates.
North Carolina public records requests for mugshots and arrest data can be made through the NC Dept of Adult Correction public records page.
Keep in mind that N.C.G.S. § 148-74 sets some limits on North Carolina prison record access. Medical and mental health records are private. But basic facts like the inmate's name, arrest charges, sentence, and release date are public in North Carolina. Busted mugshots and booking photos taken at intake are also generally available through a North Carolina records request.
Criminal Background Checks in North Carolina
The North Carolina Courts system offers a formal criminal background check process for finding arrest records. A certified check costs $25 and uses Form AOC-CR-314. You submit this form to the Clerk of Superior Court in any North Carolina county. The clerk searches arrest records and busted mugshots in that county only. For a broader search, the SBI runs statewide North Carolina criminal record checks for $14.
Free self-service terminals sit in many courthouses across North Carolina for searching arrest records. Walk in and search North Carolina criminal records at no charge. These terminals let you look up booking data, arrest charges, and outcomes. They do not print mugshots but do show arrest and conviction details. Visit the NC Courts criminal background check page for full instructions on North Carolina records.
North Carolina arrest records and busted mugshots are public under N.C.G.S. § 15A-304. This statute says North Carolina arrest records and booking mugshots can be viewed by anyone. Social Security numbers, dates of birth, and home addresses are restricted, though. Those details get redacted from public copies of North Carolina arrest records.
How to Get North Carolina Arrest Court Records
The NC Courts website has a guide on how to obtain North Carolina court records and arrest data. It covers criminal cases, civil cases, and more. For North Carolina arrest records and busted mugshots, go to the Clerk of Superior Court in the county where the arrest case was filed. You can ask for copies of any public case file including booking records. Most North Carolina clerks charge a small per-page fee for copies of arrest records.
Full details on obtaining North Carolina arrest records are on the NC Courts obtaining records page.
North Carolina police reports tied to an arrest can also be requested. However, N.C.G.S. § 132-1.4 limits access to active criminal investigation records and busted mugshots. Once a case is closed, more of the arrest file becomes public in North Carolina. While a case is open, some booking documents may be held back. This law balances public access to North Carolina mugshots with the need to protect ongoing investigations.
Note: Certified copies of North Carolina arrest records cost more than plain copies, so ask the clerk about pricing before you order.
North Carolina Sex Offender Busted Mugshots
The North Carolina Sex Offender Registry is one of the most used public record tools for busted mugshots in the state. It was created in 1996 under N.C.G.S. § 14-208.5. More than 20,816 people are on the North Carolina registry. Each entry includes a mugshot photo, name, address, and arrest offense details. You can search North Carolina busted mugshots by name, address, or county.
Search the North Carolina arrest records registry at sexoffender.ncsbi.gov to find registered offenders and their mugshots.
The North Carolina registry is run by the SBI. It is free to use and open to the public for searching busted mugshots. Offenders must keep their registration current. Failure to register is a felony in North Carolina. The site shows the person's mugshot photo, home address, and the arrest crime they were convicted of. It is one of the few North Carolina state tools that includes actual booking mugshot photos.
You can also sign up for email alerts when a sex offender moves near your address. Visit signup.ncsbi.gov to set up alerts in North Carolina.
The alert system sends updates when a registered sex offender moves within your area in North Carolina. This is a free tool for tracking busted mugshots and arrest records of convicted offenders across the state.
North Carolina Courthouse Locations for Arrest Records
Every county in North Carolina has a courthouse with a Clerk of Superior Court. This is the place to go for in-person North Carolina arrest records and busted mugshots searches. You can look up criminal cases, view arrest records, and get copies of booking documents and mugshots. Staff at the North Carolina clerk's office can help you find what you need.
Find your local North Carolina courthouse at the NC Courts locations page. It lists every courthouse in the state with addresses and phone numbers for arrest record lookups.
Visiting in person is the best way to get certified copies of North Carolina arrest records and mugshots. You can also review full case files that may not be on the eCourts portal yet. Bring a valid ID and the name or case number of the person you are looking up. The clerk may ask for your reason, but North Carolina public records law gives you the right to view these arrest files and busted mugshots. Courthouse hours vary, but most North Carolina offices are open weekdays from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
You can also find the NC General Statutes online to read the full text of any North Carolina law mentioned on this page.
Note: Some rural courthouses in North Carolina have limited hours for arrest record lookups, so call ahead before you visit to search busted mugshots.
Browse North Carolina Busted Mugshots by County
Each county in North Carolina has its own sheriff and jail that processes arrests and busted mugshots. Pick a county below to find local North Carolina mugshot records and booking arrest info for that area.
Busted Mugshots in Major North Carolina Cities
Residents of large North Carolina cities get booked at their county jail. Pick a city below to find North Carolina arrest records, busted mugshots, and booking info for that area.