Durham Felony Records
Durham felony records are maintained at the Durham County Courthouse. The city is the county seat and a major part of the Research Triangle. Felony cases in Durham go through Durham County Superior Court. You can search records through the NC eCourts portal or visit the clerk of court in person. The courthouse holds files on all active and closed cases. Most felony records are public under state law and open for anyone to view.
Durham Felony Court Information
All felony cases in Durham are heard at the Durham County Courthouse on East Main Street. Superior Court handles felony matters. The clerk of court office is inside the building and open to the public during regular hours. Staff can help you find case files and make copies.
| Court | Durham County Clerk of Superior Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 201 E. Main Street Durham, NC 27701 |
| Phone | (919) 808-3000 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
The courthouse is in the heart of downtown Durham. Metered street parking and nearby lots serve visitors. GoDurham bus routes stop close by. Security screens all visitors at the entrance. Bring a valid photo ID. Do not bring weapons, large bags, or sharp tools. The building gets busy on court days, so arrive early if you need to see the clerk about Durham felony records.
Durham County also has specific phone lines for different record types. For district criminal and traffic records, call 919-808-3002. That line reaches the first floor office in Room 1300. For Superior Court criminal records, call 919-808-3007. That office is on the second floor in Room 2100. The cashier is on the first floor in Room 1200.
Note: Durham County has separate phone lines for district and superior criminal records, so call the right one for felony cases at 919-808-3007.
Search Durham Felony Records
Online tools make it easy to look up Durham felony records. The NC eCourts portal covers all of Durham County. Search by name or case number. Results show charges, dates, and outcomes. It is free for basic lookups and runs on any device with a web browser.
The NC Courts help page explains what court records are public and how to get copies. Most adult felony records in Durham are open. Juvenile cases are sealed. Expunged records will not show up in any search. For official certified copies, contact the clerk of court or visit the courthouse on East Main Street.
Durham County also provides crime data and police statistics through city resources. This is not the same as court records, but it can help you understand crime trends in the area. Police incident data is updated on a regular basis.
Here is a screenshot from the NC eCourts portal, which is the main online tool for searching Durham felony records and other court cases across North Carolina.
The eCourts system is the official state tool. It pulls data from all 100 counties. For Durham cases, it shows the same information the clerk sees on their screens.
Durham Police Felony Records
The Durham Police Department handles most law enforcement in the city. When DPD officers make a felony arrest, the case goes to Durham County Superior Court. Police records and court records are stored in different systems. You may need both for a full view of a case.
The DPD headquarters is at 505 W. Chapel Hill Street, Durham, NC 27701. The non-emergency line is 919-560-4600. The Records Unit provides incident and accident reports. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. You can request reports in person or through the city portal.
Durham CrimeStoppers is another resource. Call 919-683-1200 to report tips. The Police to Citizen portal lets you search cases and incident reports using IR numbers. These tools give you access to police data that ties into felony case records at the courthouse.
Felony Background Checks in Durham
A certified name inquiry check for Durham felony records costs $25. You submit Form AOC-CR-314 at the Durham County Courthouse. The clerk sends it to the NC State Bureau of Investigation for a statewide search. Results arrive by mail within a few weeks.
Free lookups are available at the courthouse. Public access terminals sit in the clerk office area. You can search Durham County case data at no charge. The NC eCourts portal does the same from home. Neither gives you a certified document, but both work for quick checks. The NC Courts background check page explains all of your options in detail.
Note: A certified name inquiry from the Durham County clerk covers the entire state, not just Durham County records.
Durham Felony Expungement Process
Some Durham felony records can be expunged. You file a petition with the Durham County Clerk of Superior Court. The NC Courts forms page has the petition forms. A judge reviews each request. If granted, the record is removed from public access.
Dismissed charges are the easiest to clear. Not guilty verdicts also qualify. Certain convictions may be expunged after a waiting period under North Carolina General Statutes. The NC SBI expungement page lists all the rules. Violent felonies and sex offenses face strict limits. Talk to a lawyer if you are not sure whether your Durham felony record can be cleared.
Durham Felony Case Classes
North Carolina groups felonies into classes from A through I. Class A is the most serious. Class I is the least severe. Durham felony records show the class for each charge. The class affects the sentence range and how long a record stays on file.
Common felony charges in Durham include drug offenses, burglary, assault with a deadly weapon, and robbery. Drug trafficking cases are often Class G or higher. Breaking and entering is usually Class H. The exact class depends on the facts of the case. Superior Court judges in Durham County apply state sentencing guidelines when deciding punishment. Prior record levels also matter. A person with past convictions faces a longer sentence than a first-time offender for the same charge.
Durham Felony Case Alerts
Victims of felony crimes in Durham can track cases through VINE. This free service sends alerts when an offender's custody status changes. You choose how to get notified. Options are phone, email, or text. The system covers all of North Carolina.
The NC Sex Offender Registry is free to search. Enter a name, address, or zip code to see results. Durham residents use it to check their area. The data is from the NC SBI and stays up to date. Both VINE and the registry are open to the public with no login required.
Durham County Felony Records
Durham is the county seat of Durham County. All felony cases in the city are processed through the Durham County court system. The county page has more details on courthouse services, forms, fees, and related links for getting records.