Find Cleveland County Felony Records

Cleveland County felony records are kept at the courthouse in Shelby, North Carolina. The Clerk of Superior Court manages all criminal case files for this county in the foothills region. Cleveland County is part of Judicial District 39 and joined the eCourts system in early 2025. You can search felony records in person at the Shelby courthouse or through the state online portal. This page explains how to access felony records, get copies, and understand the court process in Cleveland County.

Cleveland County Court Records Office

The Cleveland County Courthouse on East Dixon Boulevard in Shelby is the central location for felony records. The Clerk of Superior Court runs the records office. Staff handle filings, store case documents, and provide copies to the public. Cleveland County sees a steady volume of felony cases each year. The clerk's office is well staffed to handle record requests from walk-in visitors and by mail.

Visit the Cleveland County Courthouse page on the NC Courts website for current contact details and directions.

The courthouse is the only location in Cleveland County where you can get certified felony court records.

Note: Cleveland County also has a Family Court at 220 E. Warren St. in Shelby, but felony records are only at the main courthouse.

Searching Cleveland County Felony Records

You can search felony records in Cleveland County in person or online. At the courthouse in Shelby, walk into the clerk's office and use the public access terminals. Staff can help you look up cases by name or number. You can view charge details, hearing dates, and case outcomes. If you find what you need, ask for a printed copy. Plain copies are $0.25 per page.

Online searches go through the NC eCourts portal. Cleveland County went live on the eCourts system on February 3, 2025 as a Track 7 county. All cases filed after that date are in the electronic system. You can search by name or case number from any device. The portal shows basic case info like charges and court dates. It does not include full documents or orders. For those, you need to contact the Cleveland County clerk.

When searching for felony records in Cleveland County, you will need at least one of the following:

• Full legal name of the person
• Case number from the court
• Date range of the case
• Type of charge if you know it

Cleveland County eCourts System

Cleveland County joined the eCourts platform in February 2025. The system replaced older paper-based records for new cases. It is a big change for how felony records are managed in this part of North Carolina. The portal gives the public a fast way to check case status without driving to Shelby.

The eCourts system at portal.ncourts.com is free to use. You can look up any felony case filed in Cleveland County after the go-live date. Older cases may not be in the system yet. If you need records from before February 2025, go to the clerk's office in person. The clerk can search the older database and pull up what you need from the Cleveland County archives.

Note: The eCourts portal updates in real time, so new filings in Cleveland County show up within hours of being entered by court staff.

Certified Felony Records from Cleveland County

A certified copy is a court document stamped and signed by the Cleveland County Clerk of Superior Court. It serves as proof that the copy is accurate. You may need one for a legal matter, an appeal, or a records request from another court. The clerk in Shelby is the only person who can certify Cleveland County court documents.

To get a certified copy, visit the courthouse at 1425 East Dixon Blvd in Shelby. Give the clerk the case number and tell them what document you need. Pay the fee. The clerk will make the copy and add the official seal. You can also mail a request to the Cleveland County Clerk of Superior Court. Include the case details, your contact info, and a check for the fee amount. Call (704) 476-7800 ahead of time to confirm the current fee for certified copies in Cleveland County.

For a criminal background check that covers more than just Cleveland County, the NC State Bureau of Investigation offers a statewide search. This requires fingerprints and a processing fee. It is a different process from requesting a specific felony record at the Cleveland County courthouse.

Felony Expungement in Cleveland County

Expungement can remove a felony record from public view in Cleveland County. North Carolina law defines which cases qualify. The rules are strict. You must meet all the criteria set by the state statutes. The petition is filed at the Cleveland County Courthouse in Shelby, and a local judge decides whether to grant it.

Start by getting the right forms from the NC Courts forms page. Complete the petition and file it with the Cleveland County clerk. There is a filing fee. Once filed, a judge reviews it. If approved, the felony is removed from the public record in Cleveland County and from the SBI database. The process can take weeks or months depending on the court schedule.

Dismissed cases and acquittals are the easiest to expunge. First-time offenders may qualify for some types of felony expungement. Each case is different, and the rules in the NC General Statutes control the outcome.

Cleveland County Felony Record Resources

The NC Department of Adult Correction has an offender search tool that covers the whole state. You can use it to look up someone with a felony in Cleveland County or any other county. The tool shows basic offender data and custody status.

The VINE notification system lets you track people who are in custody. Sign up for alerts when their status changes. This covers Cleveland County and all other North Carolina counties. The NC Sex Offender Registry is also a free search tool that covers the entire state.