Search Durham County Felony Records

Durham County felony records are managed by the Clerk of Superior Court at the courthouse on East Main Street. Durham is one of the largest counties in North Carolina and part of the Research Triangle. Felony records here cover a wide range of criminal cases. You can search these records online through the eCourts portal or visit the clerk office in person. Durham County is in Judicial District 14 and has full eCourts access, which makes digital searches fast and simple for most felony cases.

Durham County Felony Court Records

The Durham County Courthouse holds all felony case files for the county. It is at 201 E. Main Street in downtown Durham. The Clerk of Superior Court manages the records division. This office stores paper files and digital records for every felony case filed in Durham County. Staff process requests each business day.

Felony records in Durham County contain the full case history. This includes the arrest warrant, charges filed by the District Attorney, all motions, hearing dates, plea agreements, and the final judgment. Each record is tied to a case number. You can use this number or a name to search. Durham County sees a high volume of felony filings each year due to its population size. The clerk office handles thousands of requests for felony records annually, and the staff are well versed in the process.

Visit the Durham County Courthouse page for directions, hours, and parking details.

You can also call the clerk at (919) 808-3000 for questions about your search.

How to Search Felony Records

Durham County gives you several ways to search for felony records. The fastest method is the state eCourts site. You can also go to the courthouse. Phone and mail requests work too. Each method has its own steps and limits.

To search in person, go to the clerk office at the Durham County Courthouse. Bring your ID. Tell the staff the name or case number you want to look up. They will search and let you view the file. You can ask for plain or certified copies. Fees apply for copies. The office takes cash and checks. Durham County keeps a large volume of felony records, so most searches come back fast. If the case is old, it may take a bit more time to pull from storage.

The Durham County contact directory lists all court office phone numbers. The District Attorney can be reached at (919) 808-3015, and the Public Defender at (919) 808-3020.

Note: Sealed felony records in Durham County will not show up in a public search.

Durham County eCourts Access

Durham County has full eCourts access. This means most felony records are in the state digital system. Go to portal.ncourts.com to start. Type in a name or case number. The system pulls up matching felony cases in Durham County and across North Carolina.

The eCourts portal shows charges, court dates, case status, and hearing results. It does not show full scanned documents for every case. For those, contact the Durham County clerk. The portal is free for basic lookups. Durham County was one of the early adopters of the eCourts system, so its data tends to be more complete than smaller counties.

Durham County also has an open data portal with crime data and statistics that may help with research.

The open data portal covers crime trends and public safety data for the Durham area.

Certified Felony Record Checks in Durham

A certified criminal record check in Durham County starts with form AOC-CR-314. You fill it out at the clerk office or download it from the NC Courts forms page. Pay the fee and submit the form. The clerk runs the search and gives you a certified result.

For a statewide check that includes Durham County felony records and all other counties, use the NC SBI background check service. The SBI pulls from a central database. This is a broader search than what the county clerk offers. It costs more but covers the whole state. More details on criminal background checks are on the NC Courts criminal background check page.

Felony Expungement in Durham County

Certain felony records in Durham County may be eligible for expungement. The rules are set by North Carolina General Statutes. The type of charge, the outcome, and your criminal history all matter. Not all felonies can be expunged.

You start by filing a petition at the Durham County Courthouse. The SBI expungement page has the forms you need. A judge reviews the petition. If the court grants it, the felony record is sealed from public view. This means it will no longer show up in standard searches of Durham County felony records. Law enforcement can still see it in some cases.

Free legal help may be available through legal aid groups that serve Durham County.

Note: Expungement in Durham County can take several months from the time you file.

Durham County Public Safety Records

Several state tools tie into felony records for Durham County. The NC Sex Offender Registry is a free search tool. It lists people in Durham County and across the state with certain felony convictions. The VINE notification system lets you track custody status for someone held on felony charges in Durham County.

The NC Department of Adult Correction runs an offender search. This tool shows people serving time for felony convictions across North Carolina. It includes anyone from Durham County currently in state custody.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Durham County. Felony cases are filed in the county where the offense occurred. Make sure you search the right county for your records.