Richmond County Felony Records

Richmond County felony records are stored at the courthouse in Rockingham, North Carolina. The Clerk of Superior Court maintains all criminal case files for this county. Richmond County is part of Judicial District 21 in the southern Piedmont region. The clerk's office accepts public requests for felony records on any weekday. You can search for cases at the courthouse or through the NC eCourts portal online. This guide explains how to look up and obtain felony records in Richmond County.

Richmond County Courthouse

The Richmond County Courthouse is at 105 W Franklin St in Rockingham. This is the only courthouse in the county. All felony case files are kept here. Superior Court and District Court both hold sessions in this building. The Clerk of Superior Court is on the main floor. Walk in and ask at the window for a felony record search.

Rockingham is the county seat. The town sits along the Pee Dee River in south-central North Carolina. The courthouse serves everyone in Richmond County, including residents of Hamlet and Ellerbe. Richmond County transitioned to the eCourts digital system on October 14, 2024. This means recent records are now in a digital format. Older paper files are still at the courthouse. The clerk's staff can help you find both types of records.

The Richmond County Courthouse page on the NC Courts site lists court calendars and contact information.

How to Search Felony Records

You can search for felony records in Richmond County at the courthouse or online. At the courthouse in Rockingham, public access terminals sit near the clerk's office. These are free to use. Type in a name or case number. The system returns charges, court dates, and outcomes. Staff at the window can also pull paper files for you if you need more detail than the terminal shows.

Online, the NC eCourts portal covers Richmond County. Since the county moved to eCourts in October 2024, new case data feeds into this system. Search by name or case number from any device. Basic lookups are free. The portal shows charges, hearing dates, and how the case ended. For certified copies, contact the clerk's office directly.

Certified copies cost $25. You need a valid photo ID. Cash, checks, and money orders are accepted at the clerk's window.

The image below shows the Richmond County Courthouse listing on the NC Courts website.

This listing gives hours, phone numbers, and links to court calendars for Richmond County.

Richmond County eCourts System

Richmond County launched its eCourts system on October 14, 2024. This digital platform changed how records are stored and accessed. Before the launch, all records were on paper at the courthouse. Now, new filings go into the digital system first. The eCourts platform lets you search records online, make payments, and file certain types of paperwork from your computer or phone.

The transition has not changed the rules about public access to felony records in Richmond County. You can still visit the clerk's office to view files. The eCourts system simply adds an online option for basic searches. If you need documents from before October 2024, those may only be available in paper form at the courthouse in Rockingham.

Note: Records filed before October 14, 2024, may not be in the digital system and could require an in-person visit to the Richmond County courthouse.

Felony Cases in Richmond County

Felony cases in Richmond County begin with an arrest or grand jury indictment. Superior Court handles all felony trials. The grand jury hears the evidence and decides if the case should move forward. If indicted, the defendant goes to trial or accepts a plea. The court record tracks every step. Common felony charges in Richmond County include drug offenses, assault, robbery, and property crimes.

Each charge falls under a class set by North Carolina General Statutes. Class A felonies are the most serious. Class I is the lowest felony class. Judges use structured sentencing guidelines to set penalties based on the charge class and the person's criminal history. All court documents become part of the permanent record at the Richmond County courthouse.

Richmond County Criminal Record Checks

A criminal record check at the Richmond County clerk's office covers all charges on file in the county, not only felonies. The cost is $25 for a certified record. You get a sealed document that lists the full local criminal history for the person named in the request. Visit the courthouse in Rockingham with your photo ID to start the process.

For a statewide search, the NC State Bureau of Investigation runs background checks covering all 100 counties. The SBI is the central hub for criminal data in North Carolina. A statewide check takes more time than a local search but catches cases filed in other counties. Fingerprints may be required. The NC Courts background check page explains all the steps.

The NC SBI expungement page covers the process for removing eligible felony records from the system. Not all charges qualify. Violent felonies and sex offenses cannot be expunged under current North Carolina law.

• Dismissed felony charges can often be expunged
• Nonviolent convictions may qualify after a waiting period
• Only one felony expunction is allowed per person
• Petition forms are on the NC Courts forms page

Other Resources in Richmond County

The NC Department of Adult Correction has an offender search tool. If a person convicted in Richmond County went to state prison, they appear in this system. Records go back to 1972. The search does not cover the county jail. It is free and open to the public.

Crime victims in Richmond County can use VINE to track offender status. Alerts come by phone, email, or text when something changes. The NC Sex Offender Registry lets you search for registered offenders by name or location in Richmond County and across the state.

Note: The NC Department of Adult Correction offender search only covers state prisons and probation, not the Richmond County detention center.