Martin County Criminal Records
How To Look Up Criminal Records In Martin County in 2026
Members of the public seeking criminal records in Martin County may access publicly available information through MartinRecords.org as well as through official government repositories maintained at the county, state, and federal levels. Criminal record searches in Martin County may return information drawn from court filings, law enforcement databases, and correctional agency records, though the completeness and currency of any given record depends on the source consulted and the nature of the underlying case.
Records that may be located through official channels include:
- Arrest records and booking reports
- Criminal court case filings and dispositions
- Felony and misdemeanor conviction records
- Inmate and jail roster information
- Sex offender registration data
- Probation and parole status records
- Active and historical warrant information
Criminal records may be searched through official resources, clerk offices, public access terminals, and online tools. The following five methods describe the primary access points currently available to members of the public.
1. County Court Records: The Martin County Clerk of Superior Court maintains criminal case files for matters heard in the Superior and District Courts of Martin County. Members of the public may inspect records in person at the courthouse during regular business hours. Requestors are advised to bring a valid government-issued photo identification and, where possible, the full legal name of the subject and an approximate case filing date or case number. Public access terminals are available in the clerk's office for on-site case searches.
Martin County Clerk of Superior Court
305 East Main Street
Williamston, NC 27892
Phone: (252) 792-2515
NC Judicial Branch – Martin County
2. Sheriff's Office: The Martin County Sheriff's Office maintains arrest logs, booking records, and jail roster information for individuals processed through the county detention facility. Members of the public may submit records requests directly to the Sheriff's Office. Fees may apply for copies of records.
Martin County Sheriff's Office
305 East Main Street
Williamston, NC 27892
Phone: (252) 789-4300
Sheriff's Office – Martin County, NC
3. Online Court Search: The North Carolina Courts case search portal allows members of the public to search criminal case information by name, case number, or county. Users may enter the subject's full legal name and select Martin County from the jurisdiction menu. The portal returns case numbers, charge descriptions, filing dates, and disposition information where available. Sealed, expunged, and certain juvenile records do not appear in online results.
4. State Criminal History Repository: The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) maintains the statewide criminal history repository. Formal background check requests submitted to the SBI require completion of a request form, payment of the applicable fee (currently $14 for a name-based search), and, for certain purposes, submission of fingerprints. Processing times vary based on request volume and method of submission.
North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation
3320 Garner Road
Raleigh, NC 27626
Phone: (919) 662-4500
NC SBI Criminal History Records
5. Written/Mail Requests: Members of the public may submit written requests for criminal records to the Martin County Clerk of Superior Court or the Sheriff's Office by mail. Requests should include the subject's full legal name, date of birth, and the specific records sought. Under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 132-6, agencies are required to respond to public records requests within a reasonable time.
What Is Martin County Criminal Records
A criminal record is the official documentation of an individual's interactions with the criminal justice system, encompassing arrests, charges, court proceedings, and outcomes. In North Carolina, criminal records are created and maintained by multiple agencies throughout the criminal justice process, beginning at the point of arrest and continuing through prosecution, adjudication, and any period of supervision.
The distinction between an arrest record and a conviction record is legally significant. An arrest record documents that law enforcement took an individual into custody on suspicion of a criminal offense; it does not establish guilt. A conviction record reflects a formal finding of guilt, whether through a guilty plea, no contest plea, or verdict following trial. Employers, licensing boards, and courts treat these categories differently under applicable law.
Felony records document offenses classified as felonies under North Carolina law, which carry potential sentences of more than one year of imprisonment. Misdemeanor records document lesser offenses carrying shorter potential sentences. Juvenile records—those arising from offenses committed before the age of 18—are treated separately under North Carolina law and are not subject to the same public access rules as adult records; they are sealed by operation of law in most circumstances.
Active warrants reflect outstanding judicial orders for an individual's arrest and are distinct from historical records of past arrests or convictions. The agencies that maintain criminal records in Martin County include:
- Martin County Sheriff's Office – arrest records, jail records, booking information
- Martin County Clerk of Superior Court – court case files, charging documents, dispositions
- North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation – statewide criminal history repository
- Williamston Police Department – local arrest and incident records
Records are created when law enforcement initiates an arrest, updated as charges are filed or modified, and further updated as cases proceed through arraignment, plea negotiations, trial, sentencing, and any appellate proceedings. A complete criminal record may include charges, arraignments, plea agreements, trial outcomes, sentencing details, and probation or parole status.
Are Criminal Records Public In Martin County
Criminal records in Martin County are public records under North Carolina law. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 132-1 defines public records broadly to include all documents made or received by a government agency in the transaction of public business, and court records and law enforcement records fall within this definition. As stated in the statute, "the public records and public information compiled by the agencies of North Carolina government or its subdivisions are the property of the people."
Adult conviction records, court proceedings, charging documents, and sentencing information are accessible to members of the public. However, certain categories of records are restricted from public disclosure:
- Sealed court records, as ordered by a judge
- Expunged records, which are removed from public access pursuant to a court order
- Juvenile records, which are confidential under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-3000
- Records of ongoing criminal investigations, where disclosure would compromise law enforcement operations
- Victim and witness identifying information protected under applicable statutes
- Records subject to a pardon of innocence
Federal criminal records maintained by the FBI are governed by federal law and are not subject to North Carolina's public records statutes. The North Carolina Department of Justice provides guidance on the scope of public access to criminal records under state law.
How To Find Criminal Records in Martin County Online?
Official County Resources: The NC Courts case search tool provides online access to criminal case information for Martin County. Users may search by the subject's name or case number and filter results by county. The portal returns case status, charge descriptions, and disposition data. The Martin County Sheriff's Office provides access to forms and documents, including links to the NC Public Offender Search, through its Forms & Documents page. No registration is required to access the public case search portal.
State-Level Resources: The NC Department of Adult Correction offender search allows members of the public to search for county jail inmates, state prisoners, probationers, parolees, and registered sex offenders. The NC SBI criminal history background check system provides formal background check services for authorized purposes.
Search Tips:
- Search using the subject's full legal name as well as known aliases
- Case number searches return the most precise results
- Cross-reference multiple databases, as no single portal contains all records
- Be aware that records older than the digitization cutoff date may not appear online
- Sealed and expunged records do not appear in any public online database
Limitations: Online databases may reflect a data lag of several days to weeks following a court event. Historical records predating electronic filing systems may not be available online and require in-person requests. Online results do not constitute an official background check for employment, licensing, or housing purposes.
Can You Search Martin County Criminal Records for Free?
Free Options:
1. In-Person Inspection: North Carolina law mandates that members of the public have the right to inspect public records free of charge. Under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 132-6, agencies may not charge a fee for inspection of records, though fees for copies are permissible. In-person inspection is available at the Martin County Clerk of Superior Court and the Martin County Sheriff's Office during regular business hours.
2. Free Online Databases: The following portals are currently available at no cost:
| Resource | What It Contains | Link |
|---|---|---|
| NC Courts Case Search | Criminal case filings, dispositions | nccourts.gov |
| NC DAC Offender Search | Inmates, probationers, sex offenders | dac.nc.gov |
| Martin County Sheriff Forms | Links to NC Public Offender Search | martincountync.gov |
3. Sheriff's Logs: Daily arrest and booking reports may be available through the Martin County Sheriff's Office at no charge for inspection purposes.
What Costs Money:
- Certified copies of court records: fees set by the North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts
- Official SBI name-based background check: currently $14 per request
- Fingerprint-based background checks: additional fees apply
- Staff-assisted record searches beyond standard inspection
- Expedited processing requests
What's Included in a Martin County Criminal Record?
A Martin County criminal record may contain the following categories of information, depending on the agency maintaining the record and the nature of the underlying case.
Identifying Information: Full legal name and known aliases, date of birth, physical description (height, weight, eye and hair color), photograph (mugshot), last known address, State Identification (SID) number, and FBI number where applicable.
Arrest Information: Date and time of arrest, arresting agency, booking number, charges filed at the time of arrest, bail or bond amount, and the name of the detention facility.
Court Case Information: Case number, court and jurisdiction, filing date, statutory charges with felony or misdemeanor classification, plea entered, and attorney of record.
Disposition: Verdict or plea outcome, conviction date, sentence type and length, fines and restitution ordered, conditions of probation or supervised release, and any appellate proceedings.
Additional Record Elements: Outstanding warrants, protective orders, sex offender registration status, DUI/DWI adjudications, traffic violations where criminally charged, and pending charges.
NOT Included in Public Records:
- Juvenile adjudications (sealed by law)
- Expunged or sealed records
- Records from other states or jurisdictions
- Federal criminal records
- Charges resolved through completed diversion programs
Accuracy Note: Criminal records may contain errors arising from data entry, name variations, or incomplete updates following case resolution. Individuals who identify inaccuracies in their own records may seek correction through the originating agency or through the NC SBI Records Unit. Accurate and complete records are essential for fair outcomes in employment, housing, and licensing proceedings.
How Long Does Martin County Keep Criminal Records?
Legal Requirements: North Carolina's records retention schedules, administered by the NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, establish minimum retention periods for criminal justice records. State law requires that agencies adhere to approved retention schedules, and destruction of records outside those schedules is prohibited.
Retention by Record Type:
| Record Type | Retention Period |
|---|---|
| Felony conviction records | Permanent |
| Misdemeanor conviction records | Permanent |
| Arrest records (no conviction) | Varies; subject to expunction eligibility |
| Dismissed or acquitted cases | Retained with disposition noted |
| Juvenile records | Sealed at age 18; subject to destruction per statute |
| Pending cases | Retained until final resolution |
Agency Differences:
- County courts: Criminal case files are retained permanently under North Carolina court records retention rules
- Sheriff/jail: Booking and arrest records are retained per the approved county retention schedule
- State repository: The NC SBI retains conviction records permanently; the NC Department of Adult Correction maintains offender records for the duration of supervision and beyond
Physical vs. Electronic Records: Electronic records are retained for the full retention period and in many cases indefinitely. Paper records may be destroyed following scanning and verification, provided the electronic copy is preserved in accordance with applicable standards.
Destruction vs. Sealing vs. Expungement: Destruction refers to the physical or electronic elimination of a record at the end of its retention period. Sealing restricts public access to a record without eliminating it. Expungement, available under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-145 and related provisions, results in the removal of a record from public access and, in most cases, from law enforcement databases as well. Eligibility for expungement depends on the nature of the offense, the outcome of the case, and the time elapsed since disposition. Expungement petition forms are available through the NC Courts website.
Old Records Access: Records predating electronic filing systems may require special requests to the Clerk of Superior Court or to the State Archives. Some historical records are held by the NC State Archives.
Federal Records: The FBI maintains its own criminal history repository independently of state systems. Federal records are governed by federal law and are not affected by state expungement orders unless the FBI is separately notified and complies with applicable procedures.
Practical Implications: Felony and misdemeanor convictions remain on criminal history records and appear on background checks indefinitely unless expunged. Consumer reporting agencies conducting employment background checks are subject to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, which limits reporting of certain records to seven to ten years for specific purposes. Professional licensing boards may require full disclosure of criminal history regardless of the age of the record. Even if a county agency destroys physical records, electronic copies may exist in state databases unless the record has been legally expunged.