Criminal records in Edgecombe County, North Carolina, can be accessed through several channels. EdgecombeCourt.us can help find publicly available criminal case information filed in the county. Beyond that, the North Carolina Judicial Branch's Edgecombe County page offers court dates and contact details, while the Edgecombe County Clerk of Superior Court handles in-person record checks. The Sheriff's Office also maintains law enforcement records including incident and arrest reports.
How to Search Criminal Records in Edgecombe
There are several ways to look up criminal records in Edgecombe County. The method you choose depends on what you need and how quickly you need it.
Online Search Tools
- EdgecombeCourt.us — Start here to search for publicly available criminal court case information in Edgecombe County. You can search by name or case number.
- NC Courts Case Search Portal — The North Carolina Judicial Branch provides a statewide court records portal where you can look up case information by defendant name, case number, or other identifiers. This covers District and Superior Court cases filed across all North Carolina counties, including Edgecombe.
- NC Department of Adult Correction Offender Search — The Offender Public Information Search lets you look up state prison inmates, probationers, parolees, and registered sex offenders by name or offender ID.
In Person
- Visit the Edgecombe County Clerk of Court's office in Tarboro to request a criminal record check. The check covers only criminal charges filed in Edgecombe County.
- Public access terminals may be available at the courthouse for self-service lookups.
By Phone
- To check on a criminal or traffic court date, call the Tarboro office at 252-824-3200.
By Mail or Written Request
- You can submit a written request for a criminal record check to the Edgecombe County Clerk of Superior Court. Include the subject's full legal name and date of birth.
- For a statewide criminal history, submit a request to the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), which maintains the state criminal history repository. Fingerprint-based checks may be required for certain purposes such as employment or licensing.
What You Need to Search
- Full legal name (first and last) of the person
- Date of birth (helpful for narrowing results)
- Case number (if searching a specific case)
Sheriff's Office Records
The Edgecombe County Sheriff's Office Records Division maintains incident reports, arrest reports, and accident reports. Contact the Records Division directly to request copies of law enforcement documents.
Search Edgecombe Criminal Cases by Case Number
If you already have a case number, searching by that number is the fastest way to pull up a specific record. North Carolina uses a standardized case number format across all counties.
NC Case Number Format
A typical North Carolina criminal case number looks like this: 25 CRS 001234
- 25 — The last two digits of the year the case was filed (2025 in this example)
- CRS — The case type code. Common criminal codes include:
- CRS — Criminal Superior Court
- CRD — Criminal District Court (misdemeanors)
- IF — Infraction
- 001234 — A sequential number assigned to the case within that county and year
Enter the full case number — including the year prefix and type code — into the court search portal or provide it to the Clerk's office for the most direct results. Partial numbers or transposed digits will not return accurate matches.
Charges, Case Status, Hearings, and Court Results in Edgecombe
Criminal case records in Edgecombe County contain several key data points. Understanding what each one means helps you read a case record accurately.
Charges
| Element | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Statute Code | The North Carolina General Statute section the defendant is charged under (e.g., N.C.G.S. § 14-72 for larceny) |
| Severity | Felony, misdemeanor, or infraction — determines which court handles the case |
| Original Charge | The charge initially filed by law enforcement or the grand jury |
| Amended Charge | A charge that has been changed through plea negotiation or prosecutorial discretion |
Case Status
- Pending — The case is open and awaiting further court action
- Active — Proceedings are underway (hearings scheduled, trial in progress)
- Disposed — The case has reached a final outcome (conviction, dismissal, etc.)
- Closed — All court obligations, including sentencing conditions, have been completed
Hearing Types
- First Appearance / Arraignment — The defendant is formally advised of charges and enters an initial plea
- Preliminary Hearing — A judge determines whether probable cause exists (felony cases)
- Pre-Trial Hearing — Motions, discovery issues, and plea discussions are addressed
- Trial — The case is heard before a judge or jury
- Sentencing — The court imposes a sentence after a guilty verdict or plea
- Review Hearing — A follow-up to check compliance with probation or other court orders
Court Results (Dispositions)
- Guilty — The defendant was convicted, either by plea or verdict
- Not Guilty — The defendant was acquitted at trial
- Dismissed — The charges were dropped by the prosecution or the court
- Dismissed with Leave — Dismissed but may be refiled within a specified period
- Prayer for Judgment Continued (PJC) — A finding of guilt where sentencing is deferred; commonly used in North Carolina
- Deferred Prosecution — The case is held in abeyance pending the defendant's completion of certain conditions
How to Request Certified Criminal Records in Edgecombe
Certified copies of criminal records carry an official court seal and are accepted for legal, employment, and licensing purposes. The process differs depending on whether you need county-level court records or statewide criminal history.
County Court Records — Clerk of Superior Court
The Edgecombe County Clerk of Superior Court handles certified copies of criminal case documents filed in the county.
How to request:
- Visit the Clerk's office in person or submit a written request by mail.
- Provide the defendant's full name and date of birth, or the case number.
- Pay the applicable copy and certification fees.
- Present a valid government-issued photo ID if requesting in person.
Edgecombe County Clerk of Superior Court
Sheriff's Office Law Enforcement Records
For incident reports, arrest reports, or accident reports, contact the Sheriff's Office Records Division directly.
Edgecombe County Sheriff's Office
Statewide Criminal History — NC State Bureau of Investigation
For a criminal history that covers all North Carolina counties, submit a request to the SBI. Fingerprint-based background checks are required for certain regulated purposes. Contact the SBI for current forms and submission instructions.
Fees, Copy Costs, and Processing Times for Criminal Records in Edgecombe
Fees for criminal record copies and checks in Edgecombe County are set by North Carolina statute. The following table reflects standard fees established under N.C.G.S. § 7A-308 and related fee schedules.
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Criminal record check (Clerk of Court, county-level) | $25.00 |
| Certified copy of court document | $3.00 for the first page, $0.25 each additional page |
| Uncertified copy of court document | $0.25 per page |
| SBI statewide criminal history (name-based) | $14.00 |
| SBI fingerprint-based background check | Varies; typically $14.00–$38.00 depending on purpose |
Processing Times
- In-person requests at the Clerk's office — Often processed the same day or within one to two business days, depending on volume.
- Mail requests — Allow approximately one to two weeks for processing and return mailing.
- SBI statewide checks — Processing times vary. Name-based checks are typically faster than fingerprint-based submissions.
Payment methods accepted at the Clerk's office typically include cash, money orders, and certified checks. Call ahead at 252-824-3200 to confirm accepted payment forms before visiting. Fees are subject to change; verify current amounts with the Edgecombe County Clerk of Court's criminal record checks page or by contacting the office directly.