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  1. Onslow County Court
  2. Onslow County Arrest Records

Onslow County, North Carolina Arrest Records

Arrest records in Onslow County are summary entries of arrests into local custodial and judicial systems. The Onslow County Sheriff’s Office and municipal police departments, such as the Jackson and Swansboro Police Departments, generate arrest records as official documentation detailing the apprehension and booking of individuals suspected of committing crimes. In Onslow County, the Sheriff’s Office and other law enforcement agencies create arrest records for transparency and accountability, public safety awareness, and to help prosecutors and interested parties track criminal cases.

Section 132-1 of the North Carolina General Statutes grants public access to government records, subject to any statutory or judicial exemption. However, N.C.G.S. § 132-1.4 prohibits public disclosure of arrest information if it relates to criminal investigations or intelligence actions. Furthermore, Sections 15A-150 through § 15A-152 of the North Carolina General Statutes govern how the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) makes Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) accessible (including those for individuals arrested in Onslow County). 

Despite various exemptions, state laws permit public access to basic arrest information in Onslow County and other parts of North Carolina. Section 132-1.4(c) of the North Carolina General Statutes explicitly mandates public access to:

  • The name of the arrestee
  • Address
  • employment
  • Age
  • Gender
  • Charges against the arrested person
  • Time and the location of the arrest.

Are Arrest Records Public Information in Onslow, North Carolina?

Yes, arrest records are public in Onslow County and across North Carolina. According to Section 132-1.4(c) of the North Carolina General Statutes, the public can access basic arrest information. Access to public arrest records in Onslow does not require identification; it is open to all interested individuals, regardless of residency or citizenship. However, requesters must provide information that will aid the search for the records. Additionally, while viewing Onslow County’s arrest records is free, obtaining copies of the documents may incur nominal charges.

What Do Public County Arrest Records Contain?

In Onslow County, arrest records are public. Any interested party can access basic arrest information. A typical Onslow County arrest record contains the following categories of information:

Personal identifying information

  • The name of the arrested person
  • Age and date of birth
  • Gender
  • Race
  • Home address at the time of the arrests
  • Employment/occupation information.

Details of the arrest

  • Time, date, and location of the arrest
  • The arresting agency
  • List of sized items (if applicable).

Charges and booking date

  • Booking number
  • Alleged violations
  • Charge classification
  • Mugshot.

Custody and release information

  • Incarceration status (in custody, transferred, or released)
  • Bail/bond amount (if it applies)
  • Court date.

Onslow County,  North Carolina Arrest Search

While local search tools provide direct access to Onslow County’s official records, state and federal resources can also provide access to information about arrests within the county. The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation provides statewide criminal history reports, which include arrest reports. Individuals can request fingerprint-based full criminal history records through the NCSBI Background Check webpage. Likewise, the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction's Offender Public Information portal provides access to information about Onslow County arrestees transferred to the state’s prison facilities. To access Onslow County's arrest records tied to criminal cases, information seekers should log in to the North Carolina Judicial Branch’s eCourt Portal.

At the federal level, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) maintains a national criminal history repository. Onslow County arrestees can request their criminal history reports through the FBI Identity History Summary Checks. Information seekers can also use PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) to search for the arrest details of Onslow County’s arrestees prosecuted on federal criminal charges. For the location of Onslow County’s arrestees serving sentences at federal prisons, log in to the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Inmate Locator. The BOP Inmate Locator provides name and number-based access to federal inmate records. 

Onslow County Inmate Locator

In Onslow County, the Sheriff’s Office provides access to arrest records through a mobile app. Information seekers can download the Onslow County Sheriff’s Office mobile app through the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store. The Sheriff’s Office App offers real-time access to arrest records through inmate records. 

To access Onslow County’s arrest records:

  • Click the links above to download and install the IOS or Android version of the Sheriff’s Office app on a smartphone or tablet.
  • On the mobile app, click “Jail Info” and then “Inmate Search” on the subsequent page.
  • Enter the inmate’s name into the search tool and submit, or scroll down and perform a manual search to locate the specific inmate.
  • Click the inmate’s name to reveal the arrest and custody details.

For phone, mail, or in-person access to Onslow County’s arrest records, visit local law enforcement agencies or contact the Onslow County Sheriff’s Office at:

717 Court Street, 

Jacksonville, 

NC 28540

Phone: (910) 455-3113

Email: sheriff@onslowcountync.gov.

Active Warrant Search in Onslow County

In Onslow County, arrest warrants are legal orders issued by the county’s Superior and District Courts mandating law enforcement to take specified individuals into custody. The courts in Onslow County issue arrest warrants when the warrant seekers show probable cause that a specified person committed a crime. Generally, arrest warrants include information such as:

  • The name of the defendant (or description if the name is unknown)
  • Alleged offense
  • Statement establishing probable cause
  • Date of issuance
  • The issuing court

Once an Onslow County court issues an arrest warrant, the county’s Sheriff’s Office coordinates with other law enforcement agencies to execute the warrant. While the Onslow County Sheriff’s Office executes warrants, it does not maintain a searchable database for active warrants. Individuals seeking access to active warrants in Onslow County should call or visit the Onslow County Sheriff’s Office. Alternatively, contact the Criminal Division of the Onslow County Clerk of Court at the Onslow County Courthouse:

625 Court Street,

Jacksonville, 

NC 28540

Phone: (910) 478-3606.

Alternatively, call the Onslow County Magistrate Court’s clerk’s office (for arrest warrants issued by the county’s magistrate court) at (910) 478-3619. 

To access active warrants for individuals violating parole (absconders) in Onslow County, log in to the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction’s Most Wanted/Absconder portal. Information seekers can also search for Onslow County’s arrest warrants as part of criminal case files through the North Carolina eCourt portal.

While the Onslow County Sheriff’s Office and the county’s Clerk of Court Office can provide access to arrest warrants, it is noteworthy that any individual with an active warrant will be taken into custody if a law enforcement officer is present. 

How to Find Arrest Records for Free in Onslow County

In Onslow County, the Sheriff's Office mobile app provides free access to the county’s arrest records. Through the mobile app, record seekers can access arrest information through inmate records.  Interested parties can also access case-related arrest information through the North Carolina eCourt portal or public access terminals at the Onslow County Courthouse. 

Free access to Onslow County’s arrest records through online search portals does not require formal identification. However, while these tools permit free access to Onslow County’s arrest records, older documents may not be available. Additionally, most online repositories focus on post-conviction records, and custodians will redact sensitive information.

Onslow County Arrest Report

In Onslow County, arrest records and arrest reports are law enforcement documents with different roles within the criminal justice system. While Onslow County arrest records are summary documents, arrest reports are detailed narratives about arrests. An Onslow County arrest record provides identifying information and booking details. By comparison, Onslow County arrest reports give comprehensive details of arrest events. This includes the arresting officer’s observations and action, the witness and suspect’s statements, the description of the incident that resulted in the arrest, the evidence collected at the arrest location, and the probable cause justification. Additionally, these documents differ in accessibility and use. The table outlines the distinctions between an Onslow County arrest record and an arrest report.

Feature 

Onslow County arrest record 

Onslow County arrest report 

Format 

Structured database into a law enforcement or custody system 

Written narrative about arrest events 

Creator 

Clerk’s office/custodial system

The arresting officer

Public Access 

Usually high; accessible through jail roster

Generally low. (restricted/discovery document)

Detail level 

Summary document 

Exhaustive (contains evidence and context).

How to Get an Arrest Record Expunged in Onslow County

According to Chapter 15A, Article 5 of the  North Carolina General Statutes, individuals can petition for the expungement of their arrest records if the underlying case does not result in a conviction. Additionally, an Onslow County arrest record may qualify for expungement if it is for certain first-time or youthful misdemeanors (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-145), non-violent misdemeanors and felonies (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-145.5), or drug-related crimes (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-145.2),

To expunge an Onslow County arrest record:

  • Determine if the arrest record is eligible for expungement.
  • Download and complete the specific expungement form from the North Carolina Judicial Branch website.
  • Include a certified copy of a criminal history report from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (the court may request this).
  • Submit the petition for expungement to the Onslow County Clerk of Court’s Office
  • Pay the filing fee.
  • Wait for the judge’s decision. If the petition is successful, the court will issue an order to the relevant agencies to remove the record from their databases.

How Do You Remove Onslow County Arrest Records From the Internet?

The following steps outline how to remove an Onslow County arrest record from the internet:

  • Expunge the record through the Onslow County Superior Court and obtain a certified copy of the expungement order.
  • Identify the websites that display the arrest information.
  • Submit removal request to the relevant platforms; this should include the name and identifying information on the record, the specific URL that published the information, and a copy of the expungement order..
  • Consider legal assistance if the information continues to appear online after removal requests.