Gain Access to Free Wake County Arrest Records (North Carolina)

Search Wake County arrest records free of cost to see who is or was in custody locally. These records are maintained by county, city, and state level custodians; members of the public are welcome to look up these records thanks to state and federal public records laws.

Through this resource, individuals can find out how to search for current and prior arrests made in Wake County, North Carolina, and learn about posting bail for someone who has been arrested through either the self-bail method or by hiring a bail bondsman.

How To Obtain Current Wake County Arrest Records & Check Out Mugshots for Free

According to Chapter 132 of the North Carolina General Statutes, the law states that records and information collected by the government can be accessed by individuals for any reason.

Some information that is kept confidential from the general public includes sensitive data such as employee information, individual health concerns, and juvenile cases. The statute mentions that interested parties can obtain these records mostly for free or, in some cases, for a minimal cost charged by departments.

Individuals can find current arrest records and crimes committed through the Online Criminal Record Search Tool offered by the Wake County City-County Bureau of Identification (CCBI).¹

Please note that the search tool does not keep arrest data from infractions and other minor misdemeanors. To know more about what type of arrest information is displayed by the CCBI, individuals can go through Chapter 15 of the North Carolina General Statutes to find the types of offenses covered.

To use the search tool, requesters have to enter either the first name or last name of the subject at a minimum. To get a more accurate and refined result, individuals should also enter the following details asked by the portal:

• Middle Name
• Arrest Date and Time
• Arresting Agency
• Sex

Once the necessary details are filled in, clicking on the search button will redirect searchers to the most relevant records found – showing the full names, arrest details, charges, and the mugshots of the subject.

Interested parties can get more information on any particular case by clicking on the profile picture of the subject which will lead them to their record page. The following information is displayed on the individual record page:

• Age
• Sex
• Living Address
• Location of Arrest
• Arresting Officer
• Charges Filed
• Description

CCBI also provides certified copies of arrest records for a fee of $15 per name for individuals who request them. Certified copies can be retrieved by mailing a request or through an in-person visit to the CCBI (details mentioned below). Interested persons can also obtain arrest records from the last 48 hours through the available search list on the website.²

The list shows information on all those offenders that were apprehended during the last 2 days, showing the below information on each:

• Name
• Arrest Date
• Charges Filed
• Arresting Agency
• Arrest Location
• Employer

For additional information on any person, citizens can click on the hyperlinked display button shown at the far right side of each record to open the detailed criminal history.

City-County Bureau of Identification – If requesters want more information on searching offender information, they can refer to the arrest records portal user guide to get additional instructions. For in-person visits, interested parties are required to book an appointment before visiting the CCBI.

For additional record-related inquiries and questions, individuals may reach out to the CCBI through the following contact details:

City-County Bureau of Identification
3301 Hammond Rd.
Raleigh, North Carolina (27603)

Phone: (919)-856-6300
Email: [email protected]

The Wake County Sheriff’s Office also provides the public with arrest records through their Inmate Inquiry List or request.³

To search for arrest information on any person through the given list, individuals can click on the ‘filter inmate list’ option given at the bottom of the page. As per the information available at hand, requesters can filter the list through the following options and then click on the ‘find’ button:

• Inmate’s Full Name
• Race
• Sex
• Age
• Charge
• Date of Arrest
• Booking Agency
• Bond Amount

After the search is complete, a list of relevant records will be displayed with the subject’s name, primary charge, and date of arrest. To view more information on a particular entry, inquirers can click on a record to see detailed information.

Wake County Sheriff’s Office – For interested individuals, the Wake County Sheriff’s Office’s daily bulletin is a great source of information on records and other information with respect to arrests.⁴

Citizens can reach out to the Wake County Sheriff’s Office through their search form by entering their contact details and providing the department with details of the request or through the following details.

Wake County Sheriff’s Office
330 South. Salisbury St
Raleigh, NC (27601)

Phone: (919)-856-6900
Email: [email protected]

Wake County Clerk of Superior Court: Additionally, for a more comprehensive search, arrest records can also be obtained from the Wake County Clerk of Superior Court. Records can be acquired by completing the Request for Certified Criminal Records Search Form then send it through mail or in person visit at the courthouse located at:⁵

Wake County Clerk of Superior Court
Justice Center
300 S. Salisbury Street
Raleigh, North Carolina 27601

Phone: 919-792-4300

Interested individuals can also use third-party resources such as VINELink to access arrest records and offender information in Wake County, North Carolina. For detailed information on finding prior criminal information and former arrests in Wake County, North Carolina, citizens are requested to refer to the following section.

How To Gain Insight on Criminal Charges & Former Arrests Made in Wake County North Carolina

Individuals who are interested in retrieving information on old arrest records and criminal charges can do so through the search tool of the Wake County City-County Bureau of Identification (CCBI). The CCBI maintains arrest records from 27th April 2007 to date. To search old arrest records, individuals are requested to use the search tool, as explained in the earlier section.

In order to obtain certified copies of a report, a fee of $15 per name has to be paid by either check or money order in the name of CCBI Arrest Records. Individuals can either mail or visit in person to request and obtain prior arrest records and criminal information on anyone.

City-County Bureau of Identification – To read more information regarding the department requesting certified copies, individuals can browse through the CCBI’s Criminal Arrest Records page.⁶ To get a hold of records by mail or in-person visit, requesters can reach out to the CCBI by scheduling an appointment or the following details:

City-County Bureau of Identification
3301 Hammond Rd
Raleigh, North Carolina (27603)

Phone: (919)-856-6300
Email: [email protected]

Individuals can also reach out to the Records Division of the Wake County Sheriff’s Office to request a copy of the old arrest report or crime information. Records can be requested through mail, fax, or an in-person visit, and a charge of $2 per report needs to be made via money order to Wake County Sheriff’s Office (no cash).

Wake County Sheriff’s Office – Interested parties can feel free to read useful information through the public records page of the Wake County Sheriff’s Office about the availability and process of police reports. Individuals can reach out to Wake County Sheriff’s Office to retrieve prior arrest records by mail, fax, or in-person visit through the following contact information:

Wake County Sheriff’s Office
330 South. Salisbury Street
Raleigh, North Carolina (27601)

Phone: (919)-856-6900
Fax: (919)-743-7372
Email: [email protected]

For state-wide results on prior arrest records and criminal information, the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction provides an Offender Information Search Tool.⁷

Individuals are required to enter details for at least one of the following fields to conduct a successful search. Note that the more fields are filled, the more accurate list of records will be displayed:

• Last Name
• First Name
• Middle Initials
• Offender Number
• Gender
• Race
• Ethnic Group
• Birth Date
• Age Range

Once the details are entered, clicking on the search button will fetch a list of relevant records of offenders with their names, offender numbers, and other details. To view detailed information on any record, requesters can click on the offender number to view detailed report on the charges filed, subject information, and agency information.

North Carolina Department of Adult Correction – Individuals can read useful information regarding the department’s policy by browsing through the public records request page of the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction.⁸

For questions about the search tool or requesting records through other means, inquirers may reach out to the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction through the following means:

North Carolina Department of Adult Correction
831 West, Morgan Street
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-4202

Phone: (919)-733-2126
Email: [email protected]

The following section provides information on how to post bail for someone arrested in Wake County, North Carolina, through the self-bail process or by hiring a bail bondsman. Individuals are requested to refer to the below section for more details.

How Do I Post Bail for Someone Arrested in Wake County?

When a person is arrested in Wake County, North Carolina, he/she is presented in front of the honorable court, where the judge decides the bail amount based on the offense committed. Usually, the bail amount is preset based on the type of offense and its seriousness. Here are some examples:

• Theft or Larceny – $250-$1,000
• Aggravated Assault – $500-$50,000
• Burglary (Second Degree) – $25,000-$40,000
• Burglary (First Degree) – $50,000-$100,000
• Class 1 Offense – $100-$500
• Driving While Impaired – $500-$10,000
• Drug Charges – $100-$250

Friends and family members can pay the entire bail amount to the court in cash, check, money order, or credit/debit card that sets the defendant free from jail. However, the defendant needs to attend all court hearings and remain in the state and country in order to get the bail refunded.

For more information on the nitty-gritty of the self-bail process, individuals can browse through the court costs page of the North Carolina Judicial Branch.⁹

A bail bondsman can come in handy when the friends and family members of the defendant are unable to pay the entire hefty cash bail amount.

Here, the bail bondsman articulates an agreement that is presented to the court, stating that the defendant will comply with all the laws, attend court hearings, and will not flee from the state or country. The defendant is granted bail against this promise.

However, in case the defendant misses a court hearing or leaves the state or country, the entire bail amount will have to be paid by him/her, along with an arrest warrant issued under their name as well. Note that the bail bondsman charges a flat 15% fee for the service offered – which is a non-refundable fee even if the defendant is found not guilty after the trial.

It is advised that individuals refer to the list of bail bondsmen provided by the North Carolina Judicial Branch to hire a professional for the service.¹⁰

In-depth information on how to search Wake County arrest records has been provided in this resource, along with contact details on the respective custodians; for more help in retrieving arrest records or knowing about the bail process in Wake County, North Carolina in much more detail, requesters can reach out to the government sources mentioned throughout the article.