For those who need information about a person, one-step in gathering that information is to obtain North Carolina criminal records. Within the state, local police departments and county offices remain one of the best resources for this information. The state does not allow all information to be made public to the public, though. It is necessary to go through several steps to gather the necessary information for such searches. However, it is possible for individuals to conduct this type of search for their own use. Doing so can help to verify the information others are seeing on such a report is accurate.

In the state of North Carolina, criminal records are gathered at a local level. Any person or business that wishes to gather information on individuals can do so at a local level. It is possible to do this at local police departments, the county clerk's offices or through a state sheriff's office. Criminal records are created at the local level and then they are sent to the State Bureau of Investigation Division of the Department of Justice in the state. However, this information is not as readily available through the state agency. The Criminal History Record Information, or CHRI, section is a repository of these records. The information there is not as easily accessible. More so, the only records that are on file with this agency are searchable only through fingerprint scans.

For those who wish to obtain a North Carolina criminal record, the first step is to request a fingerprint kit if you plan to mail in a request. It is also possible to visit the agency in person to gather this information. The following address can help with this type of testing (though it is only possible to use this for approved searches.)

North Carolina Bureau of Investigation

Division of Criminal Information

407 North Blount St

Raleigh, North Carolina 27601

It is possible to request some information, waiver forms or fingerprint kits by calling the agency at 919 716-6725. However, it is only possible for individuals who wish to gather their own criminal records or those employers who first receive a signed waiver for the individual to get these records in this way. All other requests for these records must come through an authorized agency.

Even at this level, the information can be restricted. Juvenile records, for example, are not available to the public at all. These are considered sealed in juvenile court and are not accessible in most situations. In addition, only state agencies report information at this level. All federal records, including any arrests, charges or convictions at the federal level, are unavailable for searching by the general public.

North Carolina criminal records are not considered completely open to the public. The benefit of this is that it helps to protect the privacy of some people. However, employers who wish to gather this information prior to hiring individuals, or others, must obtain a consent form that the individual must sign in order to gain access to this information.

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