North Carolina Inmate Records

North Carolina is one of the states whose incarceration rate, at 268 per 100,000 residents, is lower than the national average of 355 per 100,000 United States residents. An inmate record in the state generally documents information and details collected about a person who is incarcerated in a correctional facility within the state's limits.

Approximately 29,627 inmates are held in state prisons in North Carolina, while about 18,000 are housed in local jails and at least 8,000 in federal prisons in the state. Each local, state, and federal government agency in charge of each correctional facility in the state keeps up-to-date records of the inmates under their jurisdiction. Information contained in a typical North Carolina inmate record includes the following:

• Arrest Details - These include charges, the date of arrest, the location of arrest, arrest warrants, the arresting agency information, and mugshots.
• Inmate's Personal Information - This lists the inmate's full name, assigned number, date of birth, race, gender, physical descriptors, and other essential personal details.
• Court Details - These include court dates, trial details, case numbers, and charges.
• Sentencing Information - This typically includes the length of the sentence imposed, sentencing outcome, conviction county, court judgment, and fines.
• Facility Details and Status - Custody security level classification, the name and location of the holding correctional facility, inmate status, eligibility for parole, and probation status.
• Release Information - This typically shows the projected and actual dates the inmate will be released from incarceration.

Are Inmate Records Public in North Carolina?

North Carolina inmate records are open to the general public as they are considered public records under Chapter 132 of the state's General Statutes (Public Record Law). Under the state's Public Records Law, public information and records compiled by North Carolina government agencies, including inmate records, are the people's property. Hence, interested persons may inspect (view) them or obtain copies.

However, any information designated as confidential in a North Carolina inmate record is not subject to public disclosure and is typically redacted before making the rest of the record public. Also, sealed or expunged inmate records in the state are not available to the general public.

What Agencies Are Responsible for Inmate Records in North Carolina?

Several government agencies are responsible for maintaining the correctional facilities in North Carolina and supervising incarcerated inmates. They also must maintain up-to-date records about each of those inmates. The agencies responsible for inmate records in North Carolina include the following:

• The North Carolina Department of Adult Correction (DAC) - The North Carolina Department of Adult Correction oversees 54 state prisons of varying security levels and keeps records of each inmate incarcerated in all of these facilities. State-run prisons are distributed into four different regions, namely the Western, Central, Eastern, and South Central regions.
• Local Police Departments - Although local police departments do not technically maintain inmate records, they usually collect some reports and information while booking arrested individuals. These reports typically go into a person's arrest record, and if the offender is charged to court and sentenced to prison or jail, the arrest details form a part of their inmate records.
• County Sheriff's Offices - About 109 county jails and some county detention centers operate across all 100 counties in North Carolina, and each of them is managed by a county sheriff's office. The county sheriff's offices maintain up-to-date records of all inmates incarcerated in jails and detention facilities under their purview.
• The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) - The Federal Bureau of Prisons is in charge of the two federal prisons in North Carolina and keeps records of all the inmates housed in those facilities.

How To Search for an Inmate's Information in North Carolina?

Identifying where an inmate is incarcerated in North Carolina is the first thing anyone looking to find information about the inmate must do.

Find an inmate in North Carolina State Prisons

The Offender Locator provided by the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction allows interested persons to search for up-to-date information on inmates incarcerated in the state's prisons. Users only need to enter one or more search criteria, such as name, offender number, and birth date, to look up an inmate in the DAC's database. The search results typically contain the inmate's personal information, release status, and incarceration summary.

Alternatively, a person may visit the state prison facility housing an inmate whose information is being sought to request detailed records. It is best to contact the facility before making an appearance, as some may require booking an appointment. Information like the inmate's name, offender number, race, and offense may be required to enable the record custodian to look up an inmate while visiting their holding facility.

Find an Inmate in Local Jail

Records of inmates housed in North Carolina local jails are usually accessible online using inmate search resources provided by the county sheriff's offices managing those jail facilities. While some of these resources list the inmates incarcerated in jails and associated details/information, others are searchable using criteria like inmates' names and numbers.

In most cases, online inmate search databases of local jails only provide basic information about offenders in custody. However, when someone visits an inmate's holding facility in person to find information on the inmate, the records obtained are usually more detailed. Anyone looking to find an inmate in a North Carolina local jail must provide certain details to enable the custodian to know where to look as they search.

Find an Inmate in Federal Prison

Information about inmates incarcerated in Raleigh RRM and Butner FCC, the two federal prisons in North Carolina, may be accessed through the BOP Inmate Locator. The inmate locator generally allows members of the public to find records of inmates incarcerated in federal prisons from 1982 to the present using their names or BOP register numbers. Alternatively, anyone may visit a federal prison facility housing an inmate in North Carolina to obtain detailed records about the offender.

How Can I Access Old Inmate Records?

The North Carolina Department of Adult Correction's Inmate Locator contains historical records of inmates incarcerated in state correctional facilities back to 1972. If the old inmate whose records are sought was housed in a state prison during this period, then the DAC's Inmate Locator should be considered for the search. Older inmate records in the state may be accessed through the State Archives of North Carolina, while the National Archives may hold records of old inmates who were incarcerated in federal prisons in the state.

Some independent third-party sites like NorthCarolinapublicrecords.us offer seamless access to older inmate records in the state. Typically, these sites collect information on inmates as they are being admitted to prisons and upload them to their databases. Once uploaded, these records are never deleted and may be accessed by anyone many years after they are collated. However, third-party sites typically charge a small fee for providing inmate search services.

Another option to consider when looking to find old inmate records in North Carolina is to go to the correctional facility where the inmate was incarcerated during their time. Inmate records are typically kept permanently on the file of correctional facilities, regardless of how old. Alternatively, submitting a public records request to the North Carolina DAC will help anyone gain access to old inmate records in the state. However, when filling out this form, make sure to provide all the necessary details to enable the DAC to respond effectively and prevent a delay in obtaining the sought records.

Can I Find a North Carolina Inmate Record for Free?

Yes. The DAC Inmate Locator, BOP Inmate Locator, and online resources maintained by county sheriff's offices are all resources that enable members of the public to find North Carolina inmate records for free. However, each of these resources can only provide information on inmates housed in correctional facilities operated and supervised by the respective agency. For instance, an inmate lookup conducted on the BOP Inmate Locator will not return records of individuals in state prisons or county jails.

With third-party websites like NorthCarolinapublicrecords.us, interested parties may conveniently search all the correctional facilities in North Carolina for inmate records. In other words, these sites are like one-stop databases that provide centralized access to inmate records maintained by state-run prisons, local jails, and federal prisons in the state. However, they often charge a nominal fee for providing this service.

Jails and Prisons in North Carolina

Based on the type of management or agency tasked with facility administration, the correctional facilities in North Carolina are categorized as state prisons, county jails, and federal prisons:

• State Prisons - About 54 state prisons are being managed by the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction.
• Federal Prisons - The two federal prison facilities in North Carolina are solely managed by the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
• County Jails - County sheriff's offices across North Carolina are responsible for the 109 county jails operating in different parts of the state.

State Prisons in North Carolina

Some of the state-run prisons in North Carolina are listed in the table below:

Private Prisons in North Carolina

There are no privately owned prisons or jails in North Carolina.

North Carolina Inmate Statistics

• North Carolina Incarceration Rate - 268 per 100,000 residents
• Male Incarceration Rate - 508 per 100,000 males
• Female Incarceration Rate - 38 per 100,000 females
• Youth Custody Rate - 38 per 100,000 youths
• Number of Prisoners in Private Prisons - 0
• Black/White Imprisonment Disparity - 3.9:1
• Latino/White Imprisonment Disparity - 0.9:1
• Number of offenders under community supervision - 829 per 100,000 people
• Number on probation - 726 per 100,000 people
• Number on parole - 115 per 100,000 people
• Felony Disenfranchisement Rate - 0.9%

* Source: United States Bureau of Justice Statistics