Criminal records in New Hanover County, North Carolina, are available through several channels. NewHanoverCourt.us allows you to search publicly available information about criminal cases in the county. Additionally, the official state judicial system portal, law enforcement agencies, and the clerk of court's office at the New Hanover County courthouse provide access to records — online, in person, or by mail.
How to Search Criminal Records in New Hanover
There are several proven ways to search for criminal records in New Hanover County. Here's what you'll need to get started:
- Full name of the individual (first and last name)
- Date of birth (if known)
- Case number, if you have it
Online Search
- NewHanoverCourt.us — start here to find public information about county criminal cases.
- North Carolina Judicial System Portal — the Court Records Judicial Branch website offers online court record searches by name or case number. This portal covers all counties in the state.
- Offender Search — the NC Department of Adult Correction provides an Offender Search, where you can find information about inmates in state prisons, probationers, parolees, and registered sex offenders.
In-Person Visit
The New Hanover County Clerk of Court's office allows you to view paper files directly. Additionally, every state courthouse has public computers where you can check criminal history for free — your own or someone else's.
New Hanover County Courthouse
Detailed contact information and hours of operation can be found on the New Hanover County Courthouse page.
Written Request by Mail
You can send a written request to the clerk of court's office or use the Judicial Branch's public records request form. For a state-level criminal history request, contact the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), which serves as the repository for North Carolina criminal records.
Search New Hanover Criminal Cases by Case Number
The case number is the quickest way to find a specific criminal case. In North Carolina, case numbers have a standard format:
Example: 25 CRS 012345
- 25 — the last two digits of the year the case was filed (2025)
- CRS — the case type code. "CR" stands for Criminal in Superior Court, "S" indicates Superior Court. Other common codes: "CRM" — Criminal in District Court (Misdemeanor), "IF" — Infraction
- 012345 — the sequential case number within the year and county
Knowing this number, enter it into the state judicial system's search portal. The result will show the parties involved, charges, status, and scheduled hearings. If you don't have the case number, searching by the defendant's name also works, but may return multiple results, so the date of birth can help narrow down the list.
Charges, Case Status, Hearings, and Court Results in New Hanover
Each criminal case contains several key elements. Below is what each of them means in practice.
Charges
| Element | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Statute Code | Reference to a specific section of the General Statutes of North Carolina, e.g., G.S. 14-72 (larceny) |
| Severity | Felony, Misdemeanor, or Infraction (e.g., traffic violation) |
| Class | Felonies are classified from A to I; Misdemeanors from A1 to 3. The class affects the range of punishment |
| Amended Charges | The prosecutor may change or reduce charges during the case |
Case Status
- Pending — the case is open, no decision has been made yet
- Active — the case is in active proceedings
- Disposed — the court has made a final decision (verdict, closure, dismissal)
- Closed — all procedural actions are completed
Types of Hearings
Hearings in the county usually include:
- First Appearance / Arraignment — first court appearance, charges are announced
- Probable Cause Hearing — determination of sufficient grounds for felony cases
- Pre-trial hearing — procedural matters before the trial
- Trial — substantive court proceedings
- Sentencing — sentencing after a guilty verdict
Hearing dates can be checked through the Court Dates portal.
Court Results
| Result | What it Means |
|---|---|
| Guilty | Found guilty — by court verdict or plea agreement |
| Not Guilty | Acquitted after trial |
| Dismissed | Case closed — prosecutor dropped the charges or court dismissed them |
| Dismissed with Leave | Closed with the possibility of reopening |
| Prayer for Judgment Continued (PJC) | Court postpones sentencing; a specific North Carolina tool |
Records that have been expunged will not appear in public search results.
How to Request Certified Criminal Records in New Hanover
Certified copies are official documents with the court seal, accepted by employers, attorneys, and government agencies. Here's how to obtain them.
Through the Clerk of Superior Court
Visit the office in person at the New Hanover County courthouse. Bring a valid photo ID. The clerk will make copies from the paper file and certify them with a seal.
You can also send a request by mail. Include the defendant's full name, case number (if known), date of birth, and type of document needed. Add payment in the form of a money order. More details on the procedure for obtaining court records are on the Judicial Branch website.
State-Level Criminal Background Check
For a complete state criminal background check, contact the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI). This is a separate process from obtaining copies of a specific case. It may require fingerprinting.
Fees, Copy Costs, and Processing Times for Criminal Records in New Hanover
Fees for court records in North Carolina are set at the state level according to the General Statutes.
| Service | Cost |
|---|---|
| Copy of court document (first page) | $0.25 per page |
| Certification | $3.00 per document |
| Criminal history search via public computers in court | Free |
Note: Fees for criminal background checks through the SBI differ and may be higher, especially if fingerprinting is required.
Processing Time
- In Person — copies are usually ready the same day
- By Mail — processing may take from one to several weeks, depending on the clerk's office workload
- Check via SBI — times vary; requests with fingerprints take longer to process
For current fees and processing times, contact the New Hanover County Clerk of Court's office directly.