Moore County Criminal Records
What Is Moore County Criminal Records
Criminal records in Moore County, North Carolina, are official government documents that chronicle an individual's interactions with the criminal justice system, from initial law enforcement contact through final court disposition. These records are generated and maintained by multiple agencies operating at the county, state, and federal levels.
Arrest vs. Conviction Records: An arrest record documents that law enforcement took an individual into custody based on probable cause; it does not indicate guilt. A conviction record reflects a formal finding of guilt, either through a guilty plea, no-contest plea, or jury/bench verdict.
Felony vs. Misdemeanor: North Carolina classifies criminal offenses into felonies (Classes A through I) and misdemeanors (Classes A1, 1, 2, and 3). Felonies carry potential sentences of more than one year of incarceration; misdemeanors carry lesser penalties. Both categories appear in criminal history files.
Adult vs. Juvenile Records: Adult criminal records are generally accessible to the public under state law. Juvenile records, by contrast, are confidential under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-3000 and are sealed from public inspection except in limited circumstances authorized by a court order.
Active Warrants vs. Historical Records: Active warrants represent current judicial orders authorizing arrest and remain in force until executed or recalled. Historical records document past arrests, charges, and dispositions that have already been resolved.
Criminal records in Moore County may include charges filed, arraignment proceedings, pleas entered, trial outcomes, sentencing details, probation or parole conditions, and any subsequent modifications to those conditions. The principal agencies responsible for maintaining these records are:
- Moore County Sheriff's Office — maintains arrest records, booking data, and jail records
- Moore County District Court and Superior Court — maintain case files, dispositions, and sentencing orders; accessible through the North Carolina Judicial Branch Moore County portal
- North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) — maintains the statewide criminal history repository
- Local municipal police departments — maintain incident and arrest reports for offenses occurring within their jurisdictions
Pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-1382, criminal record information compiled by law enforcement agencies constitutes official public records subject to the provisions of the North Carolina Public Records Law.
Are Criminal Records Public In Moore County
Criminal records in Moore County are presumptively public under North Carolina's Public Records Law. Pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 132-1, "the public records and public information compiled by the agencies of North Carolina government or its subdivisions are the property of the people," and members of the public may inspect and obtain copies of such records upon request.
What Is Public:
- Adult arrest records and booking information
- Court case filings, docket entries, and hearing schedules
- Conviction records, including pleas and verdicts
- Sentencing orders, probation terms, and conditions of supervision
- Sex offender registration information
- Protective orders entered by the court
What Is Restricted or Confidential:
- Juvenile delinquency records, which are sealed under state statute
- Records pertaining to ongoing criminal investigations, where disclosure would compromise law enforcement operations
- Expunged records, which are ordered removed from public access by a court pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-145 et seq.
- Certain victim information, including addresses and identifying details protected under victim privacy statutes
- Mental health and substance abuse evaluation records incorporated into presentence reports
Members of the public seeking to understand which specific records are available may consult the court records guidance published by the North Carolina Judicial Branch, which addresses background checks, expunctions, and the scope of publicly accessible case information.
How To Look Up Criminal Records In Moore County in 2026
Members of the public may obtain Moore County criminal records through several official channels, depending on the type of record sought and the level of detail required.
Step 1 — Identify the Appropriate Agency
Determine which agency holds the record of interest. Arrest and jail records are maintained by the Moore County Sheriff's Office. Court case records, including charges, pleas, verdicts, and sentences, are maintained by the Moore County Clerk of Superior Court.
Step 2 — Submit a Public Records Request to the Sheriff's Office
Members of the public may request incident reports and arrest records directly through the Sheriff's Office services portal. Requests may be submitted in person or in writing. The requester should provide the full name of the subject, date of birth, and the approximate date of the incident or arrest.
Moore County Sheriff's Office 114 Dowd Road, Carthage, NC 28327 (910) 947-2931 Sheriff's Office | Moore County, NC Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Step 3 — Request Court Records from the Clerk of Superior Court
Court case records are available through the Moore County Clerk of Superior Court. Members of the public may appear in person at the courthouse to inspect case files or request certified copies. A per-page fee applies to copies.
Moore County Courthouse — Clerk of Superior Court Carthage Street, Carthage, NC 28327 (910) 947-2593 Moore County | North Carolina Judicial Branch Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Step 4 — Request a Statewide Criminal History from the SBI
For a comprehensive statewide criminal history report, members of the public may submit a request to the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. Requests require a completed application form, a valid government-issued photo identification, and payment of the applicable fee. Employers and authorized agencies may submit fingerprint-based requests for more detailed background checks.
Step 5 — Provide Required Information
All requests should include the subject's full legal name, date of birth, and, where available, a Social Security number or State Identification (SID) number to ensure accurate record retrieval.
How To Find Criminal Records in Moore County Online?
Several official online portals currently provide access to Moore County criminal records and related law enforcement information without requiring an in-person visit.
North Carolina eCourts / Odyssey Portal
The North Carolina Judicial Branch operates an online case search system that allows members of the public to search for court cases by name, case number, or filing date. The portal contains criminal case filings, hearing dates, dispositions, and sentencing information for cases processed in Moore County District Court and Superior Court. Access is available through the court records section of the North Carolina Judicial Branch website. No registration is required for basic name searches.
Moore County Detention Center — Inmate Roster
The Moore County Sheriff's Office maintains current inmate information through the Detention Center page on the county website. This resource reflects individuals currently held at the Moore County Detention Center and includes booking information. The roster is updated regularly and is available without registration.
Moore County Sheriff's Office — Incident Reports
Members of the public may initiate requests for incident reports and review available arrest documentation through the Sheriff's Office services page. While some records require a formal written request, the portal provides instructions and contact information for submitting requests electronically or by mail.
North Carolina Sex Offender Registry
The North Carolina SBI maintains a publicly searchable sex offender registry at the state level. Members of the public may search by name, county, or ZIP code to identify registered sex offenders residing in Moore County.
Note on Online vs. In-Person Records: Certain older case files, sealed records, and records predating electronic filing systems may not be available through online portals and require an in-person visit to the Clerk of Superior Court or the Sheriff's Office.
Can You Search Moore County Criminal Records for Free?
North Carolina law mandates that members of the public have the right to inspect public records at no charge. Pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 132-6, every custodian of public records shall permit any record in the custodian's custody to be inspected and examined at reasonable times and under reasonable supervision. Fees may be charged only for the actual cost of reproducing copies, not for inspection alone.
Free Inspection Locations:
- Moore County Clerk of Superior Court (Carthage Street, Carthage, NC 28327) — in-person inspection of court case files at no charge
- Moore County Sheriff's Office (114 Dowd Road, Carthage, NC 28327) — in-person review of publicly available incident reports
Free Online Resources:
- The North Carolina Judicial Branch case search portal — free name-based searches of court case records
- Moore County Detention Center inmate roster — free, no registration required
- North Carolina Sex Offender Registry — free public search
What Carries a Fee:
- Certified copies of court documents (per-page fee set by the Clerk of Superior Court)
- Certified criminal history reports from the North Carolina SBI (fee required per subject)
- Fingerprint-based background checks (fee required)
Members of the public who wish only to inspect records, without obtaining certified copies, are entitled to do so at no cost under current North Carolina law.
What's Included in a Moore County Criminal Record?
A complete Moore County criminal record may contain several categories of information compiled across multiple agencies.
Identifying Information:
- Full legal name and known aliases
- Date of birth and place of birth
- Physical description (height, weight, eye color, hair color)
- Booking photograph (mugshot)
- Last known address
- State Identification (SID) number and FBI number (where assigned)
Arrest Information:
- Date, time, and location of arrest
- Arresting agency (e.g., Moore County Sheriff's Office, local police department)
- Booking number and booking date
- Charges filed at the time of arrest
- Bail or bond amount set
- Jail facility where the individual was held (Moore County Detention Center)
Court Case Information:
- Case number and court jurisdiction (District or Superior Court)
- Filing date and assigned judge
- Charges as formally indicted or cited, including applicable statutes and offense class (felony or misdemeanor)
- Plea entered (guilty, not guilty, no contest, Alford plea)
- Attorney of record (defense and prosecution)
Disposition:
- Verdict (guilty, not guilty, dismissed, nolle prosequi)
- Conviction date
- Sentence type (active, suspended, probation, community service)
- Sentence length, fines, restitution amounts, and special conditions
- Appeals filed and outcomes
- Probation or parole supervision terms
Additional Record Elements:
- Outstanding or recalled warrants
- Domestic violence protective orders
- Sex offender registration status
- DUI/DWI adjudications and license actions
- Traffic violations processed through criminal court
- Pending charges not yet adjudicated
How Long Does Moore County Keep Criminal Records?
Moore County agencies retain criminal records in accordance with the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources records retention schedules, which establish mandatory minimum retention periods for public agency records.
- Arrest and booking records: Retained for a minimum of five years following the date of arrest, or longer if associated with an active case or appeal
- Felony conviction records: Retained permanently by the Clerk of Superior Court and the North Carolina SBI
- Misdemeanor conviction records: Retained for a minimum of ten years; many are retained permanently in electronic systems
- Incident and offense reports: Retained by the Sheriff's Office for a minimum of five years under the applicable local government records schedule
- Juvenile records: Retained under restricted access conditions and destroyed or sealed pursuant to court order under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-3000
- Expunged records: Removed from public access upon entry of a court order; the originating agency retains a non-public administrative copy in accordance with state retention requirements
- Detention and jail records: The Moore County Detention Center retains booking and housing records for periods specified in the North Carolina Local Government Records Retention Schedule, generally a minimum of five years
The North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources publishes the official Local Government Records Retention Schedule, which governs the minimum retention periods applicable to Moore County agencies. Records may be retained beyond the minimum period at the discretion of the custodial agency.