Beaufort County Arrest, Court, and Public Records

What are Beaufort County Arrest Records?

Beaufort County arrest records are official documents and files relating to the frequency of arrest warrants issued and apprehensions of suspects by law enforcement agencies in the county. The subject of Beaufort County arrest records may be an individual or the law enforcement agencies in the county.

Individual arrest records contain details of prior arrests, pending arrest warrants, suspected offenses committed, and police bio-data on arrest history. However, county arrest records include details of all police apprehensions done after an alleged crime report or issuance of arrest warrants by a court. Information may even be broken down into categories like date, crime category, gender, age, etc.

Beaufort County arrest records are generated by Beaufort County Sheriff Office and local police departments within the county jurisdiction. Furthermore, these records are imputed in the state database maintained by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation who is mandated by state law to make arrest and criminal records available to the public.

Hence, interested persons can access Beaufort County arrest records by contacting the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office, or the local law enforcement agencies.

Note: Arrest records only mainly provide information about alleged crimes and suspected offenders. Therefore, these records should not be confused as conviction records.

Crime Statistics

According to data collected and published by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation in the 2018 annual summary report, Beaufort's law enforcement recorded an index crime rate of 2,274.0 reports per 100,000. Property crimes accounted for approximately 90% of all offenses in the state with 2,052.8 reports (per 100,000). On the other hand, violent crimes had an index rate of 221.2, representing 10% of all crimes in the county. In contrast, the county recorded 2,164 property crimes and 317 violent crime rates in 2017.

What are Beaufort County Criminal Records?

Criminal records in Beaufort County are documents that contain a summary of the criminal history of local residents. Criminal records are also known as rap sheets and may include details like names, mugshots, arrest history, criminal charges, convictions, and sentence information. Criminal records are primarily generated by law enforcement agencies in the county. Records are also managed by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. As such, individuals can obtain criminal records at both the county and state levels.

How Do I Get Beaufort County Criminal Records?

Interested persons may request for the criminal record of a Beaufort resident from the Sheriff’s Office or clerk of court in the county. Requesters may query the Sheriff’s Office by writing a formal request letter stating the relevant requester/subject detail such as names, gender, and location. The letter, accompanied by a government-issued identification and required fees can be submitted in person or via mail to;

210 N. Market Street
Washington, NC 27889
Phone: (252) 946-7111
Fax: (252) 946-0993
Email: info@co.beaufort.nc.us

Individuals can also request criminal records from the County Clerk of Court by sending a completed application form, $25 fees, and copy of valid identification to the clerk’s office at:

112 W. 2nd Street,
Washington, NC 27889
Phone: (252) 940-4000

For a statewide criminal record search, interested parties can obtain criminal information from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (NCSBI) in two major ways:

Personal background checks: This can only be done to obtain criminal records on self and involves fingerprinting at a local police department to obtain a fingerprint card which is sent with the $14 fee and "Right to Review" form to;

North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation
Criminal Information and Identification Section
Attention: Applicant Unit – Right to Review
3320 Garner Road
P.O. Box 29500
Raleigh, NC 27626-0500

Requests can be made in person or via mail, and requesters can make payments in cash, credit card, or money order for walk-in requests. However, only money orders and certified checks are accepted for mailed requests.

Employers/licensing entities: Agencies who have “Access Agreements” with the NCSBI can obtain criminal history record information upon request. Agencies can only get the agreement if there are any Beaufort ordinances, court orders, or subpoena authorizing the agency to access NCSBI databases for employment or licensing reasons. Qualified agencies can view the request process on the NCSBI website.

Background checks can also be done with the FBI Identity History Summary Check or through third-party vendors.

How Do I Find Beaufort County Sex Offender Information?

The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation collects and manages a central database of sex offenders in the state which is updated into the sex offender registry. Hence, requesters who want to get information about registered sex offenders residing, schooling, or working in Beaufort County can search for it by using the online registry.

The search tool can locate offenders and provide information based on the information provided by the requester. Details used to conduct searches include name, map location, street or city address, and sex registration number.

Victims or interested persons can also opt for regular notification concerning sex offenders by using N.C. Offender Subscription or VINE services.

How Do I Visit an Inmate in Beaufort County Jail?

Individuals who wish to visit an inmate in the Beaufort County detention center do not need to apply or register for visitation nor schedule visits beforehand, except in the case of "special visits". However, inmates are permitted to have one visit per week, 15 minutes per visit, and three (3) visitors per inmate.

The jail visiting hours are scheduled by surname and are as follows:

Inmates with surname initials from A to M - Saturdays 2-4 p.m.

Inmates with surname initials from N to Z - Sundays 2-4 p.m.

The Beaufort County detention center has visitation procedure and rules have conditions which must be satisfied before access is granted. These include:

Visits are granted on a first-come, first-serve basis
Visitors must present government-issued identification upon visit and are subject to background checks
Visitors are subject to search for contrabands and carrying or transfer of contraband may lead to arrest and criminal charges
Minors and those with pending arrest warrants will be denied access
Disorderly conduct will not be tolerated and may lead to termination of the visit
Special visits must be pre-scheduled and approved by the appropriate authorities.
Visitors must respect the facility’s dress code. Transparent, short, and revealing outfits are deemed inappropriate by the jail staff.
Personal belongings and parcels are forbidden in the visiting area.

An inmate can also have remote video visitations by family and friends. The conditions and schedule are as follows:

Inmates are permitted to have one video visit per week and 15 minutes per visit,
The video call will be charged at .40 cents per minute
Video calls cannot be scheduled at the same time as in-person visits and must be scheduled at least a day before the actual visit.
The video visit is scheduled according to the inmate's last name. Inmates with surname initials from A-M will be on Saturdays from 12:00 – 4:00 p.m. while inmates from N-Z will be on Sundays from 12:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Note: Inmates in the county jail include detainees who are awaiting trial or disposition and those sentenced to imprisonment of 90 days or less.

Where and How to Find Beaufort County Inmate Information?

Information of inmates who are detained in the Beaufort County jail can only be obtained from the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office. Individuals can send requests for jail rosters or inmate information to the office at;

210 N. Market Street
Washington, NC 27889
Phone: ((252) 946-7111
Fax: (252) 946-0993
Email: kbryan@co.beaufort.nc.us

What are Beaufort County Court Records?

Beaufort County court records are records of all criminal and civil cases tried in the Superior Court and District Court in the county. The documents can include the information submitted to the court or generated from court proceedings and administrative actions. These include transcripts of court proceedings, court dockets, sworn statements, etc.

Court records are essentially open to the public, however, sealed, expunged, or confidential sections are exempted from public disclosure and will be redacted from copies given to requesters. Interested persons may obtain Beaufort County court records from the clerk of the Superior Court at;

112 West 2nd Street,
Washington, NC 27889
P.O. Box 1403
Phone: (252) 940-4000

Requestors may be required to do the following before the record can be obtained:

Provide valid identification and requester details like name, gender, etc.
Provide information to facilitate the search such as case number, date, names of parties, etc.
Purpose or intent for obtaining records
Pay charges for searching or duplicating records
Write a formal request letter and submit it in person or via mail.

Location of all Courts in Beaufort County

Beaufort County Superior Court
112 West 2nd Street,
Washington, NC 27889
P.O. Box 1403
Phone: (252) 940-4000

Beaufort County District Court
112 West 2nd Street,
Washington, NC 27889
P.O. Box 1403
Phone: (252) 940-4000

What Are Beaufort County Vital Records?

Beaufort County vital records are certificates and documents that contain information regarding significant life events of an individual that occurred in the county. These documented events include births, marriages, divorces, and deaths that occurred within the county jurisdiction.

Vital records in Beaufort Courts are managed by different county or state-run custodians or departments with different procedures and requirements. Divorce records are maintained by the county courts or North Carolina Vital Records, whereas marriage, birth, and death records can be obtained from Beaufort County Register of Deeds and the Vital Records Office.

Note: Certified copies of vital records are only accessible by qualified requesters with direct or legal claims on the record.

Where and How to Get Beaufort County Divorce Records

Records of divorces, annulments, and dissolution of marriage in Beaufort County are originally generated by the county court where the divorce was filed and finalized. Residents may request for certified or uncertified copies of divorce records by writing a formal request letter stating the relevant requester/subject detail such as names, dates, and location. Requesters should submit the request, a copy of identification, and required fees in person or via mail to the office of the Clerk of Superior Court at;

112 West 2nd Street,
Washington, NC 27889
P.O. Box 1403
Phone: (252) 940-4000

Individuals can also obtain certified or uncertified copies of Beaufort marriage records from the North Carolina Vital Records by sending completed request form, required fees, and means of identification to the office at:

North Carolina Vital Records
225 N. McDowell Street
Raleigh, NC 27603-1382

Note: The Vital Record Office only has certificates of divorces from 1958 to present.

Where and How to Get Beaufort County Marriage Records

The Beaufort Register of Deeds maintains records of marriages that occurred in the county. Individuals can request for certified or uncertified copies of marriage records either by mail or in person. Certified copies of records cost $10 per copy while uncertified copies cost $.25 per copy.

Those who can apply include subject parties, parents/legal guardians, grandparents, siblings, adult children, and legal representatives. Mailed requests should include a completed application form, fees, copy of government-issued photo identification, and a self-addressed stamped envelope.

The names of both parties at birth and the date of the marriage are essential for a record search. The request should be addressed to;

Beaufort County Register Of Deeds
P.O. Box 514
Washington, NC 27889

Physical Address (UPS or FedEx)
North Carolina Vital Records
225 N. McDowell Street
Raleigh, NC 27603-1382

Mail Address (U.S. Mail)
North Carolina Vital Records
1903 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1900

Note: The Vital Record Office only has certificates of records from 1962 till present.

Where and How to Get Beaufort County Birth Records

The Beaufort Register of Deeds maintains records of births that occurred in the county. Interested persons can ask for certified ($10) or uncertified ($.25) copies of birth records either by mail or in person.

Those who can apply for certified copies include the adult subject, immediate family, legal guardians, and legal representative. Mailed requests should include a completed application form, required fees, a copy of government-issued photo identification, and a self-addressed stamped envelope.

The subject’s full name at birth, date of birth, and parents’ full name is required for a birth records search. The request should be addressed to;

Beaufort County Register Of Deeds
P.O. Box 514
Washington, NC 27889

Interested persons can also obtain certified or uncertified copies of Beaufort birth certificates from the North Carolina Vital Records by sending completed request form, required fees, and means of identification to the office at:

North Carolina Vital Records
225 N. McDowell Street
Raleigh, NC 27603-1382

Mail Address (U.S. Mail)
North Carolina Vital Records
1903 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1900

Note: The Vital Record Office only has certificates of births from 1913 to present.

Where and How to Get Beaufort County Death Records

Beaufort County death records are maintained and issued by the Register of Deeds. Interested persons can requests for certified or uncertified copies of birth records at $10 and $.25 respectively.

Eligible applicants for certified copies of death records include the direct relatives (parents, grandparents, children, and siblings), legal guardians, and legal representatives. The custodians will require requesters to provide the full name of the deceased and the date of death in the application form. The completed form, required fees, a copy of government-issued photo identification, and a self-addressed stamped envelope should be submitted in person or by mail to;

Beaufort County Register Of Deeds
P.O. Box 514
Washington, NC 27889

Copies of Beaufort death certificates can also be obtained from the North Carolina Vital Records by sending completed record request form, required fees, and means of identification to the office at:

Physical Address (UPS or FedEx)
North Carolina Vital Records
225 N. McDowell Street
Raleigh, NC 27603-1382

Mail Address (U.S. Mail)
North Carolina Vital Records
1903 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1900

Note: The Vital Record Office only has certificates of deaths from 1930 to date.

In addition to government agencies, county public records may also be obtained from third-party websites. These non-government platforms come with intuitive tools that allow for expansive searches. Record seekers may either opt to use these tools to search for a specific record or multiple records. Users are able to search third-party websites remotely for multiple records at a time with just the name of the record subject and their last known location, including the city, county, or state. Third-party sites are not sponsored by government agencies. Because of this, record availability and results may vary.