What are Bladen County Public Records?
According to the North Carolina Public Records Law, Bladen County public records include information created or received under law or ordinance and used by a government agency to perform public business. Bladen County public records may be films, tapes, electronic data, papers, photographs, documents, and all other records regardless of characteristics or form. While most records are public, state law prevents public access to sensitive or confidential information. Examples include medical records and some law enforcement records.
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 extensive searches. Record seekers may either 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.
Bladen County Crime Statistics
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (NCSBI) publishes annual Uniform Crime Reports with information on crime statistics in the state.
According to the 2016 report, the Bladen County Sheriff's Office recorded 1,034 offenses, including 96 violent and 938 property crimes. Violent crimes included three murders, 1 rape incident, 23 robberies, and 69 aggravated assault cases.
For property crimes, the NCSBI recorded 532 burglaries, 377 larceny offenses, and 29 motor vehicle thefts.
In 2015, the NCSBI reported 119 violent crimes and 669 property crimes. These figures reveal that the county's crime total increased by 31% between 2015 and 2016.
Are Bladen County Criminal Records Public?
North Carolina law does not allow public access to criminal records. Access to Bladen County criminal records is restricted to residents requesting personal records and authorized employers seeking information on prospective employees.
Personal records cost $14.00 per request and require completed fingerprint cards submitted to the NCSBI by mail.
Interested persons may submit written requests that include a complete name, address, race, sex, and birth date. Although not required, parties may include their social security numbers to assist the NCSBI with accurate identification.
Applicants may call the SBI at (919) 582-8660 for further clarification regarding the process.
Requests for Bladen criminal records should be submitted to:
North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation
P.O. Box 29500
Raleigh, NC 27626-0500
How to Obtain Bladen County Police Reports and Arrest Records
Interested persons can obtain police reports and arrest records from the Bladen County Sheriff's Office. Requests for these records should contain the names of involved persons, incident descriptions, dates, location information, case numbers, and all other known details. Requestors may submit requests for Bladen arrest records and police reports to:
Bladen County Sheriff's Office
299 Smith Circle
Elizabethtown, NC 28337
Phone: (910) 862-6960
How to Find Sex Offender Information in Bladen County
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation maintains a public sex offender database that contains information on all registered sex offenders in the state. Record seekers may find sex offender details by address, registration number or latitude, and longitude. Requestors may also conduct an offender search with the offender's first name, last name, age, zip code, city, county, and current status. The information provided by the database includes the offender's name, address, physical description, registration type, minimum registration period, conviction information, and photographs.
How to Find Bladen County Inmate Records
Requestors seeking county inmate records should contact the Bladen County Sheriff's Office.
The information required to facilitate inmate record searches includes the offender's name, offense information, and booking details. Requests to the Sheriff's office may be made via email, mail, or in person.
Bladen County Court Records
The Bladen County court system features a Superior Court and a District Court. The Superior Court hears all felonies, some misdemeanors, and certain infractions and may also exercise authority over general civil claims and lesser-included offenses.
The Bladen County District Court has limited jurisdiction over county cases. The court hears municipal ordinance violations, most infractions, and most misdemeanors. In addition, the District Court can receive felony guilty pleas and handle preliminary hearings for criminal cases. Requestors can obtain Bladen court records from the overseeing court for each case.
Locations of Bladen County Courts
Bladen County Superior Court
166 East Broad Street
P.O. Box 2619
Elizabethtown, NC 28337
Phone: (910) 872-7200
Bladen County District Court
166 East Broad Street
P.O. Box 2619
Elizabethtown, NC 28337
Phone: (910) 872-7200
How to Obtain Bladen County Civil Court Case Records
Interested persons may contact the Bladen County Clerk of Court for civil court records. Record seekers may visit the court or send mail applications. Each request should contain a description of the desired record, including the names, dates, charge details, and the court's judgment. Parties should also note that requesting physical copies may incur fees. Interested applicants should submit requests for Bladen County court records to:
Bladen County Clerk of Court
166 East Broad Street
P.O. Box 2619
Elizabethtown, NC 28337
Phone: (910) 872-7200
How to Obtain Bladen County Criminal Court Case Records
Bladen County criminal court records are available at the Clerk of Court's office. Each person requesting these records should provide the office with a detailed description of the record and pay fees where applicable. Requestors should note that records containing sensitive information may be closed to public access.
What are Bladen County Vital Records?
Bladen County vital records contain details of life events in the state, including divorce, marriage, birth, and death. Persons seeking these records may visit or submit mail requests to the respective record custodians. However, all parties should note that some vital records are unavailable to members of the general public.
Bladen County Divorce Records
Bladen County divorce records are obtainable from the Clerk of Court. Record seekers may obtain Bladen County divorce decrees by submitting mail or in-person requests that provide the Clerk of Court's office with the names of both spouses, divorce date, and divorce location. The office may also require cash, check, or money order payments.
Alternatively, interested persons may obtain Bladen County divorce certificates from the Clerk of Court's office or the North Carolina Vital Records office.
Bladen County Marriage Records
A Bladen County marriage record is an official document that confirms a couple's marital status. The Bladen County Register of Deeds maintains these records and issues copies to requestors. Parties interested in these records should complete the Application for Certificate of a Vital Record with both spouses' full names, marriage date, and marriage location. However, only the following persons may obtain certified copies of Bladen County marriage certificates:
- Either spouse
- Either spouse's child, parent, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, authorized agent, attorney, or legal representative
The Register of Deeds Office issues uncertified copies of Bladen County marriage certificates to the public. The office charges $10.00 per certified copy and $0.25 for each uncertified copy. All requests should include the requestor's picture ID, while persons applying by mail should also submit self-addressed and stamped envelopes. Parties should visit or send mail applications to:
Bladen County Register of Deeds Office
106 East Broad Street
P.O. Box 247
Elizabethtown, NC 28337
Phone: (910) 862-6710
Bladen County Birth Records
A birth record is a vital document that documents a person's birth. Bladen County birth records are available as certified and uncertified copies at the Register of Deeds Office. While members of the general public can obtain uncertified copies of Bladen County birth certificates, only the following persons may receive certified copies:
- The person named on the record
- The person's parent, sibling, child, grandchild, grandparent, spouse, authorized agent, legal representative, or attorney
- Anyone seeking the record to determine property or personal rights
Each Bladen County birth certificate costs $10.00 for a certified copy, or $0.25 for an uncertified copy. Mail requestors should enclose completed copies of the Application for Certificate of a Vital Record with self-addressed and stamped envelopes, checks or money orders, and valid photo identification. In-person requestors should visit the Register of Deeds office with all required documents.
Bladen County Death Records
A death record is an official statement of a person's death. Members of the general public can obtain uncertified copies of Bladen County death records from the Register of Deeds for $0.25 per record. Certified copies cost $10.00 each and are only available to the decedent's spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandchild, grandparent, attorney, legal representative, or authorized agent. All interested parties may submit mail requests that include a completed Application for Certificate of a Vital Record, valid identification, and a check or money order. Record seekers may also obtain Bladen County death certificates by visiting the Register of Deeds.
