What are Chatham County Public Records?
The North Carolina FOIA defines Chatham County public records as documents created throughout contracts with a public business or subdivision of the North Carolina government. As a result, public records accumulated by the agencies and the North Carolina government belong to public members. Furthermore, the state has instructed that the public obtain copies of these records at no cost or for a small fee.
Chatham County Crime Statistics
The 2020 Chatham County crime statistics show crime rates per 100,000 residents in Chatham County. The Total Index Crime Rate was 1533.1, the Violent Crime Rate was 250.7, and the Property Crime Rate was 1,282.4. However, in 2019, the Total Index Crime Rate was 1447.5, the Violent Crime Rate was 212.8, and the Property Crime Rate was 1,234.7. The statistics show a 5.91% increase in the Total Index Crime Rate, a 17.81% increase in Violent Crime Rate, and a 3.84% increase in Property Crime Rate.
Are Chatham County Criminal Records Public?
Chatham County criminal records are public records as parties can obtain them by submitting a complete criminal record search form to the superior court's office clerk. Parties can contact the office of the clerk to the superior court at (919) 545-3500 or by visiting in-person at:
40 East Chatham Street
Pittsboro, NC 27312
The form should include $25 in the form of a certified check or money order by mail. Another method that businesses or individuals can utilize to retrieve certified and non-certified criminal records include the following:
- Self-service Non-certified Background Check
- Third-Party Vendors Background Check for others and yourself
- North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) Statewide Background Check
- North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) Statewide Background Check for Employees
- Third-Party Vendors Background Check for Businesses
- Remote Public Access to North Carolina Court Data
An online Chatham County public record request form can be completed and transferred to the Board of Commissioners clerk, who maintains the records. Requesters should describe the criminal record of interest in detail to provide sufficient information for the search. Certified copies of the public records cost $5 for the first page and $2 per page for each additional page. Parties can send further inquiry to:
Clerk to the Board of Commissioners
P.O. Box 1809
Pittsboro, NC 27312
Phone: (919) 542-8200
Email: lindsay.ray@chathamnc.org
How to Obtain Chatham County Police Reports and Arrest Records?
The Administration unit under the Chatham County Sheriff's Office manages police reports and records for the county. Interested parties who wish to obtain Chatham County arrest records should visit or contact the Administrative unit. The unit can be reached using the following contact information: (919) 545-8189 or chris.cooper@chathamsheriff.com.
The police reports contain information about incidents handled by local law enforcement. Sheriff's deputies are dispatched to respond to an incident and create a report. It will also include witness information, the crime, offenders involved, crime photos, and the nature of the offense. Arrest records are documentation of the individual taken into custody. The information includes personal information, mugshot, fingerprint, the reason for arrest, date of arrest, a bond if applicable.
How to Find Sex Offender Information in Chatham County
Interested parties can obtain Chatham County sex offender information from North Carolina Sex Offender and Public Protection Registry. The state site provides several search parameters that members of the public can use to search for sex offenders in their neighborhoods in Chatham County. People can also carry out their search in other North Carolina State counties.
The search parameters include location coordinates, sex registration number, address, personal information of the sex offender (name and alias, age, county, zip code, and status). The Chatham County Sheriff's Office also handles a local sex offender registry. The Administration Unit handles the registry. For information on sex offenders in the county, call the administration at (919) 545-8189 or email at chris.cooper@chathamsheriff.com.
How to Find Chatham County Inmate Records
The Chatham County Sheriff's Office provides an inmate records search through the website. The site allows a researcher to search for an inmate using a name or an ID number. If the exact name is unknown, the website permits a partial name search and will provide a photo if it is available. Following the input of these search criteria, a list of inmate records is provided. The data includes the following inmate information: name, age, gender, race, ID number, custody status, and custody detail. The custody detail shows the public where the inmate currently resides. It also provides the status of supervision if applicable.
How Do I Visit an Inmate in Chatham County Jail?
Contact the captain responsible for running the center for information on visiting inmates at Chatham County Detention Center. Parties can reach the captain via phone at (919) 545-7808 or email at tammy.kirkman@chathamsheriff.com. When contacting the captain, you should consider asking the following questions:
- How to schedule a visit
- What type of clothing is permitted
- Times to visit Chatham County inmates
- What should be provided by a visitor before a visit
- The age limit of visitors permitted for a visit
- List of contrabands
- If body contact is allowed
- Number of visitors permitted in a visit
- How many times a visitor can visit an inmate in a week
Chatham County Court Records
Court records in Chatham County are created from court cases in the county. These court records include criminal court records, civil court records, property disputes, small claims, estate records. They can be obtained by visiting either of the two court locations located in Chatham County:
Chatham County Courthouse
40 East Chatham Street
Pittsboro, NC 27312
Phone: (919) 545-3500
Siler City Townhall Courtroom
311 North Second Avenue
Siler City, NC 27344
Phone: (919) 742-5828
Are Chatham County Court Records Public?
Chatham County court records are publicly accessible through the Remote Public Access Program (RPA), available to over 100 North Carolina courts. The program provides public access to criminal court case records and civil court case records. The clerk of court in Chatham County can also provide court records to individuals who send a public record request with details of the court records they wish to obtain.
How to Obtain Chatham County Civil Court Case Records
Parties can retrieve Chatham County civil court cases from the county court clerk for a fee or via the RPA. Interested parties can obtain them from the public self-service terminal at the court clerk's office where the cases are filed. The Chatham County civil court records include family disputes, estate records, and property disputes. The RPA has access to data in the Civil Case Processing System (VCAP) provided by the North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts (NCAOC). The system contains North Carolina civil court case records that are accessible to the public.
How to Obtain Chatham County Criminal Court Records
Chatham County criminal court records are available at the office of the Chatham County court clerk. Parties can use the public self-service terminal available at the office to search for the records using case number, victim or witness name, name of the defendant. The clerk can provide a copy of the criminal court record for a fee. The NCAOC also offers Chatham County criminal court information through the RPA. The NCAOC's Automated Criminal/Infractions System (ACIS) is available through the program.
What are Chatham County Vital Records?
Chatham County vital records are records generated from documenting life events that occur in Chatham County. The records are birth records, death records, and marriage records. The records are issued to individuals that are eligible under state laws. These are managed by the Chatham County Public Health Department and the Chatham County Register of Deeds. The physical and mailing addresses of both offices are:
Chatham County Register of Deeds
12 East Street
Pittsboro, NC 27312
Phone: (919) 542-8235
Mailing address:
P.O. Box 756
Pittsboro, NC 27312
Chatham County Public Health Department
80 East Street
Pittsboro, NC 27312
Phone: (919) 542-8220
Fax: (919) 542- 2473
Where and How to Obtain Chatham County Divorce Records
Chatham County divorce records are maintained by the Chatham County clerk of the court where the divorce is filed. The clerk would require payment of a fee in addition to other documentation like a valid photo ID and an application for a divorce record. Inquiries can be sent to the clerk of court by using the following contact information:
40 East Chatham Street
Pittsboro, NC 27312
Phone: (919) 545-3500
Mailing address:
Chatham County Courthouse
P.O. Box 369
Pittsboro, NC 27312
The North Carolina State Vital Records Department has divorce records from 1958 to the present. Interested parties who choose to obtain Chatham County divorce records from the State Vital Records Department can submit a complete application for a North Carolina divorce record to the department's mailing or physical address. It costs $24 for a search which includes a copy. An additional copy costs $15 payable via money order, or certified check, debit or credit card, or cash (not sent by mail).
Where and How to Get Public Chatham County Marriage Records
Chatham County marriage records certified copies are available at the Chatham County Recorder of Deeds office. Persons requesting a copy of marriage must present a valid photo ID. They should be one of the following: registrants on the record, relatives to the registrants, the attorney from an authorized agent with proper documentation. Certified copies of marriage records cost $10 per copy and must be paid by money order or checks only. Parties can also obtain Chatham County marriage certificates from the State Vital Records department. Parties can submit an Application for North Carolina Marriage Record. which costs $24 with an extra $15 charge if requesting additional copies. A valid photo ID is also required when obtaining marriage records from the department. Marriage records from 1962 to the present are available.
Where and How to Get Confidential Marriage Records in Chatham County
There are no confidential marriage records in Chatham County. Parties can obtain marriage records in Chatham County from the Chatham County Recorder of Deeds or the North Carolina State Vital Records Department. According to the state's law, members of the public permitted to view marriage records are restricted to the registrants, the immediate family members, and a legal representative.
Where and How to Find Chatham County Birth Records
Parties can obtain copies of Chatham County birth records from the Chatham County Register of Deeds. Interested parties allowed to obtain a Chatham County birth record include the registrant, a legal representative with proper documentation, and a relative to the registrant (siblings, parent, grandparent, step-parent, or offspring).
A valid photo ID will also be required to obtain a Chatham County birth record. The State Vital Records Department has birth records from 1913 to the present. Interested parties must submit an application for a copy of a North Carolina birth certificate to the department with a $24 fee and an additional $15 for extra copies. Payment can be made via money order, certified check, or cash. A valid photo ID is also required. It is important to note that the fee is non-refundable if a record is not found. It takes five weeks for a request to be processed.
Where and How to Find Chatham County Death Records
Interested parties who wish to obtain copies of Chatham County death records can visit the Chatham County Register of Deeds or the State Vital Records Department. Individuals permitted to obtain death records in Chatham County include the relative of the person registered on the record or an authorized agent of the law. With proper documentation, these could be a spouse, parent, grandparent, step-parent, sibling, attorney, or legal representative.
Parties must present a valid photo ID such as a passport or a valid driver's license to access a copy of a Chatham County death record. Researchers who choose to obtain Chatham County death records from the State Vital Records Department can submit a complete North Carolina death record application to the department's mailing or physical address. Death records available at the department start from 1930 to the present. The first copy of a death record is $24, and each additional copy costs $15. The provision of a valid photo ID is also required. The physical and mailing addresses needed to send an application for a death record via the department are:
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
Division of Public Health
North Carolina Vital Records
255 North McDowell Street
Raleigh, NC 27603-19382
Phone: (919) 733-3000
Mailing Address
1903 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1900
