What are Raleigh Public Records?
According to the North Carolina Public Records Law, Raleigh public records comprise all information and data created or maintained by any agency of the North Carolina government, or a subdivision. The North Carolina Public Records Law qualifies public records as records in all forms, including documents, books, papers, photographs, audio or video recordings, and other forms. However, the general public cannot access the following types of records:
- Local and state tax information
- Trade secrets
- Some government lawsuit settlements
- Criminal intelligence information records
- 911 database information
- Emergency response plans
- Autopsy recordings and photographs
- Personal identifying information for state universities and public colleges
Raleigh Crime Statistics
The Raleigh Police Department (RPD) provides statistics on the city's criminal activity, including crime rates, traffic offenses, and arrest data. The RPD also publishes an annual crime statistical overview. According to the 2019 summary, the department recorded 12,484 reported crimes. With 8,390 cases, larceny was the most committed crime, while murder was the least committed, with 29 cases. In the same year, the RPD arrested a total of 12,189 adults, out of 24,271 adult arrest charges. Compared to 2018, the number of arrested adults fell 2.1% while the number of adult arrest charges climbed by 2.6%. Generally, Raleigh recorded a 2% increase in crimes against persons and a 0.5% increase in property crimes. For traffic citation charges, there was a 1.9% drop in 2019, from 2018's 31,276.
Are Raleigh Criminal Records Public?
Not all Raleigh criminal records are available to the general public. Persons interested in obtaining personal copies of comprehensive Raleigh criminal history records may contact the Clerk of Superior Court in Wake County. Complete and fill the criminal record search form with the required information and submit to the clerk's office by mail or in person. Each record costs $25 payable by certified check or money order for mail requests. In-person payments are accepted via money order, certified check, cash, or credit card. Alternatively, requestors may use the public access computers available at the clerk's office to search, view, or email criminal records for free.
How to Obtain Raleigh Police Reports and Arrest Records?
The Raleigh Police Department provides access to public Raleigh records, including incident reports, through its Records Division. Interested persons may request by mail or in person, using the following information:
Records Division
Raleigh Police Department
6716 Six Forks Road
Raleigh, NC 27615
An interested party may also access an incident report using the online event search. Searching requires the specific date or date range of the incident, the name of the person involved, and the location. Requestors may also include a case number.
Raleigh arrest records are accessible from the Raleigh/Wake City-County Bureau of Identification (CCBI). The information available with the CCBI does not include case dispositions or current case status for active cases. In addition, interested persons cannot access information on traffic offenses, citations, and infractions. The CCBI provides a free criminal arrest records portal, accessible by all members of the public. Anyone may search using the offender's full name, arrest date, arresting agency, and gender. The portal also provides a separate list of persons arrested in the last 48 hours.
The Raleigh Police Department also provides an online crime-mapping tool that provides daily information on all crimes committed in any specified area.
How to Find Sex Offender Information in Raleigh
The Wake County Sheriff's Office provides information on sex offenders in Raleigh through a search platform, which also includes sex offenders from other parts of the county. Anyone may use the sex offender search by inputting the offender's details and selecting Raleigh from the city drop-down menu. Requestors may search by the offender's full name, race, sex, age range, and street name.
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (NCSBI) provides statewide information on sex offenders in the city of Raleigh and other parts of North Carolina. Interested persons may use the NCSBI's searchable online database to find information on Raleigh sex offenders. The database also allows interested parties to find offenders by street, gaining access to addresses. Persons may also find offenders by latitude or longitude.
How to Find Raleigh Inmate Records
Raleigh inmate records are available via an inmate inquiry list provided by the Wake County Sheriff's Office. Interested parties may filter the displayed inmate list by inputting the inmate's last name, middle name, first name, race, sex, age, primary charge, arrest date, and booking agency. Each inmate record displays all the aforementioned information, including specific charge details, current status, docket number, and a bond amount for each charge.
How Do I Visit an inmate in the Wake County Detention Center?
All persons visiting the Wake County Detention Center must schedule visits at least 24 hours in advance. Each inmate is only allowed to receive two persons per visit, which may be two adults, or one child and one adult. Both persons must visit at the same time. Each inmate may not receive more than one 30-minute visit every week.
All visitors must be at least 16 years old. Anyone younger than 16 years old must visit in the company of another person aged 18 years or older. Upon entry, the visitor must present picture identification, which must be submitted at the registration desk until the end of the visit. Acceptable forms of identification include the following:
- US passport
- International passport
- Government-issued ID cards from the US government or another
- Mexican Consular identification cards
Visitors must adhere to dress regulations and will be turned away if in violation. Furthermore, visitors may not visit with money, letters, messages, or other packages. Note that any visitor who violates facility rules may have their visitation privileges suspended or terminated. Visitors must be sober at all times and must immediately leave the visiting area at the end of the scheduled visit.
The Wake County Detention Center also allows video visitations on Mondays through Thursdays, except on county holidays. Visiting hours are from 9:00 am to 1:30 pm, and 4:00 pm to 6:30 pm. Interested persons may schedule appointments by calling (919) 857-9103 on Mondays through Thursdays, from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Court Records
Wake County has Superior and District Courts located in the city of Raleigh. The Superior Court exercises general jurisdiction over all types of criminal and civil cases. The court may also resolve general civil claims with over $25,000 in dispute. Typically, Superior Courts hear cases without financial thresholds and all other matters beyond the District Court's jurisdiction.
The District Court may exercise jurisdiction over some criminal and civil cases, most infractions, misdemeanors, and violations of municipal ordinances. The District Court decides general civil claims for $25,000 or less and handles domestic relations and juvenile matters.
Raleigh courts are located at:
Wake County Superior Court (Criminal)
Wake County Justice Center
300 South Salisbury Street
Raleigh, NC 27601
Phone: (919) 792-4000
Wake County Superior Court (Civil)
Wake County Courthouse
316 Fayetteville Street Mall
P.O. Box 351
Raleigh, NC 27602
Phone: (919) 792-4000
Wake County District Court (Civil)
Wake County Courthouse
316 Fayetteville Street Mall
P.O. Box 351
Raleigh, NC 27602
Phone: (919) 792-4000
Phone: (919) 792-4875 (Family Court)
Phone: (919) 792-4876 (Family Court)
Wake County District Court (Criminal)
Wake County Justice Center
300 South Salisbury Street
Raleigh, NC 27601
Phone: (919) 792-4000
Are Raleigh Court Records Public?
Most Raleigh court records are public records and are available to all requestors. However, North Carolina law provides certain exemptions. For example, the general public may not gain access to juvenile court records, especially in cases of alleged neglect or abuse. These records are only accessible by the juvenile, a parent, custodian, legal guardian, or an authorized representative. Furthermore, court records created in cases connected to committed substance abusers or mentally ill persons are considered confidential. Also, contents of a will filed in a Raleigh court are private until the will is offered for probate.
How to Obtain Raleigh Criminal Court Case Records
Except where considered confidential or restricted by court order, anyone may view Raleigh criminal court records or obtain copies at the court location in Wake County. An interested party may inspect Raleigh criminal court records from the public access computers at the clerk's office in the Wake County Justice Center. Requestors may find cases by case number, defendant name, victim, or witness name. Alternatively, persons may request physical copies of court documents from the clerk's office for a fee. Visit the court at:
Wake County Justice Center
300 South Salisbury Street
Raleigh, NC 27601
Phone: (919) 792-4000
How to Obtain Raleigh Civil Court Case Records
Anyone interested in Raleigh civil court records may use public access computers available at the Wake County Courthouse. Searchers may find records using details of the case and view records on the computers free of charge. Requestors may also pay a fee to obtain physical copies of Raleigh civil court case records at the clerk's office. Visit the Wake County Courthouse at:
Wake County Courthouse
316 Fayetteville Street Mall
P.O. Box 351
Raleigh, NC 27602
Phone: (919) 792-4000
What are Raleigh Vital Records?
Raleigh vital records contain details of life events that occurred in the city. Vital records include marriage licenses, marriage certificates, birth certificates, death certificates, and divorce decrees. Depending on the type, interested persons may obtain Raleigh vital records from the applicable record custodian. However, certified copies are only available to certain eligible persons.
Where and How to Obtain Raleigh Divorce Records
The Wake County District Court maintains Raleigh divorce records at the Wake County Courthouse. Anyone interested in divorce records may either visit the court or send a written request. The request should contain details on the requested record including the names of the divorced parties, divorce date, and other available information. The request should also contain the requestor's full name and contact information. Visit or send the request to:
Wake County Courthouse
316 Fayetteville Street Mall
P.O. Box 351
Raleigh, NC 27602
Phone: (919) 792-4000
Where and How to Get Public Raleigh Marriage Records
The Wake County Register of Deeds allows the general public to access marriage records through its online marriage certificate index search. Anyone may find records by searching for a party's name and the marriage date.
Where and How to Get Confidential Marriage Records in Raleigh
Certified copies of Raleigh marriage records are selectively available. Under North Carolina law, only the following persons may obtain a certified copy:
- The person named on the record
- An immediate family member such as a parent, sibling, stepchild, child, stepparent, grandparent, grandchild
- Authorized agent
- Attorney
- Legal representative
Eligible persons may request certified marriage certificates online through the Wake Register of Deeds' request application. The requestor must provide personal information and other details about the marriage, such as the date and location. The Recorder of Deeds will mail the record within two business days after receiving the request.
Alternatively, contact the Recorder of Deeds by mail or in person. For a mail order, fill the request form with available details on the marriage, the requestor's relationship to the person named on the record, and the requestor's details. Enclose the completed form with a photocopy of a valid government-issued ID and a check or money order payable to the Wake County Register of Deeds. Each certificate costs $10. Note that records are only available for marriages that date back to 1932.
Visit or mail the Register of Deeds using the following information:
Wake County Justice Center
300 South Salisbury Street
Suite 1700
Raleigh, NC 27601
Mailing Address:
Wake County Register of Deeds
Attention: Vital Records
P.O. Box 1897
Raleigh, NC 27601-1897
Where and How to Find Raleigh Birth Records
Raleigh birth records are obtainable from the Wake County Recorder of Deeds. The Recorder of Deeds only grants access to the person named on the record, current spouse, sibling, child or stepchild, parent or stepparent, grandparent, grandchild, attorney, authorized agent, or a legal representative. Eligible persons may use the online birth certificate request to request records, which will be delivered by mail.
Interested persons may also send completed request forms with valid government-issued ID and checks or money orders, or visit the Recorder of Deeds in person. Checks and money orders must be payable to the Wake County Recorder of Deeds. Each record costs $10. The Wake County Recorder of Deeds keeps records for births since 1913. Persons may also use the online birth certificate index search to find public birth records.
Where and How to Find Raleigh Death Records
Raleigh death records are available to persons connected to the deceased in any of the following ways:
- Spouse
- Child or stepchild
- Grandparent or grandchild
- Sibling
- Parent or stepparent
- Attorney
- Legal representative
- Authorized agent
Any of the above persons may request online, by mail, or in person, for death records since 1913. To request vial mail, fill a request form and send it with a check or money order for $10, payable to the Wake County Recorder of Deeds. A mail order must include a valid government-issued ID. Persons may also visit the Recorder of Deeds in person. The Wake County Recorder of Deeds also provides a public death certificate index search for all interested persons, regardless of eligibility.
