Crime Numbers
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (NCSBI) collates crime statistics for all counties in the state. Its latest crime data for Durham County are for 2017. The county recorded 2,296 violent crimes and 11,537 property crimes in that year. Compared to the figures for 2013, violent crime rate increased by 38.5% while property crime rate shrank by 5%. A closer look at the reported Part I crimes for 2017 shows that there were 24 murders, 86 rapes, 889 robberies, and 1,297 aggravated assaults. Durham County also recorded 2,707 burglaries, 7,999 larceny thefts, and 831 motor vehicle theftsin 2017.
The five-year crime trend for the county shows that only murder (17.2%) and burglary (27.2%) recorded lower numbers in 2017 compared to 2013. In the same period, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, larceny, motor vehicle theft, and arson rates increased by 26.5%, 40.9%, 39.3%, 4.5%, and 8.1% respectively.
Durham County Criminal Records
Certified criminal record reports for the county are provided by the Office of the Durham County Clerk of Superior Court. The Office charges $25 for each background check. To make a request, complete Form AOC-CR-314 and submit it to the clerk's office in person or send it by mail to:
Clerk of Superior Court
Durham County Courthouse
510 S. Dillard Street
Durham, NC 27701
While this background check offers only a local criminal history search for the county, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) provides non-certified statewide criminal record records. This non-certified statewide check costs $14. To make a request, complete a fingerprint card and the Right to Review form. Requests are only accepted by U.S. mail, hence send the completed card and form along with a certified check or money order for the fee to:
NC State Bureau of Investigation
Applicant Unit-Right toReview
Criminal Information and Identification Section
P.O. Box 29500
Raleigh, NC 27626-0500
For further information, contact the SBI at (919) 582-8600 or via email at CIIShelp@ncsbi.gov.
The public can also conduct free non-certified criminal record searches using the computers at the Clerk’s Office at the courthouse.
Durham County Police Reports
The Durham Police Department provides police reports for the City of Durham. To obtain this report visit the Department’s Record Division in person at:
602 East Main Street
Durham, NC 27701
Phone: (919) 560-4423
Fax: (919) 560-4987
The hours of operation for the Division is from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Both the Durham Police Department and the Durham County Sheriff's Office provide incident reports for the county. To obtain an incident report from the Police Department, visit the address above in person or use the Event Search portal on its website. The search engine allows queries to be made by case number, name of the subject, date, and place of occurrence. For incidents reported at the Durham County Sheriff's Office, visit the office's Records Division on the first floor of the Durham County courthouse located at:
510 South Dillard Street
Durham, NC 27701
Phone: (919) 560-0897
The Division is open to the public from Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. A copy of an incident report costs $3 when paying in cash and $6.09 when paying with a credit/debit card. For inquiries, contact the Division at (919) 560-0899 or (919) 560-0898.
Durham County Sex Offender Offender
The North Carolina Sex Offender Registry contains information about registered sex offenders in Durham County. Citizens can search for offenders near their addresses by name,zip code, and Sex Registration Number. Visit the online registry on the SBI website to search for registered sex offenders living in Durham County.
Durham County Inmate Records
The Durham County Sheriff's Office provides correctional services for the entire county. The office operates the Durham County Detention Facility located at:
219 S Mangum Street
Durham, NC 27701
Phone: (919) 560-0912
Friends and family can fund an inmate's account via Touchpay services: online, by phone at (866) 232-1899, or at the kiosk located in the Detention Center lobby. The inmate’s ID/JCA number and the detention facility number (227701) are required for conducting Durham County Inmate Records and processing the deposit on TouchPay. The jail also accepts deposits by mail via cashier's checks and money orders sent to:
DCSO Money Intake
P.O. Box 544
Durham, NC 27702
Durham County Court Records
Just like the rest of North Carolina’s justice system, Durham County operates a unified court system referred to as the General Court of Justice. This includes a Superior Court and a District Court, both of which aretrial courts. The Durham County Superior Court is part of the North Carolina’s 3rd Superior Court Division while the county’s District Court belongs to the 14th Judicial District. Both courts are located at:
510 South Dillard Street
Durham, NC 27701
Phone: (919) 808-3000
The Superior Court handles criminal felony cases, appealed cases of misdemeanors and infractions, and civil cases with claims above $25,000. The Durham County District Courtis the lower court of trial and has jurisdiction over misdemeanors, infractions, municipal ordinance violations, and civil cases with claims for $25,000 or less.
The Clerk of the Superior Court maintains all criminal and civil case records for the courts in the county. These records can be accessed by visiting the public self-service terminal located at the Office of the Durham County Clerk of the Superior Court. Use the terminal to search for cases by case number or defendant, victim, or witness name. The public can request copies of Durham County court records at the same office. Copies are made for a fee. Contact the Clerk of Superior Court's Office for additional information on applicable fees by calling (919) 560-6842.
Vital Records
Durham County divorce records are provided by the North Carolina Vital Records Office of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Divorce records from 1958 to the present are available at the office and copies are provided at $24 each. This fee is inclusive of the charges for searching three years of records.
Copies of divorce records prior to 1958 can be obtained from the Durham County Clerk of the Superior Court. To request a copy from the Office of the Vital Records, complete this application form and send it by mail or present it in-person. Include a money order, certified check, or business check (not a personal check) for the fee in the mail request sent to:
North Carolina Vital Records
1903 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1900
Requesters can also visit the office between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday at:
N.C. Vital Records
(Cooper Memorial Health Building)
225 North McDowell Street
Raleigh, NC 27603-1382
The North Carolina Vital Records office also provides marriage, death and birth certificates for Durham County. Available marriage certificates are from 1962 to the present while death certificates are from 1930 to the present, and birth certificates are from 1913 to the present. Certified copies of all these records are provided at $24 per copy. The same application form above is required to apply for a record of marriage or death certificate from the office. When requesting a birth record, download and complete the birth certificate application form. The process of requesting these records is the same as requesting divorce records.
The Durham County Register of Deeds also provides birth, death and marriage certificates for events that occurred in the county. It costs $10 to obtain a certified copy of these records at the office and $1 for an uncertified copy. Requests can be made online at Durham County ROD Vital Records Requests page. To make a request by mail or in person, download and complete the Vital Records Application for Certified Copies form. Make an in-person request by visiting:
201 East Main Street
2nd Floor, Administration Bldg. II
Durham, NC 27701
Phone: (919) 560-0480
Fax: (919) 560-0497
The office is open to the public from Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Mail-in requests should be sent with a money order or certified check for the fee to:
Post Office Box 1107
Durham, NC 27702
For more information please call (919) 560-0495 or e-mail regdeeds@dconc.gov.
