Crime Numbers
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (NCSBI) collates crime statistics for all counties in the state. Its latest crime data for New Hanover County are for 2017. In that year, the county recorded 971 violent crimes and 6,547 property crimes. Compared to the figures for 2013, the violent crime rate increased by 11.7% while the property crime rate shrank by 22.7%. A closer look at the reported Part I crimes for 2017 shows that there were 23 murders, 68 rapes, 243 robberies, and 637 aggravated assaults. New Hanover County also recorded 1,495 burglaries, 4,711 larceny thefts, and 341 motor vehicle thefts in 2017.
The most recent five-year crime trend for the county shows that the following crimes recorded lower numbers in 2017 compared to 2013: robbery (15.6%), burglaries (37.8%), larceny (16.4%), and motor vehicle thefts (22.5%). In the same period, homicide, rape, and aggravated assault ratesincreased by 187.5%, 11.5%, and 24.4% respectively.
Criminal Records
Certified criminal record reports for the county are provided by the Office of the New Hanover 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
New Hanover County Courthouse
316 Princess Street,
Wilmington, NC 28401
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 by calling (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.
The Wilmington Police Department provides police reports for the City of Wilmington, the county’s seat. To obtain this report visit the Wilmington Police Department Records section in the headquarters at:
615 Bess Street,
Wilmington, NC 28401
Phone: (910) 343-3640
Both the New Hanover Police Department and the New Hanover County Sheriff's Office provide incident and accident reports for the county. To obtain an incident report from the Police Department, visit the address above in person. For incidents reported at the New Hanover County Sheriff's Office 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. The public can also make a request by visiting the office at:
3950 Juvenile Center Road,
Castle Hayne, NC 28429
Phone: (910) 798-4200
Fax: (910) 798-4212
The North Carolina Sex Offender Registry contains information about registered sex offenders in New Hanover County. The registry offers the tool to search for offenders near your address by name, zip code, and Sex Registration Number. Visit the online registry on the SBI website to search for registered sex offenders living in New Hanover County.
The New Hanover Correctional Center is the main detention facility in the county. The center provides friends and family a means to fund an inmate’s account online via Jailpackstore. This adultmale-only minimum-security is located at:
330 Division Drive,
Wilmington, NC 28401
Phone: (910) 251-2666
Court Records
Just like the rest of North Carolina’s justice system, New Hanover 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 are trial courts. The New Hanover County Superior Court is part of the North Carolina’s 2nd Superior Court Division while the county’s District Court belongs to the 5th Judicial District. Both courts are located at:
316 Princess Street
Wilmington, NC 28402
Phone: (910) 772-6600
The Superior Court handles criminal felony cases, appealed cases of misdemeanors and infractions, and civil cases with claims above $25,000. The New Hanover County District Court is 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 Family Court in New Hanover is part of the lower court. It is located in the same building and its phone number is (910) 772-6612.
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 New Hanover County Clerk of the Superior Court. Use the terminal to search for cases by case number or defendant, victim, or witness name. For physical copies of these court records, make a request 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 Phone: (910) 772-6600.
Vital Records
New Hanover County divorce records are provided by the North Carolina Vital Records office of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). The county’s divorce records from 1958 to the present are available at the office and cost $24 per copy. The fee is inclusive of the charges for searching three years of records.
Copies of divorce records before 1958 can be obtained from the New Hanover County Clerk of the Superior Court. To request a copy from the office of the Vital Records, complete the application form and send it by mail or present in-person. Send the completed form with a money order, certified check, or business check (not a personal check) for the fee in your mail request to:
North Carolina Vital Records
1903 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1900
Alternatively, 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
North Carolina Vital Records office also provides marriage, death and birth certificates for New Hanover 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 for 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 New Hanover 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 plus a $1 processing fee. Uncertified copies are provided at $1 each. Requests can be made online at the county’s NCVitals website or the Getcertificatenow website. To make a request, complete the Request for Vital Records form and present in person by visiting either the main or satellite office at:
Main Office:
320 Chestnut Street,
Suite 120
Wilmington, NC 28401
Satellite Office:
230 Government Center Drive, Suite 180
Wilmington, NC 28403
Phone: (910) 798-7711
Fax: (910) 798-7751
The officesare open to the public on Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
