Criminal Statistics
The North Carolina Bureau of Investigation colleges and manages crime data recorded by all county law enforcement agencies. According to its 2017 report, Union County recorded a total of 2,345 reported crimes, a 3% spike from the 2,281 total of 2016. Larceny-theft was reported to be markedly common with 1,533 reported incidents, while aggravated assault cases were the top recorded violent crime with 131 recorded incidents. Other crimes such as murder, rape, and robbery accounted for less than 1.9% of the total crimes putting Union county in the top tier of violent-crime safe North Carolina counties.
Criminal Records
The Union County Sheriff's Office is the main law enforcement agency and informational resource for crime-related data and records of the county. However, requests for criminal records and background checks are processed by the County Clerk of Court or the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation which maintains a statewide repository of criminal history information. Criminal background checks are offered to both individuals and authorized agencies.
How to Get Criminal Records
Union county criminal records can be obtained in a variety of ways depending on the authority of the requesting party. Individuals can request personal background checks or request a certified background check on a subject from the office of the Union County Clerk of Superior Court. This is a name-based search that provides county-based criminal records and may require written consent from the subject of the search. Interested persons are required to send a completed request for certified criminal record search application along with a cheque or money order payment of $25 to:
Union County Government Center
500 N Main St
Monroe, NC
Phone: (704) 698-3100
Fax: (704) 698-3101
Employers and licensing agencies with an access agreement contact with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation may request a finger-print based background check from the Bureau. Individuals may also request personal finger-print based background checks known as a Right to Review. All fingerprint-based requests may be directed to:
Access Integrity Unit - CIIS
NC State Bureau of Investigation,
3320 Garner Road
P.O. Box 29500
Raleigh, NC 27626-0500
AIUhelp@ncsbi.gov
How to Get Arrest Records And Incident Reports
The Union County Sheriff's Office maintains an index of arrest and incident reports which can be assessed using the USCO Event Search Tool. To obtain information using the tool, users may search by the date of the incident, name(s) of the person(s) involved, or the location of the incidence.
How to Find Sex Offender Information
All information regarding sex offenders resident within Union County is managed by the Union County Sheriffs Office and maintained on the North Carolina Sex Offender Registry. Information on the registry is public record. Searches for offenders can be done by name, registration number, and location. The NC Bureau of Investigation also offers an NC Offender Subscription Service, which provides email alerts to interested persons regarding new information relating to sex offenders within a chosen location.
Where to Find Inmate And Jail Information
The Police to Citizen Web Page of the Union County Sheriff's Office website provides relevant information about persons incarcerated within the county. Interested persons access arrest details of inmates as well as information relating to the charge and booking agency and location of the jail. Inmate inquiries can be made by the name or booking date of the inmate in question. Other information concerning inmate visitation, repositories or contact information can be obtained by querying the Detention Division of the Sheriff's Office.
Court Records
Where and How to Get Court Records
Union County court records are generated and maintained by the Clerk of Superior Courts. Interested persons may obtain records of all cases filed within the county by visiting the Clerk of Court's office and using the self-service terminal available for public use. Requestors are required to provide the plaintiff/defendant as well as the case number or date of filing in order to facilitate the search. A search and copy fee may also be charged to the requesting party if the help of any court staff is solicited or if the requestor requires copies and/or certified copies of the document. Requests may be made to:
Union County Government Center
500 N Main St
Monroe, NC
Phone: (704) 698-3100
Fax: (704) 698-3101
Location of All Courts in County
Below is the location and contact information of the only court in Union County, North Carolina:
Union County Superior Court & District Court
400 North Main Street, P.O. Box 5038, Monroe, NC 28111
Phone: (704) 698-3100
Fax: (704) 698-3101
Where and How to Get Bankruptcy and Property Records
Union County bankruptcy records are managed by the US Bankruptcy Court Western District of NC Clerk of Courts. Interested persons may request records from the Clerk's Office via mail or in person at:
U.S. Bankruptcy Court
Western District of North Carolina
100 Otis Street, Room 112
Asheville, NC 28801-2611
Phone: (828) 771-7300
The Union County Register of Deeds records and maintains deeds, plats, and documents related to real property ownership and transfers within Union County. All records of Deeds and Plats are managed on the Register of Deeds Website and can be obtained using the Deed Look-up tool. Requestors may search for deeds and plats by name or file/plat Other records including mortgages and powers of attorney can only be accessed by querying the office of the Register of Deeds in person at:
Register of Deeds Office
Union County Government Center
500 N Main St
P.O. Box 248
Monroe, NC 28111
Vital Records
Union County's vital records are maintained by the Vital Records Division of the North Carolina Public Health Department which is the state-wide repository of vital records for North Carolina. Similarly, birth, death, and marriage records can be issued by the office of the Union County Recorder of Deeds while divorce records are maintained and can be obtained at the office of the Superior Clerk of Courts.
Where and How to Get Divorce Records
Divorce records are managed and issued by the office of the Superior Court Clerk. To obtain copies of these records, interested persons may visit the clerk's office and self-serve using the Clerks public terminals. Searches can be conducted using the divorcee's names and as well as the date of the divorce. Alternatively, requestors may send a written request indicating the necessary details of the divorce to:
The Superior Court Clerk
Union County Government Center
500 N Main St
P.O. Box 248
Monroe, NC 28111
Where and How to Get Marriage Records
The office of the Union County Recorder of Deeds responds to requests for records of marriages licensed by it. Interested members of the public may request marriage records but may be required to meet eligibility requirements before accessing the requested record. Requests for marriage records may only be made in person at:
Register of Deeds Office
Union County Government Center
500 N Main St
P.O. Box 248
Monroe, NC 28111
Where and How to Get Birth and Death Records
Requests for copies of birth and death records can only be made in person at the office of the Union County Recorder of Deeds. While some information available in the office is public record, persons interested in obtaining certified birth and death records must prove their relationship with the registrant or verify that they are legally authorized to access the record in compliance with North Carolina state laws. Requests will also require presenting a government-issued ID and the payment of any applicable fees depending on the request made. The Union County Recorder's office is located at:
Union County Government Center
500 N Main St
P.O. Box 248
Monroe, NC 28111
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 expansive searches. Record seekers may either opt to 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.
