Criminal records of Lenoir County, North Carolina, are available through several channels. LenoirCourt.us allows quick access to publicly available information about criminal cases in the county. Additionally, records can be obtained through the official state court system, county law enforcement agencies, and the Clerk of Court's office. Below is a practical guide to searching, understanding, and ordering criminal records in Lenoir County.
How to Search Criminal Records in Lenoir
There are several ways to find criminal records in Lenoir County. The choice depends on what exactly you need and how quickly.
Online Search
- LenoirCourt.us — start here if you need to check publicly available information about court cases. Enter the full name or case number.
- North Carolina Judicial System Portal — the Lenoir County page on the NC Judicial Branch website offers search by court date using name, citation number, or county.
- Convicted Persons Search — NC Department of Adult Correction allows searches by inmate name or ID. The database contains data since 1972 about individuals in state prisons, on probation, or parole. Information about county jails is not included in this database.
- Federal Cases — if the crime falls under federal jurisdiction, Lenoir County belongs to the Eastern District of North Carolina. Searches are conducted through the PACER system.
In-Person Request
Visit the Clerk of Superior Court's office in Lenoir County. The clerk maintains the official registry of all criminal cases heard in the county court. For a background check, the state court system recommends contacting the clerk's office rather than the online portal.
Contact information for the clerk and other offices can be found in the Lenoir County contact directory.
Written Request by Mail
Send a written request to the Clerk of Superior Court specifying:
- Full name of the person (last name, first name, middle name if known)
- Date of birth (if known)
- Case number (if any)
- Type of record you need
For state-level requests, you can also refer to the NC Judicial Branch public records request page, which describes all options: online, by mail, or in person.
Search Lenoir Criminal Cases by Case Number
In North Carolina, a criminal case number has a standard format, and each part carries specific information.
Typical format: YY CRS NNNNNN
- YY — the last two digits of the year the case was filed
- CRS — case type code. For criminal cases in Superior Court, CRS is used; in District Court — CR (misdemeanor) or IF (infraction)
- NNNNNN — sequential case number
For example, the number 24 CRS 001234 indicates a Superior Court criminal case registered in 2024 under sequential number 001234. If you have this number, the search becomes much more precise — it eliminates matches with namesakes. Enter it in the search form on the judicial system portal or inform the clerk during a personal visit.
Charges, Case Status, Hearings, and Court Results in Lenoir
Understanding each element of a court record will help you correctly assess the situation. Here is what the main fields mean.
Charges
| Element | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Statute Code | Reference to a specific article of the General Statutes of North Carolina under which the charge is brought |
| Severity | Felony, Misdemeanor, or Infraction |
| Amended Charge | The prosecutor may change the initial charge — the new one is displayed as a separate line |
Case Status
- Pending — the case is open, and a decision has not yet been made
- Active — the case is under court consideration
- Disposed — the court has made a final decision
- Closed — all procedures are completed, including sentence execution
Types of Hearings
A criminal case may have several sessions of different types:
- First Appearance / Arraignment — the defendant's first appearance before a judge, announcement of charges
- Preliminary Hearing — a preliminary hearing to determine the sufficiency of evidence (usually only for felonies)
- Pre-Trial Hearing — a pre-trial session to resolve procedural issues
- Sentencing — sentencing after a guilty plea or conviction
- Review Hearing — checking compliance with probation terms or other obligations
Court Results
| Result | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Guilty | Found guilty |
| Not Guilty | Acquitted |
| Dismissed | Case closed without a verdict |
| Acquitted | Full acquittal after substantive consideration |
| Prayer for Judgment Continued (PJC) | The court postpones sentencing — a common practice in North Carolina |
How to Request Certified Criminal Records in Lenoir
A certified copy of a criminal record is an official document with a court seal that can be used for legal purposes. A regular printout from the online portal does not have this status.
Where to Apply
The main body is the Lenoir County Clerk of Superior Court. The clerk maintains all criminal cases heard in the county court.
Lenoir County Courthouse
Check the current hours of operation and contacts for specific departments in the Lenoir County contact directory.
How to Submit a Request
- In Person — visit the clerk's office with a government-issued photo ID. Provide the person's name and case number if known.
- By Mail — send a written request to the court's address specifying the full name, date of birth, case number (if any), and type of record. Include a copy of your ID and payment.
- Online — for some types of records, you can use the public records request form on the NC Judicial Branch website.
For an official state-level criminal history check, contact the NC State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), which maintains a centralized registry.
State Prison Inmate Records
The NC Department of Adult Correction maintains records only for individuals who have served time in state prisons. Information about county jails is not included in their database. Requests can be submitted through the NCDAC public records page.
Fees, Copy Costs, and Processing Times for Criminal Records in Lenoir
Fees for criminal records in North Carolina are set at the state level according to the General Statutes. Below are typical rates for court records.
| Service | Cost | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Uncertified copy of court record | $0.25 per page | N.C.G.S. § 7A-308 |
| Document certification | $3.00 per document | N.C.G.S. § 7A-308 |
| Background check through SBI | Depends on the type of check; usually from $14 and up | NC SBI fee schedule |
Processing Times
- In Person — simple requests for copies are usually processed the same day or within a few business days
- By Mail — from 5 to 15 business days depending on the complexity of the request and the clerk's office workload
- Check through SBI — processing times vary; fingerprint requests take longer
Payment is usually accepted in the form of a money order or cashier's check when mailing. During an in-person visit, check with the office for available payment methods. Specific fees may change — it is advisable to call the clerk's office to confirm current rates before applying.