Run a free North Carolina inmate search using an array of online tools available to help uncover relevant information about any offender in the area.
The North Carolina Freedom of Information Act is the set of laws and rules that establish which types of records should be readily available to citizens and how those documents should be made available to them. Information about individuals arrested or currently serving a sentence is a matter of public interest and any concerned resident is entitled to obtain it.
This brief resource guides interested searchers in finding dependable records about anyone who has committed a crime in North Carolina. Using the lookup methods presented in this article, interested parties can effectively access inmate details for free and without hassle.
What’s the Difference Between Prison & Jail Inmates?
It’s important to understand the differences between prisons and jails. When someone finds themselves in the position of having to search for a loved one, it’s helpful to know where to look for their quest to be effective and successful.
When looking for an individual who’s been recently taken into custody, it’s usually more efficient to look at local jails run by the county or the city where the incident that led to the arrest took place. Those facilities usually keep offenders who are waiting for trial or for the judge to set their bail, so they can be released.
When the search is for someone who’s already serving a sentence, after being tried by the courts, state and federal prisons are the best place to look for them – and which precisely, will depend on the type of crime was committed and which court handled the trial.
Whatever the reason why the reader needs to perform an inmate search in North Carolina, this article will provide valuable tips on how to access and make good use of each tool and resource available to people in the state.
Look Up Information on Any Jail Inmate Throughout North Carolina
Looking for individuals who’ve been arrested recently due to a warrant or their involvement in an incident can be challenging. Still, understanding that each local agency wants to help and that they may have different procedures in place is a good starting point.
In Wake County, for example, the sheriff’s office provides concerned citizens with a list of inmates currently held in their correctional facility.1
Although this is a relatively clear list and not an automated search engine, it’s possible to filter out the desired information and uncover relevant facts about any of the current inmates. There are different criteria that can be used to filter the list, but it will accept a last name (if that’s all that’s known) and will offer the option to search for similar matches when an exact match isn’t available.
The information on the list is a good first step in uncovering information about inmates in Wake County. When the inmate of interest is found, searchers can click on their name and find some details about their case, such as their current status and if a bond has been set.
If more information or support is needed (which is likely to be the case), interested individuals can contact the Sheriff’s Office using the following information:
Wake County Sheriff’s Office
John H. Baker Public Safety Center
330 S. Salisbury St
Raleigh, NC 27601
Phone: 919.856.6900
Fax: 919.856.6874
Municipal agencies can also play an important role in providing citizens with information. The Raleigh Police Department, for example, participates in many investigations and arrests. Although inmates are sent to the county jail, they can provide support to individuals concerned about incidents and arrests in their areas.
To communicate with the Raleigh Police Department for information or support, searchers should use this information:2
Raleigh Police Department
6716 Six Forks Rd
Raleigh, NC 27615
Phone: 919.996.3335
Email: [emailprotected]
For instances where more than a simple inmate search in North Carolina becomes necessary – and, for example, a deeper inquiry on past criminal records is needed – readers can utilize the state’s criminal and arrest record search resource, which will lead to valuable, reliable information about any individual in the state.
Perform a North Carolina Inmate Search at No Cost
Searching for offenders held in state prisons in North Carolina becomes a convenient task with the Offender Public Information Search.3
This free, accessible engine reveals information not only about offenders who are currently serving time but also about parolees and probationers (who aren’t incarcerated but remain under supervision), as well as registered sex offenders all over North Carolina. It’s, no doubt, a very comprehensive resource for the community.
When using this system to run a inmate search in North Carolina, concerned citizens will see plenty of information just by looking at the initial results: the offender’s full name and identification number, gender, race, date of birth, and age.
By clicking on the offender’s number, searchers are taken to a details page that shows a mug shot (when available) and plenty of details about their charges: crime committed, sentence, current location, and more.
The North Carolina Department of Adult Correction has a complete list of facilities available online and operates with the assistance of 4 regional offices that can be contacted by any concerned citizen as follows:
Eastern Regional Office
401 W Belvoir Rd
Greenville, NC 27843
Phone: 252.830.3466
Central Regional Office
430 N. Salisbury St
Raleigh, NC 27699
Western Regional Office
309 Columbus St., SW
Valdesc, NC 28690
South Central Regional Office
180 Sandhills Dr
McCain, NC 28361
The North Carolina Department of Adult Correction can also be contacted by mail using the information below:
North Carolina Department of Adult Correction
5201 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699
Phone: 919.733.2126
For those who’ve been victims of crimes in North Carolina, it’s important to be reminded that they have access to a wider set of resources that are available to them. Victims have the right to be informed about their offender’s situation, as well as the right to seek support and compensation, when applicable.
The Department of Adult Correction assists victims through the Support Services Department. They can be reached by phone at 866.719.0108 or by email at [emailprotected].
More resources are available for victims with the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, which can be contacted using the information below:5
North Carolina Department of Public Safety
512 N Salisbury St
Raleigh, NC 27699
Phone: 919.710.8885
How To Complete an Effective Search for Federal Prisoners
When someone commits a federal crime, it’s the natural order to be tried at a federal court and, if convicted, to serve the sentence at a federal prison.
To help concerned citizens who need to search and find individuals at those facilities, the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) allows people to search their databases.6
The BOP shows information about inmates currently held at federal facilities, who’ve been incarcerated starting in 1982. Users can search by first and last name, and their inquiry will lead to results that include the offender’s full name, location, release date (if available), and age.
If more support is needed, contact the BOP using the following information:
Federal Bureau of Prisons
320 First St NW
Washington, DC 20534
Phone: 202.307.3198
For information about individuals incarcerated before 1982 (which isn’t provided by the BOP), citizens can use the National Archives & Records Administration (NARA) platform and search for facts related to the offenders they’re interested in.
They can also contact NARA directly using this information:7
National Archives & Records Administration
8601 Adelphi Rd
College Park, MD 20740
Phone: 866.272.6272
Another valuable resource – which provides good information, albeit not for free – is the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER).
Those interested in using PACER have to register with the system (which requires adding personal information and a valid form of payment), in order to obtain information and access records. On PACER, each accessed page costs $0.10, and there are other services they offer. For more information about the services provided by PACER and their pricing, users can check the fee schedule.8
There’s value in being able to readily access public records information and be constantly well-informed about relevant facts in the community. People should never take that for granted, as it’s a privilege that’s not available everywhere. Whenever the need arises to run a North Carolina inmate search, citizens should feel confident to move forward and uncover every piece of information they deem relevant and important; this resource covers and links the best lookup tools.
