Asheville Background Check
Asheville is the county seat of Buncombe County, nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina. The city has about 94,000 residents and draws millions of visitors each year. Background check records for Asheville flow through the Asheville Police Department, the Buncombe County court system, and the North Carolina SBI. Each agency holds different types of records, and the right source depends on what you are looking for. This guide explains how to access those records and what to expect during the process.
Background Check Options in Asheville
Asheville residents and anyone searching for records tied to the city have multiple avenues available. Local records come from the Asheville Police Department. The department maintains arrest logs, incident reports, and other law enforcement records generated within city limits.
County-level court records are held at the Buncombe County Clerk of Superior Court. This includes criminal case files, charges, pleas, and sentencing information for cases prosecuted in the county. Asheville cases make up a large portion of the county caseload since the city is the most populated municipality in Buncombe County.
The Asheville Police Department website offers details about records requests and department services. Officers respond to calls across the city, from the downtown arts district to residential neighborhoods in North and West Asheville. All of these interactions can generate records that appear in a background check.
For statewide criminal history, the North Carolina SBI is the central source. The SBI has operated since 1937 and maintains criminal records from every county. A name-based check costs $25 using Form AOC-CR-314.
Asheville Criminal Court Records
Criminal cases originating in Asheville are heard at the Buncombe County courthouse. District Court handles misdemeanors and infractions. Superior Court handles felonies. Both courts generate records that become part of a person's background check results.
The clerk of court keeps all case files. You can search by defendant name or case number. Basic case information is available through the NC Courts online portal at no charge. Getting certified copies requires a visit to the courthouse or a written request by mail, along with the $25 fee and Form AOC-CR-314.
The Buncombe County courthouse also has free self-service terminals. These allow you to look up case information on your own without paying a fee. The terminals are available during regular business hours and are a good option for anyone doing a quick background check search related to Asheville.
Note: Court records in Asheville are public under N.C.G.S. Chapter 132, but some records have restricted access. Juvenile cases, sealed files, and expunged records are not available to the general public.
Statewide Criminal History Search
The SBI criminal history database covers all of North Carolina. It pulls data from local agencies, including those in Asheville and Buncombe County. The database is called the Criminal Criminal History repository and uses the SAFIS fingerprint system for identification.
You can request a criminal history check through the SBI by mail or through an authorized channeler. Name-based searches rely on personal identifiers like name and date of birth. Fingerprint-based searches are more reliable because they match against biometric data rather than just text fields. Both types are available for Asheville-related records.
Note: Name-based searches can return results for the wrong person if multiple individuals share similar identifying information. Fingerprint-based checks eliminate this risk and are recommended when accuracy is critical.
Asheville Background Check Fees
Common fees for background check services in the Asheville area are listed below. These amounts are set by state law and apply uniformly across North Carolina counties.
- SBI criminal history (name-based): $25
- Certified copy of court record: $25
- Expunction petition filing: $175
- Online court case search: Free
- Self-service terminal at courthouse: Free
- Sex offender registry search: Free
Processing time varies by method. In-person searches at the Buncombe County courthouse can be completed the same day. SBI mail-in requests typically take several weeks. Fingerprint-based checks submitted electronically through approved channels are usually faster than paper submissions for Asheville background checks.
Expunctions and Record Clearing
North Carolina law allows certain criminal records to be expunged. An expunction removes the record from public databases. After expunction, the record will not appear in a standard background check for Asheville or anywhere else in the state.
Eligibility depends on the type of offense and the outcome of the case. Dismissed charges, not guilty verdicts, and certain first-time offenses may qualify. The filing fee is $175. You file the petition at the Buncombe County courthouse if the case was heard there. Full details on the expunction process are available at nccourts.gov.
Legal Aid of North Carolina offers assistance with expunction petitions for qualifying individuals. Call 1-866-219-5262 to ask about eligibility and services available in the Asheville area. They can help determine if your record qualifies and guide you through the petition process.
Additional Background Check Resources
Beyond criminal records, several other databases can be part of a thorough background check in Asheville. The NC Sex Offender Registry allows free searches by name or location. The NC Department of Public Safety offender search covers people under state correctional supervision.
The NC Courts website provides a step-by-step guide to running criminal background checks in North Carolina. This resource explains the different types of checks available and walks you through the request process. It applies to all cities in the state, including Asheville.
North Carolina public records law under N.C.G.S. Chapters 114 and 132 governs access to background check information. Most records are open to the public, but there are specific exceptions for sealed, expunged, and juvenile records. Understanding these rules helps you know what to expect when searching for records connected to Asheville.
Buncombe County Background Check Records
All court records for Asheville are maintained by the Buncombe County Clerk of Superior Court. The county handles criminal filings, civil cases, and other matters that contribute to background check results. Asheville is the county seat, and the courthouse is located in downtown Asheville.