Craven County Background Check

Craven County is located in eastern North Carolina along the Neuse River. The county seat is New Bern, one of the oldest towns in the state. Public records in Craven County are held by the Clerk of Superior Court and other local offices. Criminal case files, court documents, and related records are open to the public under state law. You can search these records in person at the courthouse or through state-level tools. This guide walks through the main options for running a background check in Craven County.

Craven County Clerk of Superior Court

The Clerk of Superior Court in Craven County is the main office for court records. This includes criminal case files, civil matters, and other legal documents. The office sits in the Craven County Courthouse in downtown New Bern. Walk-in visitors can use self-service terminals to search case records at no cost. These searches are not certified but can give you a quick look at what is on file.

The following image shows the Craven County Clerk of Court page on the NC Courts site.

If you need a certified search, you must fill out Form AOC-CR-314 and pay a $25 fee. The certified copy covers only cases filed in Craven County. Staff at the clerk's office can help with the form and explain what the results will include.

Note: A certified county search covers only cases filed within Craven County courts.

Background Check Through State Resources

The NC State Bureau of Investigation runs the statewide criminal records system. The SBI has been in place since 1937 and keeps the Computerized Criminal History file, known as CCH. This file pulls data from law enforcement agencies in all 100 North Carolina counties. A statewide search through the SBI is broader than a single-county check at the Craven County courthouse.

The image below is from the NC SBI background check page, which explains how to request a search.

Name-based searches return results quickly. Fingerprint-based checks take longer but are tied to a specific person through the SAFIS network. SAFIS stands for the Statewide Automated Fingerprint Identification System. This method is more precise and avoids false matches due to common names.

Craven County Sheriff's Office

The Craven County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement across the county. Deputies patrol rural areas and assist city police when needed. The sheriff's office keeps arrest records and booking data. These records are part of the public record under North Carolina law.

New Bern has its own police force, but the sheriff covers the wider county. If an arrest took place outside city limits, the sheriff's office would hold that record. You can contact them for questions about specific cases or arrest history in the county.

Note: The sheriff's office covers areas outside city limits, while New Bern police handle cases within the city.

Online Lookup Tools

Two free state databases can help with a Craven County background check. The NC Sex Offender Registry is run by the SBI. You can search by name or by address. Results show offenders who live in Craven County or elsewhere in the state. The registry is updated on a regular basis.

The NC DPS Offender Search covers the state prison system. It shows current inmates and those who have been released. You can look up records by name or offender ID number. Both tools are free and require no account.

These online lookups are a good first step. They do not replace a full background check but can provide useful details fast. Court records at the county level will show charges, case outcomes, and sentencing information that these tools may not include.

Craven County Background Check Steps

There are several paths to check someone's record in Craven County. The right one depends on what you need and how broad your search should be. Here is a quick breakdown of the main methods:

• Visit the Craven County Courthouse and use a self-service terminal for a free search
• File Form AOC-CR-314 with a $25 fee for a certified county search
• Request a statewide search from the SBI for all 100 counties
• Search the NC Sex Offender Registry by name or location
• Use the NC DPS tool to look up prison records

A county search only shows what has been filed in Craven County. Someone with a record in another county would not appear. The SBI search fills that gap by covering the whole state. Chapter 114 of the NC General Statutes governs how criminal history data is stored and shared.

New Bern is a historic city with a busy court system. The courthouse handles a steady flow of cases. When you visit, bring a valid ID. The clerk's staff can point you to the self-service terminal. You type a name, pick a date range, and see what comes up. Results show charges, dates, and how each case ended. Prints are free but carry no legal weight. For a certified record, fill out Form AOC-CR-314 and pay the $25 fee at the clerk's window.

Mail requests are also an option. Send the form, your payment, and a return envelope to the Craven County Clerk of Court in New Bern. Allow five to seven business days. Call ahead to confirm the mailing address and check on your request. Craven County is near several other eastern NC counties like Pamlico and Jones. A local search only covers cases filed here. The SBI statewide check covers all 100 counties. Pair both for the most thorough view of a person's record in the state.

Expunction of Records in Craven County

Some records in Craven County may not show up in a background check because they have been expunged. Expunction is the legal process of removing a charge or conviction from public view. The NC Courts expunction page explains who is eligible and how to file. The standard filing fee is $175, but it may be waived for cases that were dismissed.

If you need help with an expunction, Legal Aid of North Carolina can assist. Call them at 1-866-219-5262. They provide free guidance to those who qualify. Once a record is expunged, it will no longer appear in standard searches at the courthouse or through the SBI.

North Carolina's General Assembly sets the rules for expunctions under state law. These rules have changed over the years, so eligibility depends on when the offense took place and the type of charge involved.