Nash County Background Check Information
Nash County is in the northeastern Piedmont of North Carolina. The county seat is Nashville, and the largest city is Rocky Mount, which straddles the Nash-Edgecombe county line. With a population near 95,000, Nash County has a mix of urban and rural areas. Criminal records, court case data, and other public documents are available through the Clerk of Superior Court and state agencies. This page covers how to access background check records in Nash County.
Nash County Clerk of Superior Court
The Clerk of Superior Court is the record keeper for all court cases in Nash County. Criminal files, civil filings, and estate records are stored at the courthouse in Nashville. The public can walk in and use free self-service terminals. These let you search criminal case data without paying a fee. The results are not certified but offer a fast way to check what is on file.
A certified search requires Form AOC-CR-314 and a $25 payment. This official document confirms whether a named person has criminal cases in Nash County. The clerk's staff can help you with the form and process.
The image below shows the Nash County Clerk of Court page on the NC Courts website.
County-level searches only cover Nash County. For records from other areas, you will need a statewide search.
Note: Free courthouse terminals give quick access to case data, but the results do not carry legal weight.
Nash County Background Check Through the SBI
The NC State Bureau of Investigation manages the statewide criminal history database. The SBI has been active since 1937 and is headquartered in Raleigh. It maintains the Computerized Criminal History File, known as CCH, which collects data from every county in North Carolina.
Two types of searches are available. A name-based search is faster and simpler. A fingerprint-based search uses SAFIS, the Statewide Automated Fingerprint Identification System, to match prints to a specific person. Fingerprint checks take longer but produce more accurate results. They eliminate the risk of confusing people who share the same name.
Here is the NC SBI background check page.
Chapter 114 of the NC General Statutes governs how the SBI collects and shares criminal justice information.
Free Online Record Searches
Several free online tools can supplement a Nash County background check. The NC Sex Offender Registry allows searches by name or geographic area. You can view offenders registered in Nash County or across the state. The SBI maintains this database.
The NC DPS Offender Search covers current and former state prison inmates. You can look up a person by name or offender number. Both tools are free and require no account.
The NC Courts background check page also provides useful guidance on search methods and what to expect from results.
Ways to Search Nash County Records
Here are the primary methods for running a background check in Nash County:
- Use a free self-service terminal at the Nash County courthouse
- File Form AOC-CR-314 with $25 for a certified single-county search
- Request a statewide name or fingerprint check from the NC SBI
- Search the NC Sex Offender Registry at no cost
- Look up inmates through the NC DPS offender search
Local searches cover Nash County only. A statewide SBI search spans all 100 counties. For a complete picture, it helps to use more than one method.
Expunction of Records in Nash County
Certain criminal records in Nash County can be expunged. Expunction removes a record from public view. Once granted, the case will not appear in a standard background check. The NC Courts expunction page outlines who qualifies and how to file.
The standard fee is $175. Dismissed charges may qualify for a fee waiver. Legal Aid of North Carolina can help at no cost for those who meet income guidelines. Their phone number is 1-866-219-5262.
Note: Expunged records are removed from both county and state databases, so they will not appear in SBI searches either.
Nash County shares the city of Rocky Mount with Edgecombe County. This split jurisdiction is worth noting when conducting a background check. An offense that occurred in the Rocky Mount area could be filed in either Nash County or Edgecombe County, depending on which side of the county line the incident took place. A search at the Nash County courthouse in Nashville will not include Edgecombe County records. To cover both sides of Rocky Mount, you would need to check both county courthouses or rely on the SBI statewide search, which pulls records from all 100 counties.
For those who cannot visit the Nashville courthouse, records can be requested by mail. Complete Form AOC-CR-314 and send it with a $25 payment to the Nash County Clerk of Superior Court. Include the person's full name and date of birth. The clerk will return a certified result once the search is processed. Nash County handles a moderate volume of cases, so turnaround times are generally reasonable. This mail option is convenient for residents in areas like Spring Hope, Castalia, or the eastern parts of the county who may find the drive to Nashville inconvenient.
Understanding North Carolina Public Records Law
North Carolina has strong public records laws. Chapter 132 of the General Statutes gives the public a right to access government documents. This includes court records, property filings, and most records created by county offices. There are exceptions. Sealed records, juvenile cases, and expunged records are not available to the public.
The NC General Assembly website is the source for all state laws, including those related to background checks and public records. Chapter 114 deals specifically with the criminal justice information system and how data flows between agencies.
When interpreting background check results from Nash County, keep in mind that certain older records may not be available through the electronic court system. Historical case files from before the digital era may require a manual search at the clerk's office in Nashville. If you need records from several decades ago, contacting the clerk directly is the best approach to make sure nothing is overlooked.