Forsyth County Public Records / Forsyth County Arrest Records

Forsyth County Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in Forsyth County

Arrest records in Forsyth County, North Carolina, are generally considered public records under state law. Pursuant to North Carolina General Statutes § 132-1, all records made or received by a public agency in the course of official business are public records and are open to inspection unless a specific statutory exemption applies. Law enforcement agencies, including the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office, are required to make arrest records available to members of the public upon request.

It is important to distinguish between an arrest record and a conviction record. An arrest record documents the fact that an individual was taken into custody by law enforcement and does not indicate guilt or a criminal conviction. A conviction record, by contrast, reflects a formal finding of guilt by a court of law. Under current North Carolina law, both types of records may appear in background checks, but only a conviction carries legal penalties. Certain arrest records that did not result in conviction may be eligible for expunction, which would remove them from public access.

Forsyth County Sheriff's Office 201 N. Church St., Winston-Salem, NC 27101 (336) 727-2112 Forsyth County Sheriff's Office

What's in Forsyth County Arrest Records

Forsyth County arrest records contain a standardized set of data fields compiled at the time of booking and maintained by the arresting agency. The following categories represent the information typically documented in an official arrest record.

Arrestee Identifying Information:

Full legal name and any known aliases
Date of birth and age at time of arrest
Race, sex, height, and weight
Social Security Number (restricted from full public disclosure)
Current residential address

Arrest Details:

Date, time, and location of arrest
Name and badge number of arresting officer
Arresting agency (e.g., Forsyth County Sheriff's Office or Winston-Salem Police Department)

Charge Information:

Specific criminal charges filed
Charge classification (felony, misdemeanor, or infraction)
North Carolina General Statute citation for each charge

Warrant Information (if applicable):

Warrant number and issuing court
Date warrant was issued
Jurisdiction of the warrant

Booking Information:

Booking number and date
Facility where the individual was processed
Fingerprint and photograph (mugshot) notation

Bond/Bail Information:

Bond type (secured, unsecured, or written promise to appear)
Bond amount set by the court or magistrate
Bondsman information, if applicable

Court Information:

Assigned court date and courtroom
Case number assigned by the Clerk of Superior Court
Presiding judge or magistrate

Custody Status:

Current custody status (held, released, or transferred)
Release date and conditions of release, if applicable

Additional Information May Include:

Prior arrest history referenced in the booking record
Detainer or hold information from other jurisdictions
Probation or parole status at time of arrest

How To Look Up Arrest Records in Forsyth County in 2026

Members of the public may obtain Forsyth County arrest records through several official channels. The process varies depending on the type of record sought and the agency that maintains it.

Visit the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office in person at 201 N. Church St., Winston-Salem, NC 27101. Public counter hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Requestors should be prepared to provide the full name and date of birth of the subject of the record.
Submit a written public records request to the Sheriff's Office or the Winston-Salem Police Department. Requests should identify the record sought with sufficient specificity, including the subject's name, approximate date of arrest, and any known case number.
Contact the Forsyth County Clerk of Superior Court for court-related arrest and criminal case records. The Clerk's office maintains official case files and docket information for all criminal proceedings in the county.
Use the North Carolina Courts online portal to request a public record through the North Carolina Judicial Branch, which provides guidance on obtaining criminal case records, police reports, and related documents.
Pay applicable fees, if any. Under N.C.G.S. § 132-6.2, agencies may charge a fee for the actual cost of reproducing public records, though inspection of records in person is generally free of charge.

Forsyth County Clerk of Superior Court Hall of Justice, 200 N. Main St., Winston-Salem, NC 27101 (336) 779-6300 Forsyth County | North Carolina Judicial Branch

Winston-Salem Police Department 725 N. Cherry St., Winston-Salem, NC 27101 (336) 773-7700 Winston-Salem Police Department

How To Find Forsyth County Arrest Records Online

Several official online resources currently provide access to Forsyth County arrest and criminal records without requiring an in-person visit.

North Carolina Judicial Branch eCourts Portal: The North Carolina court system maintains an online case search tool that allows members of the public to search criminal case records by name or case number. The portal reflects charges, court dates, and case dispositions for matters heard in Forsyth County Superior and District Courts.
NC Department of Adult Correction Offender Search: The criminal offender search tool maintained by the NC Department of Adult Correction allows users to search for county jail inmates, state prisoners, probationers, and parolees by name or offender identification number.
Forsyth County Sheriff's Office Online Resources: The Sheriff's Office website provides access to inmate lookup, wanted persons listings, and arrest log information. Members of the public may search current and recent booking records through the Sheriff's Office online portal.
NC Department of Adult Correction Public Records Online: The public records online portal maintained by the NC DAC provides guidance on submitting electronic requests for criminal case records, police reports, and traffic citations.

How To Search Forsyth County Arrest Records for Free?

Multiple no-cost options are currently available for members of the public seeking Forsyth County arrest records without incurring fees.

In-person inspection at the Sheriff's Office or Clerk of Court: Under N.C.G.S. § 132-6, any person may inspect public records free of charge during regular business hours. No fee is assessed for viewing records on-site.
North Carolina Judicial Branch online case search: The eCourts public access portal is available at no cost and allows name-based searches of criminal case records statewide, including all Forsyth County proceedings.
NC Department of Adult Correction Offender Search: The offender search tool is freely accessible online and covers county jail inmates, state prisoners, and individuals under community supervision.
Forsyth County Sheriff's Office inmate lookup: The Sheriff's Office provides a free online inmate search tool that reflects current booking and custody status information for individuals held at the Forsyth County Detention Center.
Written public records requests: Submitting a written request to the Sheriff's Office or Clerk of Court carries no filing fee, though reproduction costs may apply if copies are requested.

How To Delete Arrest Records in Forsyth County

North Carolina law provides two primary legal mechanisms for limiting public access to arrest records: expunction (legal erasure of the record) and sealing (restricting public access while preserving the record for law enforcement purposes). Expunction results in the permanent destruction or removal of the record from public databases, while sealing restricts access without destroying the underlying document.

Under N.C.G.S. § 15A-145 and related provisions of Chapter 15A of the North Carolina General Statutes, individuals may petition for expunction of arrest records in the following circumstances:

The charges were dismissed or the individual was found not guilty at trial
The arrest did not result in a conviction and the applicable waiting period has elapsed
The individual was charged with a nonviolent misdemeanor or felony and meets statutory eligibility criteria
The individual was under 18 at the time of the offense and meets juvenile expunction criteria

Steps to petition for expunction in Forsyth County:

Obtain the appropriate expunction petition form from the Forsyth County Clerk of Superior Court or the North Carolina Courts website.
Complete the petition, providing the case number, charge information, and grounds for expunction.
File the completed petition with the Clerk of Superior Court at the Hall of Justice, 200 N. Main St., Winston-Salem, NC 27101. A filing fee may apply depending on the type of expunction sought.
Serve copies of the petition on the District Attorney's Office and any other required parties as directed by the court.
Attend any scheduled hearing before a Superior Court judge.
If the petition is granted, the court will issue an order directing all relevant agencies to expunge the record.

Forsyth County District Attorney's Office Hall of Justice, 200 N. Main St., Suite 5A, Winston-Salem, NC 27101 (336) 779-6310 Forsyth County District Attorney's Office

What Happens After Arrest in Forsyth County?

The criminal justice process in Forsyth County follows a structured sequence of events from the point of arrest through final case disposition.

Arrest and booking: Following an arrest, the individual is transported to the Forsyth County Detention Center, where booking procedures are completed, including fingerprinting, photographing, and recording of personal information and charges.
Initial appearance before a magistrate: Within 48 hours of arrest, the individual must appear before a magistrate, who reviews the charges, advises the arrestee of their rights, and sets conditions of pretrial release or bond.
Grand jury or probable cause hearing: For felony charges, the case is presented to a grand jury or a probable cause hearing is held in District Court to determine whether sufficient evidence exists to proceed.
Arraignment: The defendant is formally advised of the charges and enters a plea of guilty, not guilty, or no contest before a Superior Court judge.
Pretrial proceedings: Both the prosecution and defense conduct discovery, file motions, and may negotiate plea agreements during this phase.
Trial or plea disposition: If no plea agreement is reached, the case proceeds to trial. A verdict of not guilty results in dismissal; a guilty verdict leads to sentencing.
Sentencing: Upon conviction, the judge imposes a sentence in accordance with the North Carolina Structured Sentencing Act, which governs the range of permissible penalties based on offense class and prior record level.
Appeals: The defendant retains the right to appeal a conviction or sentence to the North Carolina Court of Appeals.

How Long Are Arrest Records Kept in Forsyth County?

Arrest records in Forsyth County are subject to retention schedules established under North Carolina law and applicable agency policies. The North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources publishes official records retention schedules that govern how long law enforcement agencies must maintain arrest and criminal justice records.

Law enforcement arrest records: Under the North Carolina Law Enforcement Records Retention Schedule, arrest records for cases resulting in conviction are generally retained permanently or for a minimum of 20 years following the date of the record.
Records for non-conviction arrests: Arrest records for charges that were dismissed or resulted in acquittal are typically retained for a minimum period before becoming eligible for destruction, unless an expunction order has been issued.
Detention center booking records: Booking records maintained by the Forsyth County Detention Center are subject to the county's adopted retention schedule, which aligns with state minimum requirements.
Court records: Criminal case files maintained by the Clerk of Superior Court are subject to the North Carolina Judicial Branch records retention schedule, which mandates permanent retention for felony case files and extended retention for misdemeanor matters.
Different agencies have different requirements: The Sheriff's Office, Winston-Salem Police Department, Clerk of Court, and the NC Department of Adult Correction each maintain separate record sets subject to their respective retention schedules.
Records retention preserves evidence and accountability: Retention requirements ensure that records remain available for appeals, post-conviction proceedings, background checks, and historical accountability purposes.

How to Find Mugshots in Forsyth County

What Mugshots Are A mugshot is a standardized photographic image taken by law enforcement at the time of booking. Mugshots are part of the official arrest record and document the physical appearance of an individual at the time of their arrest.

Where Mugshots Are Maintained Mugshots taken in Forsyth County are maintained by the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office and the Forsyth County Detention Center. Copies may also be retained by the arresting agency, such as the Winston-Salem Police Department, and may be included in court case files.

Finding Mugshots Members of the public may request mugshots through a written public records request submitted to the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office. The request should identify the subject by full name, date of birth, and approximate date of arrest or booking.

Can They Be Found Online The Forsyth County Sheriff's Office currently provides online access to recent booking photographs through its inmate lookup and arrest log tools. The Sheriff's Office website includes arrest records, wanted persons listings, and inmate information that may include booking photographs.

Obtaining Mugshots Officially To obtain a certified copy of a mugshot, members of the public should submit a written public records request to the Sheriff's Office Records Division. Reproduction fees may apply in accordance with N.C.G.S. § 132-6.2.

Restrictions on Mugshot Access While mugshots are generally public records under North Carolina law, access may be restricted in certain circumstances, including when the subject has obtained an expunction order, when the individual was a juvenile at the time of arrest, or when disclosure would compromise an ongoing investigation. Third-party commercial websites that republish mugshots are not official government sources, and individuals who have obtained expunctions may have legal recourse to request removal from such sites.