Forsyth County Public Records /Forsyth County Criminal Records

Forsyth County Criminal Records

What Is Forsyth County Criminal Records

Criminal records in Forsyth County, North Carolina, are official government documents that chronicle an individual's interactions with the criminal justice system, from initial law enforcement contact through final case disposition. These records are generated and maintained by multiple agencies operating at the local, county, and state levels, and they serve as the authoritative source of information for courts, employers, licensing boards, and members of the public conducting background research.

Understanding the distinctions among record types is essential for accurate interpretation:

Arrest records vs. conviction records: An arrest record documents that law enforcement took an individual into custody based on probable cause. An arrest does not constitute a finding of guilt. A conviction record, by contrast, reflects a formal judicial determination of guilt, either through a guilty plea, a no-contest plea, or a jury or bench verdict.
Felony vs. misdemeanor: Under North Carolina law, felonies are the more serious classification and are divided into Classes A through I. Misdemeanors are classified as Classes A1, 1, 2, and 3. The classification determines sentencing ranges and collateral consequences such as loss of voting rights or firearm prohibitions.
Adult vs. juvenile records: Records pertaining to individuals adjudicated as juveniles are generally confidential and sealed pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-3000, which restricts access to juvenile court records and limits disclosure to specified parties.
Active warrants vs. historical records: Active warrants represent current judicial orders authorizing arrest and remain enforceable until executed or recalled. Historical records document past charges, proceedings, and dispositions that are no longer pending.

The principal agencies that generate and maintain Forsyth County criminal records include:

Forsyth County Sheriff's Office — maintains arrest records, booking data, jail rosters, and inmate records
Forsyth County District and Superior Courts — maintain case files, charging documents, pleas, trial records, sentencing orders, and probation or parole information
North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (NCSBI) — serves as the statewide central repository for criminal history records
Winston-Salem Police Department and other local law enforcement agencies — generate incident and arrest reports within their respective jurisdictions

A complete criminal record may encompass charges filed, arraignment proceedings, bail determinations, plea agreements, trial transcripts, sentencing orders, conditions of probation or parole, and any subsequent modifications or appeals. Members of the public seeking court case information may consult the Forsyth County location page on the North Carolina Judicial Branch website for office contacts and courthouse details.

Forsyth County Sheriff's Office 201 North Church Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27101 (336) 727-2112 Forsyth County Sheriff's Office

Forsyth County Courthouse — Clerk of Superior Court 200 North Main Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27101 (336) 779-6300 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. North Carolina Judicial Branch – Forsyth County

Are Criminal Records Public In Forsyth County

Adult criminal records in Forsyth County are presumptively public under North Carolina's open records framework. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 132-1 establishes that public records are the property of the people of North Carolina and that access to such records is a fundamental right. The statute broadly defines public records to include all documents, papers, and data made or received by a government agency in the transaction of public business.

Under current law, the following categories of criminal information are generally accessible to the public:

Adult conviction records, including charges, pleas, verdicts, and sentencing
Court proceedings and case dockets in District and Superior Court
Arrest logs and booking records maintained by the Sheriff's Office
Sex offender registration information maintained pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-208.10
Inmate custody status and incarceration records

The following categories are restricted or exempt from public disclosure:

Juvenile adjudication records, which are sealed by statute
Records pertaining to ongoing criminal investigations, where disclosure would compromise law enforcement operations
Expunged records, which are ordered removed from public access by a court pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-145 et seq.
Certain victim information, including addresses and identifying details protected under victim privacy provisions
Mental health and substance abuse evaluation records incorporated into court files

Members of the public may inspect non-exempt adult criminal records without demonstrating a specific need or purpose, consistent with the open records mandate applicable to all North Carolina government agencies.

How To Look Up Criminal Records In Forsyth County in 2026

Members of the public may obtain Forsyth County criminal records through several official channels, depending on the type of record sought and the level of detail required. The following steps outline the standard process:

Step 1 — Identify the appropriate agency. Determine whether the record sought is an arrest or booking record (Sheriff's Office), a court case record (Clerk of Superior Court), or a statewide criminal history (NCSBI).

Step 2 — Gather identifying information. Requesters should have available the subject's full legal name, date of birth, and, if known, a case number or arrest date. This information significantly improves search accuracy.

Step 3 — Submit a request to the Clerk of Superior Court. For court case records, members of the public may appear in person at the Forsyth County Courthouse, 200 North Main Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, during public counter hours (Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.), and request access to case files. Written requests may also be submitted by mail.

Step 4 — Request arrest or booking records from the Sheriff's Office. Arrest and jail records are available through the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office at 201 North Church Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27101. Requests may be submitted in person or in writing. The Sheriff's Office currently provides a public jail roster through its online portal.

Step 5 — Request a statewide criminal history through the NCSBI. For a comprehensive background check that aggregates records from across North Carolina, requesters may submit an application to the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. The NCSBI processes both name-based and fingerprint-based searches, with fingerprint-based searches providing the highest level of accuracy. Details on the submission process are available through the NCSBI background check services page.

Step 6 — Pay applicable fees. Fees vary by agency and record type. Court copies are currently assessed at $0.25 per page for standard documents. NCSBI criminal history searches carry a separate fee schedule published on the agency's official website.

Step 7 — Receive and review the record. In-person requests at the courthouse are typically fulfilled on the same business day for available records. Mail requests and NCSBI searches may require additional processing time.

How To Find Criminal Records in Forsyth County Online?

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

North Carolina eCourts / Odyssey Public Access Portal The North Carolina Judicial Branch operates an online case search system that allows members of the public to search District and Superior Court records by name, case number, or filing date. The portal contains case dockets, charge information, hearing dates, and disposition data. Access is available at no cost and does not require user registration for basic searches. Detailed guidance on conducting searches and obtaining certified copies is available through the court records help page maintained by the North Carolina Judicial Branch.

Forsyth County Sheriff's Office — Jail Roster and Inmate Search The Sheriff's Office maintains a publicly accessible online jail roster that reflects current inmates held at the Forsyth County Detention Center. The roster includes booking date, charges, and bond information. Members of the public may access this resource directly through the Sheriff's Office website. The office has also made available community-facing resources, including crime prevention programs and public safety information.

North Carolina Department of Adult Correction — Offender Search The North Carolina Department of Adult Correction provides a statewide criminal offender search tool that includes county jail inmates, state prisoners, probationers, parolees, and registered sex offenders. Users may search by name and receive custody status, supervision information, and offense details. No registration is required to conduct a basic search, and the service is available at no cost.

NCSBI Background Check Portal The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation serves as the central repository for statewide criminal history information. Certain categories of requesters, including employers in regulated industries, may submit electronic requests through the NCSBI portal. Members of the general public may submit name-based requests by mail or in person.

Records available exclusively through in-person requests at the courthouse include sealed case files accessible only to authorized parties, certified copies of original charging documents, and physical exhibits or evidence logs.

Can You Search Forsyth County Criminal Records for Free?

North Carolina law mandates that members of the public have the right to inspect public records at no charge. Pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 132-6, every custodian of public records shall permit any record in the custodian's custody to be inspected and examined at reasonable times and under reasonable supervision. Fees may be charged only for the actual cost of reproducing records, not for inspection itself.

The following resources are currently available at no cost:

North Carolina eCourts case search — free online access to Forsyth County District and Superior Court dockets, case histories, and disposition information
Forsyth County Sheriff's Office jail roster — free online access to current inmate booking data and charge information
NC Department of Adult Correction offender search — free statewide search covering inmates, probationers, parolees, and registered sex offenders
In-person inspection at the Clerk of Superior Court — members of the public may inspect court files at the Forsyth County Courthouse at no charge during public counter hours

Fees apply when requesting physical copies of documents. Standard copy fees at the courthouse are currently $0.25 per page. Certified copies carry an additional certification fee. NCSBI criminal history reports requested for employment or licensing purposes are subject to a per-transaction fee established by the agency.

What's Included in a Forsyth County Criminal Record?

A Forsyth County criminal record may contain several distinct categories of information, depending on the source agency and the nature of the subject's criminal history.

Identifying Information

Full legal name and known aliases
Date of birth and age
Physical description, including height, weight, hair color, and eye color
Mugshot photograph taken at booking
Last known address
State Identification Number (SID) assigned by the NCSBI
FBI Number, if the individual has a federal criminal history

Arrest Information

Date, time, and location of arrest
Arresting agency (Sheriff's Office, Winston-Salem Police Department, or other jurisdiction)
Booking number and detention facility
Charges filed at the time of arrest
Bail or bond amount and conditions
Name of the jail facility where the individual was held

Court Case Information

Case number and court of jurisdiction (District or Superior Court)
Filing date and assigned judge
Charges as formally indicted or cited, including applicable statutes and felony or misdemeanor classification
Plea entered (guilty, not guilty, no contest, or Alford plea)
Attorney of record and prosecuting agency
Hearing dates and continuances

Disposition Information

Verdict (guilty, not guilty, dismissed, or nolle prosequi)
Conviction date, if applicable
Sentencing details, including type of sentence (active, suspended, or community), length of incarceration, fines, restitution amounts, and special conditions
Probation or parole terms and supervising agency
Appeals filed and appellate court decisions

Additional Record Elements

Outstanding warrants or failure-to-appear notations
Protective or restraining orders
Sex offender registration status and tier classification
DUI or DWI convictions and license suspension information
Traffic violations adjudicated in criminal court
Pending charges not yet resolved

How Long Does Forsyth County Keep Criminal Records?

Forsyth County criminal records are subject to retention schedules established under North Carolina law and administered by the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. The North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources publishes official retention schedules applicable to court and law enforcement records statewide.

The following retention periods apply under current schedules:

Felony conviction records: Retained permanently by the Clerk of Superior Court and the NCSBI
Misdemeanor conviction records: Retained for a minimum of 10 years following final disposition; many are retained permanently
Arrest records without conviction: Retained for a minimum of 3 years; subject to expunction orders that may require earlier destruction
Jail booking and inmate records: Retained for a minimum of 5 years following release
Juvenile records: Retained until the subject reaches age 18 or for a period specified by court order; sealed from public access pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-3000
Expunged records: Upon entry of an expunction order, the Clerk of Court, Sheriff's Office, and NCSBI are required to destroy or seal the designated records, removing them from public access
Active warrants: Retained until executed, recalled, or otherwise resolved by the issuing court

State agencies are required to comply with the retention schedules published by the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, and local agencies must adhere to the same standards for records generated in the course of official duties. The Forsyth County Sheriff's Office Animal Services Advisory Board and other sub-agencies of the Sheriff's Office are similarly subject to county and state records management requirements.