What are Craven County Public Records?
All records, data, and information created or preserved by a government agency in Craven County, North Carolina, and used for its official functions are considered Craven public records. The Freedom of Information Act requires that public records be made available to requesters regardless of their physical form or characteristics. However, the act in § 132-1.2. states that certain records must be kept private. Here are some examples:
- Unique identifiers such as a driver's license number, employee identification number, passwords, and social security number are examples of private information.
- Information that can impede law enforcement proceedings, deprive a person of their right to an impartial hearing or a fair trial, identify a confidential source, reveal investigative techniques, or endanger lives or property.
- Information that is deemed an intrusion into personal privacy
- Any form of document that would expose government policies and activities.
- Records containing trade secrets, commercial information, or financial information are considered proprietary or privileged.
- Real estate purchase records.
- Records of security threats include response policies, security measures, threat assessments, or plans to respond to or prevent attacks.
- Records that have been exempted by either state or federal law.
Craven County Crime Statistics
The North Carolina State Bureau of Information (SBI) is the body charged with collecting and collating crime data in every County in North Carolina. The SBI collects data as part of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Uniform Crime Reporting Program, a nationwide initiative.
According to information gathered across the County, the rate of violent crime is 16.8%. By contrast, the rate of violent crime across the US is 22.7%, which means that Craven County is one of the places with a minimal rate of violent crimes in the US. However, the rate of property crimes in Craven County is 48.7%, putting that record against the 35.4% rate obtainable across the US.
Are Craven County Criminal Records Public?
According to the North Carolina Freedom of Information Act, Craven County criminal records are open and can be accessed by anyone interested. Criminal records for Craven County can be obtained online or in person at the County Clerk's Office. Alternatively, the North Carolina Department of Public Safety (NCDPS) is required to keep and make available criminal history records.
How to Obtain Craven County Police Reports and Arrest Records?
To obtain police reports and arrests warrants in Craven County, inquirers can consult the sheriff's office at:
Craven County Sheriff's Office
1100 Clarks Rd
New Bern, NC 28562
(252) 636-6620
Alternatively, interested individuals can contact the magistrate's office on (252) 639-3015 / (252) 635-4843 to get a copy of the Craven arrest records. There is also an online portal where residents can get information on Craven arrest records.
How to Find Sex Offender Information in Craven County
Craven County sex offender information is a public record that anyone with interest in the case can access. The North Carolina State Bureau of Information (NCSBI) provides and maintains an online sex offender registry. Interested parties can search for sex offenders' information in Craven County by entering the sex offender's name, address, city, and other relevant information required. The website also provides a comprehensive and up-to-date list of sex offenders in North Carolina. Anyone convicted of a sex crime in North Carolina is included in this database. Inquirers can use the full name of the sex offender, the city, the zip code, the offender's compliance status, and the County where the sex offender was incarcerated to query the database.
How to Find Craven County Inmate Records
The Sheriff's Office's Correction Division is in charge of the county jail's day-to-day operations. Those who want to obtain Craven County inmate records can do so in person from 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday to Friday, and 7:30 AM to 2:30 PM on weekends or send a mail to:
Craven County Sheriff's Office
1100 Clarks Rd
New Bern, NC 28562
Interested parties can also access Craven County inmate records through the sheriff's Inmate Search tool. Researchers should have the offender's last name, inmate number, or date of birth to query the database.
How Do I Visit an Inmate in Craven County Jail?
Relatives are allowed to visit inmates at the Craven County Jail. To visit inmates, however, the visitor must first register with the detention center. According to the detention center's visitors guide, visitation is done in alphabetical order of the inmate's first name. (A-E) on Mondays, (F-J) on Tuesdays, (K-O) on Wednesdays, (P-T) on Thursdays, and (U-Z) on Fridays. All inmates can be visited once a week, with a maximum of 3 visitors at a time, and the visitation can only last for 15 minutes. Visitation days are Mondays to Fridays, 8:45 AM to 4:00 PM. Parties can visit inmates at the detention center both online and in person. All visitors over the age of 18 must present a valid government-issued photo ID. Approved identification cards include:
- Passport
- Driver's license issued by the state of North Carolina
- Any state-issued ID card
- Permanent resident card
Visitors cannot bring the following items to jail
- Food
- Cell phone.
- Cameras
All visitors must go through a metal detector. Visitors are also subjected to a pat-down search. Visitors are expected to be decently dressed and well behaved. Visitors perceived to be under the influence of alcohol will be refused access. The visit will be terminated if the visitor refuses any of these procedures.
Craven County Court Records
Craven County court records are the official records of a legal process in a court made under oath. The North Carolina Freedom of Information Act makes court records available to the public upon request. The Superior Court's clerk is the custodian of court records in Craven County; the clerk is responsible for maintaining and preserving all court records.
Craven County superior court is located at:
Craven Superior Court
302 Broad St
New Bern, NC 28560
P.O. Box 1187
New Bern, NC 28563
Phone: (252) 639-3000
Fax: (252) 639-3030
Are Craven County Court Records Public?
The Craven County Board of Commissioners practices open government and makes its court records available to the public. Craven County court records can be obtained online or in person. However, the North Carolina FOIA exempts certain records from public scrutiny; these are as follows:
- Records of investigation done by the security agencies.
- Requests of inmate records by a fellow inmate.
- Records of Juveniles
- Individuals' records - social security numbers, financial records, vital records, and military records
- Trade secrets
- Records that are restricted from public view by both State and Federal laws.
How to Obtain Craven County Civil Court Case Records
The Craven County Superior Court Clerk maintains the court records for the County and provides this information readily on request. Interested persons can contact the office of the clerk on:
Craven Superior Court
302 Broad St
New Bern, NC 28560
P.O. Box 1187
New Bern, NC 28563
Phone: (252) 639-3000
Fax: (252) 639-3030
How to Obtain Craven County Criminal Court Records
Documents created during a criminal case are known as criminal court records. In Craven County, a deputy clerk attends all court hearings and keeps track of the proceedings. These documents are open to the public. Parties can obtain criminal court records for Craven County from the Superior Court Clerk's office at:
Craven Superior Court
302 Broad St
New Bern, NC 28560
P.O. Box 1187
New Bern, NC 28563
Phone: (252) 639-3000
Fax: (252) 639-3030
Interested parties can download the request for a criminal record search online, fill it and submit it at the address above to request a criminal records search.
What are Craven County Vital Records?
Vital records in Craven County are government-issued documents that detail significant life events. Birth certificates, death certificates, divorce decrees, and marriage certificates are available in Craven County vital records. The Register of Deeds is the office in charge of critical vital records and documents for the people of Craven County and is responsible for maintaining and preserving them.
Where and How to Obtain Craven County Divorce Records
A divorce decree is a court document that legally dissolves a marriage. The public has access to Craven County divorce records. In Craven County, inquirers can only obtain a divorce decree from the Clerk of Court's office at:
Craven Superior Court
302 Broad St
New Bern, NC 28560
P.O. Box 1187
New Bern, NC 28563
Phone: (252) 639-3000
Fax: (252) 639-3030
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) is the body charged with the custody of all divorce records in North Carolina. To order a divorce record in North Carolina, inquirers will need to download the divorce records form online and fill it before sending it by mail:
North Carolina Vital Records
1903 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1900
Inquirers can also fill the form and take it to the NCDHHS office physically. The office is open Monday to Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. NCDHHS office is located at:
Cooper Memorial Health Building
225 N. McDowell St.
Raleigh, NC 27603-1382
Anyone requesting divorce records in North Carolina can only do so if in possession of the following:
- The name of the spouses involved
- The date of the divorce
- The County where the divorce took place
- The relationship of the requestor to the couple (this is only required if the requestor needs a certified copy).
The standard certificate search fee in North Carolina is $24; there is an additional $15 fee for extra copies of the same certificate. For an expedited search, an extra $15 is charged.
Where and How to Get Public Craven County Marriage Records
Marriage records can only be accessed by the record holder, family members, or legal representatives of the birth record holder in Craven County. Requesters of a birth record must fill out the Marriage Record Request form and possess a valid photocopy of a government-issued ID. Parties interested in getting a Public Craven County marriage record can do it in three ways:
- Online
- By mail
- In-person
Using third-party services like VitalChek, people can request Craven County marriage records online. The first copy costs $15.00, while VitalChek charges a $10.00 processing fee, with orders fulfilled within 72 hours. To order by mail, send the completed form and identification to:
North Carolina Vital Records
1903 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1900
In-person requests can be made at the Craven County register of deeds office Monday to Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. the office is located at:
226 Pollock St.
New Bern, NC 28560
Phone: (252) 636-6617
Where and How to Get Confidential Marriage Records in Craven County
Only eligible requesters have access to confidential and sealed marriage records. In addition, the court has the authority to seal sections or all parts of public marriage records with sensitive data like social security numbers. Essentially, the spouse, representatives of law enforcement agencies, various family law divisions, and those with a court order or subpoena are all eligible.
Where and How to Find Craven County Birth Records
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services issues birth records for persons born in Craven county. Interested parties can also access these records for the County's health department. Family members can obtain marriage records by filling out a Birth Certificate Request form and submitting it in-person, by mail, fax, or email. Requesters can mail completed forms, money orders or checks, and a valid government-issued photo ID to:
North Carolina Vital Records
1903 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1900
Inquirers can also fill the form and take it to the NCDHHS office physically. The office is open Monday to Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. NCDHHS office is located at:
Cooper Memorial Health Building
225 N. McDowell St.
Raleigh, NC 27603-1382
Certified birth records cost $24.00, and there is an additional $15 fee for extra copies of the same certificate. For an expedited search, an extra $15 is charged. If above 18, the birth record holder's parents and a legal representative are permitted to get a birth record in North Carolina, only the birth record holder.
Where and How to Find Craven County Death Records
Death certificates in North Carolina are considered public records. Anyone can obtain an uncertified North Carolina death record. However, they will require specific information about the deceased, such as the deceased's name as it appears on the certificate, the date of death, and the location, city, and or County. Family members who want to order a Craven County death record should fill out the Death Certificate Request form and mail it along with a valid photocopy of a government-issued photo ID to the following address:
North Carolina Vital Records
1903 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1900
Inquirers can also fill the form and take it to the NCDHHS office physically. The office is open Monday to Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. NCDHHS office is located at:
Cooper Memorial Health Building
225 N. McDowell St.
Raleigh, NC 27603-1382
The standard certificate search fee in North Carolina is $24; there is an additional $15 fee for extra copies of the same certificate. For an expedited search, an extra $15 is charged.
