Chowan County Police Records Lookup

Chowan County police records are managed by Sheriff Edward Basnight and the Sheriff's Office in Edenton, North Carolina. This small northeastern county sits along the Albemarle Sound. The Sheriff's Office operates several divisions including patrol, investigations, and a detention facility. Police records cover arrest data, incident reports, and booking information. A mobile app called CCSO is available for Apple and Android devices. This page explains how to search and obtain police records in Chowan County.

Chowan County Sheriff's Office

The Chowan County Sheriff's Office runs multiple divisions. These include patrol, investigations, school resource officers, a K-9 division, and a dive team. Civil process, telecommunications, fingerprinting, and the detention facility also fall under the Sheriff's Office.

The office is at 100 Court Street, Edenton, NC 27932. The mailing address is PO Box 78. The phone number is (252) 482-3822 and the fax is (252) 482-2096. The CCSO mobile app gives residents quick access to Sheriff's Office services from their phones.

Community programs include Kids and Cops, community watch, R.U.O.K (a senior citizen check program), and place of worship security and safety. Concealed handgun permits are processed through the Sheriff's Office as well.

Chowan County Detention Facility

The Chowan County Detention Facility is a small jail with a rated capacity of 23 inmates. Despite its size, it serves an important role in the county justice system. The facility houses both sentenced and non-sentenced inmates. It also holds inmates from other jurisdictions through regional agreements.

Roger Chipps serves as Jail Administrator. He can be reached at roger.chipps@chowan.nc.gov or by calling (252) 482-3822. The facility has 8 full-time officers, 3 part-time officers, and the Jail Administrator. Shift supervisors include Sergeant Chris Keeter and Sergeant Curtis Bembry.

A trustee work program allows select inmates to work for public agencies and civic groups at no charge. Each request for trustee labor is reviewed by the Sheriff or a designee. Contact hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.

Chowan County Jail Visitation

All visitation at the Chowan County Detention Facility is done through HomeWav Inc., contracted since 2020. There is no in-person visitation. All visits are live video conversations only.

Outgoing phone calls for inmates are available between 9:00 AM and 9:00 PM. Costs apply for calls. Attorney and clergy visits must be pre-approved by the Jail Administrator. Inmates can receive Bibles, religious texts, and necessary educational textbooks, but these must ship directly from a distributor like Amazon. Commissary services are provided through McDaniel Commissary.

Searching Chowan County Records

To check if someone is in custody at the Chowan County Detention Facility, call the corrections desk at 252-482-3822. Staff can confirm whether a person is being held and provide basic booking information.

The NC VINE program is another option. VINE stands for Victim Information and Notification Everyday. You can look up custody status and register for alerts. The system sends email, text, or phone notifications when an inmate's status changes, such as a transfer or release. VINE covers over 2,900 jails and prisons across 48 states.

For court records, use the NC Judicial Branch online search. This covers criminal cases, civil matters, and traffic tickets in Chowan County. The search is free. For copies of court documents, contact the Clerk of Court in Edenton.

State prison records are searchable through the NC Department of Adult Correction. The database goes back to 1972 but does not include county jail data.

Public Records in Chowan County

Police records in Chowan County are public under N.C.G.S. Chapter 132. This law grants the public the right to view government records during business hours at no charge. Copies require a fee limited to the actual cost of reproduction.

Some records are restricted. Active investigation files, intelligence records, and certain personal information are exempt from public access under N.C.G.S. 132-1.4. The Sheriff's Office can advise you on what is available for your request.

To request police records, contact the Sheriff's Office in person, by phone, or by mail at PO Box 78, Edenton, NC 27932. Provide as much detail as possible about the record you need, including dates, names, and locations. Allow time for staff to locate and process your request. The office has limited staff, so complex requests may take extra time.

Chowan County Record Types

The Sheriff's Office keeps several types of police records in Chowan County. Arrest records document bookings with names, charges, and bond information. Incident reports cover calls for service. Accident reports document traffic crashes. The fingerprinting division creates records used for criminal record checks and permits.

Court records are maintained separately by the Clerk of Superior Court. Criminal cases, civil matters, and traffic tickets all create court records that are searchable through the NC Judicial Branch website. For copies of court documents, visit the courthouse in Edenton or contact the clerk by phone.

The NC State Bureau of Investigation handles statewide criminal record checks for $14. The sex offender registry is free to search online. Public access terminals at the courthouse let you search court records for free. These terminals cover all 100 North Carolina counties and are available during business hours.

The Chowan County Sheriff's Office also provides concealed handgun permit processing and community watch coordination. For questions about these services or any police records, call (252) 482-3822 during office hours. The CCSO mobile app is another way to access Sheriff's Office services quickly from your phone.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Chowan County in northeastern North Carolina. Police records are kept by the agency where the event occurred.