Durham County Police Records Search

Durham County police records are managed by the Sheriff's Office Records Division in Durham, North Carolina. The county is a major part of the Research Triangle region. The Records Division is on the first floor of the Durham County Courthouse and handles incident reports, property reports, citations, and more. Durham County also has a NextRequest portal for public records. The Durham Police Department operates separately from the Sheriff's Office. This page covers how to access police records from Durham County agencies.

Durham County Records Division

The Durham County Sheriff's Office Records Division is on the first floor of the Durham County Courthouse at 510 South Dillard Street, Durham, NC. Phone numbers are (919) 560-0899 and (919) 560-0898. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.

The Records Division manages several types of police records. These include incident reports, property reports, vehicle reports, missing person reports, citations, warning tickets, and driver's license pickup. The division also handles standard and concealed gun permits, sex offender registrations, fingerprinting, traffic stop statistics, and domestic violence orders.

Criminal record checks through the Records Division are available for court officials only. Members of the public must visit the Clerk of Court's Office or contact the NC State Bureau of Investigation for criminal record checks.

Durham County Record Fees

The Records Division has a detailed fee schedule for police records. Cash and credit payments are accepted at the Cashier's Office. A credit card convenience fee applies to all card transactions.

• Report copy: $3.00 cash or $6.09 credit
• Fingerprints: $15.00 cash or $18.45 credit
• Concealed carry permit: $90.00 cash or $95.70 credit
• Pistol permit: $5.00 cash or $8.15 credit
• Lamination: $3.00 cash or $6.09 credit

Criminal history checks for attorneys only cost $10.00 cash or $13.30 credit. Renewal of concealed carry permits is $75.00 cash or $80.25 credit. Duplicate permits cost $15.00 cash or $18.45 credit. Free viewing of police records is available during business hours under North Carolina public records law.

Durham County Public Records Portal

Durham County uses a NextRequest portal for county government records. This online system lets you submit requests and track status. You get email updates as your request is processed.

For Sheriff's Office records, you must contact the office directly or email PIO@DurhamSheriff.org. The NextRequest portal handles other county government records. The Register of Deeds has a separate database for vital records at rod.dconc.gov. City of Durham records use a different process at durhamnc.gov. Phone support is available at (919) 560-0008 or by email at publicinformationoffice@dconc.gov.

Before submitting a new request, search existing records on the portal. Your request may already have been fulfilled for someone else. This can save time and get you the information faster.

Durham Police Department Records

The Durham Police Department operates separately from the Durham County Sheriff's Office. The DPD uses a Police to Citizen system for incident reports. You can search by incident report number, access public versions of reports, file new police reports online, and print existing reports.

The DPD publishes crime statistics that update weekly. A homicide tracking report updates quarterly. The department has CrimeStoppers at 919-683-1200 for anonymous tips. The Civilian Police Review Board publishes recommendations reports. These are all separate from the county Sheriff's Office police records.

If your incident happened in the City of Durham, the police report is with the DPD. If it happened in unincorporated Durham County, the report is with the Sheriff's Office. Contact the right agency to get the right police record.

How to Search Durham Records

To search Durham County police records, start by identifying which agency handled your case. The Sheriff's Office covers the county. The Durham Police Department covers the city. Each has its own records system.

For county Sheriff's records, visit the Records Division at the courthouse or call (919) 560-0899. Bring a valid ID for in-person visits. For city police records, use the P2C portal or contact the DPD.

The NC Judicial Branch provides free court record searches for all Durham County cases. You can search criminal cases, civil matters, and traffic tickets by name or case number. The NC Department of Adult Correction covers state prison data going back to 1972.

Under N.C.G.S. Chapter 132, police records are public. Free viewing is available during business hours. Active investigation files may be restricted under N.C.G.S. 132-1.4.

Durham County State Databases

The NC State Bureau of Investigation handles statewide criminal record checks. These cost $14 and cover all 100 counties. The SBI also runs the sex offender registry, which is free to search online. For Durham County residents, criminal record checks for the public should go through the Clerk of Court or the SBI.

Public access terminals at the Durham County Courthouse provide free court record searches. You can look up criminal cases, civil matters, and traffic tickets for any county. The terminals are self-service during business hours at the courthouse on South Dillard Street.

The Register of Deeds at rod.dconc.gov handles vital records including birth certificates, marriage licenses, tax records, military discharge records, and land deeds. These are separate from police records but often relevant in related matters. For Register of Deeds questions, contact the office separately from the Sheriff's Records Division.

The VINE program at vinelink.com lets you check custody status for inmates in Durham County facilities. Register for alerts by email, text, or phone when an inmate is released or transferred. This system covers facilities across 48 states and is free to use. For local jail questions, call the Sheriff's Office Records Division at (919) 560-0899.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Durham County. Police records are kept by the agency in the county where the event took place.