Search New Hanover County Police Records

New Hanover County police records are managed by the Sheriff's Office and the Wilmington Police Department along the southeastern coast of North Carolina. The county maintains booking logs, arrest data, and criminal case files through its detention facility in Castle Hayne. Wilmington, the county seat, also runs its own police department with a records division. You can search police records online through the county's P2C portal or visit in person. This guide explains how to find, request, and access police records across New Hanover County.

New Hanover County Detention Division

The New Hanover County Sheriff's Office operates a large detention facility at 3950 Juvenile Center Road in Castle Hayne. This jail has a rated capacity of 672 and holds an average of 569 inmates each day. The facility is staffed by 98 deputies, 71 detention officers, and 9 civilian support workers. Every booking creates police records that include the person's name, charges, mugshot, and bond details.

You can reach the detention division at (910) 798-4161. The New Hanover County Sheriff's detention division page has details about how the facility runs. Four squads handle daily inmate supervision. A fifth squad manages transportation, classification, and front desk work. Booking and intake are staffed around the clock, so arrests are processed at any hour in New Hanover County.

The detention division page shows how the jail operates and provides contact information for New Hanover County.

New Hanover County Police Records Online

New Hanover County provides online access to police records through the Police to Citizen portal. This free tool lets you search jail inmates, view arrest and incident summaries, and look up recent activity across the county. You do not need an account to use it. The system updates regularly with new data from the sheriff's office.

The P2C system shows current inmates, recent bookings, and summary reports for New Hanover County. This is the fastest way to check on a recent arrest without leaving home.

The Wilmington Police Department also runs its own P2C portal at wilmingtonnc.policetocitizen.com. That system covers cases handled by city police. If the arrest happened inside Wilmington, check the city portal first. For arrests in the rest of New Hanover County, use the county system.

Requesting New Hanover County Police Records

You can request police records in New Hanover County in person, by mail, or online. The Wilmington Police Department Records Division at 615 Bess Street handles city records. They are open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Bring a valid photo ID. The Sheriff's Office handles records for the rest of the county.

For mail requests to Wilmington PD, send your letter to 615 Bess St., Wilmington, NC 28401 with "Attn: Police Records" on the envelope. Include the name of the person, the date of the incident, and your own contact details. The NC Courts portal also provides access to court records for cases in New Hanover County.

Copy fees follow state guidelines under N.C.G.S. § 132-6.2. Viewing records in person is free. Certified copies from the Clerk of Superior Court cost more than plain copies. The courthouse is at 316 Princess Street in Wilmington. Call (910) 772-6600 for court record questions.

Note: Some police records may be restricted if the case is still under active investigation in New Hanover County.

New Hanover County Jail Information

Visitation at the New Hanover County detention facility is by appointment only. Inmates schedule their own visits. Hours run from 1:00 PM to 9:00 PM daily. Each inmate can have two adult visitors at a time. Sessions last 45 minutes and are allowed twice per week. All visitors must show a valid photo ID. Guests under 18 must be with an adult.

The jail processes thousands of bookings each year in New Hanover County. In one recent year, the facility handled 10,641 total bookings. Of those, 8,104 were male and 2,537 were female. Each booking generates police records that include the arrest date, charges, status, and bond amount. You can verify if someone is being held by calling (910) 798-4161 or checking the online P2C portal for New Hanover County.

Statewide Records for New Hanover County

Several state databases can help you find police records connected to New Hanover County. The NC Offender Public Information Search covers anyone who has served time in state prison. It does not include county jail inmates. For that, use the New Hanover County P2C portal.

The NC State Bureau of Investigation runs background checks for $14. The NC Sex Offender Registry is free and lets you search by address, name, or zip code. You can check if any registered offenders live near you in New Hanover County.

• NC Courts portal for case lookup by name
• SBI background check for $14
• Sex Offender Registry at no cost
• Offender search for state prison inmates
• P2C portal for New Hanover County jail inmates

Wilmington Police Department Records

The Wilmington Police Department is the largest city agency in New Hanover County. Located at 615 Bess Street in Wilmington, the records division handles all city police files. Call the department for copies of incident reports, accident reports, and arrest records from within city limits. Staff are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. You need a valid photo ID to pick up records in person.

Crash report requests can be mailed to Wilmington Police Department, 615 Bess St., Wilmington, NC 28401, Attn: Police Records. Include the date and location of the accident, the names of the people involved, and your own contact details. Some reports can be viewed through the city's P2C portal, but certain files still require an in-person visit to the records office in New Hanover County.

The Wilmington PD also accepts online requests for some record types. The P2C system lets you print copies of public police reports and view daily bulletins of events. You can search by location, name, or date range. This is a free tool for accessing Wilmington police records within New Hanover County.

New Hanover County Public Records Law

Police records in New Hanover County fall under N.C.G.S. Chapter 132. This law makes government records public. Anyone can ask to view them. You do not have to explain why you want the records. Viewing is free during normal business hours. Copies cost a per-page fee that follows state guidelines.

Some records are restricted. Active investigation files, sealed cases, and juvenile records are not available. Expunged records will not show in any search. If your request is denied, the agency must give you a written reason. You can challenge the denial through the courts. This law applies to all agencies in New Hanover County, including the sheriff's office, city police, and the clerk of court.

Nearby Counties

These counties are near New Hanover County. Police records are filed in the county where the arrest or incident took place. Check the address to be sure you are contacting the right office.