Rowan County, North Carolina Arrest Records

Rowan County arrest records are official documents maintained by law enforcement agencies that detail a person’s apprehension and detention for an alleged crime. These records are usually created by the agency that made the arrest, including the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office and local police departments such as the Salisbury Police Department and China Grove Police Department. These arrest agencies have an obligation under the North Carolina Public Records Law to release arrest records to members of the public.

Note: Arrest records aren't the same as criminal offender record information, which is governed by the Criminal Procedure Act. Unlike arrest records, criminal offender record information is data compiled by criminal justice agencies that contain details of arrests, charges, convictions, sentencing, and releases.

Are Arrest Records Public Information in Rowan, North Carolina?

Yes. The North Carolina Public Records Law governs the release of arrest records in the state. It authorizes all law enforcement agencies, including the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office, to permit residents and nonresidents to view and obtain copies of arrest records during normal business hours. No ID is required for arrest record requests, but requestors may need to complete a form or provide basic information to improve the search. Agencies do not charge for inspecting arrest records, but copies attract a small fee. 

The North Carolina Public Records Law also exempts some arrest records from public disclosure to promote citizens' privacy rights. Examples of such records include:

• Any arrest records belonging to minors 
• The medical records of arrested persons
• Records about criminal investigation and intelligence
• Any arrest records whose release will compromise the security of jail or prison operations, reveal the identity of a confidential source, or undermine an ongoing investigation. 

What Do Public Rowan County Arrest Records Contain?

A public Rowan County arrest record contains the following information: 

• The arrested person's full name, age, race, gender, weight, height, and mugshot
• Arrest and court dates, booking agency's name, and expected release date 
• Holding facility, total bond amount, bond type, and bond status
• Charge name, description, status, docket number, warrant type

Although most information contained in an arrest record may be accessible to the public, some may be withheld to promote privacy rights. Typically, any information that reveals the identity of a confidential source or affects an arrestee's right to trial or to prosecution is exempt from public disclosure. 

Rowan County,  North Carolina Arrest Search

The best place to find Rowan County arrest records at the state level is at the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction (NCDAC). Records are available online and in person at the NCDAC prisons. Online requesters should use any of the following Criminal Offender Search tools to search: 

• Offender Public Information Search / Offender Locator 
• Automated System Query (ASQ) 
• NC SAVAN Search
• Interstate Compact Offender Tracking 
• Offender Information for Law Enforcement 

Anyone seeking Rowan County arrest records at the federal level has several options they may consider, especially if they do not know where the offender is incarcerated. However, they may commence their search at the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP). The BOP has an Inmate Locator where users may find a federal inmate incarcerated from 1982 to the present. The search criteria include name or number. If the requester needs copies of the record, they may have to visit the BOP Facility where the arrested person is located. Additionally, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) disseminates arrest records but limits access to the subjects of the records. Copies may be obtained online, by mail, or through authorized channelers for $18.

Rowan County Inmate Locator

The Rowan County Sheriff’s Office maintains an Inmate Locator that members of the public may use to locate an incarcerated person. This tool is located in the left navigation pane on the Sheriff’s Office’s official website. It is designated as “Inmate Lists” on the page. A click on it will take users to a page that shows two portals named “Arrests” and “Inmate Inquiry” that may be used to view arrest records without charges. The search criteria include arrest date, first letter of last name, booking agency, and charge.

Rowan County Sheriff’s Office 

232 N Main Street

Salisbury, NC 28144

Phone: (704) 216-8700

Fax: (704) 216-8674

Active Warrant Search in Rowan County

An arrest warrant is a written order stating that a person has been accused of a crime and directing the accused to be arrested and held to answer the charges against them (N.C.G.S. § 15A-304). The warrant will be issued only when a judicial officer has probable cause to believe that the accused has committed a crime supported by an affirmation or an oath. A valid arrest warrant may be issued by a clerk, a magistrate, a district court, a judge of the Court of Appeals, or a Justice of the Supreme Court. An arrest warrant must include a statement of the crime the defendant committed and be directed to a particular officer, a class of officers, or a combination thereof. The officer must take the defendant into custody and bring them immediately before a judicial official to answer to the charges made against them. The warrant must be executed within 180 days. After executing the warrant, the officer must enter the execution date and time on the warrant and return it to the clerk in the county where it was issued (G.S. § 15A-301). 

The Sheriff’s Office is the custodian of warrant information in Rowan County. The agency releases this information in accordance with the North Carolina Public Records Law via the following methods: 

• Online: Requests should be made via the Active Warrants portal. Users may browse the database list to find a record or filter by warrant type, race, or gender. A search will reveal the name of the person for whom the warrant was issued, the type of warrant, and the charge.
• By phone and fax: Individuals may also obtain warrant information by calling (704) 216-8700, faxing (704) 216-8674
• In person: Visit the office during business hours to obtain copies of the arrest warrant for a fee. 

Agency / Resource	Purpose	Search Methods	Notes
Rowan County Sheriff’s Office	Maintains and serves warrants	Phone, online, fax, in person	Active Warrants portal
Rowan County Clerk	Issues and maintains warrants	Online via the North Carolina Branch Portal and in person (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.)	210 N Main St Salisbury, NC 28144

How to Find Arrest Records for Free in Rowan County

The Rowan County Sheriff’s Office provides three online portals through which individuals may access arrest records for free. All the portals reveal a list of arrestees’ information that users may scroll through to locate a record. 

• “Arrests” tool: It provides information on individuals who have been apprehended by the police but not convicted. Users may filter their searches using race or gender. The second portal is the 
• “Active Warrants” tool: It displays information on individuals with active warrants in the county. Users may filter the search by warrant type, race, and gender. 
• Inmate Inquiry: It shows information about individuals incarcerated in Rowan County Jail. Users may filter their searches by race, sex, or holding facility. They can also sort the inmate list by arrest date, booking agency, charge, and name. 

Although these online portals are easy to navigate and offer a convenient user experience, they have several limitations. They do not provide access to expunged or old arrest records. Free online portals may also contain errors, omissions, and limited information, so the information retrieved from them cannot be used for official purposes. 

Rowan County Arrest Report

An arrest report and an arrest record are distinct documents created when a law enforcement officer arrests a person. An arrest report is a document that details how and when the arrest occurred, the witnesses' statements, the evidence collected at the scene, and the reason for the arrest. In contrast, an arrest record contains all information collected from the arrestee during booking and is entered into the arresting agency's database to generate the record. The arresting officer also records basic information about the arrest, such as the date, time, and location. 

How to Get an Arrest Record Expunged in Rowan County

An expungement is a legal process that removes a person's arrest conviction from their records and destroys the state’s records of the arrest. Interested persons may follow the steps below to have their records expunged: 

• Determine eligibility

To determine eligibility, review N.C.G.S. § 15A-145 through 153. Anyone who seeks assistance may contact the Rowan County Court Clerk’s Office. 

• Determine the appropriate time to begin the expungement process 

Some arrest records may be expunged immediately after the case is over. A typical example is an arrest case where the charges were dismissed. Others have waiting periods, like some years or after completing the sentence. The expungement process may take several months.

• Complete the expungement petition form and file it

The court has several expungement forms that eligible individuals may file to have their records expunged, depending on the offense. Below are some of them: 

• Nonviolent felony(ies)
• Misdemeanor convictions
• Nonviolent misdemeanor(s)
• Nonviolent felony under age 18
• Conviction after pardon of innocence

Complete the appropriate form and file it with the Rowan County Court Clerk. The filing fee is $175, but some expunction statutes do not require a fee, such as arrests where the charge was dismissed or resulted in a not-guilty verdict. Anyone whose charges require fees but cannot afford them may complete the Petition to Proceed as an Indigent Form and submit it with the petition. 

• Hearing

For some expungements, the judge may hold a hearing to determine eligibility, but for others, such as expunctions of dismissed charges, the judge may decide without a hearing. 

• Decision

The judge will sign an expungement order if the petition is granted. Once the order is signed, the clerk of the court will provide the petitioner with a copy and send a notice of the expungement to all law enforcement agencies involved in the arrest. These agencies are required to destroy all files related to the arrest, including the expungement order itself. 

How Do You Remove Rowan County Arrest Records From the Internet?

Individuals who find their arrest records in law enforcement agencies' databases even after their records have been expunged may contact the Rowan County Court Clerk to have them removed. However, the clerk cannot remove arrest records available on private websites. Individuals would have to contact them via the opt-out feature on their websites.