Union County Public Records /Union County Criminal Records

Union County Criminal Records

What Is Union County Criminal Records

Criminal records in Union County, North Carolina, are official government documents that chronicle an individual's interactions with the criminal justice system, from initial law enforcement contact through final court disposition. These records are generated and maintained by multiple agencies operating at the county, state, and federal levels.

Understanding the distinctions among record types is essential for accurate interpretation:

Arrest records vs. conviction records: An arrest record documents that law enforcement took an individual into custody based on probable cause. A conviction record reflects a formal finding of guilt by a court of law. An arrest does not constitute a conviction, and individuals may have arrest records without any resulting conviction.
Felony vs. misdemeanor: Under North Carolina law, felonies are the more serious classification, carrying potential sentences of more than one year of incarceration. Misdemeanors are lesser offenses typically resulting in fines, probation, or shorter jail terms. Both categories are documented in criminal records.
Adult vs. juvenile records: Records pertaining to individuals who were under age 16 at the time of the offense (or under 18 for certain offenses under Raise the Age legislation) are generally sealed and not available to the public under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-3000, which governs the confidentiality of juvenile court records.
Active warrants vs. historical records: Active warrants reflect current judicial orders for an individual's arrest and remain in force until executed or recalled. Historical records document past charges, proceedings, and dispositions that have been resolved.

The principal agencies responsible for maintaining Union County criminal records include:

Union County Sheriff's Office — maintains arrest records, booking information, and jail records
Union County Clerk of Superior Court — maintains case files, charging documents, pleas, trial records, and dispositions
North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) — maintains statewide criminal history repository
Monroe Police Department and other municipal agencies — maintain incident and arrest reports within their respective jurisdictions

A complete criminal record may encompass charges filed, arraignment proceedings, plea agreements, trial records, sentencing orders, probation and parole conditions, and any subsequent modifications to those orders. Members of the public seeking court case information may consult the North Carolina Judicial Branch for statewide court resources and Union County-specific guidance.

Union County Sheriff's Office 400 N. Main St., Monroe, NC 28112 (704) 283-3789 Union County Sheriff's Office

Union County Clerk of Superior Court 400 N. Main St., Monroe, NC 28112 (704) 698-3100 Union County Clerk of Superior Court

Are Criminal Records Public In Union County

Adult criminal records in Union County are presumptively public under the North Carolina Public Records Law. Pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 132-1, public records are defined as all documents, papers, and other materials made or received by any agency of North Carolina government in connection with the transaction of public business. This statute establishes that such records are the property of the people and shall be open to public inspection.

Records that are currently available for public inspection include:

Adult conviction records and court dispositions
Charging documents and indictments
Court proceedings, including plea hearings and sentencing orders
Arrest logs and booking records maintained by the Sheriff's Office
Active and recalled warrants (subject to operational limitations)

Records that are restricted from public disclosure include:

Juvenile court records, which are confidential under state law
Records pertaining to ongoing criminal investigations, where disclosure could compromise law enforcement operations
Sealed or expunged records, which are treated as though they never existed following a court order under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-145
Certain victim information protected under state and federal privacy statutes
Mental health and medical records incorporated into court files

Members of the public seeking information about legal rights and justice-related resources in North Carolina may consult the Legal & Justice portal maintained by NC.gov, which provides guidance on criminal records, victim services, and court access.

How To Look Up Criminal Records In Union County in 2026

Members of the public may access Union County criminal records through several official channels. The following steps outline the process for obtaining records through in-person and formal request methods.

Step 1 — Identify the appropriate agency. Determine whether the records sought are arrest records (held by the Sheriff's Office or arresting agency), court case records (held by the Clerk of Superior Court), or a comprehensive criminal history (available through the SBI).

Step 2 — Visit the Clerk of Superior Court in person. Paper case files may be accessed by visiting the clerk's office during public counter hours. The Union County Clerk of Superior Court is located at 400 N. Main St., Monroe, NC 28112. Public counter hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Requesters should bring a valid government-issued photo identification.

Step 3 — Submit a written public records request. For records not immediately available at the public counter, members of the public may submit a written request to the custodial agency citing the North Carolina Public Records Law. Requests should specify the subject's full name, date of birth, and the approximate date range of the records sought.

Step 4 — Request a certified criminal history from the SBI. For employment, licensing, or background check purposes, individuals may request a certified criminal history record check through the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. This process requires submission of a completed request form and applicable fees.

Step 5 — Pay applicable fees. Agencies may charge reasonable fees for the cost of reproducing records. Inspection of records in person is generally provided at no charge; however, copies are subject to per-page fees established by the agency.

Guidance on obtaining court records from the North Carolina Judicial Branch provides additional procedural detail for requesters navigating the court records system.

How To Find Criminal Records in Union County Online?

Several official online portals currently provide access to Union County criminal records without requiring an in-person visit.

Union County Sheriff's Office — Arrest and Incident Search The Union County Sheriff's Office operates a public-facing online portal through which members of the public may conduct an arrest and incident search covering incidents reported within the county. This portal allows users to search by name, date range, incident type, and geographic area. The database reflects incidents logged by the Sheriff's Office and does not include records from municipal police departments.

Union County Sheriff's Office — Jail Roster Current detention information is available through the Sheriff's Office inmate inquiry portal, which displays the names, primary charges, arrest dates, and booking agency for individuals currently held at the Union County Jail. This roster is updated regularly and reflects the current population of the detention facility. No registration or account creation is required to access this information.

North Carolina Judicial Branch — Court Case Search The North Carolina Judicial Branch provides a statewide court case search tool through which members of the public may search for criminal case records by defendant name or case number. Information available through this portal includes case numbers, filing dates, charges, and dispositions. Detailed guidance on accessing these records is available through the court records section of the Judicial Branch website.

NC Department of Adult Correction — Public Records Online The North Carolina Department of Adult Correction maintains an online portal for public records requests related to incarcerated individuals, including offender search and supervision status. This resource is particularly useful for locating individuals currently serving sentences in state correctional facilities.

Records available exclusively through in-person inspection at the Clerk's office include original paper case files, exhibits, and sealed documents accessible only by court order. No registration is required to use the Sheriff's Office or Judicial Branch online portals.

Can You Search Union County Criminal Records for Free?

Under the North Carolina Public Records Law, agencies are required to permit inspection of public records at no charge. Pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 132-6, every custodian of public records shall permit any record in the custodian's custody to be inspected and examined at reasonable times and under reasonable supervision. Fees may only be charged for the actual cost of reproducing records, not for inspection alone.

The following resources are currently available at no cost to members of the public:

Arrest and incident search — The Union County Sheriff's Office arrest and incident search portal is freely accessible online without registration or fees.
Jail roster — The inmate inquiry tool maintained by the Sheriff's Office provides current detention information at no charge.
Court case search — The North Carolina Judicial Branch provides free online access to case information through its statewide search tool.
In-person inspection — Members of the public may inspect court case files at the Union County Clerk of Superior Court during regular business hours at no cost.

Fees are applicable when requesting certified copies of court documents, certified criminal history reports from the SBI, or reproductions of physical records. The Union County court services page provides current fee schedules and contact information for the Clerk's office.

What's Included in a Union County Criminal Record?

A Union County criminal record may contain several categories of information depending on the type of record and the agency maintaining it.

Identifying Information

Full legal name and known aliases
Date of birth and physical description (height, weight, eye color, hair color)
Photograph (mugshot) taken at the time of booking
Last known address
State Identification Number (SID) assigned by the SBI
FBI Number, where applicable

Arrest Information

Date, time, and location of arrest
Arresting agency (Sheriff's Office, municipal police, or other law enforcement)
Booking number and detention facility
Charges filed at the time of arrest
Bail or bond amount set
Name of the jail or detention facility

Court Case Information

Case number and court of jurisdiction (District or Superior Court)
Filing date and assigned judge
Charges as filed, including applicable statutes and felony or misdemeanor classification
Plea entered (guilty, not guilty, no contest)
Attorney of record and prosecuting agency

Disposition Information

Verdict or final disposition
Conviction date, if applicable
Sentencing details, including type of sentence (active, suspended, probation), length, fines, restitution, and special conditions
Appeals filed and outcomes
Probation or parole terms and supervising agency

Additional Record Elements

Outstanding warrants
Protective or restraining orders
Sex offender registration status
DUI/DWI convictions and license actions
Traffic violations adjudicated in criminal court
Pending charges not yet resolved

How Long Does Union County Keep Criminal Records?

Criminal records in Union County are subject to retention schedules established under North Carolina law and administered by the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. Under the North Carolina Records Retention and Disposition Schedule for Judicial Branch agencies, the following general retention periods apply:

Felony conviction records: Retained permanently by the Clerk of Superior Court
Misdemeanor conviction records: Retained for a minimum of 10 years following final disposition
Arrest records without conviction: Retained in accordance with agency-specific schedules; subject to expunction upon court order
Dismissed or acquitted case files: Retained for a minimum of three years following dismissal, subject to applicable expunction statutes
Juvenile records: Retained in accordance with confidentiality provisions and destroyed upon the subject reaching a specified age, unless the matter was transferred to superior court
SBI criminal history repository: Records are maintained indefinitely unless expunged by court order

Expunged records are removed from public access and treated as though they do not exist, pursuant to the expunction statutes applicable to the specific offense and circumstances. Agencies receiving an expunction order are required to seal or destroy the relevant records in accordance with the court's directive. The North Carolina Judicial Branch provides current guidance on record retention and expunction procedures through its court records resource page.