Access to North Carolina police records is open to the public in accordance to the North Carolina General Statute. The records come into the public's property as defined under Section 132-1 of the Statute which states public records as any document whether it be electronic or not in nature, which the government or its agencies come into as a result of their transactions with the public. The records are free though some cities might charge the researcher a minimal fee to cover copy cost.
Although the public has the right to access the records, there are some exemptions to the Statute. Examples of these exemptions include - (a) criminal investigations records (Statute 132 sec. 1.3); (b) Intelligence information record (Statute 132 sec. 1.4); (c) Information included in a 911 response (Statute 132 sec. 1.5); (d) Autopsy photos (Statute 132 sec. 1.8) and (e) Emergency Response (Statute 132 sec 1.6). The exceptions are just some of the exclusions in the Statute; other situations wherein the police department might refuse the release of the records are also indicated in the Statute.
For people who would like to request a report, three types of report are available from the police department - traffic or crash report, incident or crime report and non-emergency reports. All of the reports are free as indicated in the Statute; however, it also allows the cities to charge a minimal fee for the cost of the record copy to be released.
Residents of Asheville for example, can visit the Central Police Department in the lobby of the Police HQ and look at the police records during working hours. They can also send a self-addressed stamped envelope and forward it to the Central Records Unit. Charlotte-Mecklenburg residents however are required to pay $3.50 for a PDF format of the police report. The report is free if one visits the police headquarters on East Trade Street.
The Statute grants people requesting records several means to access the files. They can fax, call or email the assigned department, which usually is the City Police Record Division unit, for their request. They can also walk in during regular office hours and request the custodian for the specific files that they need. They can check the files or ask for copies in any media format that they want. For online requests, the person should address the request to the person directly in charge of the records in the department. Ensure that the request is specific in nature. If you have a record number, such as that of crash reports, do include them as this makes it easier for the custodian to search for the files. Note that there is no specific period for deliveries of the request. As many would probably ask for records, being specific would shorten the time for research.
The department might turn down police reports request if the records are included in the exemptions as indicated in the Stature. If this happens, the fastest and convenient way to ask is through making an online request. More often than not, there is some information that is not included in the exemptions and available for the public.
Although the public has the right to access the records, there are some exemptions to the Statute. Examples of these exemptions include - (a) criminal investigations records (Statute 132 sec. 1.3); (b) Intelligence information record (Statute 132 sec. 1.4); (c) Information included in a 911 response (Statute 132 sec. 1.5); (d) Autopsy photos (Statute 132 sec. 1.8) and (e) Emergency Response (Statute 132 sec 1.6). The exceptions are just some of the exclusions in the Statute; other situations wherein the police department might refuse the release of the records are also indicated in the Statute.
For people who would like to request a report, three types of report are available from the police department - traffic or crash report, incident or crime report and non-emergency reports. All of the reports are free as indicated in the Statute; however, it also allows the cities to charge a minimal fee for the cost of the record copy to be released.
Residents of Asheville for example, can visit the Central Police Department in the lobby of the Police HQ and look at the police records during working hours. They can also send a self-addressed stamped envelope and forward it to the Central Records Unit. Charlotte-Mecklenburg residents however are required to pay $3.50 for a PDF format of the police report. The report is free if one visits the police headquarters on East Trade Street.
The Statute grants people requesting records several means to access the files. They can fax, call or email the assigned department, which usually is the City Police Record Division unit, for their request. They can also walk in during regular office hours and request the custodian for the specific files that they need. They can check the files or ask for copies in any media format that they want. For online requests, the person should address the request to the person directly in charge of the records in the department. Ensure that the request is specific in nature. If you have a record number, such as that of crash reports, do include them as this makes it easier for the custodian to search for the files. Note that there is no specific period for deliveries of the request. As many would probably ask for records, being specific would shorten the time for research.
The department might turn down police reports request if the records are included in the exemptions as indicated in the Stature. If this happens, the fastest and convenient way to ask is through making an online request. More often than not, there is some information that is not included in the exemptions and available for the public.
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