New Hanover Warrant Records
New Hanover County warrant records are managed by the Sheriff's Office Warrants Division and the Clerk of Superior Court in Wilmington. The county sits along the southeastern coast of North Carolina. You can search for active warrants, arrest records, and bench warrants through multiple channels. The Sheriff's Office maintains an online inmate and warrant search tool. New Hanover County court files at the Clerk's Office contain executed warrant records and related case documents. Both offices accept phone and in-person inquiries during business hours. The Magistrate's Office is open around the clock for emergency situations.
New Hanover County Quick Facts
New Hanover County Sheriff Warrants Division
The New Hanover County Sheriff's Office Warrants Division is at 3950 Juvenile Center Road, Castle Hayne, NC 28429. The main line is (910) 798-4200. The Warrants Division can be reached at (910) 798-4162. The Records Division number is (910) 798-4190. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.
The Sheriff's Office runs an online inmate and warrant search system. This free tool lets the public check for active warrants without going to the office. Enter the person's name and review the results. The system may show warrant details and current booking information for New Hanover County.
The Vice and Narcotics Division handles warrant execution for drug cases. This unit works with federal agencies including the FBI's Coastal Career Criminal Enterprise Unit on large investigations. Recent cases in New Hanover County have led to multiple arrests from these joint operations. All warrants from these cases go through the same court process as other warrants in the county.
| Office |
New Hanover County Sheriff's Office 3950 Juvenile Center Road Castle Hayne, NC 28429 Phone: (910) 798-4200 Warrants: (910) 798-4162 Records: (910) 798-4190 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM |
Note: The Magistrate's Office at 3950 Juvenile Center Road operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and can be reached at (910) 798-4230 for emergency warrant matters.
Warrant Records at New Hanover County Courthouse
The New Hanover County Clerk of Superior Court is at 316 Princess Street, Wilmington, NC 28401. Call (910) 772-6600 for questions. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. The Clerk's Office stores records of all court proceedings and provides public access to executed warrants.
Search warrants filed with the court are available to the public in most cases. Some warrants may be sealed or linked to open investigations. The Clerk's Office keeps the official record of every executed warrant returned by law enforcement. You can ask for copies with the standard fee. Public access terminals at the courthouse allow self-service searches.
The NC Offender Public Information database is a free tool for checking if someone is in state custody.
This statewide search covers inmates, parolees, and probationers and can help verify warrant-related arrests in New Hanover County.
Types of Warrants in New Hanover County
New Hanover County courts issue several types of warrants. Each one has a distinct legal purpose. Arrest warrants are issued when probable cause exists that a person committed a crime. Search warrants let officers examine a location for evidence. Bench warrants come from a judge when someone fails to show up for court.
Orders for Arrest are issued when a person misses a court date. Capias warrants go out when a grand jury indicts someone who has not yet been arrested. Each of these warrant types follows different rules for execution and expiration under N.C.G.S. 15A-248.
Search warrants must be served within 48 hours. After service, the warrant and a list of seized items must be returned to the court right away. Arrest warrants have no expiration date in New Hanover County. They remain active until served or recalled by a judge. Federal warrants are handled through a different system and processed in federal courts.
The Criminal Procedure statutes in Chapter 15A set out the rules for all warrant types in New Hanover County.
New Hanover County Public Records
You can check for warrants in New Hanover County at no cost through several methods. Use the Sheriff's Office online search tool. Call the Records Division at (910) 798-4190. Visit the courthouse and use the public access terminals. Check the North Carolina Judicial Branch website for court records.
Under N.C.G.S. 132-1, warrant records are public in New Hanover County. The Administrative Office of the Courts maintains public access systems under N.C.G.S. 7A-109. Active warrants in ongoing investigations may be shielded from disclosure under N.C.G.S. 132-1.4. Once a search warrant is executed and returned to the Clerk's Office, it becomes a public record.
The Public Records Law guarantees your right to inspect government records in New Hanover County, with limited exceptions.
Note: The online inmate and warrant search from the New Hanover County Sheriff's Office is free but may not include all active warrants, especially those under seal.
State Resources for New Hanover County
The North Carolina Department of Public Safety runs statewide databases for criminal record searches. These tools can supplement local searches in New Hanover County.
The Department of Public Safety website covers offender searches, corrections data, and links to other justice resources.
The North Carolina Sheriffs' Association lists all sheriff offices in the state and provides general resources about law enforcement operations.
You can find contact information for the New Hanover County Sheriff's Office and other county agencies through this site.
Nearby Counties
These counties are near New Hanover County. Make sure you search the right county for the warrant you need. Each county has its own court system and Sheriff's Office.