North Carolina records at least 236,000 arrests annually, with about 1,800 logged in Duplin County. The Public Records Law grants anyone the right to inspect, examine, or obtain copies of arrest records held by a public law enforcement agency.
Despite this, public law enforcement agencies may deny access to specific information within public records. Typically, records that may threaten the physical or mental health of a victim or hinder a defendant's fair trial may be kept confidential. However, authorized individuals, including the District Attorney and law enforcement personnel, maintain unrestricted access to these records. In Duplin County, the fee for obtaining an arrest record is determined by the actual cost of reproduction.
Duplin County arrest records may be requested from any of the holding entities, such as the Sheriff's Office, local police departments, Superior Court, District Court, and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation.
Anyone may obtain arrest records in person from the Duplin County Sheriff's Office, which is generally open to the public during regular business hours on weekdays. The office is located at 112 West Hill Street, P.O. Box 908, Kenansville, NC 28349.
Parties interested in obtaining arrest records may visit the police department that conducted the arrest in person. Alternatively, they may submit a written request containing the arrestee's name, the date and location of the arrest, and the name of the arresting officer to the mailing address specified on the relevant department's website.
Duplin County is home to several police departments, including the Kenansville Police Department, Warsaw Police Department, Wallace Police Department, Magnolia Police Department, and Beulaville Police Department.
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) serves as the state's central repository for managing and disseminating criminal history records. For $14, individuals may obtain a copy of their criminal history record directly from the SBI. To initiate this request, applicants must submit their fingerprints using a standard FD-258 fingerprint card, which may be completed at any law enforcement agency within Duplin County. The fingerprint card must also include the applicant's full name, race, sex, date of birth, signature, Social Security number, reason for fingerprinting, and both the date and signature of the law enforcement officer who conducted the fingerprinting exercise. Lastly, the completed fingerprint card, along with a certified check or money order for $14 made payable to the SBI, may be submitted by mail to:
North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation
Criminal Information and Identification Section
Attention: Applicant Unit - Right to Review
3320 Garner Road
Raleigh, NC 27610
Information regarding arrests linked to criminal cases within Duplin County may be accessed through several methods. Firstly, the eCourts Portal permits users to view criminal case information and documents by providing a case number, citation number, attorney number, or party name. Secondly, anyone may use the public self-service terminal within the county courthouse to search for criminal cases using a defendant's name, case number, or witness/victim name. Additionally, the Clerk's Office provides the public with copies of these records for a nominal fee.
Finally, third-party resources such as InfoTracer offer a convenient method for accessing arrest records online by eliminating the need for an in-person visit to the courthouse.
Approximately 1,800 arrests are documented annually within Duplin County. The table below presents the arrest figures for specific offenses:
| OFFENSE | NUMBER OF ARRESTS |
|---|---|
| Murder and Nonnegligent Manslaughter | 4 |
| Arson | 1 |
| Forcible Rape | 2 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 6 |
| Aggravated Assault | 34 |
| Burglary | 23 |
| Larceny | 103 |
Source: North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation Crime Statistics
| Department | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Beulaville Police Department | 111 W Quinn St | 910-298-5360 |
| Kenansville Police Department | 141 Routledge Rd | 910-296-0369 |
| Rose Hill Police Department | 115 NW Railroad St | 910-289-3020 |
| Wallace Police Department | 316 E Murray St | 910-285-2126 |
| Warsaw Police Department | 112 W Bay St | 910-293-7816 |