Annually, law enforcement agencies across North Carolina report an estimated 236,000 arrests to the State Bureau of Investigation, with at least 1,900 arrests associated with Surry County. Per the North Carolina Public Records Law, information about an individual's arrest and the surrounding circumstances is generally considered public record.
While no reason is required to request a record, access to certain documents may be prohibited. Records under active investigation, expunged cases, or files containing sensitive personal information such as social security numbers may be withheld. However, authorized individuals such as the District Attorney or law enforcement personnel may be permitted to access restricted records. Arrest records in Surry County may be obtained from the records custodian upon payment of the applicable reproduction cost.
Surry County arrest records may be available through the Superior and District Courts, as well as law enforcement agencies such as the Sheriff's Office, local police departments, and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation.
Anyone may request publicly available arrest records from the Surry County Sheriff's Office by visiting the office at 114 W. Atkins Street, PO Box 1467, Dobson, NC 27017. The office is open to the public on weekdays from 8:15 a.m. to 5 p.m.
To obtain arrest records from any of the police departments in Surry County, such as the Mount Airy Police Department, Pilot Mountain Police Department, or Dobson Police Department, you may either visit the Records Department in person or submit a written request along with a self-addressed stamped envelope to the department at their respective mailing addresses.
Authorized agencies and the public may request criminal history record information (CHRI) from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (NCSBI), which serves as the state's central repository for such records.
Surry County residents requesting their CHRI must mail the required documents to the NCSBI. The process begins with the applicant having their fingerprints taken by a local law enforcement officer on a fingerprint card. The applicant must then submit the completed fingerprint card, a written request, and a money order or certified check for $14 by US mail to:
North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation Criminal Information and Identification Section Attention: Application Unit - Right to Review 3320 Garner Road Raleigh, NC 27610
Applicants must ensure that their full name, address, legible fingerprint impressions, date of birth, sex, and race are included with the submission.
By reviewing criminal case records, individuals may find information on arrests made when a formal charge was filed. These records may be accessed through a public, self-service terminal at the Clerk of Court's Office, located at 201 E. Kapp St., Dobson, NC 27017. Additionally, individuals may request paper copies of criminal court files from the Clerk's Office.
Reliable third-party websites, such as InfoTracer, allow users to conduct comprehensive searches, saving both time and effort.
Approximately 1,900 arrests are reported to the NCSBI for Surry County. The arrest figures for these offenses are shown below:
| OFFENSE | NUMBER OF ARRESTS |
|---|---|
| Arson | 1 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 6 |
| Forcible Rape | 2 |
| Aggravated Assault | 34 |
| Other Assault | 137 |
| Murder and Nonnegligent Manslaughter | 4 |
| Burglary | 23 |
| Larceny-Theft | 103 |
Source: NCSBI Crime Statistics
| Department | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Dobson Police Department | 307 N Main St | 336-356-8161 |
| Mount Airy Police Department | 150 Rockford St | 336-786-3535 |
| Pilot Mountain Police Department | 124 W Main St, Pilot | 336-368-4725 |