Crime Statistics
According to the 2017 Annual Summary Report published by the North Carolina Bureau of Investigation, Harnett county law enforcement agencies reported a net total of 1,984 index crime offenses in 2017, signaling a 5.2% decline in crime rate in the light of 2016 data. A close look at the report revealed property crimes to be the predominant subset of offenses in the county, accounting for 86% of the index crimes in the county, while violent crimes were recorded to be markedly less popular despite having spiked 17.6% between 2016 and 2017.
Larceny was recorded to be the most recurring criminal offense with over 1,000 reported incidents in the 12-month span. This was followed by burglary with 622 reported incidents and aggravated assault, which was reported 205 times and reported to be the most popular offense among violent crimes. Motor vehicle theft and robbery were reported to be the 5th and 6th most occurring crimes with 88 and 40 reported incidents respectively, while murder, rape, and arson were the least reported crimes, consisting of only 2.3% of all criminal activities in the county.
Criminal Records
The Harnett County Sheriff's Office is the main law enforcement agency of the county and is charged with generating records and reports pertaining to criminal activity within county limits. However, as per North Carolina state laws, criminal history information is maintained and issued by the office of the Harnett County Clerk of Court.
How to get Criminal Records
Harnett County criminal records may be requested from the Administrative Office of the Courts, which is tasked with maintaining the county's criminal record system.
The criminal record checks conducted by this office are name-based and include details of the subject's arrest history, misdemeanor, and felony charges as well as conviction and disposition information.
To request a name inquiry check from the office, interested persons may visit the clerk's office and provide information regarding the subject of the record being requested. This would include the subject's name, date of birth, gender and social security number(if known). The requestor must then pay the required $25 fee to the Clerk's Office Cashiers Division.
Similarly, mail-in queries require that the requesting party prepare a written request stating the aforementioned details, or download and complete the Criminal Record Search request form, which should be enclosed along with a certified cheque of $25 and a stamped, self-addressed envelope.
Both mail and in-person requests may be made to:
Clerk of Superior Court, Harnett County: Renee Whittenton
301 W. Cornelius Harnett Blvd.
Suite 100
Lillington, NC 27546
Hours:
Mon-Fri 8:30am to 5:00pm
Phone: (910) 814-4600
Fax: (910) 814-4560
How to find Sex Offender Information
While all sex offender documentation and management is done by the office of the Harnett County Sex Offender Registrar, all offender-related information can be obtained from the State Sex Offender Registry. Interested persons may view the personal information, location and compliance status of offenders by searching the Registry by name, location or proximity to specific vicinities within the county. Offenders may also be searched by registration number and latitude/longitude, and interested county residents may register to receive email alerts regarding notable updates in sex offender location and compliance.
Where and How to Get Inmate Information
Specific inmate information such as a detainee's primary charges, bond conditions, docket number, and prospective court dates can be obtained using either of the Inmate Population Reports published by the Sheriff's office. Inmates may be searched by booking date or first/last name.
Getting Jail Information
The Harnett County Detention Center houses all current detainees of the county and is managed by the Sheriff's Office. It's located at:
Sheriff: Wayne Coats
175 Bain St,
Lillington,
NC 27546, United States
Phone: (910) 893-9111
Fax: (910) 893-6450
Email: webshf@harnett.org
All inmate and jail-related queries may be made to the Sheriff's Office. Queries may also be made by contacting the detention center staff at (910) 893-0257 or visiting the Detention Center Web Page.
Court Records
Where and How to Get Court Records
Records of court cases heard by Harnett County Courts are maintained and disseminated by the office of the Clerk of the Superior Court. In compliance with state laws, the office provides public access to non-confidential records to interested persons upon request.
To request a record, the requestor may query the office in person and opt to engage court staff or self-serve using the court's public terminals. Alternatively, requestors may send a written request stating details of the court record required - including the names of the parties involved, the date the case was filed, the case file number of the record and the name of the litigant.
The requesting party will also be required to pay a small fee to cover the cost of the search, copying, and certification (if required). The fee to be paid will depend primarily on the record requested. All requests, in person or via mail may be made to:
Harnett County Superior Court Clerk: Renee Whittenton
301 W Cornelius Harnett Blvd.,
Suite 100
Lillington, NC 27546
Hours:
Mon-Fri 8:30am to 5:00pm
Phone: (910) 814-4600
Fax: (910) 814-4560
Location of all Courts in County
Listed below are the addresses and contact information of all the courthouses in Harnett County, North Carolina:
Harnett County Superior & District Court
Clerk: Renee Whittenton
301 West Cornelius Harnett Blvd,
Suite 100,
Lillington, NC 27546
Hours:
Mon-Fri 8:30am to 5:00pm
Phone: (910) 814-4600
Fax: (910) 814-4560
Harnett County Superior & District Court
401 East Broad Street,
Dunn, NC 28334
Hours:
Mon-Fri 8:30am to 5:00pm
Phone: (910) 892-1122
Where and How to Get Property Records
The Harnett County office of the Register of Deeds maintains and provides public access to deeds, mortgage documents, plats, property liens, land records and other documents pertaining to property ownership.
These records are available to interested county residents upon request. However, in order to obtain a record, the requestor must provide relevant information required to conduct a record search; this can be done in person or via mail. Interested persons may also access records using the Registers Public Access Portal.
In-person and mail requests may be made to:
Harnett County Register of Deeds: Matthew S. Willis
305 W Cornelius Harnett Boulevard
Suite 200
Lillington, 27546
Phone: (910) 893-7540
Fax: (910) 893-5577
Email: mwillis@harnett.org
Vital Records
The North Carolina Department of Public Health is the primary custodian of North Carolina vital records. The department processes requests for birth, death, marriage and divorce certificates, and provides copies to interested persons. However, at the county level, vital records are managed by the office of the Register of Deeds.
Where and How to Get Divorce Records
Records of divorces granted in Harnett County are maintained and issued by the office of the Clerk of the Superior Court.
Interested persons may obtain copies of these records by querying the Clerk's office in person or via mail. In-person requests require that the requestor visit the county courthouse and furnish court staff with the necessary information, or self-serve using the court's public terminals. The requesting party alternatively send a written request stating details of the divorce including the names of the spouses, the date and place of the divorce and the case file number of the record (if known).
Divorce record requests may be made to:
Harnett County Superior Court Clerk: Renee Whittenton
301 W Cornelius Harnett Blvd.,
Suite 100
Lillington, NC 27546
Hours:
Mon-Fri 8:30am to 5:00pm
Phone: (910) 814-4600
Fax: (910) 814-4560
Where and How to Get Marriage Records, Birth Records and Death records
The Harnett County Register of Deeds Office processes requests for records of marriages, births, and deaths, which occur within county limits. As per North Carolina state laws, access to these records is limited to persons who meet the eligibility requirements; i.e. the requestor must be capable of proving reasonable interest.
In this light, persons requesting a Harnett vital record must be the subject of the record, an immediate family member of the subject, or legally authorized by the subject or court order. Interested and eligible persons may request a record by downloading and completing a Vital Record Application. The form must be notarized and submitted in person to:
Harnett County Register of Deeds: Matthew S. Willis
305 W Cornelius Harnett Boulevard
Suite 200
Lillington, 27546
Phone: (910) 893-7540
Fax: (910) 893-5577
Email: mwillis@harnett.org
In addition to government agencies, county public records may also be obtained from third-party websites. These non-government platforms come with intuitive tools that allow for expansive searches. Record seekers may either opt to use these tools to search for a specific record or multiple records. Users are able to search third-party websites remotely for multiple records at a time with just the name of the record subject and their last known location, including the city, county, or state. Third-party sites are not sponsored by government agencies. Because of this, record availability and results may vary.
