Chowan County 24 Hour Booking Search
Chowan County is in northeastern North Carolina with Edenton as the county seat. The Chowan County Sheriff's Office runs the Detention Center and keeps all booking records. Under state law, most of these records are public. This guide explains how to search for 24 hour booking data in Chowan County, look up current inmates, and get copies of arrest records. The Chowan County Detention Center is small but stays busy, and all bookings are logged and kept on file for public review.
Chowan County Sheriff's Office
The Chowan County Sheriff's Office is at 305 W. Freemason Street, Edenton, NC 27932. The main phone number is (252) 482-8484. Sheriff Edward Basnight leads the office. The agency runs patrol, criminal investigations, civil process, school resource officers, K-9 operations, and a dive team.
The screenshot below shows the Chowan County Sheriff's Office official website.
This is the main site for all Chowan County law enforcement and detention services.
The office provides fingerprinting, concealed handgun permits, and medication disposal. For booking records, contact the Sheriff's Office or the Detention Center directly.
Chowan County Detention Center
The Chowan County Detention Center is at 100 Court Street, Edenton, NC 27932. The mailing address is P.O. Box 78, Edenton, NC 27932. The phone is (252) 482-3822 and the fax is (252) 482-2096. Detention Administrator Roger Chipps runs the facility.
This is a 23-bed facility. It holds inmates from Chowan County and other areas when asked. The jail is rated for county offenders sentenced up to 24 months. Staff give 24-hour care and keep strict security at all times. The facility runs a trustee work program that lets some inmates do work in the facility and community under watch.
The screenshot below shows the Chowan County Detention Facility page with details about the jail.
Visit this page for the latest details on visitation, services, and inmate policies in Chowan County.
Note: The Chowan County Detention Facility processes about 500 to 700 bookings each year.
Despite its 23-bed capacity, the Chowan County Detention Center follows the same booking requirements as larger facilities across the state. Fingerprints taken at intake are forwarded to both the NC State Bureau of Investigation and federal databases. Staff run warrant checks to determine if the person is wanted elsewhere. A property inventory lists all items collected during processing. Under §153A-220 of the General Statutes, the facility must maintain identification records, commitment orders, and release documentation for every inmate. The trustee work program also generates records about participation and assignments, though internal classification data remains confidential under Goble v. Bounds.
24 Hour Booking Records Access
When someone is booked into the Chowan County jail, their name, charges, and bond amount are logged. Under § 15A-502, each arrest must be recorded. These records are public under § 132-1.4. You can get booking data by calling the jail or going in person.
The inmate search on the Sheriff's website lets you search by first name, last name, or booking number. It shows current inmates with charges and bond amounts. If you cannot find someone online, call the Detention Center at (252) 482-3822 for help.
Inmate records typically include booking photos, charges, bond amounts, court dates, and release data. These are public records under North Carolina law. For records not on the web, send a request to the Sheriff's Office at 305 W. Freemason Street, Edenton, NC 27932.
Chowan County 24 Hour Booking Inquiries
The Chowan County Sheriff's Office at its main site offers a look at current inmates through its online search. The office handles records requests under Chapter 132. You do not need to give a reason for your request. The office must answer as fast as it can.
The Chowan County government page also links to the Sheriff's Office. The main office is at 100 Court Street, Edenton, NC 27932 with the phone at (252) 482-3822.
Both the county and Sheriff's Office sites lead to the same booking data for Chowan County. The office is open during business hours for in-person requests.
State Booking Search Tools
The NC Department of Adult Correction runs a statewide offender search. It covers state prison inmates, probationers, and parolees. It does not show Chowan County jail bookings, but it helps track people who were moved to state custody.
The NC Judicial Branch lets you search court records for all counties. Court files for Chowan County cases are found through this portal. The NC.gov Offender Search links to the same state data and is another way to look up offenders.
State tools cover people who have left the Chowan County jail for state facilities.
Chowan County Records and the Law
North Carolina's Public Records Act says that records tied to public business belong to the people. Chapter 132 covers all types of records: papers, photos, electronic files, and more. The Chowan County Sheriff's Office follows this law for every records request. Inspecting records is free. Copies may have a small fee. The fee covers the true cost of making the copy.
Under § 132-1.4, some records are not public. Social security numbers, ongoing investigation files, and certain law enforcement notes stay private. Once an investigation is done, arrest records and indictments may become public. The Chowan County Sheriff's Office must tell you why if it holds back part of a record.
How to Find Chowan County 24 Hour Booking Records
Start with the inmate search on the Sheriff's site. Call the jail at (252) 482-3822 if you need more help. For court data, check the NC Judicial Branch. For state-level records, use the NC DAC offender search.
- Search the Chowan County inmate roster online
- Call the Detention Center for booking details and bond amounts
- Submit a records request to the Sheriff's Office in Edenton
- Use the NC Judicial Branch for court case files
- Check the NC DAC for state prison and parole data
The VINE system lets victims of crime track an offender's custody status and get alerts by phone, email, or text at no charge. This covers Chowan County jail inmates, state prisoners, and people on parole.
Note: Chowan County booking records are open to the public under North Carolina law, and the office cannot charge more than the cost of copying.