Jail
Wake County Detention Center
3301 Hammond Rd, Raleigh, NC 27603
North Carolina · Pilot county
Wake County: DWI arrest data
Sample estimates
Wake County (Raleigh) processes approximately 3,700 DWI arrests per year (an estimate). This page shows illustrative sample figures for how long processing takes and what bail looks like, to show how county data will be presented once real records are published.
Wake County DWI at a glance
- Shortest modeled release
- 4–8 hrs
- Weekday morning arrest
- Longest modeled release
- 11–20 hrs
- Weekend night arrest
- Typical 1st-offense bail
- $750
- Range: $500–$2,500
- OR / PR release rate
- ~32%
- Released without bail on 1st offense
01Processing times
Wake County DWI processing times
Estimated hours from arrest to release. Actual time depends on booking volume, bond officer availability, and whether bail is needed.
| Morning6 AM – Noon | AfternoonNoon – 6 PM | Evening6 PM – 10 PM | Night10 PM – 6 AM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon – Thu | 4–8hmid 6 | 4–9hmid 6.5 | 6–11hmid 8.5 | 8–15hmid 11.5 |
| Fri – Sun | 7–13hmid 10 | 7–14hmid 10.5 | 9–17hmid 13 | 11–20hmid 15.5 |
| Mon – Thu | Fri – Sun | |
|---|---|---|
| Morning6 AM – Noon | 4–8hmid 6 | 7–13hmid 10 |
| AfternoonNoon – 6 PM | 4–9hmid 6.5 | 7–14hmid 10.5 |
| Evening6 PM – 10 PM | 6–11hmid 8.5 | 9–17hmid 13 |
| Night10 PM – 6 AM | 8–15hmid 11.5 | 11–20hmid 15.5 |
Each box shows the range; its shade follows the middle of the range (“mid”, in hours):
- 6 or less
- Over 6 to 12
- Over 12 to 20
- Over 20
Illustrative estimates, not yet derived from real booking records.
02Booking
Booking at Wake County Detention Center
The stages the sample models, in order.
Court
Arraignment
Wake County District Court
24–48 hours after booking
Arrest and transport
A person arrested in Wake County is transported to Wake County Detention Center for processing.
Booking (fingerprints, photo, property)
Belongings are catalogued and stored, and a final BAC test or blood draw may be taken at the facility. The sample models booking at 1–2 hours.
Holding until a bond officer reviews
A bond officer reviews the charges and criminal history. In Wake County the sample models this as the longest wait, especially overnight and on weekends.
Bail set or release on recognizance
Bail is set from criminal history, BAC level and the circumstances of the offense. In the sample, about 32% of first-offense DWI defendants in Wake County are released on their own recognizance, without cash.
Release
Once bail is posted or recognizance release is approved, release paperwork is modeled at 30 minutes to 2 hours. A court date for arraignment follows, listed as 24–48 hours after booking.
03Bail
Wake County DWI bail amounts
Illustrative figures, not court records. Actual bail is set by a judge and depends on the case.
| Offense | Typical bail | Range | Cost to post a typical bail |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Offense DWI | $750 | $500 – $2,500 | $112.50 · 15% premium |
| 2nd Offense DWI | $3,000 | $1,500 – $7,000 | $450 · 15% premium |
Sample text, not sourced. A state-regulated 15% bondsman premium in North Carolina: $112.50 on $750 bail.
Factors the sample treats as raising bail: BAC of 0.15% or more, an accident or injury, a child passenger, a prior DWI within 7 years, a commercial driver's license.
04Court
Court information: Wake County
Court
Wake County District Court
316 Fayetteville St, Raleigh, NC 27601
Arraignment: 24–48 hours after booking. This is the first court appearance, where the charge is read and a plea is entered.
05Related
More on North Carolina
- County pageMecklenburg County
- County pageGuilford County
Data note: Processing times, bail ranges and release rates on this page are illustrative estimates, not derived from real booking records, and may not reflect current conditions. Facility names and addresses are unverified entries. Actual bail is set at the judge's discretion. This page is general information for data analysis, not legal advice. See the Disclaimer.