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Everything you wanted to know about conducting an arrest inquiry, a warrant search and criminal case lookup in Virginia!
In my opinion, Virginia is just like half the states in the country that offer some criminal records but leave a lot to be desired. I have tried launching my inquiry for jail records through the police and the judiciary. Similarly, I have approached the office of the court clerk for judicial records and used the Courts Open Access website.
But each time I got the distinct impression that public court records are just the tip of the iceberg, and that the government has a tight grip on the real meaty bits of criminal court records. Yes, you do have a state agency that offers the facility for a criminal background search. However, once again you are sent packing with “not enough” information.
Plus, I can tell you this upfront that getting a criminal history report through a state agency can be a cumbersome task. So, I recommend that you start your criminal check by looking at the arrests records for your area; then move on to the warrant list and finally work your way to the court records.
Save the option for the official criminal background check for the last because the amount of data they offer does not justify the effort it takes to get the inquiry underway. Having said that, true to my recommendation, I will start by discussing the options available for an arrest inquiry.
Virginia arrest records
I have always found that even when a law enforcement agency is reluctant to offer its arrests records online, they do tell you about the inmates they currently have in custody. I am not saying that all police departments across Virginia offer this information. But if you do find it, an inmate list can be used in lieu of an arrest report or at least as the starting point of an arrest booking search.
How different is an arrest log from jail records or an arrest report?
I am sure you already know that all three of these provide details in some way or sense about recent arrests in the area. So, it all boils down to how much information you are likely to get from each. Let me explain this further-
- Jail records will have information on all suspects and convicts who are housed in the County Detention Center. Typically, an inmate search will get you details on the incarcerated person and the charges against him as well as bond related information. Depending on the agency, you may or may not get details on inmates who have been released.
- An arrest report is person-specific data. This means that if you can get the police to give you the arrest records for your subject, you will get to know about all the cases that led to the detention of this individual. Of course, the local police will only tell you about instances of arrests effected by them and not by any other law enforcement agency.
- The arrest log is quite simply a list of all the arrests made by the police in the last few days. Typically, the cops tend to limit this list to arrests in last 5 to 30 days.
What are my options for an arrest inquiry in Virginia?
Although there is a central criminal database that’s maintained by Virginia State Police, you can forget about getting access to it. Only law enforcement personnel can tap into this repository. So, you won’t find an online or offline option that allows you to access a state-wide arrest log or get an arrest report that provides data on all the instances of arrests in the name of a person for the State of Virginia. Your only option is to find local arrest history information from the website of the Sheriff’s Office that serves the area. For example:
- Frederick County arrest log: You will find the arrests records for Frederick County on the website of the Sheriff’s Office at https://www.fcva.us/departments/sheriff-s-office. Although the agency does provide information on arrests that date back to 2018, October, they offer very little data pertaining to each detention.
You will get the full name of the person arrested, his/her age and other specifics as well as information on charges. But, the agency does not offer clarification on whether the person has since been released on bail or is still being held in custody.
- Norfolk City jail records: You won’t find the arrest report for Norfolk on the website of the local law enforcement agency. However, you will be able to launch an inmate search, which should give you a fair idea about who just got busted by the police. This facility is offered at http://inmateinfo.norfolk-sheriff.com/IML. You can launch the inmate lookup by using the name or the booking number of a subject.
- Recent arrests in Lee County: This information is available at https://www.leecountysheriff.net/2017-2018-arrests. I won’t say that the data offered is elaborate in any sense of the word. In fact, all you get is the name of the person detained, his/her age, location of arrest and charge related information.
- Henrico County arrests records: The Sheriff’s Office of Henrico County offers multiple options for accessing their arrests log. The service is available at https://randolph.co.henrico.va.us/public-data-access/searcharrest.aspx. You can look for information on arrests last 24 hours or take your inquiry back by 7 to 30 days. Furthermore, you can also find the arrest list for a specific period or find information on arrests made in connection with certain crime types.
- Campbell County arrest inquiry: The Sheriff’s Department of Campbell County does not provide an arrest log on its website. However, you can access information about current inmates from the Blue Ridge Regional Jail Authority. This agency provides tools to launch an arrest inquiry for the counties of Campbell, Amherst, Bedford, Lynchburg and Halifax. You can access their inmate lookup tools at https://www.brrja.state.va.us/campbell-county-adult-detention-center/.
- Recent arrests in Prince William County: The Sheriff’s Office of Prince William County not only provides information on recent arrests in the area but also offers the agency’s archived arrests log. The data is available at http://www.pwcgov.org/government/dept/police/Pages/Arrest-Information.aspx. You will find individual files that lave the arrest log for a 30 day period, and these go back to 60 days. The arrest booking data is listed by date as well as the names of the people detained.
- Fairfax County arrest log:At this time, you cannot access information on arrests in Fairfax County through the website of the local law enforcement agency. Similarly, criminal court records are out of bounds, unless you approach the judicial center in person. However, it is possible to get details on recent arrests by calling the Adult Detention Center on703-246-2100. But, you can only get information on one detainee through this facility. Another way is to approach the ADC office in person by visiting them at 10520 Judicial Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030
What other options do I have for accessing VA arrests records?
Yes, you can find arrest records from the VA Department of Corrections. However, their offender search tool only offers details on convicts, who are serving time in a state prison. So technically, I would not call this an arrest inquiry. However the tool at https://vadoc.virginia.gov/offenders/locator/index.aspx will help you to find details on your subject’s brush with the law if he was convicted for his offenses.
Virginia warrant search
I am going to start this section by telling you how a warrant search in Virginia differs from an inquiry pertaining to warrants conducted in other states. Normally, you’d expect to get information on arrest warrants from the police, although the judiciary plays a prime role in the issue of these orders.
Yet, since the cops end up actually serving all warrants, most people, including investigators, turn to the local law enforcement agency when in need of a warrant check. But, in VA the source of this information can vary from one county to another. Ditto for the amount and kind of information you get.
So, before I discuss the process of performing a warrants search online or otherwise, let me start by telling you about the kind of data that such an inquiry will get for you and explain the meaning of the confusing terms that you are likely to come across along the way.
Will I get information on my subject from the warrant list of my county?
A warrant database is a compilation of details pertaining to all the arrest warrants issued by the courts in a particular area (city/county). Although the police have access to the state-wide warrant list, that’s not the information they provide on their website.
If and when the local law enforcement agency releases information on arrest warrants, it is almost always limited to the detention orders handled by them. In fact, in some counties, you will not get access to the complete warrant database. Instead, the police will only provide the most wanted list or details on bench warrants.
Aren’t bench warrants the same as arrest warrants?
Well, both of them will get a person arrested. However, bench warrants or capias of attachment of the body, as they are called in Virginia, are issued in civil matters and in connection with minor offenses. For example, bench warrants usually get issued when a person does not appear before the court as ordered or does not pay his fines or other court ordered monies.
Because there isn’t a serious offense involved in the issue of these warrants, they can be settled quite easily and usually without spending any time in jail. In contrast, active warrants, which are freshly issued arrest orders, are connected to misdemeanors and felonies.
So, we are talking about offenses that are punishable by a jail term here hence they can’t be dealt with by simply paying a fine. If you are taken into custody because you have an active warrant in your name, you will only be released if you get bail from the court.
“Outstanding warrants” is another term that you may encounter. These are also arrest warrants, albeit those that are more than 6 months old and have not been served as yet. Simply put, you can think of them as old active warrants.
How do I launch a warrant search?
You could head to the sheriff’s office of your county or the city police department but they may not always give you the information you need, and I can say the same for the clerk of court’s office. Often, law enforcement agencies do not want to provide details on outstanding warrants because these orders have not yet resulted in arrests.
So, there is always the potential for the misuse of information pertaining to these arrest orders. That said, some of the counties in VA that do provide this information include:
Fauquier County warrant search: You will find the warrant list for Fauquier County on the website of the local Sheriff’s Department at http://sheriff2citizen.fauquiercounty.gov/mostwanted.aspx. They also offer a tool for a warrant search, which can be used to launch a name-based inquiry. Click on the “search” icon at the bottom of the wanted list/page to use this tool. The most wanted list for the area is available at http://sheriff2citizen.fauquiercounty.gov/mostwanted.aspx.
Chesterfield warrants: The Government of Chesterfield City offers their most wanted list and the active warrants database at https://www.chesterfield.gov/QuickLinks.aspx?CID=124. The PDF file of active warrants does not have arrest mugshots, but you will find the full name of the suspects along with identifier data and details about the charges filed against them.
City of Norfolk warrant lookup: The local Police Department provides their warrant list at https://data.norfolk.gov/Public-Safety/Active-Warrants/cab7-wvn5. This is not just a compilation of bench warrants. In fact, most warrants listed are issued in connection with serious criminal offenses.
City of Newport News warrant list: You can get information on the active and outstanding warrants from Newport News at https://www.nnva.gov/499/Active-Outstanding-Warrants. The database has information on both bench and active warrants. In terms of details offered, you will get the full name of the accused, date of birth, charge related information, date of warrant issue and other identifier data.
Hanover County arrest warrants: Unlike the other law enforcement offices listed in this section, the Sheriff’s Office of Hanover County does not provide its warrant list online. However, you will find their most wanted list on the agency’s website at https://www.hanoversheriff.com/241/Most-Wanted. The suspects are listed with their full name, photograph and details on charges.
Can I get information on a warrant roundup in my area?
No, neither the warrant division of the local law enforcement office nor the judiciary will provide this information to you. In fact, the judiciary is rarely, if ever, kept in the loop about the warrant roundup operation, which only involves the police.
But, I assure you that you will get to know about the warrant roundup procedure a few days after its execution. Actually, you can expect the local newspapers to give you all the dirt on the operation, including the number of arrests made.
Court records from Virginia
In my opinion, it is the easiest to look for judicial records in states that have a Courts Open Access System that allows you to get information on the cases handled by all the courts in the judicial system of the area. Because Virginia has a Central Court Connect System, you will be able to find information on all Circuit and the District Court cases along with matters that made it to the Appellate Courts. So, let me start by telling you about the details that your case lookup will get for you and then, we’ll talk about how to initiate your search for judicial records in Virginia.
What information can I expect in response to a court records search in Virginia?
Circuit Court case records: A search for judicial records from the Circuit Courts of VA will get you the full name of the defendant/subject/respondent, the case number/s, the charges against this person, the case/charge file date, charge type, offense date, arrest date, information about the hearings and details on final disposition, if available.
General District Court case information: Apart from all the information above, a case search for matters heard by the District Courts will also get you the name of the defendants attorney, address of the defendant, status (whether in custody or released), information on the complainant and details on service/processes (summons, capias, etc).
How do I launch a case search through the Court Access Network of VA?
The Courts Open Access System is available at http://www.courts.state.va.us/caseinfo/home.html. You will find the option for launching a case lookup for various courts in the judicial system of Virginia. You can find felony court records as well as civil case information by using this tool. Let me take you through the process:
- Start by choosing the court that you believe may have heard a specific matter. For instance, misdemeanors and traffic offenses are handled by the General District Courts along with the preliminary hearings for felony matters. On the other hand, felony cases are heard by the Circuit Courts, which are courts of broad/general jurisdiction.
- Next, pick the county for which the records are being sought. Unfortunately, the tool does not allow you to access judicial records from all the counties at once. So, if you are looking for state-wide court records, you will have to search one court and one county at a time.
- For General District Courts records, you can initiate the case lookup by using the name of the subject/party, the case number or the hearing date. In addition, you also get the option for service/process search, which is basically an inquiry for summons and bench warrants. You will find the options for the search criteria in a menu on your left.
- For the Circuit Court, you can launch the case search by using the name of the party, the hearing date or the case number. You get the option to choose the division of the Circuit Court i.e. civil or criminal and then you can pick the search criteria.
In both cases, using just the last name will suffice, but it is best to also use the first name or at least a few characters of the first name to narrow down the results. You will not be able to access information on a court docket by using this tool; more on this later.
Can I get details on local court cases through the Clerk of Court’s Office?
Yes, you can. The court clerk is responsible for maintaining all judicial records for the county. As such, you can visit this judicial office for all courthouse public records. Although I would recommend an online court record search given its convenience and discreteness, if you do want to visit the clerk of court’s office, let me tell you how things work in some of the counties of VA.
Fairfax County court records: For case information, you can get in touch with the Criminal Division, which works out of the Fairfax County Courthouse, 4th floor, 4110 Chain Bridge Road in Suite 409. They will charge you 50 cents per page for printing/copying and $2 for a certified copy.
Loudon County judicial records: You can request copies of case information from the Clerk of Court of Loudon County by approaching the agency in person or writing to them. If you are at the agency office, simply use the public kiosk in the lobby to print the copies you need. If you mail in your request, it can take the office 2 business days to process the search. The agency works out of 18 E Market Street, Leesburg, VA 20176.
Prince William County case lookup: Use the form at http://www.pwcgov.org/government/courts/circuit/Documents/12116%20Court%20Case%20Copy%20Request.pdf to get copies of judicial records from the Circuit Court Clerk of Prince William County. The agency works out of 9311 Lee Avenue, 3rd Floor, Manassas, VA 20110. For criminal records, you will have to take the request form to Room 310.
How do I access information on a court docket?
Given the ease with which I could launch a criminal case search through the Court Connect System, I was surprised that I could not find the criminal docket or any court docket through this network. So, if you are keen on conducting a docket search, you will have to rely on the website of the clerk of court of your county. Once again, I am going to get your started with a few examples:
- For Fairfax County, you will find information on the court docket at https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/circuitcourtdocket/.
- For the City of Alexandria, information on a court docket and also on court cases can be accessed by using the tool at https://ajis.alexandriava.gov/?
- For the City of Virginia Beach, you can find the daily court docket list at https://www.vbgov.com/government/departments/courts/circuit-court-judges/pages/daily-docket.aspx.
Virginia criminal records
You will need this inquiry when those criminal court records are needed for an official purpose; think employment, visa and adoption, etc. A local criminal background search report or a letter of standing can be procured from the law enforcement office in your city/county. On the other hand, if you need the criminal search to get you results from all over the state, you will have to approach an agency that works at the state level. Let me tell you more about the options available.
How do I find state-wide criminal records in Virginia?
The Virginia State Police offers two options for a criminal records inquiry. One is available for employers, and the other is offered to individuals and citizens. Although both are name-based inquiries, the provision for a positive identity/fingerprint-based criminal search is made available to some requestors.
- Criminal records search (SP-167): If you are only looking for conviction criminal records, you can avail this facility for a name-based search. However, if you also want access to arrest records and charge related information for criminal cases that did not result in a conviction or are still being tried, you will have to opt for a fingerprint-based check. The inquiry costs $15 and you will need the notarized signature of the subject as well as of the person/entity requesting the information. Fingerprinting, if required, can be done at the local sheriff’s office/police department.
- Criminal background search (SP-230): This is also a name based search and it costs the same as the SP-167 inquiry, but this facility is only available to approved Virginia agencies/employers. In a nutshell, the list of eligible employers includes establishments that offer child care, adult care, health care and foster care facilities and certain state agencies.
You can find the forms for these criminal search requests at https://vspapps.vsp.virginia.gov/catspublic/public/publicHome.html along with information on how to fill them and other requirements. It takes 15 business days to process the criminal check request and you can either drop off the form or mail it to the Virginia State Police Headquarters at 7700 Midlothian Turnpike, North Chesterfield, VA 23235.
How do I access local public criminal records?
The thing to remember here is that when you approach the law enforcement office in your area for a criminal record search, you will only get details on criminal court cases that resulted in a conviction and were heard by the courts of that region. Also, law enforcement agencies have several other rules in place that they follow before you are allowed to access the information you need. Here are a few examples:
Loudon County criminal record search: For a $7 fee, you can get the Sheriff’s Office of Loudon County to conduct a local criminal check for you. The agency only offers this facility to people who are working or living in Loudon and you will need to have a government issued ID card with you to request the report. This is a personal criminal search, which means that you can’t file a request for third party criminal history reports.
The response to the inquiry will include information on all arrests and cases handled by the Loudon County Sheriff’s Department that resulted in a conviction. The criminal records request form is available at https://www.loudoun.gov/DocumentCenter/View/138077/Criminal-History-Record-Check-PDF and the service is offered at 4 centers:
- The Sheriff’s Office at 803 Sycolin Road, SE, Leesburg, VA 20175
- The Public Safety Center at 25216 Loudoun County Parkway, Chantilly, VA 20152
- Loudoun Station (Eastern) at 46620 East Frederick Drive, Sterling, VA 20164
- Loudoun Station (Westerns) at 47 W Loudoun Street, Round Hill, VA 20141
Fairfax county criminal court records: Once again, you are looking at a personal criminal record search here and the information you get will be limited to criminal cases that were handled by the Sheriff’s Office of Fairfax County and led to a conviction. The agency follows a very strict protocol for criminal history checks.
They charge $10 for the service, but you will need to provide two of these four forms of identification: driver’s license, passport, social security card, military identification. The criminal public records request form can be downloaded from https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/police/sites/police/files/assets/images/helpfulinfo/pd_form_23.pdf. You will have to visit the agency office in person to file your request. The Sheriff’s Office works out of 12099 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, VA 22035. If you are sending your request for the criminal check through mail, you will need to provide notarized copies of the ID cards.
Fauquier County criminal check: The Local Sheriff’s Department will provide a criminal background check report as long as you have never had a brush in with the law that involved the agency. In other words, if you have been arrested by Fauquier Police or are a suspect in any matter that is being handled by the agency, don’t expect them to help.
That said, you will have to go to the law enforcement office to file your request for the inquiry. Visit them at 78 W Lee Street, Warrenton, VA 20186, and don’t forget to carry a valid photo ID along.
City of Hampton criminal background search: The local police department charges a bit more than the other law enforcement agencies for a criminal background search, at $15 per inquiry. But, you don’t get more in terms of information or service. The agency will only provide details on criminal cases that resulted in a conviction and were handled by the local police and judiciary.
Also, the facility is only offered to individuals who are living or working in the City of Hampton. Download the form at https://hampton.gov/DocumentCenter/View/10345. Get a print out of the document and fill it and take it to the Central Records Unit, which works out of the lobby of the Public safety building at 40 Lincoln Street, Hampton, VA 23669.
City of Alexandria criminal search: Like the other law enforcement agencies listed in this section, the Police Department of Alexandria also exclusively offers its criminal court docket search service to those who live or work in the city. You cannot get these criminal records online and they don’t accept requests for third party criminal cases search.
You will have to pay $10 for the local criminal history report and you will have to provide two forms of identification of which, one must be a picture ID. Also, you will be asked to offer some form of address proof like the lease agreement or a utility bill. To avail the facility, visit the local law enforcement office at 3600 Wheeler Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22304 on weekdays (except Wednesday) between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/6″][/vc_column][/vc_row]
