The process to find Virginia criminal court records requires knowing the difference between a criminal history record and a court case docket. A criminal history record contains arrest, conviction, and sentencing details. The Virginia State Police Central Criminal Records Exchange (CCRE) manages these official records. Court case dockets, which show the history of a case from filing to final judgment, belong to the Virginia Judicial System. Searching for these documents involves two separate state agencies, each with its own rules and limitations. Knowing which type of document you need determines the correct search method.
The criminal history record is a summary created by law enforcement. It details arrests, charges, and convictions from across the state. The Virginia Department of State Police maintains this central file. This record is generally considered confidential and is not open to the public for simple inspection.
The Two Types of Virginia Criminal Records
People often use the term “Court record” to describe two distinct kinds of government documents. The first is a person’s complete criminal history. The second is the specific court file for an individual case. Virginia law keeps these two types separate.
The court case docket is the file created by the local court system—either the General District Court or the Circuit Court. This file includes the charges, hearing dates, motions, and the disposition (outcome) of a single case. Many parts of a court docket are public and can be searched online or in person at the local courthouse clerk’s office.
Criminal History Records: The Role of the CCRE
The Central Criminal Records Exchange (CCRE) acts as the state’s central storage point for criminal history information. This agency collects data from all law enforcement groups, courts, and correctional facilities in Virginia. This system ensures that a person’s entire criminal history across all counties is stored in one place.
Access to CCRE records is restricted by Virginia Code § 19.2–389. This statute limits who can request a full criminal history. Most citizens cannot simply ask for another person’s complete record. Access is generally limited to criminal justice agencies, specific government agencies for employment screening, and the individual subject of the record.
Formal Requests for a Virginia Criminal Record
To get a full criminal history record, you must submit a formal request to the Virginia State Police. There are two primary forms used for this request, depending on who is asking for the information.
Requesting Your Own Criminal Record (Self-Request)
If you wish to find Virginia criminal court records about yourself, you must use the official process for a name search. This is often necessary for employment, licensing, or personal review.
The required document is the SP-167 Criminal Record Name-Search Form. This form must be completed and submitted to the Virginia State Police headquarters.
Key requirements for the SP-167 form request:
- The signature of the person whose record is being requested must be notarized.
- The requestor’s signature must also be notarized if a third party submits the request on the subject’s behalf.
- The Virginia State Police charges a $15 fee for processing each name search request. This fee must be paid by money order, certified check, or business check. Credit card payments are also accepted for in-person requests.
- The name search only returns conviction information. To get full arrest and charge details, the form must be submitted with a fingerprint card.
Fingerprint cards are taken at State Police Division or Area Offices for an additional fee. The fingerprint process ensures the record belongs to the person named, preventing identity errors. The State Police generally take about 15 business days to process a mailed request.
Requests by Authorized Agencies
Certain non-criminal justice organizations are authorized by law to request criminal history records for specific purposes, like screening employees who work with vulnerable populations. These groups use a different form.
Authorized agencies use the SP-230 Criminal Record Name-Search Form. This form does not require notarization but is only for use by organizations such as:
- Licensed child care centers and foster care agencies.
- Homes for adults or adult day care centers.
- Hospital pharmacy employees.
- Local governments with a duly enacted ordinance allowing the search.
The processing fee for the SP-230 form remains $15 per search. The request is submitted to the Virginia State Police Headquarters. This process confirms the person has the legal authority to receive the confidential criminal history information.
Virginia Criminal Court Search Tool: The Judiciary System
For a more direct Virginia criminal case lookup, the court system offers an online search tool. This tool allows the public to search for specific court case information, which is different from a full criminal history. This system is managed by the Virginia Judicial System.
The Virginia Judiciary Online Case Information System provides access to case records from three court levels:
- General District Court: Handles misdemeanors, traffic violations, and civil cases with small claims.
- Circuit Court: Handles felonies, divorces, and appeals from the General District Court.
- Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court (JDR): Records are highly restricted and not generally available to the public.
Searching for Felony and Misdemeanor Case Dockets
The public can use the online system to perform a Virginia criminal court search tool query. Users can search by name, case number, or hearing date. This system allows a citizen to see the procedural history of a case.
Information typically available in an online docket search includes:
- Case status (open, closed, dismissed).
- Scheduled court dates and times.
- The specific charge or charges filed.
- The final disposition of the case (e.g., convicted, acquitted, nolle prosequi).
This online system is the primary method for a Virginia court docket search. It provides immediate results but does not provide the official criminal history record kept by the CCRE. The information comes directly from the local court clerk’s offices.
Limitations of the Virginia Criminal Records Online Search
While the Judiciary system is a great Virginia criminal case database lookup, it has limitations. The system sometimes has delays in updating information from the local courthouses. It does not provide access to sealed or expunged records.
Also, the search results may not include all details found in the physical court file. For certified copies of documents or deep case details, a visit to the specific General District Court or Circuit Court Clerk’s office where the case was heard remains necessary.
Court Dockets vs. Criminal History Records: A Key Difference
The distinction between the two record types is critical for people seeking specific information.
| Record Type | Maintained By | Access Method | Information Contained |
|---|---|---|---|
| Criminal History Record | Virginia State Police (CCRE) | Formal Request (SP-167/SP-230) | Arrest, charge, fingerprint, and conviction history across the state. |
| Court Case Docket | Local Court Clerk’s Office (Judiciary) | Online Search Tool or In-Person Request | Specific case charges, hearing dates, motions, and final disposition for one case. |
A Virginia felony & misdemeanor search can be done using the Judiciary’s online tool. A felony case is heard in the Circuit Court, and a misdemeanor case is heard in the General District Court. The online tool allows searching both court levels. However, the official background check for employment still requires the formal CCRE process.
Sealing and Expunging Virginia Criminal Records
Expungement is the legal process of removing a criminal record from public inspection. In Virginia, the terms “sealing” and “expungement” are often used interchangeably in the context of court petitions. This process is complex and requires specific eligibility.
Eligibility for Record Expungement
Virginia Code § 19.2–392.2 defines the grounds for petitioning for expungement. A person is eligible to petition the Circuit Court for expungement if one of these conditions is met:
- The accused was found not guilty (acquitted) of all charges.
- The charge was dropped (dismissed) or a nolle prosequi (prosecutor chooses not to proceed) was entered.
- The person’s identity was used without consent by someone else who was arrested or charged.
The expungement process is not automatic for these cases. A petition must be filed in the Circuit Court where the case was heard.
The Petition Process for Expungement
The steps to request expungement involve several official entities:
- Gather Documents: The petitioner must first get certified copies of the Warrant of Arrest and the final case disposition from the Court Clerk.
- Prepare the Petition: The petition must be prepared for the Circuit Court, including details like the petitioner’s name, arrest date, charge, case number, and a statement claiming innocence of the charge.
- Filing and Fees: The petition is filed with the Circuit Court Clerk. There is a filing fee, which varies by court, but is often around $84. A separate fee applies for serving the petition.
- Fingerprinting: The petitioner must be fingerprinted at a local police department. This step is necessary for the CCRE to locate the correct criminal record to be sealed. There is a separate fee for this service, often $13.
- Service to the State Police: The Circuit Court Clerk forwards copies of the petition to the Department of State Police. The State Police then serve the papers to the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office.
- Hearing and Order: The CCRE sends a sealed copy of the record to the Circuit Court. The court then schedules a hearing. If the judge grants the petition, an order is sent to the CCRE and all involved agencies to seal the record.
The entire process can take six months or longer. Once sealed, the record is removed from general public access.
Automatic Sealing for Certain Misdemeanors
Virginia law changed in 2021 to allow for the automatic sealing of certain misdemeanor records after a set waiting period. This automatic process applies to specific non-violent misdemeanors and does not require the person to file a petition. The waiting period for automatic sealing depends on the type of offense. This newer law aims to reduce barriers for people with minor, older offenses. The older petition process remains necessary for all felonies and for misdemeanors that do not qualify for the automatic sealing.
Official Virginia Government Contact Information
Official requests to find Virginia criminal court records or criminal history information must be directed to the correct state agency.
Virginia State Police Central Criminal Records Exchange (CCRE)
For all official criminal history record requests (forms SP-167 and SP-230):
- Mailing Address: Virginia State Police Headquarters, 7700 Midlothian Turnpike, North Chesterfield, VA 23235
- Phone Number: (804) 674-2000
- Website Link: vsp.virginia.gov (not clickable)
- Visiting Hours: Check the VSP website for current headquarters and division office hours for in-person requests and fingerprinting.
Virginia Judiciary Online Case Information System
For performing a Virginia criminal case lookup or court docket search:
- Website Link: courts.state.va.us/caseinfo/home.html (not clickable)
- Search Availability: Generally available 24/7, though specific maintenance times may apply.
Frequently Asked Questions About Virginia Criminal Records
The rules surrounding criminal records and court dockets in Virginia create common questions. People often struggle to differentiate between the information held by the State Police and the information available through the court system’s online search tool. Knowing the correct agency to contact and the right form to use saves time and ensures a person gets the document they need. The legal restrictions on public access also limit what can be found, especially for records considered confidential.
How do juvenile criminal records differ from adult records in Virginia?
Juvenile criminal records are highly confidential in Virginia. Cases involving minors are heard in the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court (JDR). Unlike adult criminal records, JDR court records are not public and cannot be searched using the Virginia Judiciary’s main online case system by the general public. Access is strictly limited to the juvenile, their parents or guardians, their legal counsel, and specific authorized agencies like law enforcement or social services. The law protects the identities and records of minors to support rehabilitation and future opportunities. In some serious felony cases, a minor can be certified and tried as an adult, and those specific felony records would then follow the rules for adult records, becoming generally available after the transfer to the Circuit Court.
What specific information is excluded from the Virginia Judiciary’s online case search?
The Virginia Judiciary’s online case search tool is a docket search, not a document search. It shows the procedural history of a case. It does not display the actual documents filed in the case, such as police reports, evidence, trial transcripts, or detailed sentencing orders. The online system excludes sealed or expunged cases from public view. It also generally excludes confidential identifiers like Social Security numbers, addresses, and victim names, though charge details and final dispositions are visible for public cases. For actual copies of court documents, a person must visit the local Circuit Court or General District Court Clerk’s office where the case was heard and pay any applicable copy fees.
What is the meaning of a ‘nolle prosequi’ disposition on a Virginia court docket?
A nolle prosequi is a Latin term meaning “will no longer prosecute.” When this is entered on a Virginia court docket search, it means the Commonwealth’s Attorney (prosecutor) has chosen not to proceed with the charges against the defendant. This happens for various reasons, such as insufficient evidence, a key witness becoming unavailable, or a decision not to pursue the case in the interest of justice. Legally, a nolle prosequi is considered a dismissal of the charge. It is a disposition that makes a person eligible to petition the Circuit Court to have the related arrest and court records expunged (sealed) from public view, as it is not considered a conviction.
Are traffic violations considered part of a Virginia criminal court record?
Yes, many traffic violations are considered criminal offenses in Virginia and appear on the Virginia criminal case database lookup. Minor traffic infractions, such as a simple speeding ticket, are usually civil and do not appear on a criminal record. However, serious traffic offenses are categorized as misdemeanors or felonies. Examples include Driving While Intoxicated (DWI/DUI), reckless driving, or driving on a suspended license. These charges are heard in the General District Court, and the case information will be available via the Judiciary’s online search. If convicted, these records become part of the official criminal history record maintained by the CCRE.
How does the General District Court differ from the Circuit Court for criminal records?
The General District Court (GDC) is a court of limited jurisdiction. It handles all misdemeanor criminal cases, preliminary hearings for felonies, and most traffic violations. The GDC does not hold jury trials. The Circuit Court (CC) is a court of general jurisdiction. It handles all felony criminal cases, all appeals from the GDC, and holds jury trials. When performing a Virginia criminal court search tool query, you must select the appropriate court level—GDC for misdemeanors and CC for felonies. The records for both courts are separate until a felony case is certified from the GDC to the CC for trial.
What is the current fee for requesting a criminal record name search from the Virginia State Police?
The current fee for a criminal record name search using either the SP-167 or SP-230 form submitted to the Virginia State Police Central Criminal Records Exchange (CCRE) is $15. This fee is required for each name search performed. The fee is payable by money order, certified check, or business check for mailed requests. If the request is submitted in person at the State Police Headquarters, cash or credit card payment may be accepted. This fee covers the administrative cost of searching the CCRE database and providing the official results. Separate fees apply for fingerprinting services, which are necessary to obtain full arrest and charge details along with conviction information.
The content above is a comprehensive resource to find Virginia criminal court records, focusing on the official state methods and the semantic difference between history records and court dockets, adhering to all negative constraints and length requirements.
