Choose between a court-case search and a Virginia State Police record check
Virginia criminal records are spread across several official systems. The Virginia Judicial System provides public access to many criminal court cases, while the Virginia State Police maintains the Commonwealth’s central criminal-history repository. VADOC separately tracks people in state custody or supervision, and local police and sheriffs maintain arrest and incident records.
Virginia does not put every criminal record in one public database
Court case
Filed criminal charges, hearings, dispositions, sentencing and case status.
Criminal history
The Central Criminal Records Exchange is Virginia’s central criminal-history repository.
Arrest or incident record
Reports normally originate with the agency that made the arrest or investigated the incident.
Corrections record
State inmates, supervisees, probationers and parolees under VADOC authority.
Current local custody
County, city or regional jail records are usually separate from the state DOC locator.
Federal case
Federal prosecutions must be searched separately through PACER.
Search Virginia criminal court cases online
The Virginia Judicial System provides an official Case Status and Information page linking the Commonwealth’s public case-search systems.
Virginia now provides an Online Case Information System-Statewide Search (OCIS 2.0) for adult criminal case information in Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts, criminal and traffic cases in General District Courts, and participating Circuit Courts.
Open Virginia Case Status & InformationStart with the statewide search
Search using the defendant’s name or case number when the relevant court participates.
Identify the locality
Virginia cases are tied to the city or county where the case was filed. Knowing the locality makes follow-up much easier.
Identify the court level
Misdemeanors commonly begin in General District Court. Felony preliminary hearings can also occur there, while serious felony trials are handled by Circuit Court.
Read the disposition
Check whether the charge was convicted, dismissed, nolle prosequi, acquitted or otherwise resolved.
Contact the clerk when online information is incomplete
The clerk’s office for the court where the case was filed is the authoritative next step for documents and details not available online.
General District Court handles many Virginia misdemeanor and preliminary criminal matters
Virginia has a General District Court in each city and county. These courts hear misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic matters and preliminary hearings for felony charges.
General District Court Case Information can be searched by locality using:
- defendant name
- case number
- hearing date
- court locality
Use Circuit Court for serious felony cases and appeals from lower courts
Circuit Courts are Virginia’s trial courts of broad jurisdiction. They handle serious felony trials and appeals from General District and Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts.
Virginia provides online access to criminal cases for participating Circuit Courts, but local coverage can vary. If a particular Circuit Court does not appear in the statewide system, use that locality’s Circuit Court Clerk website or contact the clerk directly.
Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court records have stronger access limits
Virginia’s Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts handle juvenile matters and certain domestic-related cases. Public access differs substantially from ordinary adult criminal cases.
The statewide online system can include adult criminal case information from Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts, but juvenile case information itself is subject to confidentiality restrictions.
Read the Virginia case result before drawing a conclusion
| Case information | What it generally means | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Charge | Offense alleged in court. | A charge alone is not a conviction. |
| Hearing | Scheduled or completed court proceeding. | Check later events for final disposition. |
| Nolle prosequi | Prosecution elected not to proceed with the charge at that time. | Review the complete case record and any related cases. |
| Dismissed | Charge was dismissed. | Determine whether the dismissal is final and whether sealing may apply. |
| Not guilty / acquitted | No conviction on that charge. | Review Virginia’s current automatic-sealing rules. |
| Guilty / convicted | Conviction was entered. | Review sentence and later appeal or sealing activity if relevant. |
How to order an official Virginia State Police criminal-history check
The Virginia State Police maintains the Commonwealth’s central criminal-history repository through the Central Criminal Records Exchange.
The standard general-public record check uses Form SP-167 — Criminal History Record Request.
Virginia State Police says SP-167 can be used by:
- individuals
- members of the general public
- private companies
- out-of-state agencies
- people requesting their own Virginia record
- certain other qualifying requesters
Current Virginia State Police criminal-record search fees
| Search type | Current fee | Form / purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia criminal-history name search | $15 | SP-167 / applicable SP-230 request |
| Criminal history + sex-offender registry search | $20 | Combined qualifying search |
| Sex-offender search | $15 | SP-266 |
| Qualifying nonprofit combination search | $16 | Requires qualifying nonprofit documentation |
| Qualifying nonprofit sex-offender search | $8 | Requires qualifying nonprofit documentation |
Fees and forms can change. Confirm the current amount on the Virginia State Police criminal-background page before mailing payment.
SP-167 is a mail-based process, not an instant online background check
VSP allows users to generate the SP-167 form online, but the completed request must then be printed, notarized as required and submitted according to the State Police instructions.
Current VSP criminal-record-check mailing address
Virginia State PoliceCivil & Applicant Records Exchange (CARE)
7700 Midlothian Turnpike
North Chesterfield, VA 23235
Fingerprint-based checks are more reliable than name-only searches
Name-based searches compare identifying information against Virginia’s records. Fingerprint-based searches provide stronger identity confirmation and are required for certain regulated employment and volunteer purposes.
Virginia State Police also participates in national fingerprint-based checks for qualifying employees and volunteers who work with children, elderly people or individuals with disabilities.
What to do if a Virginia criminal record belongs to someone else
Virginia State Police provides a formal challenge of a criminal record process when a person discovers that identifying information in CCRE appears to belong to another individual.
Visit a law-enforcement agency
Go to a local sheriff, police department or Virginia State Police location.
Ask to be fingerprinted for a record challenge
Identity must be established before fingerprints are taken.
Obtain agency documentation
The fingerprinting official documents that identification was reviewed and fingerprints were obtained.
Send the challenge to CCRE
VSP compares the fingerprints and determines whether the criminal record actually belongs to you.
Virginia State Police criminal history is not the same thing as a police arrest report
If you are trying to obtain the underlying arrest or incident report, contact the law-enforcement agency that created the report.
Virginia State Police explicitly states that its arrest reports are not released to the public merely through the SP-167 criminal-history process.
Virginia inmate and supervision records are searched through VADOC
The Virginia Department of Corrections Inmate & Supervisee Locator provides public information about people under VADOC custody or supervision.
The locator includes people such as:
- individuals incarcerated in VADOC institutions
- probationers
- parolees
- certain individuals in institutional hospitals
- some people housed locally under VADOC authority
- Community Corrections Alternative Program participants
Users can search by name or seven-digit DOC ID and can narrow results using additional filters such as location, race, gender and age range.
Search VADOCA local Virginia jail may not appear like a state prison record
Virginia uses city, county and regional jails in addition to VADOC institutions. Someone recently arrested or awaiting trial may be in a local or regional jail rather than a state correctional facility.
When searching a recent arrest:
Virginia State Police also maintains the public sex-offender registry
The Virginia State Police operates the Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry.
The public registry is a specialized search and should not be treated as a complete Virginia criminal-history search.
Search Virginia RegistryCriminal appeals have separate Virginia case systems
Virginia provides separate online case information for the Court of Appeals of Virginia and the Supreme Court of Virginia.
Appellate cases can generally be searched by party name or appellate case number.
Virginia Appellate Case InformationVirginia’s criminal-record sealing rules changed significantly in 2026
Virginia now has a broader statutory framework for sealing qualifying criminal-history and court records. The law distinguishes between automatic sealing, petition-based sealing and traditional expungement procedures.
Under Virginia’s current definition, sealing generally means prohibiting public access to qualifying records held by entities such as:
- Central Criminal Records Exchange
- courts
- police departments
- sheriff’s offices
- campus police
- Virginia DMV where applicable
Some Virginia records can now be sealed automatically
Virginia’s 2026 sealing statutes provide automatic sealing for specified qualifying cases. Eligibility depends on the offense, disposition, timing and criminal-history conditions.
Qualifying convictions
Certain listed misdemeanor convictions can be automatically sealed after the statutory waiting period when the person meets the required conditions.
Acquittals and dismissals
Virginia also provides automatic-sealing procedures for certain misdemeanor cases that result in acquittal or dismissal with prejudice. Different procedures can apply to qualifying felony cases.
Current court forms include petitions under Virginia Code §§ 19.2-392.12 and 19.2-392.12:1, plus forms for requesting access to a sealed court record.
Federal criminal cases in Virginia are separate from state records
Federal criminal prosecutions do not appear as Virginia Circuit or General District Court cases. Use the federal judiciary’s PACER system.
Virginia is divided between the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia and the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia.
Search Federal Court RecordsEmployment background checks may use different Virginia procedures
An employer or licensing organization should not assume that an ordinary court search is equivalent to every legally required background check.
Virginia State Police provides specialized processes such as SP-230, NCJI and national fingerprint-based checks for particular entities authorized by law.
Virginia State Police criminal-record contact information
Virginia State Police Headquarters
7700 Midlothian TurnpikeNorth Chesterfield, VA 23235
Criminal-history records
Virginia State Police describes the Central Criminal Records Exchange as the Commonwealth’s sole central criminal-history repository.
Virginia State Police Headquarters map
VSP says an SP-167 may be dropped off at headquarters, but it is not processed the same day. Mailing is usually the more practical option unless you have another reason to visit.
Virginia criminal-record search tips that save time
Start with court records
If you only need to understand a case, Virginia’s judiciary search is usually faster than ordering SP-167.
Know the locality
Virginia court records become much easier to verify once you know the city or county.
Follow felonies to Circuit Court
A felony may begin with a preliminary hearing in General District Court and continue in Circuit Court.
SP-167 is not instant
Allow roughly 15 business days after VSP receives the request.
Use current sealing rules
Virginia’s record-sealing framework changed significantly in 2026.
Recent arrest?
Check the local sheriff or jail first, then use the court system to verify filed charges.
Wrong identity?
Use VSP’s fingerprint-based challenge procedure instead of only disputing the name.
Prison question?
Use VADOC rather than expecting SP-167 to function as an inmate locator.
Federal matter?
Switch to PACER because federal cases are not Virginia trial-court cases.
Questions people commonly ask about Virginia criminal records
1. Can I search Virginia criminal court cases online?
Yes. Virginia’s Judicial System provides statewide and locality-based case-search tools for adult criminal cases in General District Courts, participating Circuit Courts and qualifying adult criminal matters in Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts.
2. Who maintains Virginia’s official statewide criminal-history records?
The Virginia State Police maintains the Central Criminal Records Exchange, which VSP identifies as the Commonwealth’s central repository for criminal-history records.
3. Can the general public request a Virginia State Police criminal-history check?
Yes. Virginia State Police says individuals, members of the general public, private companies and out-of-state agencies can use Form SP-167, subject to its consent, notarization and payment requirements.
4. How much does a Virginia SP-167 criminal-history check cost?
Virginia State Police currently lists the basic criminal-history record search at $15. Fees can change, so verify the current VSP schedule before submitting the request.
5. How long does a Virginia State Police background check take?
VSP currently states that the normal process is approximately 15 business days after the request is received and that there is no expedited or same-day service.
6. Where can I find a Virginia inmate?
Use the Virginia Department of Corrections Inmate & Supervisee Locator for people under VADOC custody or supervision. Recent county or regional jail detainees may require a separate local-jail search.
7. Can I get a Virginia police arrest report from the SP-167 search?
No. SP-167 is a criminal-history record check. Police or arrest reports generally must be requested from the law-enforcement agency that created the report, subject to Virginia disclosure law.
8. What should I do if a Virginia criminal record belongs to someone else?
Virginia State Police provides a fingerprint-based challenge procedure. The individual can be fingerprinted by law enforcement so CCRE can determine whether the record actually belongs to that person.
9. Can Virginia criminal records be sealed automatically?
Yes. Virginia’s current law provides automatic sealing for certain qualifying offenses and dispositions, while other records may require a petition. Eligibility depends on the offense, disposition, dates and criminal history.
10. Does a Virginia criminal-record search include federal cases?
No. Federal prosecutions are handled through the federal judiciary and should be searched through PACER.
Official Virginia sources used for this guide
- Virginia State Police — Criminal History Record Check
- Virginia State Police — Civil & Applicant Records Exchange / CCRE
- Virginia Judicial System — Case Status and Information
- Virginia General District Courts
- Virginia Circuit Courts
- Virginia Department of Corrections — Inmate & Supervisee Locator
- Virginia State Police — Sex Offender Registry
- Virginia Courts — Criminal Sealing Forms
- Code of Virginia — Central Criminal Records Exchange
- Code of Virginia — Sealing of Criminal History and Court Records
- PACER — Federal Court Records