Free links to official Virginia state and county government records — courts, criminal histories, vital records, property, voter, business, and licenses across all 95 counties.
How to Search Virginia Criminal Records (Start Here)
Virginia criminal records come from two main sources: the state criminal history repository (maintained by the state police or equivalent agency) and individual county court systems. These are separate databases that may show different information.
What this page covers: Virginia state-level criminal history searches, county court criminal case lookups, and sex offender registry searches. What it does not cover: Federal criminal cases (those require PACER) or arrest records that did not result in charges.
Where to start: For a broad criminal history check, start with the state repository. For specific case details (charges, dispositions, documents), go to the Clerk of the Circuit Court in the county where the case was filed. For sex offenders, use the state sex offender registry.
Common mistake: A state criminal history search and a county court search are not the same thing. The state repository compiles conviction data from across the state. County courts have the actual case files with full detail. You may need both.
Edited by Sam Rokni — Editor & Owner, SearchSystems.net. Public records professional since 1999. NAPBS founding member. Full bio & credentials.
Last reviewed: June 04, 2026 · Methodology: Virginia repository URL, fee, and statute verified against the official Virginia State Police (VSP) publisher on review date. 6 primary .gov sources cited below.
Virginia Criminal Records — Key Numbers (2026)
VSP SP-167 form, 15 business days. Beginning July 1, 2026, Virginia criminal records will be available online via VSP.
$15 state / $30 federal
Public access fee
Per state-only check
SP-167 form mailed to VS
Primary method
How to submit
Virginia State Police (V
Issuing agency
Statewide repository
Va. Code §19.2-389
Governing statute
State law citation
June 04, 2026
Last reviewed
By SearchSystems
What's in a state criminal check (typical %)
In-state arrests
100%
In-state convictions
100%
Out-of-state arrests
10%
Federal cases
5%
Sealed/expunged
0%
Juvenile records
15%
Unit: % included in a typical state-only check.
What Changed in 2026 — Virginia Criminal Records
2026
Virginia state-only check active
The Virginia State Police (VSP) continues to process state criminal history checks via vsp.virginia.gov.
✓ Truth: False. The Virginia State Police (VSP) check covers ONLY Virginia arrests/convictions. Out-of-state and federal records are NOT included.
❌ Myth: "Free third-party 'instant' checks are accurate."
✓ Truth: False. Only vsp.virginia.gov (the official Virginia repository) is authoritative. Data brokers often have stale data.
❌ Myth: "Sealed records will show on a check."
✓ Truth: False. Records sealed or expunged under Virginia law are removed from public-facing checks. Law enforcement may still access them.
❌ Myth: "Arrest = conviction on my record."
✓ Truth: False. An arrest is not a conviction. Most Virginia public checks distinguish arrests, dispositions, and convictions; the FCRA bars non-conviction arrests older than 7 years from employer checks.
❌ Myth: "State and FBI checks return the same data."
✓ Truth: False. The Virginia state check shows Virginia-only records. The FBI check is fingerprint-based and shows records reported by all agencies nationwide.
This is the Online Case Information System for general district courts in Virginia. There is a general district court in each city and county in Virginia, and this System will require you to search by individual court. To begin your search for a case, select the general district court from ...
This is the Online Case Information System for general district courts in Virginia. There is a general district court in each city and county in Virginia, and this System will require you to search by individual court. To begin your search for a case, select the general district court from ...
The following forms can be viewed, downloaded and/or printed from the Virginia State Police Forms page: National Criminal Background Check For Employees or Volunteer Providing Care To Children, the Elderly and Disabled, SP-325
The inmate locator is updated daily, and while we make every effort to display the most up-to-date and accurate information, this is not always possible. Please refer to our Time Computation page for general sentencing information. For all other questions, please send us a message through our Contact page. close program window ... RICHMOND, VIRGINIA — The Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC) Office of Law Enforcement Services (OLES) is investigating the death of an inmate following an apparent attack by another inmate at Keen Mountain Correctional Center. The incident occurred…
Any juvenile tried and convicted in the circuit court of one of the offenses requiring registration pursuant to § 9.1-902 of the Code of Virginia must register. Effective July 1, 2005, juveniles over the age of 13 at the time of the offense, who are tried as a juvenile and are adjudicated delinquent, are also included within the registry if the trial Court determined that the circumstances of the offense require offender registration and ordered the juvenile to register pursuant to § 9.1-902(C) of the Code of Virginia.
The Southwest Virginia Regional Jail Authority welcomes your interest in our agency. The Authority is continually seeking qualified persons who are interested in a career in the corrections industry.
The Meherrin River Regional Jail ... County, Virginia. The facility comprises two buildings including a support building (administration, food service, laundry, intake and booking, medical, visitation, etc.) and a housing building (inmate dormitories and cells, recreation, and security areas). The authority is a regional alliance which serves the counties of Dinwiddie, Brunswick, ...
Sexual misconduct is illegal and will not be tolerated in any manner at the Franklin County Jail. Visit VINELink, an online portal to VINE, America’s number one victim notification network. Use this portal to find sex offenders, edit your registration, and discover more State resources. The Virginia Sheriffs’ Association (VSA) gives a voice to Virginia sheriffs and deputies.
A variety of programs are offered to the Blue Ridge Regional Jail Authority Inmates during their incarceration. These programs are designed to assist them in advancing their academic knowledge, developing a greater self-awareness, personal responsibility, and interpersonal skills.
Inmate records in Roanoke County are official government documents maintained by the Roanoke County Sheriff's Office that contain comprehensive information about individuals who are or have been incarcerated within the county's correctional facilities. These records are created pursuant to ...
Danville Police Department · to · ** Names and address information on this report supplied by the individual at time of arrest ** **All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law ** April 07, 2026 ·
95 Virginia counties are indexed on SearchSystems.net — top 28 counties shown below. Browse the full directory or click any county for local court, sheriff, recorder and assessor links.
How do I run an official Virginia background check?▼
Virginia's official statewide criminal-history check is administered by the Virginia State Police (VSP). Begin the request at vsp.virginia.gov. Most state-level checks require submitting fingerprints (live-scan or ink) plus a processing fee, and the response covers convictions and certain non-conviction data permitted by Virginia statute.
Are Virginia criminal records public?▼
Most adult criminal-history information in Virginia is considered public record, but access is restricted depending on the requester (self, employer, government agency) and the data type (arrest, conviction, sealed, juvenile). The Virginia State Police (VSP) explains who can request what at vsp.virginia.gov. County-court records are also public and searchable through the trial-court system.
What's the difference between a state and an FBI background check in Virginia?▼
A state check from the Virginia State Police (VSP) (vsp.virginia.gov) covers only criminal activity within Virginia. An FBI Identity History Summary (fbi.gov) is the nationwide check covering federal records and contributing states. Employers and licensing boards often require both.
Can I get someone else's Virginia criminal record?▼
Generally, no — only the record subject (with their own ID and signature) or a specifically authorized requester (such as a credentialed employer under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, a licensing board, or law enforcement) can pull a third-party criminal history from the Virginia State Police (VSP). The Virginia State Police (VSP) documentation at vsp.virginia.gov lists each authorized requester category.
How do I challenge or correct a Virginia criminal record?▼
If you find an error on your Virginia criminal history, the Virginia State Police (VSP) offers a record-review and challenge process. Begin at vsp.virginia.gov — typical steps include fingerprint verification, a written dispute, and supporting court documents (such as a dismissal or expungement order) for each contested entry.
