Virginiabeach County Criminal Records
What Is Virginia Beach Criminal Records
Criminal records in Virginia Beach, Virginia, constitute official documentation of an individual's interactions with the criminal justice system, maintained by multiple agencies across law enforcement, judicial, and correctional branches. These records encompass a broad range of information, from initial law enforcement contact through final case disposition.
Key distinctions exist among the types of records maintained:
- Arrest records vs. conviction records: An arrest record documents that an individual was taken into custody by law enforcement, while a conviction record reflects a formal finding of guilt by a court. An arrest does not constitute a conviction under Virginia law.
- Felony vs. misdemeanor: Felonies are serious offenses punishable by more than one year of incarceration; misdemeanors carry lesser penalties. Virginia classifies felonies into six classes and misdemeanors into four classes under Virginia Code § 18.2-9.
- Adult vs. juvenile records: Adult criminal records are generally accessible to the public, whereas juvenile records are sealed by default under Virginia law and are not available for public inspection except under specific court-ordered circumstances.
- Active warrants vs. historical records: Active warrants reflect current outstanding orders for arrest, while historical records document past charges, proceedings, and outcomes.
Agencies responsible for maintaining criminal records in Virginia Beach include:
- Virginia Beach Police Department – maintains arrest records and incident reports
- Virginia Beach Sheriff's Office – oversees jail bookings and inmate records
- Virginia Beach Circuit Court and General District Court – maintain case filings, dispositions, and sentencing records
- Virginia State Police – maintains the Central Criminal Records Exchange (CCRE), the statewide repository for criminal history
Records typically include charges filed, arraignment details, pleas entered, trial proceedings, sentencing information, and any probation or parole conditions imposed.
Virginia Beach Circuit Court 2425 Nimmo Pkwy, Virginia Beach, VA 23456 (757) 385-8827 Virginia Beach Circuit Court
Virginia Beach General District Court 2425 Nimmo Pkwy, Virginia Beach, VA 23456 (757) 385-4044 Virginia Beach General District Court
Are Criminal Records Public In Virginia Beach
Under current Virginia law, criminal records are presumptively open to the public pursuant to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), Virginia Code § 2.2-3700 et seq., which establishes that all public records shall be available for inspection and copying by any citizen of the Commonwealth. Court records maintained by the Virginia Beach Circuit Court and General District Court are similarly accessible under the principle of open judicial proceedings.
Records that are generally available to the public include:
- Adult conviction records
- Court case filings and dispositions
- Sentencing orders
- Publicly accessible docket entries
- Booking and jail roster information
Records that are restricted or exempt from public disclosure include:
- Juvenile records, which are sealed pursuant to Virginia Code § 16.1-301
- Records pertaining to ongoing criminal investigations where disclosure would compromise law enforcement operations
- Sealed or expunged records, which are removed from public access by court order
- Mental health and medical information contained within criminal files
- Victim identifying information in certain sensitive cases, including sexual assault and domestic violence matters
Members of the public may inspect adult conviction records and court proceedings without demonstrating a specific need or purpose. Requests for restricted categories of records require a court order or demonstration of a legally recognized interest.
How To Look Up Criminal Records In Virginia Beach
Members of the public seeking criminal records in Virginia Beach may access them through several official channels, depending on the type of record needed and the level of detail required.
Step 1 – Identify the type of record needed. Determine whether the search involves court case records, arrest/booking records, or a comprehensive criminal history background check, as each is maintained by a different agency.
Step 2 – Search court records online. The Virginia Judiciary's Case Status and Information portal allows members of the public to search General District Court case records statewide, including Virginia Beach, by name, case number, or hearing date. Circuit Court records may be searched through the Virginia Courts Case Information system.
Step 3 – Visit the courthouse in person. For records not available online, or for certified copies, members of the public may visit the Clerk of the Circuit Court or the General District Court Clerk's Office during public counter hours.
- Circuit Court Clerk's Office Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- General District Court Clerk's Office Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Step 4 – Request a criminal history background check. Comprehensive criminal history records are maintained by the Virginia State Police through the Central Criminal Records Exchange. Members of the public may submit a request for a name-based criminal history record check online or by mail.
Virginia State Police – Central Criminal Records Exchange P.O. Box 85076, Richmond, VA 23261 (804) 674-2000 Virginia State Police
Step 5 – Contact the Virginia Beach Sheriff's Office for jail booking records and inmate information.
Virginia Beach Sheriff's Office 2501 James Madison Blvd, Virginia Beach, VA 23456 (757) 385-2701 Virginia Beach Sheriff's Office
How To Find Criminal Records in Virginia Beach Online
Several official online portals currently provide access to Virginia Beach criminal records without requiring an in-person visit.
Virginia Judiciary Online Case Information System The Virginia Courts Case Information portal provides access to General District Court and Circuit Court case records. Users may search by defendant name, case number, or date range. The portal contains case status, charge information, hearing dates, and dispositions. No registration is required for basic searches.
Virginia Beach General District Court Case Search The General District Court case search allows searches of misdemeanor and traffic cases filed in Virginia Beach. Results include charge descriptions, court dates, and case outcomes.
Virginia Inmate Locator The Virginia Department of Corrections operates an offender locator tool that allows members of the public to search for individuals currently incarcerated in state correctional facilities. The tool provides facility location, projected release date, and offense information.
Virginia Beach Sheriff's Office Inmate Search Current jail roster and inmate booking information for the Virginia Beach Correctional Center is accessible through the Sheriff's Office website. This portal reflects individuals currently held in local custody and includes booking date and charge information.
Virginia Sex Offender Registry The Virginia State Police maintains the Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry, which is searchable by name, address, or zip code and is available to the public without registration.
Note that some historical records, sealed cases, and pre-digitization documents are available only through in-person requests at the courthouse clerk's office.
Can You Search Virginia Beach Criminal Records for Free?
Under current Virginia law, members of the public have the right to inspect public records at no charge. The Virginia Freedom of Information Act, § 2.2-3704, provides that public bodies shall make records available for inspection during regular office hours and may charge only reasonable fees for copies, not for inspection itself.
The following resources are currently available at no cost:
- Virginia Courts Case Information System – free online access to General District Court and Circuit Court case records statewide, including Virginia Beach
- Virginia Beach General District Court Case Search – free name-based search of misdemeanor and traffic cases
- Virginia Sex Offender Registry – free public search with no registration required
- Virginia Inmate Locator (VADOC) – free search of state correctional facility inmates
- Virginia Beach Sheriff's Office Inmate Search – free access to current local jail roster
Fees are assessed for certified copies of court documents, which are currently set by the clerk's office pursuant to the Virginia Code schedule of fees. A comprehensive criminal history background check through the Virginia State Police Central Criminal Records Exchange carries a processing fee, currently set at $15 for a name-based search submitted by a private individual.
What's Included in a Virginia Beach Criminal Record?
A complete criminal record in Virginia Beach may contain several categories of information depending on the maintaining agency and the nature of the case.
Identifying Information
- Full legal name and known aliases
- Date of birth
- Physical description (height, weight, eye color, hair color)
- Booking photograph (mugshot)
- Last known address
- State Identification Number (SID) and FBI number where applicable
Arrest Information
- Date, time, and location of arrest
- Arresting agency (Virginia Beach Police Department or Sheriff's Office)
- Booking number and facility
- Charges filed at time of arrest
- Bail or bond conditions
- Jail facility assignment
Court Case Information
- Case number and court jurisdiction (Circuit or General District)
- Filing date and docket entries
- Charges and applicable Virginia Code statutes, including felony or misdemeanor classification
- Plea entered (guilty, not guilty, no contest)
- Attorney of record and prosecuting attorney
Disposition Information
- Verdict and conviction date
- Sentencing details, including incarceration length, fines, restitution, and suspended sentences
- Probation or parole conditions
- Appeals filed and outcomes
Additional Record Elements
- Outstanding warrants
- Protective or restraining orders
- Sex offender registration status
- DUI/DWI adjudications
- Traffic violations adjudicated in General District Court
- Pending charges and scheduled court dates
How Long Does Virginia Beach Keep Criminal Records?
Virginia Beach criminal records are retained according to schedules established under state law and the Library of Virginia's Records Retention and Disposition Schedule for courts and law enforcement agencies.
Retention periods currently in effect include:
- Felony conviction records: Permanent retention by the Circuit Court and the Virginia State Police Central Criminal Records Exchange
- Misdemeanor conviction records: Retained for a minimum of 10 years by the General District Court; permanent retention in the CCRE
- Arrest records without conviction: Retained by law enforcement agencies; may be eligible for expungement under Virginia Code § 19.2-392.2, which governs the expungement of police and court records for charges that did not result in conviction
- Juvenile records: Sealed upon the subject reaching adulthood and destroyed pursuant to court order under applicable retention schedules
- Jail booking records: Retained by the Virginia Beach Sheriff's Office for a minimum of five years for non-conviction bookings; longer for conviction-related bookings
- Court case files (Circuit Court): Permanent retention for felony cases; General District Court civil and criminal case files are retained per the Library of Virginia schedule, generally 10 years for misdemeanor dispositions
The Library of Virginia publishes the official Records Retention and Disposition Schedules applicable to local government agencies, including courts and law enforcement, which govern the minimum retention periods for all official records.
Library of Virginia – Records Management 800 E Broad St, Richmond, VA 23219 (804) 692-3500 Library of Virginia