Alexandria Criminal History Records

Alexandria criminal history records are maintained by the Alexandria Circuit Court Clerk, the General District Court, and the Alexandria Police Department. This independent city operates its own court system separate from any county, and its criminal case records go back decades in the city's official archives. You can search criminal history in Alexandria through online court portals or by visiting the clerk's office in person at 520 King Street.

Alexandria Circuit Court Criminal Records

The Alexandria Circuit Court is the primary record-keeper for felony criminal cases in the city. Clerk J. Greg Parks oversees the office, which maintains criminal case data going back to 1987 in digital form. The office is part of the 16th Judicial Circuit, which also serves Arlington County. Criminal cases at this level include all felonies and misdemeanor appeals from the district court.

The Alexandria Clerk of Circuit Court follows a policy of maximum transparency for the public. Court records in circuit courts are governed by Virginia Code Title 17.1, not FOIA, which means non-confidential records are open for public inspection. Copies cost 50 cents per page or image. The clerk will waive fees up to $25 per request or for requests on a single matter.

Online access is available through two major systems. OCIS (Online Case Information System) gives free public access to criminal case information at eapps.courts.state.va.us/ocis/search. OCRA (Officer of the Court Remote Access) offers paid subscription access to civil and criminal case data and document images for Virginia attorneys. COVERS provides deed and land record access. Criminal case data in OCRA runs from July 1987 forward, with images from July 2003 forward.

The clerk also operates a branch office at the Redella S. "Del" Pepper Community Resource Center at 4850 Mark Center Drive, Second Floor. That branch is open Tuesdays and Fridays only, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. You can get certified copies of circuit court records there, and the branch accepts credit cards, checks, and money orders. No cash is accepted at the branch location.

The Alexandria Circuit Court website was captured below showing the main clerk portal.

The Alexandria Circuit Court Clerk's office maintains the official record of all criminal cases filed in the city's circuit court.

The clerk's online portal provides access to OCIS, COVERS, and OCRA systems for searching Alexandria criminal records.

General District Court in Alexandria

The Alexandria General District Court sits at the same address as the circuit court, at 520 King Street, but on the second floor. Clerk Marion W. Jackson leads the office. The court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic offenses, and preliminary hearings for felony cases before they move to the circuit court. Hours are 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM on weekdays.

You can reach the district court by phone depending on what you need. For traffic matters, call (703) 746-4041. For criminal cases, call (703) 746-4030. For civil matters, call (703) 746-4021. The court's address for mail is P.O. Box 320489, Alexandria, VA 22320. The Alexandria General District Court is part of the 16th Judicial District. Case information is searchable through the Virginia GDC online portal.

The district court page on the Virginia Judiciary site is shown below.

The Alexandria General District Court handles criminal misdemeanors, traffic violations, and preliminary felony hearings.

This court is where most Alexandria residents first encounter the criminal court system, handling cases from traffic infractions to serious misdemeanors.

Alexandria Police Department Records

The Alexandria Police Department handles arrest records specific to the city. Their records are separate from state criminal history. To get your Alexandria-only arrest record, you must currently live or work in the City of Alexandria. You need two government-issued forms of ID, one of which must be a photo ID. These requests are handled in person only. The fee is $10.00, paid to the City of Alexandria Treasurer.

The Information Services Section of the Alexandria Police Department is at 3600 Wheeler Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22304. Call (703) 746-6200 for more information. Walk-in requests must be made during normal business hours. This is a city-level arrest record only. It does not replace a full Virginia criminal history check through the state police.

The city also processes broader records requests through the FOIA office. As of January 2026, the City of Alexandria accepts electronic payments for FOIA requests through GovQA. You can request records online, by email at FOIArequests@alexandriava.gov, by phone at (703) 746-3750, or in person at the City Attorney's Office at 123 N Pitt St, 5th Floor. FOIA requests are processed within five days. For more information, visit alexandriava.gov/FOIA.

Search Criminal History in Alexandria

Three main online systems give access to Alexandria criminal records. Each covers different court levels and record types.

OCIS, the Online Case Information System at eapps.courts.state.va.us/ocis/search, is free and open to the public. It shows criminal and traffic case data in general district courts and select circuit courts. Alexandria is included. You can search by name or case number and see charges, hearing dates, and case status. The system does not show juvenile, adoption, or sealed records.

The General District Court online search at eapps.courts.state.va.us/gdcourts/ gives access to misdemeanor and traffic cases at the district court level. The Virginia Courts case information portal at vacourts.gov/caseinfo/home links to both circuit and district court search tools and provides guidance on what each system contains.

The Alexandria Circuit Court is shown in the screenshot below from the official Virginia Judiciary website.

The Alexandria Circuit Court page on the Virginia Judiciary website provides official contact details and links to online case search tools.

The Virginia Judiciary website is the starting point for most online criminal record searches covering Alexandria court cases.

Note: OCRA access requires a paid subscription and is only available to licensed Virginia attorneys and their associated staff.

Virginia State Police Criminal Record Checks

Virginia State Police are the official keepers of record for Virginia criminal histories. The Central Criminal Records Exchange (CCRE) maintains statewide criminal history data. Dissemination of criminal history is governed by Virginia Code § 19.2-389. Only specific entities are entitled to the criminal history of another person without their consent.

A person can request their own criminal record through the VSP. Complete Form SP-167 and submit it to the Civil and Applicant Records Exchange (CARE) program. The mailing address is: Department of State Police, P.O. Box 85076, Richmond, VA 23261-5076. The VSP criminal history check page is at vsp.virginia.gov/criminal-record-check/. Results cover statewide criminal convictions and dispositions, not just Alexandria cases.

VADOC Inmate Locator for Alexandria Cases

If someone was convicted of a felony in Alexandria and sent to a state correctional facility, you can search for them through the Virginia Department of Corrections Inmate Locator at vadoc.virginia.gov/general-public/inmate-locator/. The tool searches by name and shows current custody status, facility assignment, and projected release dates for state inmates. This covers people sentenced to more than a year in a state facility.

For people held locally or on shorter sentences, the Alexandria City Jail manages pretrial and short-term detainees. Contact the Alexandria Sheriff's Office for local detention inquiries.

Criminal Records Access in Alexandria

Virginia law governs what criminal records are public and who can access them. Virginia Code § 19.2-389 controls the release of criminal history record information. Under that statute, most criminal history is restricted. Only the subject of the record, criminal justice agencies, certain licensed professionals, and a narrow set of others can get someone's full criminal history.

What the public can access freely is court case information. Under Virginia Code Title 17.1, circuit court records that are not sealed, confidential, or restricted are open to inspection. General district court records are similarly available. This means you can look up charges, case numbers, hearing dates, and dispositions in open court files. The Alexandria clerk's office follows this policy and will allow inspection of non-confidential records during business hours.

Sealed and expunged records are not publicly available. Juvenile records are confidential under Virginia law. Adoption records are sealed. Records marked as confidential or restricted in the court system do not appear in public searches. If you believe a record was wrongly withheld or should be sealed, you may petition the circuit court.

Nearby Virginia Cities

These cities are near Alexandria and share the Northern Virginia region. Each has its own independent court system. Alexandria is part of the 16th Judicial Circuit, which it shares with Arlington County.