Access Covington Criminal History
Covington criminal history records are maintained through the Alleghany County/Covington Circuit Court, located at 266 W. Main Street in Covington. As an independent Virginia city, Covington operates within the 25th Judicial Circuit and shares court services with Alleghany County. Criminal records for cases filed in Covington are held at the circuit court clerk's office. You can search Covington criminal records online through the Virginia Judiciary's public portals or by visiting the clerk's office in person.
Covington Overview
Covington Circuit Court Criminal Records
Covington is an independent city that shares circuit court services with Alleghany County. Clerk Debra Byer oversees the court's records at 266 W. Main Street in Covington. The court is part of the 25th Judicial Circuit, which also includes Rockbridge County, Buena Vista, and Lexington. Criminal cases filed specifically in Covington are recorded in the clerk's system. The clerk's office handles felony criminal cases, misdemeanor appeals, and all related case maintenance and recordation duties.
| Office | Alleghany County/Covington Circuit Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | P.O. Box 670, 266 W. Main Street, Covington, VA 24426 |
| Phone | (540) 965-1730 |
| dbyer@vacourts.gov | |
| Website | courts.state.va.us/courts/circuit/alleghany |
The clerk is responsible for recordation of deeds, docketing judgments, probating wills, and handling estate matters for both Covington residents and Alleghany County residents. On the criminal side, the clerk files, processes, and records all felony cases and misdemeanor appeals. Inquiries can be made in person, by mail with a stamped return envelope, or by phone. Walk-in visits during regular business hours are the most direct way to access case files.
The 25th Judicial Circuit covers a wide area of the Alleghany Highlands region of Virginia. The shared circuit means the same judges rotate among Covington, Alleghany County, Lexington, Buena Vista, and Rockbridge County. Records remain local to the jurisdiction where the case was filed.
General District Court in Covington
Covington has a General District Court that handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, and preliminary hearings for felony cases. This court is part of the 25th Judicial District. District court cases at the misdemeanor level can be appealed to the circuit court. For district court criminal case searches, use the OCIS system at eapps.courts.state.va.us/ocis/search or the GDC portal at eapps.courts.state.va.us/gdcourts/.
The General District Court is the first place most Covington residents encounter the criminal court system. Traffic infractions, misdemeanor charges, and preliminary hearings for more serious offenses all start here. After a preliminary hearing, if probable cause is found for a felony charge, the case moves to the circuit court for grand jury action and trial.
Covington Police and Sheriff Records
The Covington Police Department handles law enforcement within the city. For city-level arrest records and incident reports, contact the police department's records division. For the surrounding Alleghany County area outside the city limits, the Alleghany County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement. The sheriff's FOIA officer, Kyle Moore, is at 268 W. Main Street, Covington, VA 24426, phone (540) 965-1770.
Alleghany County also has a FOIA officer system for records requests. Melissa Munsey handles county administration and board records at (540) 863-6600. Teresa Brown handles treasurer's office records at (540) 863-6630. For a full FOIA officer list covering all county departments, visit co.alleghany.va.us/freedom-of-information-act-foia/. For a statewide Virginia criminal history, use the VSP CARE program.
Search Criminal History in Covington
Free public online searches for Covington criminal records are available through the OCIS system at eapps.courts.state.va.us/ocis/search. This state-run portal covers both circuit and district court cases. You can search by name or case number and see charges, case status, hearing dates, and dispositions. The system does not show sealed, juvenile, or expunged records.
The Virginia Courts case information portal at vacourts.gov/caseinfo/home links to all available search tools. For district court cases, use the GDC portal. For circuit court cases, the Case Information System search lets you select the Alleghany/Covington circuit. In-person access to case files at the clerk's office at 266 W. Main Street is available during regular business hours. The clerk does accept mail inquiries with a self-addressed stamped return envelope.
Virginia State Police Criminal Record Checks
The Virginia State Police maintain the Central Criminal Records Exchange with statewide criminal history data covering Covington cases. Under Virginia Code § 19.2-389, full criminal history access is restricted. An individual may request their own record using Form SP-167 through the VSP CARE program. Details and forms are at vsp.virginia.gov/criminal-record-check/.
Submit Form SP-167 to: Virginia State Police, Civil and Applicant Records Exchange, 7700 Midlothian Turnpike, North Chesterfield, VA 23235. Or mail to P.O. Box 85076, Richmond, VA 23261-5076. Phone: (804) 674-8028. Email: Background_Checks@vsp.virginia.gov. The result is a statewide check, not limited to Covington.
VADOC Inmate Locator
For persons convicted in Covington and sentenced to more than a year in a state correctional facility, the VADOC Inmate Locator at vadoc.virginia.gov/general-public/inmate-locator/ provides a free name-based search. The tool shows current facility, custody level, and projected release date for state inmates. For local detention in the Covington or Alleghany County jail system, contact the Alleghany County Sheriff's Office at (540) 965-1770.
Criminal Records Access in Covington
Circuit court records in Virginia are public under Virginia Code Title 17.1. The Alleghany/Covington Circuit Court Clerk maintains open case records that are available for public inspection. You can view files at the clerk's office at 266 W. Main Street. Copies are made for a per-page fee. Court records at the circuit court level are not subject to FOIA but are subject to the public access rules under Title 17.1.
Full criminal history reports are restricted under Virginia Code § 19.2-389. Sealed records, juvenile records, and records expunged under Virginia Code § 19.2-392.2 are not available through public searches. FOIA requests for Alleghany County government records outside the court system can be directed to the appropriate FOIA officer listed on the Alleghany County FOIA page.
Nearby Virginia Cities
These Virginia cities are near Covington in the Alleghany Highlands and Shenandoah Valley. Lexington and Buena Vista share the 25th Judicial Circuit with Covington. Waynesboro and Staunton are to the northeast.