Find Criminal Records in Hampton

Hampton criminal history records are maintained by the Hampton Circuit Court and the Hampton General District Court, both part of Virginia's 8th Judicial Circuit. Hampton is an independent city with its own courts, its own clerk, and its own police department. You can search many records online through the Virginia Judiciary systems, or request copies in person at the courthouse on N. King Street. This page covers where to find criminal case records, how to search online, and what state-level resources are available for Hampton residents.

Hampton Circuit Court Criminal Records

The Hampton Circuit Court is the highest trial court in the city and part of Virginia's 8th Judicial Circuit. Hon. Linda Batchelor Smith serves as Clerk of Court. The clerk's office keeps all circuit court records, including felony criminal cases, civil matters, divorce proceedings, and appeals from lower courts. Criminal case files held here cover the full range of serious offenses handled in Hampton. The clerk's office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM.

The court is located at 237 N. King Street, Hampton, VA 23669. You can reach the clerk's office by phone at (757) 727-6105. For the criminal division specifically, the fax number is (757) 728-3367. The Circuit Court handles felony criminal cases, which are offenses punishable by more than one year in a state correctional facility. It also handles cases appealed from the General District Court and Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court.

The official Hampton Circuit Court city page has information on case searches, land records access, and clerk services. Certified copies of criminal court records are available from this office for a fee. Case information for many Hampton circuit court cases can also be searched online through the Virginia Courts case information system.

The Hampton Circuit Court page at vacourts.gov shows current contact details, hours, and links to case search tools for Hampton criminal records.

General District Court in Hampton

The Hampton General District Court is located at 236 N. King Street, Hampton, VA 23669, right across from the Circuit Court. This court handles misdemeanors, traffic violations, civil cases up to $25,000, and preliminary hearings for felony cases. All cases here are decided by a judge, not a jury. Misdemeanor criminal records from this court are part of the public record and can be searched through the Virginia online case information systems.

The court is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. It holds preliminary hearings for felonies, where a judge decides whether enough evidence exists to send the case to the Circuit Court. Records from these hearings are kept by this court's clerk. Appeals from this court go to the Circuit Court, where the case is heard again as if no prior trial occurred.

The Hampton Courts city portal provides an overview of all three trial courts in Hampton, including the General District Court, Circuit Court, and Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court. The portal also links to the Court Services Unit and probation and parole office.

The Hampton city page for the Circuit Court provides direct access to case searches and clerk services for Hampton criminal history records.

Hampton Police Department

The Hampton Police Department maintains arrest records and incident reports for the City of Hampton. These are separate from court records. If you need a copy of an arrest record or a police report, you contact the police department's records division. Under Virginia's Freedom of Information Act, most requests must be processed within five working days. Fees vary based on what you request and how many pages are involved.

Arrest records from the Hampton Police Department show when and why someone was taken into custody. They do not show the outcome of any court case. For case outcomes including verdicts and sentences, you need the court records from the Circuit Court or General District Court. The Virginia State Police also keeps statewide arrest and conviction data through the Central Criminal Records Exchange.

Search Criminal History in Hampton

The Virginia Judiciary offers several tools to search Hampton criminal history records online. The statewide search at eapps.courts.state.va.us/ocis/search (OCIS) covers adult criminal cases in general district courts and many circuit courts across Virginia. You can search by first and last name. Results show charges, case numbers, hearing dates, and dispositions. No account is needed and the search is free.

For Hampton General District Court records specifically, use the General District Court case search. Select Hampton from the list of courts and enter a name to search. This covers misdemeanor and traffic cases. For circuit court cases, the Virginia Courts Case Information system links to Hampton's case information. Some courts also show civil cases in addition to criminal ones.

If you can't find what you need online, contact the Hampton Circuit Court clerk at (757) 727-6105. Staff can search by name or case number and tell you what is available. Certified copies of court records require a fee. The clerk can tell you the current copy rates when you call.

Virginia State Police Criminal Record Checks

The Virginia State Police maintains the Central Criminal Records Exchange (CCRE), the official statewide database for criminal history in Virginia. This includes records from Hampton courts and the Hampton Police Department. To get your own criminal history record from the CCRE, submit Form SP-167 with a notarized signature and a $15 fee. Processing time is typically 15 to 20 business days for mailed requests. For fingerprint-based FBI checks, the fee is $13.25 in addition to the state fee.

The State Police also offers fingerprinting services for people who need a fingerprint-based background check. The CARE program handles record checks for certain types of organizations including assisted living facilities, daycare centers, and foster care agencies. For those requests, Form SP-230 is used. Individual residents requesting their own records use Form SP-167.

VADOC Inmate Locator

The Virginia Department of Corrections provides an inmate locator at vadoc.virginia.gov. You can search for people currently in state prison or recently released. The tool is free and open to the public. Search by name or VADOC offender number. Results show the facility, admission date, and release date if applicable. This tool only covers state-level incarceration, not local jails.

Criminal Records Access in Hampton

Virginia law at Virginia Code § 19.2-389 governs access to criminal history records in the Commonwealth. Court records in Hampton are generally public. Case filings, charges, verdicts, and sentences are available for anyone to view at the courthouse or through the online case information systems. The full CCRE database is restricted to law enforcement, courts, and certain authorized agencies, but court-level records are open.

Some records are sealed or restricted by law. Juvenile records are confidential. Adoption records and sealed case files are not accessible to the public. If a case was expunged, the court records are removed from public view. Virginia Code sets out the rules for expungement, and you can petition the court to have records expunged in certain situations where charges were dismissed or you were found not guilty.

Hampton residents who want a complete criminal history, including records from other parts of Virginia, should contact the Virginia State Police. The CCRE is the most complete source for a statewide record. Court-level searches online are useful for individual case lookups but may not capture every record in the state system. For any questions about your rights to access or correct criminal records, Virginia Legal Aid can provide guidance.

Nearby Virginia Cities

These Virginia cities are near Hampton and each maintains its own court records through the state system.