Search Martinsville Criminal History

Martinsville criminal history records are maintained through the Martinsville Circuit Court and the Henry County/Martinsville General District Court, both part of Virginia's 21st Judicial Circuit. Martinsville is an independent city that shares its judicial circuit with Henry County. The Martinsville Circuit Court has kept records since April 20, 1942. If you need to find a criminal case or get copies of court records in Martinsville, the clerk's office and the Virginia online systems are where you start. This page covers each source and how to use them.

Martinsville Circuit Court Criminal Records

The Martinsville Circuit Court is located at 55 W. Church Street, Martinsville, VA 24114 (P.O. Box 1206). Hon. Jean P. Nunn serves as Clerk of Court. The office phone is (276) 403-5106, and the fax is (276) 403-5232. Hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. This court holds records of all criminal cases, court proceedings, death and marriage records, and land records from April 20, 1942 to the present. For records before that date, contact the Henry County Circuit Court Clerk's Office at 3160 Kings Mountain Road, Suite B, Martinsville, VA 24112, phone (276) 634-4880.

The Martinsville Circuit Court is part of Virginia's 21st Judicial Circuit, shared with Henry County. It handles all felony criminal cases for the city, civil matters over $4,500, divorce proceedings, and appeals from the General District Court. The clerk's office is responsible for filing and maintaining all circuit court records. The clerk also processes concealed handgun permit applications, issues hunting and fishing licenses, marriage licenses, notary commissions, and passport applications. The clerk serves as custodian of all circuit court records.

The Martinsville Circuit Court city page shows what records the clerk maintains, what services the office provides, and how to contact the clerk for Martinsville criminal history records.

General District Court in Martinsville

The Henry County/Martinsville General District Court serves both the city and the surrounding county. This court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, civil cases under $25,000, and preliminary hearings for felony cases before they move to the circuit court. No jury trials take place at this level. Misdemeanor criminal records are kept for 10 years after final disposition. The court shares jurisdiction with the Circuit Court for civil cases between $4,500 and $25,000.

Contact information for the Henry County/Martinsville General District Court is available through the Virginia Judiciary website. Online access to this court's records is available through the statewide General District Court case information system. The court processes preliminary hearings for felonies to determine whether sufficient evidence exists to certify the case to the Circuit Court. Those hearing records are part of the General District Court file.

The Henry County Circuit Court, also part of the 21st Judicial Circuit, is located at 3160 Kings Mountain Road, Suite B, Martinsville, VA 24112, phone (276) 634-4880. That court shares some jurisdiction with the Martinsville Circuit Court and holds older records predating 1942 for the Martinsville area.

Martinsville Police Department

The Martinsville Police Department maintains arrest records and incident reports for the city. For police records, submit a Freedom of Information Act request to the department's records division. Virginia FOIA requires a response within five working days. Fees may apply for copies of records. Arrest records from the Martinsville Police show the fact of an arrest and the charges at the time. They do not show what happened in court after the arrest.

The Henry County Sheriff's Office at 3250 Kings Mountain Road, Martinsville, VA 24112, also maintains criminal records for the broader area. The Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement outside the city limits and can be a useful contact for records related to incidents in Henry County near Martinsville. For a full Virginia criminal history, the Virginia State Police Central Criminal Records Exchange is the most complete source.

Search Martinsville Criminal History Online

The Virginia Judiciary provides several tools for searching Martinsville criminal history records online. Start with the statewide OCIS search at eapps.courts.state.va.us/ocis/search. This covers adult criminal cases in general district courts and many circuit courts across Virginia. Search by name and you get charges, case numbers, hearing dates, and dispositions. This is free and open to anyone. It's usually the fastest way to check for Martinsville area criminal cases.

For General District Court records, use the General District Court case search and select Henry/Martinsville from the court list. You can search by name, case number, or hearing date. Misdemeanor and traffic cases are searchable here. For circuit court records, the Virginia Courts Case Information page links to circuit court search tools. Select Martinsville Circuit from the dropdown if available, or call the clerk at (276) 403-5106 for cases not found online.

Note: For records predating April 1942, contact the Henry County Circuit Court Clerk at (276) 634-4880. They hold the older records for the area.

Virginia State Police Criminal Record Checks

The Virginia State Police Central Criminal Records Exchange holds statewide criminal history for Virginia, including records from Martinsville courts and law enforcement. Criminal record checks related to Martinsville are conducted under Virginia Code § 19.2-389. To get your own record, submit Form SP-167 with a notarized signature and a $15 fee. Processing takes about 15 to 20 business days for mailed requests.

The Virginia State Police Civil and Applicant Records Exchange (CARE) is located at 7700 Midlothian Turnpike, North Chesterfield, VA 23235. This program handles criminal history requests from licensed organizations using Form SP-230. Martinsville residents who need their own complete record use SP-167, not SP-230. The State Police CCRE is the most thorough source for criminal history because it draws from courts and law enforcement agencies across all of Virginia.

VADOC Inmate Locator

The Virginia Department of Corrections inmate locator at vadoc.virginia.gov/general-public/inmate-locator/ is a free public tool. Search by name or VADOC offender number to check if someone is in a state correctional facility. Results include the facility name, admission date, and expected release date. This covers state prisons only. People held at the Martinsville City Jail or the Piedmont Regional Jail are not listed in the VADOC system.

Criminal Records Access in Martinsville

Access to criminal records in Martinsville follows Virginia Code § 19.2-389. Criminal records in Martinsville include arrest records, court records, imprisonment records, and release records. Court records are public in Virginia. Case filings, charges, verdicts, and sentences are open to anyone at the courthouse or through the Virginia online case systems. The CCRE database is restricted to law enforcement and authorized agencies, but court-level records are open to the public.

Some records are restricted. Juvenile records are confidential and sealed by law. Adoption proceedings are closed. Sealed case files and records under protective orders are not public. If a charge was dismissed or a person was found not guilty, they may be able to seek expungement of that record. Expungement petitions go to the court that handled the original case. If granted, the court notifies all relevant agencies including the State Police to destroy their records.

In Henry County and Martinsville, criminal records document a person's full involvement with the criminal justice system in the jurisdiction. This includes arrest, prosecution, sentencing, and any subsequent corrections records. For a complete picture of someone's history in the Martinsville area, checking both the Martinsville Circuit Court and the Henry County Circuit Court records may be necessary, especially for older cases. Martinsville residents with questions about their rights can contact legal aid or the clerk's office directly at (276) 403-5106.

Nearby Virginia Cities

These Virginia cities are near Martinsville. Each maintains its own court records through the Virginia Judiciary system.