Richmond City Criminal History Records

Richmond criminal history records are maintained by the Richmond Circuit Court at 400 N 9th Street and the city's Office of the Circuit Court Clerk at 900 E. Broad Street. Richmond is an independent city and Virginia's capital, sitting in the 13th Judicial Circuit with its own courts separate from Henrico County or Chesterfield County. Felony cases, misdemeanor appeals, arrest records, and sentencing history for the city are all filed here. Multiple online tools and in-person access options are available.

Richmond Circuit Court Criminal Records

The Richmond Circuit Court is one of the busiest and most historically significant courts in Virginia. It sits in the 13th Judicial Circuit and handles all felony criminal cases filed in the city. Hon. Edward F. Jewett is Clerk of Court. His email is Edward.jewett@rva.gov. The main court phone is (804) 646-6505 and the fax is (804) 646-6562. The Criminal Division phone is (804) 646-6562 and the Law Division is (804) 646-7274. The courthouse address is 400 N 9th Street, Richmond, VA 23219.

The Office of the Circuit Court Clerk at 900 E. Broad Street provides several online services including Records Research, Secure Remote Access (SRA), Trust Fund, Virginia Judiciary E-Filing System (VJEFS), and Virginia Judiciary Online Payment System (VJOPS). Details are at rva.gov/office-circuit-court-clerk.

Most records held by the Circuit Court Clerk are available to the public under Virginia Code § 17.1-208. Records include land records, will and estate records, case files, court dockets, UCC statements, and marriage licenses. Records are open during regular office hours. Copies are $0.50 per page. A certified copy costs an additional $2.00. The clerk's office cannot do legal, historical, or genealogical research for you, but staff can help you use the records room and find what you need.

Richmond Circuit Court Criminal Division

The Criminal Division of the Richmond Circuit Court handles all felony and misdemeanor cases originating by Grand Jury action, as well as misdemeanor appeals from the General District Court. Subpoena requests in felony or misdemeanor appeal cases should be delivered or mailed to the Circuit Court Clerk's Office. A five-day lead time is requested for subpoena preparation. There is no fee for witness subpoenas. A subpoena duces tecum carries a $17.00 fee. More details are at rva.gov/office-circuit-court-clerk/criminal.

Online access to case files (OCRA) is available to Virginia attorneys and staff under Virginia Code § 17.1-292. The system gives inquiry-only access to scanned court documents except for juvenile, adoption, and sealed cases. Subscribers must complete an application. Support is available Monday through Friday, 8:45 AM to 4:45 PM, excluding Richmond Circuit Court holidays. OCRA details are at rva.gov/office-circuit-court-clerk/ocra.

Richmond Police Department Records

The Richmond Police Department maintains arrest records and incident reports for the city. Arrest records are a separate category from court records. An arrest record shows a person was taken into custody. A court record shows what the legal system did next. You may need both types depending on the purpose of your search.

To request Richmond police records, file a FOIA request with the Richmond Police Department. Virginia FOIA gives agencies five working days to respond. The Richmond City Sheriff's Office also plays a role in the city's criminal justice system, managing the city jail and courthouse security. Statewide criminal history is best accessed through the Virginia State Police CCRE.

Search Richmond Criminal History Online

Virginia provides several online tools for searching Richmond criminal history. The statewide OCIS search at eapps.courts.state.va.us/ocis/search covers adult criminal records from general district courts and select circuit courts across all Virginia localities. Enter a name to find Richmond cases alongside records from other jurisdictions.

For Richmond General District Court cases, use the GDC portal at eapps.courts.state.va.us/gdcourts/. Select Richmond from the court list. This lets you search misdemeanor cases, traffic matters, and preliminary hearings by name or case number. Results include case numbers, charges, hearing dates, and dispositions.

The Virginia Courts case information hub at vacourts.gov/caseinfo/home.html explains all tools and links to each. The Richmond Circuit Court records page at rva.gov/office-circuit-court-clerk/records details what is available at the clerk's office. Juvenile, adoption, and sealed records are excluded from all public online searches.

For an in-person search, go to 900 E. Broad Street during office hours. Bring the name of the person you are looking for or the case number if you have it. Staff will help you access the records room and find the file.

Richmond City's court records are accessible through the online Virginia judiciary portals and by visiting the clerk's offices at 400 N 9th Street and 900 E. Broad Street.

Virginia State Police Criminal Record Checks

The Virginia State Police Central Criminal Records Exchange (CCRE) holds criminal history data for all of Virginia including Richmond. The CCRE pulls from courts and law enforcement agencies statewide. A CCRE report covers more ground than any single court's search and is the official source for comprehensive Virginia criminal history.

Submit Form SP-167 with a notarized signature and $15 fee to request your own criminal history record. Authorized agencies use Form SP-230. Send requests to the Virginia State Police or to the CARE office at 7700 Midlothian Turnpike, North Chesterfield, VA 23235. Mail-in processing takes 15 to 20 business days. All forms and instructions are at vsp.virginia.gov/criminal-record-check/.

Note: The VSP CCRE is distinct from court clerk records. For certified copies of court documents, always contact the Richmond Circuit Court Clerk at (804) 646-6505.

VADOC Inmate Locator

People convicted of crimes in Richmond and sentenced to state prison are housed in VADOC facilities across Virginia. The free inmate locator at vadoc.virginia.gov/general-public/inmate-locator/ lets you search by name to find a person's current facility and projected release date. This covers state prison only. Persons held in the Richmond City Jail pending trial or serving short sentences do not appear in this system. Contact the Richmond City Sheriff's Office for local custody inquiries.

Criminal Records Access in Richmond

Virginia Code § 19.2-389 governs access to criminal history records throughout the state. Most criminal court records in Richmond are open to the public under Virginia Code § 17.1-208. The Circuit Court clerk's office at 900 E. Broad Street is open for public inspection of records during regular hours. Anyone can walk in and ask to see a public criminal case file. There is no charge to view records on site.

Several record types are restricted. Juvenile court records are sealed under Virginia law and not accessible without a court order. Adoption proceedings are also confidential. Sealed cases, mental health proceedings, and expunged records are withheld from the public. Under Virginia Code § 19.2-392.2, a person who was charged but not convicted may petition for expungement. Once granted, the record is removed from public access and the person can legally deny the charge existed.

The Richmond clerk's office notes that staff cannot perform legal or genealogical research on your behalf, but they can help you navigate the records room and use the public terminals. If you need a certified copy of a criminal case document, copies are $0.50 per page plus $2.00 for certification. Call (804) 646-6505 with any questions before visiting.

Nearby Virginia Cities

These independent cities near Richmond each have their own courts and criminal history records separate from Richmond's system.