Accomack County Criminal History

Accomack County criminal history records are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk and the General District Court on Virginia's Eastern Shore. If you need to search criminal cases, look up arrest records, or get copies of court documents in Accomack County, this page covers the main offices, online tools, and steps to get the information you need. The county is part of the 2nd Judicial Circuit, and both courts handle criminal matters for residents of the Shore from Accomac, the county seat.

Accomack County Circuit Court Criminal Records

The Accomack County Circuit Court is the primary court of record for felony criminal cases on the Eastern Shore. It sits within the 2nd Judicial Circuit of Virginia and handles all major criminal prosecutions, including Class 1 through Class 6 felonies, as well as appeals from the General District Court. When someone is convicted of a felony in Accomack County, that record is filed and kept by the Circuit Court Clerk's Office.

The Clerk of the Accomack Circuit Court is Hon. Talia Taylor. Her office files, processes, and maintains all criminal case records that come before the circuit court. That includes felony charges, misdemeanor appeals, and related criminal documents. The Clerk's Office also handles land records, wills, and civil matters, but criminal case files are open for public inspection under Virginia law. You can reach the office in person, by mail (include a self-addressed stamped envelope), or by phone during regular business hours.

The Accomack Circuit Court is located at 23316 Courthouse Avenue in Accomac. The office keeps hours from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM on weekdays. Staff can help you locate case records by name or case number. Certified copies require a fee, and plain copies cost less. If the record you need is old or archived, staff can direct you to the right storage location.

The Accomack Circuit Court page on vacourts.gov shows the clerk contact, address, and hours for the court. The screenshot below is taken from that official page.

This view of the Accomack Circuit Court page shows the clerk's contact information and office hours for requesting criminal history records in person or by mail.

Accomack General District Court

The Accomack General District Court operates within the 2A Judicial District of Virginia. It handles misdemeanor cases, traffic violations, and preliminary hearings for felony charges. Most criminal cases in Accomack County start here. Misdemeanor convictions are records maintained by this court, and the public can request access to them under Virginia law.

The Clerk of the General District Court is Francina Violet Chisum. Office hours are 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM on weekdays. The court is located at 23371 Front Street in Accomac. If you are looking for a misdemeanor case, a traffic conviction, or information about a preliminary hearing, this is where you start. Phone inquiries go to (757) 787-0923.

The Accomack General District Court page lists hearing schedules, clerk contact details, and court procedures for criminal matters. The screenshot below shows that page with the docket schedule and contact info.

The General District Court page for Accomack County shows court hearing times for misdemeanor and traffic cases, which are part of the county's criminal case records.

Accomack County Sheriff's Office

The Accomack County Sheriff's Office is led by Sheriff W. Todd Wessells, who has served since January 1, 2020. The Sheriff's Office is the main law enforcement agency for Accomack County and handles all county-level policing, including investigations, arrests, courthouse security, and service of court papers. Arrest records, incident reports, and criminal investigative files are kept by this office.

Members of the public who want arrest records or incident reports from Accomack County should contact the Sheriff's Office directly. You can reach them at 757-787-1131. The mailing address is P.O. Box 149, Accomac, VA 23301. The Sheriff's Office works closely with the Circuit Court and the General District Court on all active criminal matters. Note: The Sheriff's Office profile can also be found through the Virginia Sheriffs' Association directory.

Search Criminal History in Accomack County

Virginia gives the public several online tools for searching criminal history records. The two main systems are the Circuit Court Online Case Information System (OCIS) and the General District Court online portal. Both are free to use and cover Accomack County cases going back years. You can search by name or by case number.

The Virginia Circuit Court Online Case Information System (OCIS) lets you search for felony and misdemeanor appeal cases filed in circuit courts across Virginia, including Accomack County. Results show the defendant's name, date of birth, arrest date, case number, charge details, disposition, and sentence information. Case data goes back to early 2009. The system is maintained by the Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia. Keep in mind that the data shown online may not reflect real-time updates, so always verify important information with the Clerk's Office directly.

For misdemeanor and traffic cases, use the Virginia General District Court Case Information System. This system covers cases from the Accomack General District Court. You can search by party name, case number, or hearing date. It also lets you make online payments for court fines. The statewide portal at vacourts.gov/caseinfo/home is another good starting point if you are not sure which court handled a specific case. It links to all online search tools in one place.

Note: Online records do not constitute the official record of the court. If you need certified copies or need to verify an official record, contact the Accomack Circuit Court Clerk at (757) 787-5776.

Virginia State Police Criminal Record Checks

The Virginia State Police runs the Civil and Applicant Records Exchange (CARE) program, which handles criminal record checks for the general public. Members of the public can request criminal history records using Form SP-167. The CARE office is located at 7700 Midlothian Turnpike North, Richmond, Virginia. You can access the request process through the VSP criminal record check page.

Under Virginia Code 19.2-389, criminal history record information may be disseminated to individuals, courts, law enforcement agencies, and certain authorized entities. The VSP CARE system handles name-based searches for public use (Form SP-167) as well as employer searches (Form SP-230) and fingerprint-based volunteer checks (Form SP-266). If you need a national criminal background check, the VSP page links to the FBI's background check service. Questions about the law can be directed to the Virginia Lawyer Referral Service at (800) 552-7977.

VADOC Inmate Locator

The Virginia Department of Corrections runs an online inmate locator that lets the public find people who are currently held in VADOC custody. You can search by name or by seven-digit inmate ID number. The tool shows the inmate's location and expected release date. This is useful if you are trying to find out whether someone from Accomack County is serving a state prison sentence.

Keep in mind that the VADOC locator only shows people in VADOC custody. It does not show people held in the Accomack County jail or those awaiting trial. Local jail records are held by the Accomack County Sheriff's Office. If you are looking for someone in pre-trial detention or serving a short county sentence, contact the Sheriff's Office directly at 757-787-1131. The VADOC data is updated daily but may not always be current due to transfers and system processing times.

Criminal Records Access in Accomack County

Virginia law governs who can see criminal history records and under what conditions. Under Virginia Code 19.2-389, criminal history record information can be released to courts, law enforcement, and the public for authorized purposes. Court records in Virginia are presumed open under Code Sections 16.1-69.54:1 and 17.1-208, meaning most case filings, dockets, and dispositions are available to the public.

Some records are restricted. Juvenile criminal records are generally confidential. Expunged records are removed from public view after the court grants an expungement petition. Records tied to ongoing investigations may also be withheld. The Accomack Circuit Court Clerk and the General District Court Clerk can tell you what is and is not accessible for a specific case. If you believe a record that should be public is being withheld, Virginia's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) may provide a path for you to challenge that denial.

Most people looking for criminal history in Accomack County will find what they need through the online case systems or by contacting the courts directly. Court filings, criminal case dockets, judgments, and sentencing orders are all part of the public record.

Legal Resources in Accomack County

If you need legal help with a criminal matter in Accomack County, several resources are available. The Virginia State Bar runs a lawyer referral service at (800) 552-7977. For a small fee, you can get a 30-minute consultation with a licensed Virginia attorney. This is a good first step if you are unsure about your rights or what steps to take. The Virginia State Police CARE page also has a legal advice disclaimer and referral information.

Cities Near Accomack County

Accomack County is on Virginia's Eastern Shore, with no independent cities within its borders. Nearby Virginia cities include those across the Chesapeake Bay.

Nearby Counties

Northampton County is the only county that borders Accomack on the Eastern Shore.