Amherst County Criminal History

Amherst County criminal history records are filed and maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk and the General District Court, both located at 113 Taylor Street in the town of Amherst. If you need to search for criminal cases, request court records, or look up arrest information from this county, this page gives you the key contacts, online tools, and procedures to find what you need. Amherst County is part of Virginia's 24th Judicial Circuit, located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in central Virginia.

Amherst County Circuit Court Criminal Records

The Amherst County Circuit Court is part of the 24th Judicial Circuit of Virginia. It serves as the court of record for felony criminal cases, significant civil matters, family law, and misdemeanor appeals in Amherst County. All felony convictions and related criminal filings are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk as permanent public records. The Amherst Circuit Court also hears appeals from the General District Court in criminal matters.

The Clerk of the Amherst Circuit Court is Hon. Deborah Coffey Mozingo. Office hours are 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM on weekdays. The court is located at P.O. Box 462, 113 Taylor Street, Amherst, VA 24521. The phone number is (434) 946-9321 and the fax is (434) 946-9323. The Clerk's Office files, processes, and records all felony criminal cases and misdemeanor appeals. It also handles civil suits, adoptions, and name changes. Criminal records can be requested in person or by mail. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope with mail requests. The Amherst Circuit Court page on the state courts site has current contact information and office hours.

The screenshot below was taken from the Amherst Circuit Court official page on the Virginia Courts website, showing the clerk's contact details.

The Amherst Circuit Court page lists the clerk contact information and office hours for requesting criminal history records in Amherst County.

Amherst General District Court

The Amherst General District Court operates within the 24th Judicial District of Virginia. It handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic offenses, DUI charges, and preliminary hearings for felonies. Most criminal cases in Amherst County start here. A misdemeanor conviction entered by this court is part of the public court record and can be found through the state's online case systems.

The Clerk of the General District Court is Margaret Cash, who can be reached at mcash@vacourts.gov. Office hours are 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM on weekdays. The court is at the same address as the Circuit Court: P.O. Box 513, 113 Taylor Street, Amherst, VA 24521. The phone number is (434) 946-9351 and the fax is (434) 946-9359. You can access Amherst General District Court records online through the Virginia GDC system. Visit the Amherst General District Court page for more details on court operations and the online search link.

The screenshot below was taken from the Amherst General District Court page, which shows the clerk's email and contact details for misdemeanor criminal record inquiries.

The Amherst General District Court page provides contact details and links to the online case search system for misdemeanor criminal records in Amherst County.

Amherst County Sheriff's Office

The Amherst County Sheriff's Office is led by Sheriff L.J. "Jimmy" Ayers, III, who took office on January 1, 2024. The office is located at P.O. Box 410, Amherst, VA 24521. The main phone number is 434-946-9381. The Sheriff's Office handles patrol, criminal investigations, courthouse security, service of civil process, and execution of court orders. It keeps arrest records, incident reports, and jail records for the county.

If you need arrest information or incident reports from Amherst County, contact the Sheriff's Office by phone or in person. The Sheriff's Office works closely with both the Circuit Court and the General District Court on all active criminal matters. You can also find the office through the Virginia Sheriffs' Association directory.

Search Amherst County Criminal History Online

Virginia's online court systems give you free access to criminal case records in Amherst County. For circuit court cases, use the Virginia Circuit Court Online Case Information System (OCIS). This system covers open and closed criminal cases from 2009 onward. You can search by name or case number. Results include charge details, case dispositions, and sentencing data. This is the right tool for felony cases in Amherst County.

For misdemeanor and traffic cases, use the Virginia General District Court online system. Select Amherst County from the locality dropdown and enter a name or case number. Online payments for court costs are also available through this system. The main portal at vacourts.gov/caseinfo/home links to both systems and also provides access to the statewide search tool, which covers both circuit and district court records across Virginia in one combined search.

Note: The online case systems do not constitute the official court record. Verify important details with the clerk's offices before relying on them for legal purposes.

Virginia State Police Record Checks

The Virginia State Police CARE (Civil and Applicant Records Exchange) office handles statewide criminal history record checks. The office is at 7700 Midlothian Turnpike North, Richmond. Public requests use Form SP-167. The VSP record check page has all the forms and details. Virginia Code 19.2-389 governs the release of criminal history record information and defines what types of information can be shared with the public versus restricted to authorized entities. The VSP site also links to the FBI.gov service for national-level criminal background checks.

VADOC Inmate Locator

Use the VADOC inmate locator to find people currently serving sentences in Virginia state prisons. You can search by name or seven-digit inmate ID. The tool shows the facility and expected release date. Keep in mind that this system only covers people in VADOC custody, not those held at the Amherst County jail. For local jail inquiries, contact the Amherst County Sheriff's Office at 434-946-9381. The VADOC locator is updated daily, though some delays may occur due to inmate transfers.

Criminal Records Access in Amherst County

Virginia court records are presumed public under Code Sections 16.1-69.54:1 and 17.1-208. Criminal case dockets, court filings, verdicts, and sentencing orders from the Amherst Circuit Court and the General District Court are generally open for public inspection. You can request them in person at the courthouse or search them online through the state's case information systems.

Certain records are not publicly accessible. Juvenile criminal case files are confidential under Virginia law. Expunged records are removed from public access once a court grants the expungement petition. Records related to open investigations may also be withheld. For state agency criminal history records, Virginia Code 19.2-389 sets the dissemination rules. The statute covers what information can be shared, with whom, and under what conditions. If you are unsure whether a specific record is public, contact the Amherst Circuit Court Clerk at (434) 946-9321 or the General District Court Clerk at (434) 946-9351 for guidance.

Cities Near Amherst County

Lynchburg is an independent city that borders Amherst County and handles its own separate criminal records through the Lynchburg Circuit Court.

Nearby Counties

Amherst County borders several counties in central and western Virginia, each with its own circuit court and criminal records system.