Appomattox County Criminal History Records

Criminal history records in Appomattox County are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk and the General District Court, both located on Court Street in the town of Appomattox. Whether you need to look up a felony case, find a misdemeanor conviction, or request records through Virginia's FOIA process, this page gives you the offices, online systems, and procedures for searching criminal records in Appomattox County. The county is part of Virginia's 10th Judicial Circuit.

Appomattox County Circuit Court Criminal Records

The Appomattox County Circuit Court serves the 10th Judicial Circuit of Virginia. It is the court of record for felony criminal cases, misdemeanor appeals, civil matters above the general district court's limit, and family law proceedings. All felony convictions and related criminal records in Appomattox County are permanently filed with the Circuit Court Clerk.

The Clerk of the Appomattox Circuit Court is Hon. Janet A. Hix, who can be reached by email at jhix@vacourts.gov. The Clerk's Office hours are 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM Monday through Friday. The physical address is 297 Court Street, Suite B, Appomattox, VA 24522, and the mailing address is P.O. Box 672, Appomattox, VA 24522. The phone number is (434) 352-5275 and the fax is (434) 352-2781. The office handles land records, wills, marriage records, civil cases, and all criminal case records. Common records can be sent by fax, email, or mail; official certified records are only delivered by mail. The Appomattox Circuit Court page on the state courts website provides current contact details.

The screenshot below was taken from the Appomattox Circuit Court page, showing clerk contact information and office hours for obtaining criminal case records.

The Appomattox Circuit Court page lists the clerk's email address, phone number, and office hours for criminal history record requests in Appomattox County.

Appomattox General District Court

The Appomattox General District Court operates in the 10th Judicial District of Virginia. It handles misdemeanor cases, traffic violations, and preliminary hearings for felony charges. Most criminal cases in Appomattox County begin here. The Clerk of the General District Court is Jeannie Watin Hamlet, who can be reached at JHamlet@vacourts.gov. Office hours are 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM on weekdays.

The court is located at 297 Court Street, Second Floor, Appomattox, VA 24522, with a mailing address of P.O. Box 187. The phone number is (434) 352-5540 and the fax is (434) 352-0717. You can access Appomattox General District Court records through the Virginia GDC online system, or visit the Appomattox General District Court page for more information.

Below is a screenshot from the Appomattox General District Court page showing clerk contact details for misdemeanor and traffic case records.

The Appomattox General District Court page provides the clerk's contact email and phone number for those searching misdemeanor criminal records in Appomattox County.

Appomattox County Sheriff's Office

The Appomattox County Sheriff's Office provides full law enforcement services for Appomattox County, including the towns of Appomattox and Pamplin. The office handles criminal investigations, warrant service, courthouse security, and the county's inmate workforce program. It also runs a TRIAD program for seniors, Project Lifesaver for Alzheimer's patients, and School Resource Officers in all four public schools. The physical address is 179 Morton Lane, Appomattox, VA 24522, and the mailing address is P.O. Box 366, Appomattox, VA 24522. The phone number is 434-352-2666 and fax is 434-352-0445. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, closed on state holidays. The Sheriff's Office is located behind the Appomattox County Courthouse. Visit the Sheriff's Office page for more information.

The screenshot below is from the Appomattox County Sheriff's Office page, showing the services provided and contact details for requesting arrest records and incident reports.

The Appomattox County Sheriff's Office page outlines the law enforcement services provided, including criminal investigations and arrest record maintenance.

Appomattox County FOIA Procedures

Appomattox County processes public records requests under Virginia's Freedom of Information Act, found in Code of Virginia §2.2-3700 et seq. All public records are presumed to be open and may only be withheld if a specific statutory exemption applies. Requesters have the right to inspect or receive copies of public records, or both. The county must respond within five working days of receiving a FOIA request. As of July 1, 2022, public bodies must notify requesters in writing of any charges that may apply before those charges are incurred.

The FOIA Officer for the Appomattox Sheriff's Office is Maj. Travis Firebaugh at 179 Morton Lane, P.O. Box 366, Appomattox, VA 24522, phone 434-352-2666. For the Circuit Court Clerk's Office, the FOIA Officer is Janet Hix at 297 Court Street, Suite B, P.O. Box 672, phone 434-352-5275. Circuit Court Clerk records include land records, criminal cases, civil cases, marriage records, and death records/wills. The Appomattox County FOIA page has more detail on the process and officer contacts.

The Appomattox County FOIA page explains procedures and lists FOIA officers for the Sheriff's Office and Circuit Court Clerk for public records requests related to criminal history.

Search Criminal History in Appomattox County

For circuit court felony records in Appomattox County, use the Virginia Circuit Court Online Case Information System (OCIS). This free system lets you search by name or case number. Results include charge details, case disposition, and sentencing information for cases from 2009 forward. The Virginia GDC online system covers misdemeanor and traffic cases from the Appomattox General District Court. Both systems are accessible through the statewide portal at vacourts.gov/caseinfo/home.

Virginia State Police Criminal Record Checks

Statewide criminal record checks go through the Virginia State Police CARE office at 7700 Midlothian Turnpike North, Richmond. Use Form SP-167 for a public name-based search. All forms and submission instructions are on the VSP record check page. The release of criminal history record information is governed by Virginia Code 19.2-389, which covers what information can be shared, with whom, and under what circumstances. VSP employees cannot give legal advice; for legal questions, contact the Virginia Lawyer Referral Service at (800) 552-7977 for a 30-minute consultation at a pre-paid fee of $35.

VADOC Inmate Locator

The VADOC inmate locator is a public tool for finding people held in Virginia Department of Corrections facilities. Search by name or seven-digit inmate ID to find the facility and release date. It does not include people in local jails. People held in the Appomattox County jail while awaiting trial will not appear in this system. For local detention information, call the Appomattox County Sheriff's Office at 434-352-2666. The VADOC updates the locator daily.

Criminal Records Access in Appomattox County

Virginia court records are open for public inspection under Code Sections 16.1-69.54:1 and 17.1-208. Criminal case dockets, court filings, judgments, and sentencing orders from the Appomattox Circuit Court and the General District Court are public records. You can view them at the courthouse, search them online, or request copies from the Clerk's Offices. The Appomattox County FOIA process also provides access to arrest records and incident reports held by the Sheriff's Office, subject to applicable exemptions.

Restricted records include juvenile criminal case files, expunged records, and records related to active investigations. Virginia Code 19.2-389 sets out how criminal history record information held by state agencies like VSP can be disseminated. For court records specifically, the applicable rules come from the Virginia Supreme Court and the General Assembly. If a record you believe is public is being withheld, the Appomattox County FOIA page explains how to challenge a denial for county agency records. Court record denials are handled differently, and the clerk can direct you to the proper process.

Cities Near Appomattox County

Appomattox County has no independent cities within its borders, but Lynchburg is a nearby independent city with its own court and criminal records system.

Nearby Counties

Appomattox County borders several counties in south-central Virginia, each with its own circuit court and criminal records system.