Arlington County Criminal History Records

Arlington County criminal history records are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk and the General District Court, located at the Arlington County Courthouse complex at 1425 North Courthouse Road. Arlington is part of Virginia's 17th Judicial Circuit and sits in Northern Virginia directly across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. If you need to search criminal cases, look up arrest records, or access court filings in Arlington County, this page covers the key offices, online tools, and procedures to help you find what you need.

Arlington County Circuit Court Criminal Records

The Arlington County Circuit Court is part of the 17th Judicial Circuit of Virginia. It serves as the court of record for felony criminal cases, significant civil matters, and misdemeanor appeals in Arlington County. All felony convictions and the associated criminal filings are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk as permanent public records. The court hears serious criminal matters including Class 1 through Class 6 felonies.

The Clerk of the Arlington Circuit Court is Hon. Paul F. Ferguson. His office is open from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM on weekdays. The main phone number is (703) 228-7010. The court operates a detailed schedule: civil terms begin the first Monday of January, March, May, July, September, and November at 2:00 PM. Civil Motions Day is held every Friday at 10:00 AM, with fiduciary matters and uncontested wills at 9:30 AM. Grand Jury meets on the last Monday of the month, with December subject to change. Evidentiary criminal motions are heard on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month at 9:30 AM. Ore tenus hearings run Monday through Thursday at 9:30 AM, and bench warrant arraignments can be scheduled Monday through Friday at 9:30 AM.

The Arlington Circuit Court page on the Virginia Courts website has the most current scheduling and contact information. The Clerk's Office files and maintains all criminal case records for Arlington County and provides public access to them under Virginia law. Staff can search by name or case number and provide copies of criminal case filings, judgments, and sentencing orders.

The screenshot below was taken from the Arlington Circuit Court page on the Virginia Courts website, which shows the court's scheduling details and clerk contact information.

The Arlington Circuit Court page shows the court's detailed schedule and contact details for requesting felony criminal case records in Arlington County.

Arlington General District Court

The Arlington General District Court operates in the 17th Judicial District of Virginia. It handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic offenses, DUI charges, and preliminary hearings for felony matters. Given Arlington's urban setting and proximity to the nation's capital, this court sees a high volume of cases. The court is located at 1425 North Courthouse Road, Suite 2400, Second Floor, Arlington, VA 22201.

The Clerk of the Arlington General District Court is Brian P. Henshaw. The phone number is (703) 228-7900. Office hours are 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM Monday through Friday. Misdemeanor convictions and traffic case records from this court are public records accessible through the Virginia GDC online system. Visit the Arlington General District Court page for more information and scheduling details.

The screenshot below was taken from the Arlington General District Court page showing the clerk contact information and court location for misdemeanor criminal record requests.

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

Arlington County Sheriff's Office

The Arlington County Sheriff's Office is led by Sheriff Jose Quiroz, who took office on January 7, 2023. The Sheriff's Office is located at 1425 N. Courthouse Rd #9100, Arlington, VA 22201, and the main phone number is 703-228-4460. The office provides courthouse security, service of civil process, execution of court orders, and management of the Arlington County Detention Facility. It maintains arrest records, incident reports, and inmate records for the county.

If you need arrest records or criminal history information from Arlington County, contact the Sheriff's Office at 703-228-4460. You can also check the Virginia Sheriffs' Association directory for the Sheriff's contact profile. As an urban county in Northern Virginia, Arlington has a robust court and law enforcement infrastructure, and the Sheriff's Office works closely with both the Circuit Court and the General District Court on all criminal matters, including warrant service and courtroom security.

Search Arlington County Criminal History Online

Virginia gives the public free online access to criminal history records from both the circuit courts and the general district courts. For felony cases and misdemeanor appeals in Arlington County, use the Virginia Circuit Court Online Case Information System (OCIS). This system covers open and closed criminal cases from 2009 forward. You can search by defendant name or case number. Each result shows the name, date of birth, arrest date, case number, charges, disposition, and sentence information.

For misdemeanor and traffic cases from the Arlington General District Court, use the Virginia General District Court case information system. Select Arlington County from the locality list. Online payments for court costs are available through this system as well. The statewide search portal at vacourts.gov/caseinfo/home links to all Virginia court search tools and also includes a combined statewide search covering both circuit and general district courts at once.

Note: Online records are not the official court record. If you need certified copies of criminal case documents for legal proceedings, contact the Arlington Circuit Court Clerk directly at (703) 228-7010.

Virginia State Police Criminal Record Checks

The Virginia State Police CARE office handles statewide criminal history record checks for the public. The CARE office is located at 7700 Midlothian Turnpike North, Richmond. To request a record check, use Form SP-167 for a public name-based search. The VSP criminal record check page has all forms and submission instructions. Virginia Code 19.2-389 governs the release of criminal history record information and applies statewide, including Arlington County records held in the state system. The VSP site also provides a link to the FBI.gov national background check service and a privacy act statement explaining your rights as a requester.

Remote Online Notarization is available for an added $25. Employer searches use Form SP-230, and fingerprint-based volunteer checks use Form SP-266. For legal questions, the Virginia Lawyer Referral Service is at (800) 552-7977.

VADOC Inmate Locator

The VADOC inmate locator lets you find people serving state prison sentences in Virginia. You can search by full name or by the seven-digit VADOC inmate ID number. The tool shows the current facility and expected release date. It does not show people held at the Arlington County Detention Facility awaiting trial. For local detention inquiries, call the Arlington County Sheriff's Office at 703-228-4460. VADOC data is updated daily, though system delays due to transfers may occasionally cause gaps in the data.

Criminal Records Access in Arlington County

Virginia court records are presumed public under Code Sections 16.1-69.54:1 and 17.1-208. Criminal case filings, dockets, verdicts, and sentencing orders from both the Arlington Circuit Court and the General District Court are open for public inspection. In a busy urban county like Arlington, the courts handle a large volume of criminal matters, and those records are publicly accessible both in person and online.

Restricted records include juvenile criminal case files, expunged records, and records related to ongoing investigations. Virginia Code 19.2-389 governs the dissemination of criminal history record information held by state agencies and sets out what information can be shared and with whom. Court records fall under a separate access framework established by the Virginia Supreme Court and the General Assembly. If you need a specific criminal record that is not appearing in online searches, contact the Circuit Court Clerk at (703) 228-7010 or the General District Court Clerk at (703) 228-7900 for assistance.

Legal Resources in Arlington County

Arlington County has access to numerous legal resources given its proximity to Washington, D.C. and its position in the Northern Virginia legal community. The Arlington Bar Association and local legal aid organizations serve residents with criminal law questions. The Virginia State Bar's lawyer referral service at (800) 552-7977 can connect you with a licensed Virginia attorney for a 30-minute consultation. The VSP record check page also notes this referral service for members of the public who need legal advice about criminal history records.

Cities Near Arlington County

Several independent Virginia cities border or are geographically adjacent to Arlington County in Northern Virginia.

Nearby Counties

Arlington County borders Fairfax County, which is the largest county in Virginia by population and has its own separate criminal records system.