Find Criminal History in Augusta County
Augusta County criminal history records are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk and the General District Court, both located in Staunton. Augusta County is part of Virginia's 25th Judicial Circuit and covers roughly 1,000 square miles in the Shenandoah Valley. If you need to search criminal cases, request court records, or look up arrest information from this county, this page covers the key offices, online tools, and the county's records request portal to help you find what you need.
Augusta County Overview
Augusta County Circuit Court Criminal Records
The Augusta County Circuit Court is part of the 25th Judicial Circuit of Virginia and serves as the court of record for felony criminal cases, significant civil matters, family law proceedings, and misdemeanor appeals in Augusta County. All felony convictions and related criminal case filings are maintained as permanent public records by the Circuit Court Clerk. The 25th Judicial Circuit also includes Alleghany County and the cities of Covington, Staunton, and Waynesboro.
The Clerk of the Augusta Circuit Court is Hon. R. Steven Landes, who can be reached by email at rlandes@vacourts.gov. The Clerk's Office hours are 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM on weekdays. The courthouse is located at 1 East Johnson Street, Staunton, VA 24401, and the mailing address is P.O. Box 689, Staunton, Virginia 24402-0689. The phone number is (540) 245-5321 and the fax is (540) 245-5318. The Augusta Circuit Court page on the state courts website has current contact details and links to the court's local website for additional information.
Criminal case records in Augusta County can be requested in person at the courthouse, by phone, or through the county's online records request portal. The Clerk's Office handles all criminal filings, judgments, and sentencing records. Staff can search by party name or case number. Certified copies require a fee; plain copies are less expensive. For mail requests, include a self-addressed stamped envelope.
| Office | Augusta County Circuit Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | Augusta County Courthouse, 1 East Johnson Street, Staunton, VA 24401 |
| Mailing Address | P.O. Box 689, Staunton, VA 24402-0689 |
| Phone | (540) 245-5321 |
| Fax | (540) 245-5318 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| rlandes@vacourts.gov | |
| Website | vacourts.gov - Augusta Circuit Court |
The screenshot below was taken from the Augusta Circuit Court page on the Virginia Courts website, showing the clerk's contact information and office hours.
The Augusta Circuit Court page lists the clerk's email, phone number, and office address for requesting criminal history records in Augusta County.
Augusta General District Court
The Augusta General District Court operates within the 25th Judicial District. It handles misdemeanor cases, traffic violations, DUI charges, and preliminary hearings for felonies. Most criminal matters in Augusta County start here before moving to the Circuit Court if they involve felony charges. The General District Court is located at 6 East Johnson Street, Second Floor, Staunton, VA 24401.
The Clerk of the Augusta General District Court is Amy Arehart Helmick. Office hours are 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM Monday through Friday. The phone number is (540) 245-5300 and the fax is (540) 245-5365. You can access Augusta General District Court case records online through the Virginia GDC system. Visit the Augusta General District Court page for additional contact details and information on court operations.
| Office | Augusta General District Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 6 East Johnson Street, Second Floor, Staunton, VA 24401 |
| Phone | (540) 245-5300 |
| Fax | (540) 245-5365 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM |
| Website | vacourts.gov - Augusta General District Court |
Below is a screenshot from the Augusta General District Court page, showing clerk contact information for misdemeanor criminal case records in Augusta County.
The Augusta General District Court page provides contact details and online access links for searching misdemeanor and traffic criminal records in Augusta County.
Augusta County Sheriff's Office
The Augusta County Sheriff's Office is led by Sheriff Donald L. Smith, who has served since January 1, 2016. The office is located at P.O. Box 860, Verona, VA 24482, and the main phone number is 540-245-5333. The Sheriff's Office covers roughly 1,000 square miles of Augusta County and runs patrol, detention, SWAT, and other law enforcement functions. The office maintains arrest records, incident reports, and inmate records.
Members of the public who need arrest records or incident reports from Augusta County should contact the Sheriff's Office at 540-245-5333. Augusta County also provides a NextRequest web portal for submitting and tracking FOIA requests to county departments, including the Sheriff's Office. You can find the Sheriff's contact profile through the Virginia Sheriffs' Association directory.
| Office | Augusta County Sheriff's Office |
|---|---|
| Address | P.O. Box 860, Verona, VA 24482 |
| Phone | 540-245-5333 |
| Sheriff | Donald L. Smith (since January 1, 2016) |
Augusta County Records Request Portal
Augusta County provides a streamlined online portal for submitting public records requests to county departments. The Augusta County NextRequest portal lets citizens communicate records requests with departments within the Augusta County Government Center, including the Sheriff's Office. You can submit your request online, track its status, and receive responses through the system. This is the most direct way to request arrest records, incident reports, and other public records maintained by Augusta County agencies.
Under Virginia's Freedom of Information Act, all public records are presumed to be open. The county must respond to FOIA requests within five working days. Using the NextRequest portal creates a formal paper trail for your request and helps ensure the county responds within the required timeframe. For court records held by the Circuit Court or the General District Court, contact those offices directly rather than using the county portal, since courts have separate records access procedures.
The Augusta County NextRequest portal lets residents submit and track FOIA requests online to county departments including the Sheriff's Office, which maintains arrest records and incident reports.
Search Augusta County Criminal History Online
For felony cases and misdemeanor appeals in Augusta County, use the Virginia Circuit Court Online Case Information System (OCIS). This free system covers open and closed criminal cases from 2009 forward. Search by name or case number to find charge details, dispositions, and sentencing data. For misdemeanor and traffic cases from the Augusta General District Court, use the Virginia GDC online system and select Augusta County from the locality dropdown.
The statewide portal at vacourts.gov/caseinfo/home links to all Virginia court search tools in one place. It also includes a statewide criminal case search covering both circuit and general district court records across Virginia simultaneously. Online records are updated periodically and may not always reflect real-time case status. For verified information, contact the clerk's office directly or use the county's NextRequest portal for agency records.
Virginia State Police Criminal Record Checks
The Virginia State Police CARE office at 7700 Midlothian Turnpike North, Richmond processes statewide criminal history record checks. Public name-based searches use Form SP-167. All forms and instructions are on the VSP record check page. Virginia Code 19.2-389 sets out the legal rules for releasing criminal history record information, covering who can receive it and under what conditions. The VSP also offers fingerprint-based checks for volunteers (Form SP-266) and a link to the FBI national background check service. Remote Online Notarization is available for an added $25 fee.
VADOC Inmate Locator
Use the VADOC inmate locator to search for people currently serving state prison sentences in Virginia. The tool works by name or seven-digit inmate ID. It shows the current facility and release date. Augusta County residents who are serving state sentences at VADOC facilities will appear here. However, people held at the Augusta County jail awaiting trial or serving short sentences will not be in this system. For local detention inquiries, call the Augusta County Sheriff's Office at 540-245-5333. The VADOC locator is updated daily.
Criminal Records Access in Augusta County
Criminal case records in Augusta County are generally public under Virginia Code Sections 16.1-69.54:1 and 17.1-208. This means court filings, case dockets, verdicts, and sentencing orders from both the Circuit Court and the General District Court are open for inspection. You can view them in person at the courthouse, search them online through the state's case systems, or request copies from the Clerk's Offices. The county's NextRequest portal provides a separate path for requesting public records from county agencies like the Sheriff's Office.
Not all records are public. Juvenile case files are confidential. Expunged records are removed from public access once a court grants the petition. Records related to active investigations may be withheld under specific exemptions. Virginia Code 19.2-389 governs criminal history record information held by the state. For questions about whether a specific record is accessible, contact the Augusta Circuit Court Clerk at (540) 245-5321 or the General District Court Clerk at (540) 245-5300. For agency records, use the Augusta County NextRequest portal.
Cities Near Augusta County
Augusta County surrounds two independent Virginia cities, Staunton and Waynesboro, which maintain their own separate court records systems.
Nearby Counties
Augusta County borders several counties in the Shenandoah Valley and the Alleghany Highlands, each with its own circuit court and criminal records system.