Search Criminal Records in Bedford County

Bedford County criminal records are kept by the Circuit Court Clerk and the General District Court in the town of Bedford. Use the tools on this page to find case information online or learn how to contact the right office for certified copies and in-person record requests.

Bedford County Circuit Court

The Bedford County Circuit Court is part of the 24th Judicial Circuit of Virginia. The Clerk of Court is Hon. Judy E. Reynolds. The clerk's office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. The court is located at 123 East Main St., Suite 201, Bedford, VA 24523. The judges' chambers are in Suite 301 of the same building. You can reach the clerk by phone at (540) 586-7632 or by fax at (540) 586-6197. This court handles all felony criminal cases, major civil litigation, and family law matters that exceed the district court's jurisdiction.

As the court of record for felony criminal cases in Bedford County, the Circuit Court Clerk keeps the official files. These include indictments, guilty pleas, trial orders, conviction records, and sentencing documents. The clerk's office provides public access to these records during business hours. You can visit in person to review files or submit a written request for copies. The Bedford Circuit Court page on the Virginia Judicial System website has current contact details.

The Bedford Circuit Court page on vacourts.gov lists clerk contact details, office hours, and the physical address for the courthouse in Bedford.

General District Court in Bedford County

The Bedford General District Court operates in the 24th Judicial District of Virginia. The Clerk of Court is Ashley Richards Schley. You can contact her by email at aschley@vacourts.gov. The clerk's office hours are 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM Monday through Friday. The court is located at 123 East Main Street, Suite 202, Bedford, VA 24523 -- one floor below the Circuit Court in the same building. The phone number is (540) 586-7637 and the fax is (540) 586-7684.

The General District Court hears misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, and preliminary hearings for felony charges before they move to the Circuit Court. Misdemeanor criminal records stay at this court. You can search them online or visit the courthouse. The Bedford General District Court page has updated contact info and hours. For online searches, use the statewide General District Court case search system.

The Bedford General District Court page lists the clerk's name, email, phone, and office hours for the district court serving Bedford County.

Bedford County Sheriff's Office

The Bedford County Sheriff's Office is led by Sheriff Mike W. Miller, who took office on January 1, 2020. The office is located at 1345 Falling Creek Road, Bedford, VA 24523. The main phone number is 540-586-4800. The Sheriff's Office handles patrol operations, criminal investigations, courthouse security, civil process service, and jail operations. Arrest records, incident reports, and jail records are kept by this office.

To request arrest records or incident reports from Bedford County, contact the Sheriff's Office by phone or submit a written FOIA request. Virginia FOIA gives the public access to many law enforcement records. Basic arrest information is typically available. Investigative files tied to open cases may be withheld. The Sheriff's Office must respond to FOIA requests within five working days and must provide written notice if records are denied or delayed.

Note: For jail inmate records in Bedford County, contact the Sheriff's Office directly at 540-586-4800. The VADOC Inmate Locator covers state prisons but not local jails.

Search Criminal History in Bedford County

The fastest way to search Bedford County criminal history online is through the Virginia court portals. The Virginia Circuit Court Online Case Information System covers felony and major criminal cases from all Circuit Courts in Virginia. You can search by defendant name. Results include the charge, filing date, disposition, and sentence information. The database goes back to early 2009 and is updated on a rolling basis.

For misdemeanor cases in Bedford County, use the Virginia General District Court Online Case Information System. This covers General District Court records statewide, including Bedford County. You must agree to the terms and conditions before each search session. The system shows case status and hearing dates but does not replace the official court file.

The Virginia Courts Case Information portal is another option. It provides links to both the circuit and district court search tools and offers a single starting point for looking up case records across the Commonwealth.

Virginia State Police Criminal Record Checks

For a statewide criminal history record check, the Virginia State Police processes requests through its CARE office in Richmond. Use Form SP-167 to request a name-based check. This is governed by Virginia Code § 19.2-389, which defines who may access criminal history record information and for what purposes. Members of the public can request their own records. The results draw from dispositions reported by clerks across Virginia, including Bedford County.

Keep in mind that the State Police record check reflects what has been reported to the state system. It may not include every local arrest or very recent case. For the most current and complete record, contact the Bedford Circuit Court or General District Court clerk directly.

VADOC Inmate Locator

If someone from Bedford County is serving time in a Virginia state prison, you can find them through the Virginia Department of Corrections Inmate Locator. Search by name or offender ID. Results include the facility, sentence length, and projected release date for state inmates. This tool does not cover the Bedford County Jail or other local facilities.

Criminal Records Access in Bedford County

Virginia law sets clear rules on access to criminal records. Court records in Bedford County are public under Virginia Code §§ 16.1-69.54:1 and 17.1-208. You can view case dockets, charge descriptions, and disposition orders without needing special authorization. These documents are on file at the Bedford Circuit Court and General District Court. You do not need to be a party to the case to look at a court file.

Some records are restricted. Juvenile case files are sealed by default. Cases that were expunged under Virginia Code § 19.2-392.2 are removed from public access. Records sealed by court order are also off-limits. And under Virginia Code § 19.2-389, full criminal history record data held by law enforcement is restricted to authorized uses. This is different from the court record, which is public.

Arrests that did not lead to charges or that were dismissed may still appear in some court records. If a person believes their record qualifies for expungement, they must petition the court under Virginia Code § 19.2-392.2. Bedford County residents with questions about their criminal records can contact the Circuit Court Clerk or consult with an attorney.

Cities Near Bedford County

The City of Lynchburg borders Bedford County and handles its own independent court system.

Nearby Counties

Bedford County borders these counties. Cases may be filed across county lines depending on where an offense occurred.