Brunswick County Criminal History

Brunswick County criminal history records are held at the Circuit Court and Combined Courts in Lawrenceville. The Sheriff's Office maintains arrest records and incident reports. This page covers how to search Brunswick County criminal records online and in person, including court contact details and statewide search tools.

Brunswick County Circuit Court

The Brunswick County Circuit Court is part of the 6th Judicial Circuit of Virginia. The Clerk of Court is Hon. Jacqueline Seward Morgan. Office hours are 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM Monday through Friday. The court is located at 216 North Main Street, Lawrenceville, VA 23868. Phone: (434) 848-2215. Fax: (434) 848-4307. This court has jurisdiction over all felony criminal cases, major civil suits, and other significant legal matters in Brunswick County.

The Circuit Court Clerk keeps all felony criminal records including indictments, plea documents, conviction orders, and sentencing records. These files are public and can be reviewed in person at the courthouse. For certified copies, there is a per-page fee. For non-certified copies, the fee is lower. Contact the clerk's office for specific copy costs. The Brunswick Circuit Court page on vacourts.gov has the current contact details and hours.

The Brunswick Circuit Court page shows clerk contact information and office hours for the court that handles felony criminal records in Brunswick County.

General District Court in Brunswick County

Brunswick County has a Combined General and Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court. The court operates in the 6th Judicial District. The Clerk of Court is Susan Evans Martin. Hours are 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The court is housed at the Albertis S. Harrison Jr. Courthouse, 202 North Main Street, Lawrenceville, VA 23868. General District phone: (434) 848-2315. JDR phone: (434) 623-3220. Fax: (434) 848-2550.

The General District Court is presided over by Hon. Peter D. Eliades as Chief Judge, along with four other judges. Misdemeanor criminal cases are heard on the 1st and 2nd Wednesdays of each month, starting with advisements at 8:30 AM, then hearings from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Civil cases are heard on Tuesdays and traffic matters on Thursdays. The court has a dress code prohibiting athletic apparel, shorts, revealing clothing, headwear that obscures the face (except religious coverings), and items like food, weapons, cameras, and cell phones unless the cell phone is being used as evidence and held by the Sheriff.

For continuances, the first two are granted by the Clerk. After that, you must ask a judge. No same-day continuances are allowed. All requests must come in at least a day before your court date. The Brunswick Combined Courts page has the full schedule and court policies.

The Brunswick Combined Courts page shows the full court schedule, dress code policy, and contact information for the district courts in Brunswick County.

Brunswick County Sheriff's Office

The Brunswick County Sheriff's Office is led by Sheriff Brian K. Roberts, who has been in office since January 1, 2008. The office is at P.O. Box 705, Lawrenceville, VA 23868. Phone: 434-848-3133. The Sheriff's Office handles all law enforcement in Brunswick County including criminal investigations, arrests, courthouse security, civil process, and jail operations. Arrest records, incident reports, and investigative files are maintained here.

To request public records from the Brunswick County Sheriff's Office, submit a written FOIA request. Under Virginia FOIA, the office must respond within five working days. Basic arrest information is generally available to the public. Records tied to ongoing investigations or records that identify confidential informants may be withheld. The Sheriff must provide a written explanation if any request is denied, citing the specific FOIA exemption that applies.

Note: The Brunswick County Jail is operated by the Sheriff's Office. For jail inmate information, call the main Sheriff's number at 434-848-3133.

Search Criminal History in Brunswick County

Virginia provides free online tools to search Brunswick County criminal history. The Virginia Circuit Court Online Case Information System covers all Circuit Courts statewide. Search by defendant name. Results include the charge, filing date, case status, disposition, and sentence. The database goes back to early 2009 and is updated on a rolling basis. This is the best tool for looking up felony criminal cases in Brunswick County.

For misdemeanor and traffic matters heard by the Combined Courts, use the Virginia General District Court Online Case Information System. This covers General District and Combined Courts statewide, including Brunswick County. Accept the terms before each session. The system shows hearing dates, case status, and basic case information. It is not the official record -- contact the court clerk for certified documents.

The Virginia Courts Case Information portal links both systems in one place. All tools are free and do not require an account. For older records predating the online systems, contact the Brunswick Circuit Court Clerk directly.

Virginia State Police Criminal Record Checks

The Virginia State Police handles statewide criminal record checks through its CARE office in Richmond. Submit Form SP-167 for a name-based check. Access is governed by Virginia Code § 19.2-389, which limits who may use criminal history records and for what purpose. Members of the public may request their own records. Results include dispositions from courts across Virginia, including Brunswick County. The State Police check is broad but may not capture very recent cases or all local arrests. Contact the court clerk directly for the most complete and current record.

VADOC Inmate Locator

People from Brunswick County serving sentences in Virginia state correctional facilities can be found through the VADOC Inmate Locator. Search by name or offender ID to find current or former state inmates. Results include the facility, sentence length, and projected release date. The Locator covers state prisons only. For local jail information, contact the Brunswick County Sheriff's Office at 434-848-3133.

Criminal Records Access in Brunswick County

Court records in Brunswick County are public under Virginia Code §§ 16.1-69.54:1 and 17.1-208. Anyone can view case dockets, charge information, and court orders at the Circuit Court or Combined Courts during business hours. You do not need to state a reason or show ID to look at a public court file. The clerk can provide copies for a per-page fee.

Restrictions apply to certain categories of records. Juvenile case files are sealed by law. Cases that were expunged under Virginia Code § 19.2-392.2 are removed from public access. Records sealed by court order are off-limits. The Sheriff's arrest records fall under law enforcement records rules set in Virginia Code § 19.2-389, which add a layer of restrictions beyond those that apply to court filings.

People in Brunswick County who want to know if they qualify for expungement must petition the Circuit Court. The process involves filing a petition, paying a fee, and getting a hearing before a judge. If the court grants the petition, records are cleared from public access at the court level and with the State Police.

Cities Near Brunswick County

The City of Emporia borders Brunswick County and operates its own independent courts.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Brunswick County. Cases near the county line may be filed in either jurisdiction.