Buchanan County Criminal History
Buchanan County criminal history records are on file at the Circuit Court and Combined Courts in Grundy. The Sheriff's Office in Vansant maintains arrest records and incident reports. This page explains how to find criminal case information in Buchanan County, which offices hold records, and which online tools cover this jurisdiction.
Buchanan County Overview
Buchanan County Circuit Court
The Buchanan County Circuit Court is part of the 29th Judicial Circuit of Virginia. The Clerk of Court is Hon. Beverly S. Tiller. Office hours are 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Friday. The mailing address is Post Office Box 929, 1012 Walnut Street, Grundy, VA 24614. The physical address is 1012 Walnut Street, Grundy, VA 24614. Phone: (276) 935-6567. Fax: (276) 935-7086. The Circuit Court is the primary court for felony criminal cases, major civil suits, and other significant legal proceedings in Buchanan County.
As the court of record for felony cases in Buchanan County, the Circuit Court Clerk maintains the official criminal files. These include grand jury indictments, arraignment records, plea agreements, trial orders, and sentencing documents. Court records are open to the public under Virginia law. You can review them at the courthouse in Grundy during business hours. For certified copies, contact the clerk's office. The Buchanan Circuit Court page on vacourts.gov has the current contact details and hours.
The Buchanan Circuit Court page on vacourts.gov lists the clerk's name, phone number, mailing and physical addresses, and office hours for the court that handles felony criminal records in Buchanan County.
| Office | Buchanan County Circuit Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Clerk | Hon. Beverly S. Tiller |
| Mailing Address | P.O. Box 929, Grundy, VA 24614 |
| Physical Address | 1012 Walnut Street, Grundy, VA 24614 |
| Phone | (276) 935-6567 |
| Fax | (276) 935-7086 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM |
General District Court in Buchanan County
Buchanan County has Combined General and Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts operating in the 29th Judicial District. The Clerk of Court is Judith M. Lyall. Hours are 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM Monday through Friday. The mailing address is P.O. Box 654, Grundy, VA 24614-0654. The physical address is 1012 Walnut Street, Suite 309, Grundy, VA 24614. Phone: (276) 935-6526. Fax: (276) 935-5479.
The Combined Courts handle misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, and preliminary hearings for felonies. Misdemeanor criminal records for Buchanan County are kept here. The Buchanan Combined Courts page has current contact details and hours. You can also search the online case system for case status and basic case information.
The Buchanan Combined Courts page lists the clerk, phone, fax, and both the mailing and physical addresses for the Combined Courts serving Buchanan County.
Buchanan County Sheriff's Office
The Buchanan County Sheriff's Office is led by Sheriff Allen W. Boyd, who took office on January 1, 2024. The office is at P.O. Box 90, Vansant, VA 24656. Main phone: 276-935-2313. The Sheriff can be reached by email at allen.boyd@buchanancounty-va.gov. The office also has a Facebook presence at the Buchanan County Sheriff's Office Virginia page. The Sheriff's Office provides all law enforcement services for Buchanan County including patrol, criminal investigations, courthouse security, civil process service, and jail operations.
To request arrest records or incident reports, contact the Buchanan County Sheriff's Office. Public records requests under Virginia FOIA must be submitted in writing. The office must respond within five working days. Basic arrest data is generally public. Records tied to active investigations or that could identify confidential informants may be withheld. The Sheriff must provide a written explanation, citing the specific FOIA exemption, if a request is denied.
Note: For jail inmate information in Buchanan County, call the Sheriff's Office at 276-935-2313. The VADOC Inmate Locator covers state prisons, not local facilities.
Search Criminal History in Buchanan County
Virginia offers free online systems to search Buchanan County criminal records. For felony cases from the Circuit Court, use the Virginia Circuit Court Online Case Information System. Search by defendant name to find charge details, filing dates, disposition, and sentence information. Records go back to early 2009. The database is updated on a regular basis.
For misdemeanor and traffic cases from the Combined Courts, use the Virginia General District Court Online Case Information System. This covers Combined Courts statewide, including Buchanan County. You must accept the terms and conditions before each search. The system shows hearing dates, case status, and basic case information. It is a starting point for research, but it does not replace the official court file. For certified records or older case files, contact the clerk directly.
The Virginia Courts Case Information portal is another option. It links both systems and provides a single entry point for statewide court record searches. All tools are free to use and do not require a login.
Virginia State Police Criminal Record Checks
The Virginia State Police processes statewide criminal record checks through its CARE office in Richmond. Use Form SP-167 to submit a name-based check. Access is governed by Virginia Code § 19.2-389. Members of the public may request their own records. The results pull from court dispositions reported across Virginia, including Buchanan County cases. This provides a broad view of statewide criminal history tied to a name and date of birth.
Keep in mind that not every local arrest or recent case may appear in the State Police system. For the most complete record, contact the Buchanan Circuit Court or Combined Courts clerk directly.
VADOC Inmate Locator
The Virginia Department of Corrections maintains an Inmate Locator for people serving time in state correctional facilities. If someone from Buchanan County is in a state prison, search by name or offender ID to find their facility, sentence length, and projected release date. This tool does not cover local jails. For information about people held at the Buchanan County local facility, contact the Sheriff's Office at 276-935-2313.
Criminal Records Access in Buchanan County
Criminal court records in Buchanan County are open to the public under Virginia Code §§ 16.1-69.54:1 and 17.1-208. Anyone can review case dockets, charge descriptions, and court orders at the Circuit Court or Combined Courts without needing to explain their reason. Certified copies are available for a per-page fee from the clerk's office.
Restricted records include juvenile case files, records sealed by court order, and cases expunged under Virginia Code § 19.2-392.2. Arrest records held by the Sheriff are governed by a different part of Virginia law. Under Virginia Code § 19.2-389, full criminal history record information maintained by law enforcement is restricted to specific authorized uses. Basic arrest data is often public, but compiled records and investigative information may not be.
Buchanan County residents who believe they qualify for expungement must petition the Circuit Court in Grundy. If the petition is granted, the court notifies the State Police and other relevant agencies to update their records. The process removes the expunged case from public access at the court level and from state databases.
Cities Near Buchanan County
Buchanan County is a rural county in southwest Virginia. No independent cities are located within its borders. Nearby qualifying cities in the region are listed below.
Nearby Counties
These counties share a border with Buchanan County. Criminal cases near the line may fall in either jurisdiction.