Criminal Records in Caroline County

Caroline County criminal history records are held at the Circuit Court and General District Court in Bowling Green. The Sheriff's Office on Bowling Green Road also maintains arrest records and incident reports. This page covers how to search criminal history in Caroline County, including court contacts, office locations, and free online tools.

Caroline County Circuit Court

The Caroline County Circuit Court is part of the 15th Judicial Circuit of Virginia. The Clerk of Court is Hon. Susan W. Minarchi, who can be reached by email at sminarchi@vacourts.gov. The clerk's office hours are 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM Monday through Friday. The court's mailing address is P.O. Box 309, Bowling Green, VA 22427-0309. The physical address is 112 Courthouse Lane, Suite A, Bowling Green, VA 22427. Phone: (804) 633-5800. The court maintains a local website with additional information. The Circuit Court handles all felony criminal proceedings, major civil suits, and other significant legal matters in Caroline County.

All felony criminal records in Caroline County are filed with the Circuit Court Clerk. These include grand jury indictments, arraignment records, plea agreements, trial orders, conviction documents, and sentencing records. They are public records and can be reviewed at the Bowling Green courthouse during business hours. Copies are available for a per-page fee. The Caroline Circuit Court page on vacourts.gov has current contact details.

The Caroline Circuit Court page on vacourts.gov lists the clerk's name, email, phone, addresses, and office hours for the court that holds felony criminal records in Caroline County.

General District Court in Caroline County

The Caroline General District Court operates in the 15th Judicial District of Virginia. The clerk's office hours are 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM Monday through Friday. Phone: (804) 633-5720. Fax: (804) 633-3033. The court is at P.O. Box 511, 111 Ennis Street, Bowling Green, VA 22427. The General District Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, and preliminary hearings for felony charges.

Misdemeanor criminal records for Caroline County are kept at the General District Court. If you need to look up a traffic offense or a Class 1 or Class 2 misdemeanor conviction, this is the court to contact. The Caroline General District Court page has current contact details and hours. You can also search case records online using the Virginia General District Court case information system.

The Caroline General District Court page on vacourts.gov lists phone, fax, address, and hours for the court that holds misdemeanor criminal records in Caroline County.

Caroline County Sheriff's Office

The Caroline County Sheriff's Office is led by Sheriff C. Scott Moser, who took office on January 1, 2023. The office is at P.O. Box 39, Bowling Green, VA 22427. Phone: 804-633-1120. Sheriff Moser can be reached by email at smoser@co.caroline.va.us. The official Sheriff's Office website is at carolinesheriff.org. The Sheriff's Office provides all law enforcement services for Caroline County including criminal investigations, arrests, courthouse security, civil process, and jail operations. Arrest records, incident reports, and other law enforcement records are maintained by the office.

The Caroline County Sheriff's Office website provides contact information, crime prevention resources, and information about office services. For public records requests, use Virginia FOIA. Submit your request in writing. The office must respond within five working days. Basic arrest records are generally public. Records tied to active investigations or that could identify confidential informants may be withheld. If a request is denied, the office must provide written notice citing the specific FOIA exemption.

The Caroline County Sheriff's Office website provides contact details and community program information for the law enforcement agency that maintains arrest records in Caroline County.

Search Criminal History in Caroline County

Virginia provides free online tools to search Caroline County criminal history. For felony cases from the Circuit Court, use the Virginia Circuit Court Online Case Information System. This covers all Circuit Courts statewide. Search by defendant name to find charge details, filing dates, case status, disposition, and sentence information. Records go back to early 2009 and are updated regularly.

For misdemeanor and traffic cases from the General District Court, use the Virginia General District Court Online Case Information System. This covers General District Courts statewide, including Caroline County. You must accept the terms before searching. The system shows case status and hearing dates. It provides a starting point but does not substitute for the official court file. Contact the clerk directly for certified documents.

The Virginia Courts Case Information portal links both systems and is a convenient entry point for any court record search. All tools are free and accessible to the public without a login. Caroline County is also covered by the 15th Judicial Circuit, which includes surrounding counties in the region.

Virginia State Police Criminal Record Checks

The Virginia State Police processes statewide criminal history record checks through its CARE office in Richmond. Use Form SP-167 to request a name-based check. The process is governed by Virginia Code § 19.2-389, which defines who can access criminal history record information. Members of the public may request their own records. Results draw from court dispositions reported statewide, including Caroline County cases. For the most complete and current record, contact the court clerk in Bowling Green directly.

VADOC Inmate Locator

The Virginia Department of Corrections maintains an Inmate Locator for people held in state correctional facilities. If someone from Caroline County is serving a state sentence, search by name or offender ID to find their facility, sentence length, and projected release date. The tool covers state prisons only. For local jail information in Caroline County, contact the Sheriff's Office at 804-633-1120.

Note: Caroline County is situated along Interstate 95 between Fredericksburg and Richmond. Cases involving crimes on major transportation corridors may also involve state police jurisdiction. Contact the Virginia State Police Richmond Division for inquiries about such cases.

Criminal Records Access in Caroline County

Criminal court records in Caroline County are open to the public under Virginia Code §§ 16.1-69.54:1 and 17.1-208. You can review case dockets, charge descriptions, and court orders at the Circuit Court or General District Court during business hours. No ID or reason is needed to look at public court files. Copies cost a per-page fee from the clerk's office.

Some records are restricted. Juvenile case files are sealed. Cases expunged under Virginia Code § 19.2-392.2 are removed from public access. Records sealed by court order are not available for review. Arrest records held by the Caroline County Sheriff are governed by Virginia Code § 19.2-389, which adds additional restrictions beyond those that apply to public court records. Basic arrest data is often available, but compiled investigative records may not be disclosed.

Caroline County residents who believe they qualify for expungement must file a petition with the Circuit Court. If the court grants the petition, it notifies the State Police and other relevant agencies to update their records. The expunged case is then removed from public access at the court level and from the State Police database.

Cities Near Caroline County

The City of Fredericksburg borders Caroline County and operates its own independent court system.

Nearby Counties

These counties share a border with Caroline County. Make sure you have the right jurisdiction before requesting criminal records.