Find Criminal Records in Charles City County
Charles City County criminal history records are kept at the Circuit Court Clerk's Office at 10780 Courthouse Road in Charles City, Virginia. You can search criminal cases online through Virginia's statewide court portals or contact the clerk's office directly to request case documents. The Circuit Court holds felony criminal records while the General District Court handles misdemeanor cases, traffic violations, and preliminary felony hearings for this small rural county in the 9th Judicial Circuit.
Charles City County Overview
Charles City County Circuit Court Criminal Records
The Charles City County Circuit Court is part of the 9th Judicial Circuit of Virginia. The Clerk of Court is Hon. Victoria E. Washington. This court is the court of record for all felony criminal cases in the county. It also handles civil litigation over $25,000 and acts as the appellate court for decisions made in the General District Court. The Clerk's office maintains criminal case files, land records, and court documents that are available to the public during regular business hours.
Office hours are 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday. Note that recording of documents stops at 4:00 PM, so if you plan to record anything, arrive by 3:45 PM at the latest. The court has multiple phone lines: the main number is (804) 652-2108, the Civil Division and ministers line is (804) 652-2105, and the Criminal Division can be reached at (804) 652-2107. This separate criminal division line makes it easier to get case-specific information about felony records without waiting through a general queue.
| Office | Charles City County Circuit Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 10780 Courthouse Road, P.O. Box 86 Charles City, VA 23030 |
| Phone | (804) 652-2108 (main) | Criminal Division: (804) 652-2107 |
| Fax | (804) 829-5647 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM (recording stops at 4:00 PM) |
| Website | vacourts.gov - Charles City Circuit Court |
The Charles City Circuit Court page is shown below. This screenshot was taken from the Charles City Circuit Court official page on the Virginia Judiciary website.
The circuit court page lists the clerk's contact information and links to the statewide online case search system for Charles City County criminal records.
General District Court in Charles City County
The Charles City County General District Court is also part of the 9th Judicial District. For misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, and civil matters under $25,000, this court is the first stop. Many felony cases also begin here with a preliminary hearing before being certified to Circuit Court for trial. Public records from the General District Court are searchable through Virginia's online case system. For specific information about court schedules and procedures in Charles City, check the Virginia courts website or contact the Circuit Court Clerk's office, which can direct you to the right resources.
Charles City is one of Virginia's smaller counties. Some General District Court services in smaller jurisdictions may be shared with or administered through neighboring court systems. The Circuit Court Clerk's office at (804) 652-2108 can confirm exact procedures for misdemeanor and traffic case records in Charles City County.
Charles City County Sheriff's Office
The Charles City County Sheriff is Jayson T. Crawley (I), who took office on January 1, 2024. The Sheriff's Office is located at P.O. Box 87, Charles City, VA 23030, and can be reached by phone at 804-829-9265. The Sheriff's Office is responsible for law enforcement in the county, providing patrol services, court security, service of civil process, and operating the county jail. Arrest records and incident reports from the Sheriff's Office are the primary source of law enforcement criminal history for Charles City County.
For law enforcement records including arrest reports and incident data, contact the Sheriff's Office directly. FOIA requests for law enforcement records in Charles City County should be submitted to the appropriate FOIA officer. You can find current contact information through the Virginia Sheriffs' Association directory, which lists all current sheriffs and their contact details.
Search Criminal History in Charles City County
Virginia maintains two main online portals for public criminal case searches. For felony cases and serious criminal matters handled by the Circuit Court, use the Virginia Judiciary Online Case Information System. This system lets you search Charles City County Circuit Court records by name or case number and shows case status, hearing dates, and disposition information. Some older records that predate electronic filing may not appear online and will require an in-person search at the Clerk's office.
For misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, and preliminary felony hearings in the General District Court, use the Virginia General District Court Online Case Information System. This free tool is available any time and covers lower-level criminal matters for Charles City County. Both systems are managed by the Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia and are the official sources for public court data.
You can also start a search at the Virginia Courts Case Information portal on the vacourts.gov website. That gateway routes you to the right system based on your county and case type. Juvenile records and sealed documents are not accessible through any of these public portals.
Virginia State Police Criminal Record Checks
For certified criminal history record checks in Virginia, contact the Virginia State Police through the VSP Criminal Record Check portal. You will fill out Form SP-167 and submit it to the VSP's CARE office, which manages the statewide criminal history database. This is the process for obtaining an official certified criminal history report that covers all Virginia jurisdictions, not just Charles City County. Under Virginia Code section 19.2-389, access to criminal history records is regulated, and the VSP acts as the central repository for statewide records.
VADOC Inmate Locator
The Virginia Department of Corrections maintains an online Inmate Locator tool for searching people currently held in state correctional facilities. If a person was convicted of a felony in Charles City County and received a state prison sentence, you can search for them using this tool. Results include the current facility, projected release date, and basic status information. People held in local jails are not included in this system. For local detention information in Charles City County, contact the Sheriff's Office directly.
Criminal Records Access in Charles City County
Virginia's Freedom of Information Act gives citizens the right to access public records. Under Code of Virginia section 2.2-3700, all public records are presumed open and may only be withheld under a specific statutory exemption. Charles City County must respond to FOIA requests within five working days. Day one is the day after the request is received.
To request records from Charles City County administration, contact the FOIA Officer, Mrs. Miranda Venable, Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, at 10900 Courthouse Road, P.O. Box 128, Charles City, Virginia 23030, or by email at CCCFOIArequests@charlescityva.us. A FOIA Request Form is available through the county website and can be mailed, faxed, or delivered in person. The county may charge for actual costs including staff time and copying. More information is available at the Charles City County FOIA Request page.
The Charles City County FOIA page is shown below. This screenshot was captured from the Charles City County FOIA Request page at charlescityva.us.
The county FOIA page explains procedures for requesting public records, including law enforcement and court-related documents in Charles City County.
Commonly withheld records in Charles City County include personnel files, attorney-client privileged records, vendor proprietary information, and contract negotiation records. Criminal investigative files that are part of active investigations are typically protected from disclosure. Court records that are already public, such as final case dispositions, are accessible through the court's own systems and are not subject to FOIA requests since they are already publicly available.
Cities Near Charles City County
Charles City County is a rural jurisdiction. The nearest qualifying cities with their own court systems include Richmond and Williamsburg. Criminal cases originating in Charles City County are handled at the county courthouse, not at city courts.
Nearby Counties
Charles City County borders several other Virginia counties. Each county maintains its own criminal history records through its local Circuit Court and General District Court.