Dickenson County Criminal History

Dickenson County criminal history records are kept by the Circuit Court Clerk and the Sheriff's Office in Clintwood, Virginia. You can search case records online through state court systems or visit the courthouse to look up criminal cases in person. The county sits in far southwest Virginia along the Kentucky border, and the 29th Judicial Circuit handles all felony criminal proceedings here. This guide covers the courts, the sheriff, online search tools, state police checks, and public records access for Dickenson County.

Dickenson County Circuit Court

The Dickenson County Circuit Court is the court of record for all felony criminal cases in the county. It is part of the 29th Judicial Circuit of Virginia. The Clerk of Court is Hon. Joshua R. Evans. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. All felony charges, serious criminal matters, and appeals from the General District Court come before this court. The Clerk keeps the official record of every criminal case filed here.

The Circuit Court Clerk's Office maintains criminal case files, land records, and other court documents going back many years. If you need records of a felony case in Dickenson County, this is the office to contact. Staff can look up cases by name or case number. Certified copies of court orders are available for a fee. The court serves the county from the courthouse in Clintwood, which is also where the Sheriff's Office operates.

The Virginia Courts website lists the official court information. You can view the page for the Dickenson Circuit Court to confirm contact details, court schedules, and clerk information before making your visit or sending a request.

The Dickenson Circuit Court page on the Virginia Judiciary website lists clerk contact details, court hours, and case filing procedures for criminal matters in the county.

General District Court

The General District Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, and preliminary hearings for felony cases in Dickenson County. It is part of the 29th Judicial District. This court is the first stop for most criminal charges in the county. Misdemeanor cases are resolved here, while felony charges go through a preliminary hearing before transfer to Circuit Court. Records from General District Court proceedings are separate from Circuit Court files.

For misdemeanor criminal records and traffic cases in Dickenson County, check the statewide General District Court online system or contact the clerk directly. Smaller counties like Dickenson may have shared or combined court services. Call the Circuit Court Clerk at (276) 926-1616 to confirm current General District Court procedures and locations.

Dickenson County Sheriff's Office

The Dickenson County Sheriff's Office is the primary law enforcement agency for the county. Sheriff Jeremy D. Fleming took office on January 1, 2020. The office is located in Clintwood and handles criminal investigations, patrol, court security, and civil process service. The Sheriff's Office is also the source for arrest records and incident reports in Dickenson County. You can submit a FOIA request through the Sheriff's website for copies of law enforcement records.

The Sheriff's Office maintains an official website with forms and resources, including FOIA request forms for public records. For arrest information and law enforcement records, contact the Sheriff's Office directly. The county has its own detention facilities, and the Sheriff's Office can provide information about individuals who have been arrested and booked in the county.

The Dickenson County Sheriff's website provides forms and resources including online FOIA request forms for law enforcement records.

The Dickenson County Sheriff's Office website includes arrest record request forms and FOIA resources for obtaining law enforcement records from the county.

Search Criminal History in Dickenson County

Virginia offers several free online tools to search criminal history records. For Circuit Court cases in Dickenson County, use the Online Case Information System (OCIS) run by the Virginia Judiciary. You can search by name or case number to find felony criminal cases, civil matters, and case status. Results show party names, hearing dates, charges, and dispositions. Note that juvenile records and sealed cases do not appear in this system.

Misdemeanor cases and traffic violations from Dickenson County can be found using the General District Court online case search. This tool covers lower-level criminal cases including preliminary hearings and traffic matters. Both systems are free to use and available 24 hours a day. You do not need to create an account to search.

The Virginia Courts also offer a case information portal with additional tools for tracking cases and checking court dates. For older cases or records not fully digitized, in-person research at the Dickenson Circuit Court Clerk's Office may be needed. Bring a valid ID and the case details you are looking for. Staff can search by name or case number and make copies for a per-page fee.

Note: Criminal records involving juveniles and certain sealed matters are not available through public online searches and require direct contact with the Clerk's Office.

Virginia State Police Criminal Record Checks

The Virginia State Police maintains the official criminal history repository for the Commonwealth. To get a formal criminal history record check, visit vsp.virginia.gov/criminal-record-check/. Individuals can request their own record using Form SP-167. The process requires submitting the form with your personal information and the required fee. Results show convictions and other criminal history on file with the state. Under Virginia Code § 19.2-389, criminal history record information is restricted and may only be shared with authorized parties for specific purposes.

The Virginia State Police also administers the CARE (Central Automated Record Exchange) system, which is used by authorized agencies to access criminal history data. Private individuals must use the formal request process through the State Police website rather than CARE. Turnaround time varies. For the most current fee and processing information, check the State Police website directly.

VADOC Inmate Locator

If you are looking for someone serving time in a Virginia state prison, use the Virginia Department of Corrections inmate locator. The tool lets you search by name or inmate ID number. Results include the facility where the person is housed, sentence details, and projected release date. This covers individuals convicted of felonies and sentenced to state correctional facilities, not those in local county jails. For Dickenson County jail information, contact the Sheriff's Office directly at (276) 926-1600.

Public Criminal Records Access in Dickenson County

Most criminal court records in Virginia are public under Title 17.1 of the Code of Virginia. This includes case files, indictments, verdicts, and sentencing orders in Circuit Court. You do not need to be a party to a case to request copies. The Dickenson County Circuit Court Clerk is the custodian of these records. You can visit the office in Clintwood or submit a written request. Staff can locate records by name or case number. Copies are available for a per-page fee, and certified copies cost more than plain copies.

For law enforcement records such as arrest reports and incident records held by the Dickenson County Sheriff's Office, Virginia's Freedom of Information Act applies. Under Virginia Code § 19.2-389, certain law enforcement and criminal history records have restrictions. The county must respond to FOIA requests within five working days. For criminal investigative files, the county is allowed up to 65 working days total to respond. Direct FOIA requests to William J. Sturgill, County Attorney, at P.O. Box 1098, Clintwood, Virginia 24228, phone (276) 926-1676. For the Sheriff's Office, use the FOIA forms available at dickensoncountysheriff.net/forms.

Records involving juveniles, adoptions, and sealed cases are not open to the public. The Virginia Freedom of Information Act Advisory Council at foiacouncil.dls.virginia.gov can answer questions about your rights under VFOIA. The Council can be reached at (804) 225-3056 or toll-free at 1-866-448-4100. Note that court records that are already public are exempt from FOIA procedures and can be requested directly from the Clerk.

Cities Near Dickenson County

Dickenson County is in a rural area of far southwest Virginia. The nearest qualifying cities with their own court pages are listed below.

Other nearby communities include Clintwood, Clinchco, and Nora. All criminal cases in Dickenson County go through the 29th Judicial Circuit courthouse in Clintwood.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Dickenson County. If you are looking for criminal records from a neighboring area, visit the county page for that jurisdiction.