Find Criminal Records in Dinwiddie County

Dinwiddie County criminal history records are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk and the Sheriff's Office, both located at the Dinwiddie County Government Center. You can search criminal cases online using Virginia's statewide court systems, or request records in person or by mail. The county is part of the 6th Judicial Circuit and sits south of Petersburg in central Virginia. This page covers the courts, sheriff, online search options, state police record checks, and your rights under Virginia's public records law.

Dinwiddie County Circuit Court

The Dinwiddie County Circuit Court sits in the 6th Judicial Circuit of Virginia. The Clerk of Court is Hon. John B. Chappell Jr., who can be reached at bchappell@vacourts.gov. Office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The Circuit Court handles all felony criminal cases, civil suits over $25,000, and appeals from the General District Court. Every criminal case tried here is part of the permanent public record kept by the Clerk's Office.

Criminal and civil terms begin on the 3rd Tuesday in January, March, May, July, September, and November at 9:00 a.m. Grand Juries meet on the first day of each criminal term. Criminal bench days run throughout the month, including every Wednesday morning, the 2nd Wednesday morning and afternoon, the 1st Friday morning, and the 4th Friday morning. Traffic appeals are heard on the 4th Wednesday afternoon. The court will email orders if an email address is on file. Otherwise, a self-addressed stamped envelope is required for mailed copies.

The Dinwiddie Circuit Court page on the Virginia Judiciary website lists court schedules, clerk contact details, and procedures for obtaining criminal case records.

General District Court

The Dinwiddie County General District Court is part of the 6th Judicial District. This court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, and civil matters under $25,000. It also conducts preliminary hearings for felony cases. When someone is charged with a felony in Dinwiddie County, the case first comes to General District Court for a preliminary hearing before being transferred to Circuit Court for trial. Records from both courts are separate and cover different types of criminal activity.

For misdemeanor and traffic records from Dinwiddie County, the statewide General District Court online search is the first place to check. You can also contact the court directly. The county also provides online access to various records through its online services portal, which includes links to Circuit Court case information and other court document systems.

Dinwiddie County's online services page links to court record systems, land records, e-filing tools, and the OCRA attorney access portal for court documents.

Dinwiddie County Sheriff's Office

The Dinwiddie County Sheriff's Office is a full-service law enforcement agency. Sheriff D. T. "Duck" Adams took office on January 1, 2012. The office has 61 sworn officers, 16 dispatchers, and 3 K-9 units. The Sheriff's Office maintains the Meherrin River Regional Jail in partnership with neighboring counties. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For arrest records and law enforcement reports, contact the Sheriff's Office or submit a formal FOIA request. The FOIA Officer for the Sheriff's Office is Major William Knott.

The Dinwiddie County Sheriff's Office page provides contact information, FOIA officer details, and information about the Meherrin River Regional Jail.

Search Criminal History in Dinwiddie County

Virginia's online court systems are the best starting point for Dinwiddie County criminal history searches. The OCIS system covers Circuit Court felony cases and lets you search by name or case number. You can check case status, hearing dates, charges, and dispositions. The system includes Dinwiddie County cases going back to when records were digitized, though older cases may require in-person research.

For misdemeanor cases, traffic violations, and preliminary hearing records, use the General District Court online case search. Both systems are free to use. The Dinwiddie Circuit Court also offers an attorney online access program called OCRA, which allows inquiry-only viewing of all court documents for cases from 2009 forward. OCRA is restricted to attorneys and their support staff and is not available to the general public.

Additional tools are available through the Virginia Courts case information portal. For records that are not online, contact the Clerk at kleblanc@vacourts.gov or call (804) 469-4540 to ask about obtaining copies. The county government also maintains a records and online services page that links to multiple court record access tools.

Dinwiddie County's FOIA page lists designated officers for each county department and explains the rights and responsibilities process for requesting public records.

Virginia State Police Criminal Record Checks

For a formal criminal history record check in Virginia, the Virginia State Police is the official source. Visit vsp.virginia.gov/criminal-record-check/ to request your own record using Form SP-167. The form requires identifying information and payment of the applicable fee. Results reflect what is on file in the state criminal history repository. Under Virginia Code § 19.2-389, access to criminal history record information is restricted to authorized purposes. Private individuals requesting their own records must go through the State Police directly.

VADOC Inmate Locator

For people serving time in Virginia state prisons, the VADOC inmate locator lets you search by name or inmate ID number. You can find the facility where someone is housed, their sentence information, and projected release date. This tool covers state correctional facilities, not local county jails. For individuals held at the Meherrin River Regional Jail in Dinwiddie County, contact the Sheriff's Office at (804) 469-4550.

Public Criminal Records Access in Dinwiddie County

Criminal court records in Virginia are generally public under Title 17.1 of the Code of Virginia. The Dinwiddie Circuit Court Clerk maintains the official case files for all felony criminal cases in the county. Anyone can request to inspect or get copies of court records. You can visit the courthouse at 14010 Boydton Plank Road or send a written request. Staff can search by name or case number. Copy fees are set by state law. Certified copies cost more than plain ones.

Dinwiddie County has a formal FOIA process for records held by county agencies other than the courts. The county designates FOIA officers for each department. For Board of Supervisors and general county administration records, contact Heather Jennings, Paralegal, P.O. Drawer 70, Dinwiddie, VA 23841, phone 804-469-4500 Option 1 ext. 2149. For Sheriff's Office records, contact Major William Knott at (804) 469-4550. For Circuit Court records, contact Heather Jennings at the same address. The county must respond to FOIA requests within five working days. Criminal investigative files may take up to 65 working days total.

Records exempt from public access include juvenile court records, adoption files, ongoing criminal investigations, and sealed court documents. Under Virginia Code § 19.2-389, criminal history record information is protected and can only be released in defined circumstances. Questions about your FOIA rights can be directed to the Virginia FOIA Advisory Council at foiacouncil.dls.virginia.gov or by calling (804) 225-3056.

Cities Near Dinwiddie County

Dinwiddie County borders several Virginia cities. These nearby cities have their own circuit courts but may share resources with county courts.

Other communities in and near Dinwiddie County include McKenney, Sutherland, and Church Road. All criminal cases in the county are handled through the 6th Judicial Circuit.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Dinwiddie County. Each has its own court system for criminal records.