Frederick County Criminal History

Frederick County criminal history records are kept by the Circuit Court Clerk and accessible through Virginia's statewide court systems and the county's own online FOIA portal. The county is part of the 26th Judicial Circuit and is located in the northern Shenandoah Valley near Winchester. You can search criminal records online for free, submit a records request through the NextRequest system, or visit the courthouse to look up case files in person. This page covers the courts, sheriff, online search tools, state police checks, and your rights to access criminal records in Frederick County.

Frederick County Circuit Court

The Frederick County Circuit Court is part of the 26th Judicial Circuit of Virginia. The Circuit Court has specific local rules and a detailed scheduling system. Terms begin on Thursday after the 1st Monday in January, April, July, and October. A mini-term day is held each month on Thursday after the 1st Monday. Motion Day is the 1st Wednesday after the 1st Monday of each month. Misdemeanor appeal days are the 3rd Wednesday after the 1st Monday of each month. Grand Juries meet on the 1st Thursday after the 1st Monday of each month. Praecipes must be filed at least 7 days before Motion Day. Court convenes at 9:00 a.m. Faxes from attorneys will not be accepted without prior approval.

The Circuit Court handles all felony criminal cases in Frederick County, civil suits over $25,000, family law matters, and appeals from General District Court. The Clerk maintains all official criminal case files. The court either hand delivers orders to attorneys and litigants or mails copies within two days. If you need a copy and are not present, note this requirement when submitting documents. For criminal cases specifically, contact the Clerk's Office at (540) 667-5770.

The Frederick Circuit Court page on the Virginia Judiciary website shows court schedules, term dates, clerk contact information, and local rules for criminal and civil proceedings in the county.

General District Court

The Frederick County General District Court is part of the 26th Judicial District. This court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, and civil matters under $25,000. It also conducts preliminary hearings for felony cases before they move to Circuit Court. Most criminal proceedings in Frederick County begin at the General District Court level. Frederick County shares the 26th Judicial Circuit and District with Clarke County, and both use Winchester as a regional hub for court services.

For misdemeanor and traffic records from Frederick County, the statewide General District Court online search is the primary tool. You can also contact the court directly. For any questions about court locations or specific procedures, call the Circuit Court Clerk at (540) 667-5770 first to confirm the right place to go for your type of records request.

Frederick County Sheriff's Office

The Frederick County Sheriff's Office is located at 1080 Coverstone Drive, Winchester, VA 22602, and can be reached at (540) 662-6168. Sheriff L. W. "Lenny" Millholland took office on January 1, 2016. The office provides patrol services, criminal investigations, civil process service, and operates the county's adult detention center. For arrest records and law enforcement reports, submit a FOIA request through the county's NextRequest portal. As of June 22, 2023, Sheriff's Office FOIA requests can be submitted through the online system at frederickcountyva.nextrequest.com. Contact the FOIA Officer at (540) 722-8307 for questions.

Search Criminal History in Frederick County

The Virginia OCIS system is the primary online tool for Frederick County Circuit Court criminal records. Search by name or case number to find felony criminal cases, case status, hearing dates, charges, and dispositions. The system is free and available 24 hours a day. Some older cases may require in-person research at the Clerk's Office. Juvenile records and sealed matters are not available through the public online search.

For misdemeanor and traffic cases from Frederick County, use the General District Court online case information system. The Virginia Courts case information portal offers additional tools for tracking case dates and court activity. Both systems are maintained by the Virginia Judiciary and are free to use.

For official copies and certified documents, contact the Circuit Court Clerk at (540) 667-5770. Frederick County uses the NextRequest system for public records requests. Submit a FOIA request at frederickcountyva.nextrequest.com to track and receive documents electronically. The FOIA Officer at (540) 722-8307 can help you find records that are already online or direct you to the right outlet for your request.

Frederick County's NextRequest portal allows residents to submit, track, and receive public records requests online for county agency records including law enforcement and court-related documents.

Virginia State Police Criminal Record Checks

The Virginia State Police operates the statewide criminal history repository. For a formal record check, visit vsp.virginia.gov/criminal-record-check/ and use Form SP-167 to request your own record. Submit the form with identifying information and the required fee. Results reflect all Virginia criminal history on file, not just Frederick County records. Under Virginia Code § 19.2-389, criminal history record information is restricted and may only be released for specific authorized purposes. The State Police also administers the CARE system for authorized agencies requiring direct database access.

VADOC Inmate Locator

To find someone serving a state prison sentence in Virginia, use the VADOC inmate locator. Search by name or inmate ID to get facility location, sentence details, and projected release date. This covers state correctional facilities only. For individuals held at the Frederick County detention center, contact the Sheriff's Office at (540) 662-6168.

Public Criminal Records Access in Frederick County

Criminal court records in Frederick County are public under Virginia law. The Circuit Court Clerk keeps the official files for all felony criminal cases. Contact the Clerk at (540) 667-5770 to request records. In-person visits are also possible during office hours. Staff can search by name or case number. Copy fees apply under state law. Certified copies require an additional fee. The court's local rules note that orders are hand-delivered or mailed within two days, so keep that in mind for any pending cases you are tracking.

Frederick County uses a formal FOIA system managed by the county administrator's office and the NextRequest portal. The FOIA Officer is Karen Vacchio, reachable at (540) 722-8307. The county must respond to FOIA requests within five working days. If responding within five days is not practical, the county can take up to seven additional working days. For criminal investigative files, up to 60 additional days may be allowed. Charges for records include staff time at $25.00 per hour (waived for the first 15 minutes of a first request within 12 months), copies at $0.05 per page for standard sizes, $5.00 for USB devices, and actual mail costs.

Under Virginia Code § 19.2-389, criminal history record information has specific access restrictions and is not broadly available through FOIA. Records that are not public include juvenile files, sealed court documents, adoption records, and ongoing criminal investigations. The Virginia FOIA Advisory Council at foiacouncil.dls.virginia.gov can answer questions about public records access rights. Call (804) 225-3056 or toll-free 1-866-448-4100.

Cities Near Frederick County

Frederick County surrounds Winchester on three sides. Winchester is an independent city with its own circuit court system. Other nearby cities with pages are listed below.

Other communities in Frederick County include Stephens City, Middletown, and Star Tannery. All criminal cases in the county go through the 26th Judicial Circuit.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Frederick County. Each has its own court system and records access process for criminal history searches.