Lancaster County Criminal History Search

Lancaster County criminal history records are filed and kept by the Circuit Court Clerk and the General District Court at 8265 Mary Ball Road in Lancaster, Virginia. If you need to search a criminal case, find an arrest record, or get copies of court documents in Lancaster County, this page covers the courts, the Sheriff's Office, and the online search tools available to the public. Lancaster County is part of the 15th Judicial Circuit and is located on Virginia's Northern Neck.

Lancaster County Circuit Court Criminal Records

The Lancaster County Circuit Court is part of the 15th Judicial Circuit of Virginia. It is the primary court of record for felony criminal cases in the county. The circuit court handles all Class 1 through Class 6 felony prosecutions, as well as appeals from the General District Court. When someone is convicted of a felony in Lancaster County, that case record is filed and kept by the Circuit Court Clerk's Office.

The Clerk of the Lancaster Circuit Court is Hon. Diane H. Mumford. Her office maintains all criminal case files that go through the circuit court, including felony indictments, plea records, sentencing orders, and case dispositions. Criminal case records are open to the public under Virginia law. You can visit the office in person, call during business hours, or send a written request by mail. Be aware that mail is not deliverable to the physical address at 8265 Mary Ball Road, so use the P.O. Box for any correspondence.

The screenshot below shows the Lancaster Circuit Court page from vacourts.gov, which has the clerk contact and mailing instructions.

The Lancaster Circuit Court page on vacourts.gov shows clerk contact information and the important note about using the P.O. Box for all mail correspondence regarding criminal records requests.

General District Court in Lancaster County

The Lancaster General District Court is part of the 15th Judicial District of Virginia. It handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, and preliminary hearings for felony charges. Most criminal matters in Lancaster County start in this court. The Clerk of the General District Court is Victoria Lee Keyser, who can be reached at vkeyser@vacourts.gov.

If you are looking for a misdemeanor case, a traffic conviction, or a preliminary hearing record from Lancaster County, contact the General District Court first. Office hours are 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM on weekdays. The screenshot below shows the Lancaster General District Court page from vacourts.gov.

The Lancaster General District Court page on vacourts.gov shows clerk contact information and office hours for requesting misdemeanor and traffic criminal records in the county.

Lancaster County Sheriff's Office

The Lancaster County Sheriff's Office is the primary law enforcement agency for the county. The Sheriff's Office handles patrol, investigations, courthouse security, and service of court papers. Arrest records and incident reports from Lancaster County originate with this office. The Sheriff's website is at lancastersheriff.com.

Members of the public who need arrest records or incident reports from Lancaster County can contact the Sheriff's Office directly. You can also submit a written FOIA request for public records. The screenshot below shows the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office website.

The Lancaster County Sheriff's Office website provides information on law enforcement services and how to request records related to criminal history in the county.

Criminal History Search in Lancaster County

Virginia provides free online tools for searching criminal history records in Lancaster County. You can use the Circuit Court Online Case Information System (OCIS) for felony and circuit court records, and the General District Court portal for misdemeanor and traffic cases. Both are free and available to the public without a login.

The Virginia Circuit Court Online Case Information System (OCIS) lets you search for felony cases and misdemeanor appeals filed in the Lancaster Circuit Court. Search by name or case number. Results include charge descriptions, hearing dates, case dispositions, and sentencing information. This system is maintained by the Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia and updated regularly.

For misdemeanor and traffic cases, use the Virginia General District Court Case Information System, which covers the Lancaster General District Court. You can search by name, case number, or hearing date. Online payment of court fines is also available. The statewide case information hub at vacourts.gov/caseinfo/home links to both systems in one place. Note: Always use the P.O. Box when mailing requests to Lancaster County courts.

Virginia State Police Criminal Record Checks

The Virginia State Police (VSP) runs the Civil and Applicant Records Exchange (CARE) program for statewide criminal history checks. Submit Form SP-167 to request a name-based record check. The CARE office is located at 7700 Midlothian Turnpike North in Richmond. Full details are on the VSP criminal record check page.

Virginia Code 19.2-389 governs the release of criminal history record information to courts, law enforcement, and the public. The VSP CARE program handles name-based public searches (SP-167), employer searches (SP-230), and fingerprint-based volunteer checks (SP-266). This option is useful when you need a statewide criminal history check that goes beyond Lancaster County's local court records. For legal questions, the Virginia Lawyer Referral Service is at (800) 552-7977.

VADOC Inmate Locator

The Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC) offers a free online inmate locator for finding people currently in state prison. Search by name or by seven-digit inmate ID. Results show the current facility and expected release date.

Keep in mind that VADOC only covers people in state correctional facilities. People held in the Lancaster County local jail or those in pre-trial detention are not shown. For local detention, contact the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office at (804) 462-5611. VADOC data is updated daily.

Criminal Records Access in Lancaster County

Virginia law presumes most court records are public. Under Code Sections 16.1-69.54:1 and 17.1-208, criminal case filings, dockets, and dispositions are open for public inspection unless specifically restricted. Virginia Code 19.2-389 sets the rules for how criminal history records are shared with courts, law enforcement agencies, and the public.

Certain records are restricted or sealed. Juvenile criminal records are confidential under Virginia law. Expunged records are removed from public view once a court grants the petition. Records tied to active investigations may be withheld. The Circuit Court Clerk and General District Court Clerk in Lancaster County can tell you what is available for any given case. Virginia's Freedom of Information Act provides a process to challenge any improper withholding of public records.

Most searches for criminal history in Lancaster County can be done through the free online case portals or by calling the Clerk's Office. Court filings, criminal dockets, judgments, and sentencing orders are all part of the public record. Remember to use the P.O. Box, not the physical address, for any mail to Lancaster County courts.

Cities Near Lancaster County

Lancaster County is on Virginia's Northern Neck with no independent cities within its borders. The closest qualifying cities are across the bay or down the river corridor.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Lancaster County on Virginia's Northern Neck peninsula.