Patrick County Criminal History Records
Patrick County criminal history records are kept by the Circuit Court Clerk and the General District Court in Stuart, Virginia. This page covers how to search criminal cases in Patrick County, which offices hold the records, and what online tools are available. The county sits in the 21st Judicial Circuit and handles criminal matters for residents of this part of Southwest Virginia.
Patrick County Overview
Patrick County Circuit Court Criminal Records
The Patrick County Circuit Court is the main court of record for felony criminal cases in the county. It operates within the 21st Judicial Circuit of Virginia and handles all serious criminal matters, including Class 1 through Class 6 felony prosecutions. When a felony case is filed in Patrick County, the record stays with the Circuit Court Clerk and can be viewed by the public during business hours.
Hon. Morgan Boothe serves as Clerk of the Patrick Circuit Court. His office handles criminal case filings, maintains case records, and provides certified copies of court documents. The Clerk also oversees land records, wills, and civil filings, but the criminal case files are a core part of the office's work. Staff can help you search by name or case number. Certified copies carry a fee, while plain copies cost less. If you are looking for older case files, staff can direct you to the right location.
The Patrick Circuit Court is located at 101 W. Blue Ridge Street in Stuart, Virginia. The mailing address is P.O. Box 148, Stuart, VA 24171. Hours for general business run from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM on weekdays. Deed recordings are accepted until 4:30 PM, and passport services are available until 4:00 PM. If you call ahead, staff can confirm whether a specific record is available before you make the trip.
| Office | Patrick County Circuit Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | P.O. Box 148, 101 W. Blue Ridge Street, Stuart, VA 24171 |
| Phone | (276) 694-7213 |
| Fax | (276) 694-6943 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | vacourts.gov - Patrick Circuit Court |
The screenshot below comes from the Patrick Circuit Court page on the Virginia Judiciary website. It shows the clerk contact, hours, and address for requesting criminal history records in person or by mail.
This view of the Patrick Circuit Court page on vacourts.gov shows the clerk's details and office hours for the court in Stuart, Virginia.
General District Court in Patrick County
The Patrick County General District Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic matters, and preliminary hearings for felony charges. It is part of the 21st Judicial District of Virginia. Most criminal cases in Patrick County begin here. The court's records are public, and anyone can request access to case information from the Clerk's Office.
Amanda Scearce Nester serves as Clerk of the General District Court. Office hours are 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM on weekdays. The court is located at 106 Rucker Street in the Administration Building, Room 318, in Stuart. The mailing address is P.O. Box 149, Stuart, VA 24171. For phone inquiries, call (276) 694-7258. If you are looking for a traffic citation record, a misdemeanor conviction, or information about a preliminary hearing, this court is where you start.
| Office | Patrick County General District Court |
|---|---|
| Address | P.O. Box 149, 106 Rucker Street, Room 318, Stuart, VA 24171 |
| Phone | (276) 694-7258 |
| Fax | (276) 694-5614 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | vacourts.gov - Patrick General District Court |
The Patrick General District Court page on vacourts.gov lists the clerk's contact information and court schedule. The screenshot below shows that page.
This screenshot of the Patrick General District Court page shows hearing schedules and clerk contact details for misdemeanor and traffic matters in Patrick County.
Patrick County Sheriff's Office
The Patrick County Sheriff's Office is the main law enforcement agency for the county. It handles arrests, investigations, courthouse security, and service of process. Arrest records, incident reports, and criminal investigation files are held by this office. Members of the public who need arrest records or incident reports from Patrick County should contact the Sheriff's Office directly.
The Sheriff's Office works closely with the Circuit Court and the General District Court on all criminal matters. For inquiries about arrest records or to report a crime, contact the Patrick County Sheriff's Office. The office is located in Stuart and serves all areas of Patrick County, including the rural parts of the county that border Henry, Floyd, Franklin, and Carroll counties.
Search Criminal History in Patrick County
Virginia gives the public several free online tools for searching criminal history records. The two main systems are the Circuit Court Online Case Information System and the General District Court portal. Both are available at no cost and cover Patrick County cases going back years. You can search by name or case number from any device.
The Virginia Circuit Court Online Case Information System (OCIS) lets you search for felony and misdemeanor appeal cases filed in Virginia circuit courts, including Patrick County. The system shows the defendant's name, date of birth, case number, charges, disposition, and sentence. Data generally goes back to 2009. Results are for reference only and may not always reflect real-time updates. For the official record, contact the Patrick Circuit Court Clerk directly.
For misdemeanor and traffic cases handled at the General District Court level, use the Virginia General District Court Case Information System. This system covers cases from the Patrick General District Court and lets you search by name, case number, or hearing date. If you are unsure which court handled a particular case, the statewide portal at vacourts.gov/caseinfo/home links to all the court search tools in one place and is a good starting point.
Note: Online records are not the official court record. If you need certified documents or must verify an official record, contact the Patrick County Circuit Court Clerk at (276) 694-7213.
Virginia State Police Criminal Record Checks
The Virginia State Police runs the Civil and Applicant Records Exchange (CARE) program, which handles criminal record checks for the general public. To request a criminal history record, you submit Form SP-167 to the CARE office. You can find details and the form at the VSP criminal record check page. The CARE office is located at 7700 Midlothian Turnpike North in Richmond, Virginia.
Under Virginia Code 19.2-389, criminal history record information can be released to individuals, courts, law enforcement agencies, and certain authorized groups. The VSP system handles name-based searches for public use via Form SP-167, as well as other authorized request types. If you need a national check, the VSP page links out to the FBI's background check program. For legal questions about what records you can access, the Virginia Lawyer Referral Service can be reached at (800) 552-7977.
VADOC Inmate Locator
The Virginia Department of Corrections offers an online inmate locator for finding people held in VADOC facilities. You can search by name or by the inmate's seven-digit ID number. The tool shows the person's current location and expected release date. This is useful for anyone trying to confirm whether someone from Patrick County is serving a state prison sentence.
Keep in mind that the VADOC tool only covers people in state prison custody. It will not show people held locally in the Patrick County jail or those awaiting trial. For pre-trial detention or short county sentences, contact the Patrick County Sheriff's Office. The VADOC database is updated daily, though there may be short delays during transfers or system processing.
Criminal Records Access in Patrick County
Virginia law governs access to criminal history records throughout the state. Under Virginia Code 19.2-389, criminal history record information may be released to courts, law enforcement, and the public for authorized purposes. Court records in Virginia are presumed public under Code Sections 16.1-69.54:1 and 17.1-208, which means most case filings, dockets, and dispositions are available to anyone who asks.
Some records are restricted. Juvenile criminal records are generally sealed. Expunged records are removed from public view after a court grants the petition. Records tied to active investigations may also be withheld at the discretion of law enforcement. The Patrick Circuit Court Clerk and the General District Court Clerk can tell you what is available for a specific case. If you believe a record that should be public is being withheld, the Virginia Freedom of Information Act provides a process to challenge that decision.
Most people searching for Patrick County criminal history will find what they need through the online case systems or by calling the court clerk directly. Case dockets, criminal filings, judgments, and sentencing orders are all part of the public record in Patrick County.
Cities Near Patrick County
Patrick County is a rural county in Southwest Virginia. The nearby independent city of Martinsville is the closest qualifying city in the region.
Nearby Counties
Patrick County borders several other counties in the Southwest Virginia region. If you are not sure which county has the record you need, check the address tied to the case.