Access Prince George County Criminal Records
Prince George County criminal history records are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk at the courthouse on Courts Drive in Prince George, Virginia. This page covers how to search criminal cases in the county, which offices hold the records, and what tools are available online and in person. Prince George County is part of the 6th Judicial Circuit in the Richmond-Petersburg region.
Prince George County Overview
Prince George County Circuit Court Criminal Records
The Prince George County Circuit Court handles all felony criminal cases in the county and serves as the court of record for serious criminal prosecutions. It sits within the 6th Judicial Circuit of Virginia and covers the Richmond-Petersburg region. All felony convictions and criminal case records from Prince George County are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk and are open to public inspection during office hours.
Hon. Deborah H Edwards serves as Clerk of the Prince George Circuit Court. Her office has extended hours compared to many Virginia circuit courts, running from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM on weekdays. The court maintains two mailing addresses: P.O. Box 98 for the Clerk's Office and P.O. Box 280 for the Judges. Both are located in Prince George, Virginia. The physical courthouse is at 6601 Courts Drive.
Staff at the Prince George Circuit Court can help you search criminal records by name or case number. Certified copies of court documents require a fee above the standard per-page copy rate. For questions about specific cases or to confirm whether a record is available, call (804) 733-2640 before visiting.
| Office | Prince George County Circuit Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | P.O. Box 98, 6601 Courts Drive, Prince George, VA 23875 |
| Phone | (804) 733-2640 |
| Fax | (804) 861-5721 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | vacourts.gov - Prince George Circuit Court |
The screenshot below shows the Prince George Circuit Court page on vacourts.gov with the clerk's contact details and extended office hours for requesting criminal history records.
The Prince George Circuit Court page shows clerk contact information and extended hours for the court on Courts Drive in Prince George, Virginia.
General District Court in Prince George County
The Prince George County General District Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, and preliminary hearings for felony charges within the 6th Judicial District. Most criminal matters in Prince George County start at this court. Records from the General District Court are public and can be inspected during regular hours.
The General District Court is located in Prince George, near the Circuit Court. The county-specific General District Court page on the Virginia Judiciary website may redirect to the statewide system. For misdemeanor and traffic case records, the statewide General District Court Case Information System covers all Virginia general district courts including Prince George County. You can also call the Circuit Court Clerk at (804) 733-2640 to be directed to the right General District Court contact for the county.
Prince George County Sheriff's Office
The Prince George County Sheriff's Office is the primary law enforcement agency for the county. It handles arrests, criminal investigations, courthouse security, and service of court papers. Arrest records, incident reports, and criminal investigative files are maintained by the Sheriff's Office. Anyone seeking arrest records or incident reports from Prince George County should contact the Sheriff's Office directly.
The Sheriff's Office coordinates with both the Circuit Court and General District Court on all active criminal matters. Prince George County is adjacent to the City of Petersburg and the City of Hopewell, making it part of a busy law enforcement corridor. Local jail records for people in pre-trial detention are held by the Sheriff's Office.
Search Criminal History in Prince George County
Virginia provides free public tools to search criminal history records in Prince George County. The two main systems cover circuit court felony cases and general district court misdemeanor cases. Both are accessible online without registration or fees.
The Virginia Circuit Court Online Case Information System (OCIS) covers felony and misdemeanor appeal cases filed in Virginia circuit courts, including Prince George County. Search by name or case number. Results show charge details, case status, disposition, and sentence information. Data generally goes back to 2009. These records are for reference only. For certified documents, contact the Prince George Circuit Court Clerk at (804) 733-2640.
For misdemeanor and traffic records, use the Virginia General District Court Case Information System. Search by party name, case number, or hearing date. The statewide portal at vacourts.gov/caseinfo/home links all court search tools together in one place and is the best starting point if you are unsure which court level handled the case.
Note: Online results are reference only. For an official certified record, contact the Prince George County courts directly.
Virginia State Police Criminal Record Checks
The Virginia State Police handles public criminal record checks through the Civil and Applicant Records Exchange (CARE) program. Submit Form SP-167 to request a name-based criminal history record. Full information is on the VSP criminal record check page. The CARE office is at 7700 Midlothian Turnpike North in Richmond.
Under Virginia Code 19.2-389, criminal history information can be released to authorized courts, law enforcement agencies, and individuals. The VSP system processes public name searches and employer request forms. For legal questions about accessing records, call the Virginia Lawyer Referral Service at (800) 552-7977.
VADOC Inmate Locator
The Virginia Department of Corrections provides an online inmate locator for finding people currently in VADOC custody. Search by name or seven-digit inmate ID to see their facility and expected release date. This is useful for confirming whether someone from Prince George County is serving a state prison sentence.
The VADOC locator covers state prison only. People held in the Prince George County jail or awaiting trial locally will not show in this system. For those records, contact the Prince George County Sheriff's Office. The VADOC system is updated daily but may briefly lag due to transfers and processing.
Criminal Records Access in Prince George County
Virginia law governs public access to criminal records in Prince George County. Under Virginia Code 19.2-389, criminal history record information can be released to courts, law enforcement, and the public for authorized purposes. Virginia Code Sections 16.1-69.54:1 and 17.1-208 confirm that court records are presumed public. Most filings, dockets, judgments, and sentencing orders are accessible to anyone who requests them.
Some records are closed to the public by law. Juvenile criminal records are sealed. Expunged records are removed from public systems after the court grants the petition. Ongoing investigation records may be withheld. The Circuit Court Clerk can advise on what is available for a specific case. Virginia FOIA provides a process to challenge improper denials.
Most searches for Prince George County criminal history can be done through the free online tools or by calling the clerks directly. Criminal case dockets, filings, court orders, and sentencing records are all part of the public record in Prince George County.
Cities Near Prince George County
Prince George County is adjacent to several independent Virginia cities in the Richmond-Petersburg area. These cities have their own court systems separate from Prince George County.
Nearby Counties
Prince George County is surrounded by several counties in the Richmond-Petersburg region. The county with the relevant address is the right place to search for court records.