Prince William County Criminal History Lookup
Prince William County criminal history records are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk and the General District Court in Manassas, Virginia. This page covers how to search criminal cases in Prince William County, which offices hold the records, and what online tools are available. The county is part of the 31st Judicial Circuit in Northern Virginia and provides extensive online access to court records.
Prince William County Overview
Prince William County Circuit Court Criminal Records
The Prince William County Circuit Court is the primary court of record for felony criminal cases in the county. It sits within the 31st Judicial Circuit of Virginia and handles all major criminal prosecutions, as well as significant civil matters and family law cases. Prince William County provides extensive online access to court case records, which sets it apart from many other Virginia counties.
Hon. Jacqueline C. Smith serves as Clerk of the Prince William Circuit Court. Her office has a specialized phone system with separate lines for different departments. The main office number is (703) 792-6015. The criminal clerk's line is (703) 792-6031. The civil clerk's line is (703) 792-6029. The jury clerk is at (703) 792-6047, and the land records clerk at (703) 792-6035. Court hours run from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, but payments are not accepted after 4:30 PM. Judge's Chambers operate from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
The Prince William Circuit Court is located at 9311 Lee Avenue on the Third Floor in Manassas, Virginia. Circuit Court case information since July 1, 1989 is available online through the Virginia Case Management System. You can access it by going to the statewide OCIS system, selecting Prince William County Circuit, and choosing Criminal or Civil. Juvenile, adoptions, and sealed cases are not available online. For online record access, the county also maintains a dedicated portal at pwcva.gov/department/circuit-court/online-records-access.
| Office | Prince William County Circuit Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 9311 Lee Avenue, Third Floor, Manassas, VA 20110 |
| Phone (Main) | (703) 792-6015 |
| Phone (Criminal) | (703) 792-6031 |
| Fax | (703) 342-0342 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM (payments until 4:30 PM) |
| Website | vacourts.gov - Prince William Circuit Court |
The screenshot below shows the Prince William Circuit Court page on the Virginia Judiciary website, showing the comprehensive contact directory for the court in Manassas.
The Prince William Circuit Court page displays the specialized department phone lines and office hours for requesting criminal history records in Manassas.
General District Court in Prince William County
The Prince William County General District Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, and preliminary hearings for felony charges within the 31st Judicial District. It is located in the same building as the Circuit Court at 9311 Lee Avenue in Manassas. Most criminal cases in Prince William County begin here. Court records are public and accessible during regular hours.
Keshara Joyce Luster serves as Clerk of the Prince William General District Court. The general office number is (703) 792-6141 and the civil division can be reached at (703) 792-6149. General District Court hours are 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM on weekdays. The court has specific hearing schedules for different types of cases throughout the week. For misdemeanor case records, the online case information system covers Prince William County.
| Office | Prince William County General District Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 9311 Lee Avenue, Manassas, VA 20110 |
| Phone | (703) 792-6141 |
| Civil Division | (703) 792-6149 |
| Fax | (703) 792-6121 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM |
| Website | vacourts.gov - Prince William General District Court |
The screenshot below is from the Prince William General District Court page on vacourts.gov, showing the clerk's contact details and court schedule for misdemeanor and traffic cases.
The Prince William General District Court page shows office contacts and hearing schedules for misdemeanor and traffic criminal records in Prince William County.
Prince William County Sheriff's Office
The Prince William County Sheriff's Office is the primary law enforcement agency for the county and handles arrests, investigations, courthouse security, and service of process. Arrest records, incident reports, and criminal investigative files are maintained by this office. Prince William County is one of Virginia's most populous counties, so the Sheriff's Office handles a significant volume of criminal matters.
The Sheriff's Office coordinates with both courts on all active criminal matters. For arrest records or pre-trial detention records, contact the Prince William County Sheriff's Office directly. The Sheriff's Office also serves as the county jail administrator for people in local custody. Residents of Prince William County should direct local law enforcement records requests to this office.
The Prince William JDR (Juvenile and Domestic Relations) Court is also located in the county and handles matters involving juveniles and domestic relations. A screenshot of that court's page is shown below for reference.
The Prince William JDR Court page at vacourts.gov shows contact information for the Juvenile and Domestic Relations court that serves Prince William County.
Search Criminal History in Prince William County
Prince William County offers some of Virginia's most comprehensive online access to court case records. The county's own online portal and the statewide systems both cover criminal case records going back decades. All searches are free to conduct.
The Virginia Circuit Court Online Case Information System (OCIS) lets you search for felony and misdemeanor appeal cases in Prince William County Circuit Court. The system shows the defendant's name, date of birth, case number, charges, and disposition. Prince William County has court records online going back to July 1, 1989. The online Case Management System is real-time. Results display case details including party information, hearings, and disposition tabs for name lists, pleadings and orders, and service information.
The county also has its own records access portal at pwcva.gov/department/circuit-court/online-records-access. This page explains subscription and per-use options for accessing land records and other court documents. For misdemeanor and traffic cases, use the Virginia General District Court Case Information System. The statewide portal at vacourts.gov/caseinfo/home links to all court search tools in one place.
Note: Juvenile, adoption, and sealed cases are not available online in the Prince William County system. For those records, contact the Circuit Court Clerk directly at (703) 792-6015.
Virginia State Police Criminal Record Checks
The Virginia State Police manages public criminal record checks through the Civil and Applicant Records Exchange (CARE) program. Submit Form SP-167 for a name-based criminal history record. Full details are on the VSP criminal record check page. The CARE office is at 7700 Midlothian Turnpike North in Richmond, Virginia.
Under Virginia Code 19.2-389, criminal history information can be shared with courts, law enforcement, and authorized individuals. The CARE program processes public name searches, employer forms (SP-230), and fingerprint-based checks (SP-266) for volunteers and other authorized requesters. For legal advice about accessing criminal 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 in VADOC state prison custody. Search by name or seven-digit inmate ID to see their current facility and expected release date. This is useful if you need to confirm whether someone from Prince William County is serving a state prison sentence.
Keep in mind that the VADOC locator does not cover people held in the Prince William County jail or those awaiting trial. For local jail records, contact the Prince William County Sheriff's Office. VADOC data is updated daily but may briefly lag during transfers and system processing.
Criminal Records Access in Prince William County
Virginia law establishes the rules for accessing criminal history records in Prince William County. Under Virginia Code 19.2-389, criminal history record information can be released to courts, law enforcement agencies, 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 restricted. Juvenile criminal records are generally sealed. Expunged records are removed from public databases once a court grants the petition. Sealed cases, juvenile matters, and adoptions are specifically excluded from the Prince William County online case system. The Circuit Court Clerk and General District Court Clerk can advise on what is available for a specific case. Virginia FOIA provides a process to challenge improper denials of public records.
Prince William County offers some of the best online access to criminal history records in Virginia. Most searches can be completed through the online systems without a trip to the courthouse. Criminal case dockets, filings, court orders, and sentencing records are all part of the public record in the county.
Cities in Prince William County
Prince William County contains two independent cities with their own court systems: Manassas and Manassas Park. Both cities are located within the county boundaries but operate separate courts.
Nearby Counties
Prince William County borders several Northern Virginia counties. If you need records from a neighboring county, check the address on file with the relevant court.