Search Rappahannock County Criminal History
Rappahannock County criminal history records are kept by the Circuit Court Clerk in Washington, Virginia. This page covers how to look up criminal cases in Rappahannock County, which offices maintain the records, and what online tools are available. The county is part of the 20th Judicial Circuit in the Northern Virginia foothills region.
Rappahannock County Overview
Rappahannock County Circuit Court Criminal Records
The Rappahannock County Circuit Court is the main court of record for felony criminal cases in the county. It sits within the 20th Judicial Circuit of Virginia and handles all felony prosecutions, misdemeanor appeals, family law matters, and civil cases. Felony criminal records in Rappahannock County are filed and kept by the Circuit Court Clerk's Office and are available for public inspection under Virginia law.
Hon. Kaitlin Struckmann serves as Clerk of the Rappahannock Circuit Court. Her office is located at 238 Gay Street in Washington, Virginia, the county seat. Note that this is the town of Washington in Rappahannock County, not Washington D.C. The mailing address is P.O. Box 517, Washington, VA 22747. Office hours run from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM on weekdays. The phone number is (540) 675-5350 and the fax is (540) 675-5351.
Rappahannock County is a rural county in Northern Virginia, and the Rappahannock Circuit Court is the central location for all major criminal case records in the county. Staff can search records by name or case number. Certified copies of court documents require a fee above the cost of plain copies. If you need an older record, call ahead to confirm availability.
| Office | Rappahannock County Circuit Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | P.O. Box 517, 238 Gay Street, Washington, VA 22747 |
| Phone | (540) 675-5350 |
| Fax | (540) 675-5351 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | vacourts.gov - Rappahannock Circuit Court |
The screenshot below was taken from the Rappahannock Circuit Court page on the Virginia Judiciary website. It shows the clerk's contact details and address in Washington, Virginia.
The Rappahannock Circuit Court page shows clerk contact details and the Gay Street address in Washington, Virginia for criminal history record requests.
General District Court in Rappahannock County
The Rappahannock County General District Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, and preliminary hearings for felony charges within the 20th Judicial District. This court is the starting point for most criminal matters in the county. Records from the General District Court are public and open for inspection during business hours.
The General District Court for Rappahannock County is located in Washington, Virginia. The county-specific General District Court page on vacourts.gov may not be directly accessible due to technical issues, but the statewide General District Court Case Information System covers all Virginia general district courts, including Rappahannock County. You can also call the Circuit Court Clerk at (540) 675-5350 to be directed to the General District Court for more specific information.
Rappahannock County Sheriff's Office
The Rappahannock County Sheriff's Office is the primary law enforcement agency for the county. It handles arrests, criminal investigations, courthouse security, and service of process. Arrest records and incident reports for Rappahannock County are maintained by this office. For arrest records or crime reports from the county, contact the Sheriff's Office directly in Washington, Virginia.
Rappahannock County is one of Virginia's smaller counties by population, and the Sheriff's Office serves a rural area covering several small communities. The office works closely with the Circuit Court and General District Court on all active criminal matters. For people in pre-trial custody, the Sheriff's Office holds local jail records.
Search Criminal History in Rappahannock County
Virginia provides free online tools for searching criminal history records in Rappahannock County. The two main systems cover felony cases at the circuit court level and misdemeanor and traffic cases at the general district court level. No registration or fee is required to search.
The Virginia Circuit Court Online Case Information System (OCIS) covers felony and misdemeanor appeal cases filed in Virginia circuit courts, including Rappahannock County. You can search by defendant name or case number. Results show the charge, case status, disposition, and sentence. Data generally goes back to around 2009. For an official certified record, contact the Rappahannock Circuit Court Clerk at (540) 675-5350.
For misdemeanor and traffic cases handled in the General District Court, use the Virginia General District Court Case Information System. Search by party name, case number, or hearing date. The Virginia Case Alert Subscription System (CASS) is also available through the statewide portal and allows you to sign up for free text or email notifications when a specific case is updated. The statewide portal at vacourts.gov/caseinfo/home links all court search tools in one place.
Virginia State Police Criminal Record Checks
The Virginia State Police runs the Civil and Applicant Records Exchange (CARE) program for public criminal record checks. Submit Form SP-167 for a name-based criminal history check. Full details and the form are available on 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 information can be shared with courts, law enforcement, and authorized individuals. The VSP program processes name searches for public use, employer request forms, and fingerprint-based checks for volunteers and other authorized users. For legal advice on record requests, 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 state custody. Search by name or seven-digit inmate ID to see the person's facility and expected release date. This helps confirm whether someone from Rappahannock County is in state prison.
The VADOC locator only covers state prison. It will not show people held in the Rappahannock County jail or those awaiting trial. For local detention records, contact the Rappahannock County Sheriff's Office. The VADOC database is updated daily but may have brief delays during transfers and processing.
Criminal Records Access in Rappahannock County
Virginia law governs who can access criminal records in Rappahannock County. Under Virginia Code 19.2-389, criminal history record information may 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 establish that court records are presumed public. Most filings, dockets, and dispositions are accessible to anyone who requests them.
Some records are restricted. Juvenile criminal records are sealed by law. Expunged records are removed from public databases after a court grants the petition. Records tied to active investigations may be withheld. The Rappahannock Circuit Court Clerk can advise on what is available for a specific case. Virginia FOIA provides a mechanism to challenge improper denials of public records.
Most people looking for Rappahannock County criminal history will find what they need through the online search tools or by calling the clerk directly. Case dockets, criminal filings, judgments, and sentencing orders are all part of the public record in Rappahannock County.
Cities Near Rappahannock County
Rappahannock County is a rural county with no independent cities within its borders. The nearest qualifying cities are in the broader Northern Virginia and Shenandoah Valley region.
Nearby Counties
Rappahannock County is surrounded by other Northern Virginia and Shenandoah Valley counties. If you are unsure which county has the record, check the address on file with the court.