Richmond County Criminal History Records

Richmond County criminal history records are kept by the Circuit Court Clerk in Warsaw, Virginia. This page covers how to search criminal cases in Richmond County, which offices hold the records, and what online tools are available. Richmond County is a separate jurisdiction from the independent City of Richmond and is part of the 15th Judicial Circuit in Virginia's Northern Neck region.

Richmond County Circuit Court Criminal Records

The Richmond County Circuit Court is the main court of record for felony criminal cases in the county. It is part of the 15th Judicial Circuit of Virginia, which it shares with Northumberland County. The Circuit Court handles all felony prosecutions, misdemeanor appeals, and civil cases in Richmond County. Criminal records filed here are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk and are open to the public during business hours.

It is important to note that Richmond County is not the same as the City of Richmond. Richmond County is located in the Northern Neck region of Virginia, along the Rappahannock River. The county seat is Warsaw, which is where the courthouse is located. The City of Richmond is an independent city with its own separate court system. If you are searching for records from the City of Richmond, you need the Richmond City Circuit Court, not this office.

Hon. Cheryl B. Pierson serves as Clerk of the Richmond County Circuit Court. The court has extended hours from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM on weekdays, longer than many Virginia circuit courts. Passport acceptance services are available from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The court is located at 101 Court Circle in Warsaw, Virginia. Both the mailing address (P.O. Box 1000) and the physical address are in Warsaw, VA 22572. Call (804) 333-3781 for inquiries about criminal records.

The screenshot below is from the Richmond County Circuit Court page on the Virginia Judiciary website. It shows the clerk's contact and extended hours for requesting criminal history records in Warsaw.

This view of the Richmond County Circuit Court page shows the clerk's office contact information, extended hours, and address at 101 Court Circle in Warsaw, Virginia.

General District Court in Richmond County

The Richmond County General District Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, and preliminary hearings for felony charges within the 15th Judicial District. This court covers all minor criminal matters in Richmond County. Records from the General District Court are public and accessible during business hours.

The General District Court for Richmond County is located in Warsaw. The county-specific General District Court page on vacourts.gov may not load directly, but the statewide General District Court Case Information System covers all Virginia courts, including Richmond County. For the most current contact information for the Richmond County General District Court, call the Circuit Court Clerk at (804) 333-3781, who can direct you to the right office.

Richmond County Sheriff's Office

The Richmond County Sheriff's Office is the primary law enforcement agency for the county. It handles all arrests, criminal investigations, courthouse security, and service of process. Arrest records and incident reports for Richmond County are maintained by this office. For arrest records or crime reports from Richmond County, contact the Sheriff's Office directly in Warsaw.

The Sheriff's Office works with both courts on all criminal matters in the county. Richmond County is located in the Northern Neck, a rural peninsula between the Rappahannock and Potomac Rivers. The Sheriff's Office serves all communities across the county. For pre-trial detention and local jail records, the Sheriff's Office is the right contact.

Search Criminal History in Richmond County

Virginia provides free public tools for searching criminal history records in Richmond County. The two main systems are the Circuit Court Online Case Information System and the General District Court portal. Both are available at no charge and require no account to access.

The Virginia Circuit Court Online Case Information System (OCIS) covers felony and misdemeanor appeal cases filed in Virginia circuit courts, including Richmond County. Search by defendant name or case number to find charge details, case status, and disposition information. Data typically goes back to around 2009. For certified copies, contact the Richmond County Circuit Court Clerk at (804) 333-3781. Remember that this is the county court in Warsaw, not the City of Richmond court.

For misdemeanor and traffic records, use the Virginia General District Court Case Information System. You can search by party name, case number, or hearing date. If you are not sure which court handled a specific case, start at the statewide portal at vacourts.gov/caseinfo/home, which links all court search tools in one place. The statewide Case Alert Subscription System (CASS) also lets you subscribe to updates for specific cases at no cost.

Virginia State Police Criminal Record Checks

The Virginia State Police handles public criminal record checks through the Civil and Applicant Records Exchange (CARE) program. To get a name-based criminal history check, submit Form SP-167 to the CARE office. Details and the form are 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 courts, law enforcement, and authorized individuals. The VSP CARE system covers public name-based searches, employer forms, and fingerprint-based checks. For legal questions 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 currently in VADOC custody. Search by name or seven-digit inmate ID to find the person's facility and expected release date. This is useful for confirming whether someone from Richmond County is serving a state prison sentence.

The VADOC locator only covers state prison inmates. It will not show people held in the Richmond County jail or those awaiting trial locally. For those records, contact the Richmond County Sheriff's Office in Warsaw. VADOC data is updated daily but may show brief delays during transfers and processing.

Criminal Records Access in Richmond County

Virginia law governs access to criminal records in Richmond County. Under Virginia Code 19.2-389, criminal history record information may be released to courts, law enforcement, 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, judgments, and sentencing orders are accessible to the general public.

Some records are restricted. Juvenile criminal records are sealed by law. Records subject to expungement orders are removed from public databases once a court grants the petition. Records tied to ongoing investigations may also be withheld. The Richmond County Circuit Court Clerk can advise on what is available for a specific case. Virginia FOIA provides a process to challenge improper denials of public records. Again, be sure you are contacting the Richmond County courts in Warsaw, not the City of Richmond courts, as these are entirely separate systems.

Most searches for Richmond County criminal history can be done through the free online tools or by calling the Clerk's Office in Warsaw. Criminal case dockets, filings, court orders, and sentencing records are all part of the public record in Richmond County.

Cities Near Richmond County

Richmond County is in Virginia's Northern Neck. There are no independent cities within the county. The nearest qualifying cities are across the Rappahannock River to the south and east.

Nearby Counties

Richmond County is on the Northern Neck peninsula and borders several other Northern Neck counties. These counties are also in the 15th Judicial Circuit or nearby circuits.