Roanoke County Criminal History
Roanoke County criminal history records are maintained by the Circuit Court and the General District Court serving the county in the Roanoke Valley. This page covers how to search criminal cases in Roanoke County, which offices hold the records, and what online tools are available. Roanoke County is part of the 23rd Judicial Circuit in Southwest Virginia and is a separate jurisdiction from the independent City of Roanoke.
Roanoke County Overview
Roanoke County Circuit Court Criminal Records
The Roanoke County Circuit Court handles all felony criminal cases in the county and serves as the court of record for major criminal prosecutions. It is part of the 23rd Judicial Circuit of Virginia. All felony convictions and criminal case records from Roanoke County are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk and are open to public inspection under Virginia law.
It is important to know that Roanoke County and the City of Roanoke are separate jurisdictions. The City of Roanoke is an independent city with its own court system. If you are looking for records from the City of Roanoke, you need the City of Roanoke Circuit Court, not the Roanoke County court. Both are in the Roanoke Valley, but they operate entirely separately. The county seat for Roanoke County purposes is Vinton, though many county offices are shared with the City of Salem.
The Roanoke County Circuit Court page on vacourts.gov provides current contact information for the circuit court serving the county. For criminal record inquiries, use the statewide online case system or contact the circuit court clerk directly. The screenshot below is from that circuit court page.
| Office | Roanoke County Circuit Court |
|---|---|
| Judicial Circuit | 23rd Judicial Circuit of Virginia |
| Website | vacourts.gov - Roanoke County Circuit Court |
| Note | Contact vacourts.gov for current clerk and phone details |
The screenshot below shows the Roanoke County Circuit Court page on the Virginia Judiciary website, which is the source for current clerk contact details for the 23rd Circuit.
The Roanoke County Circuit Court page on vacourts.gov shows current contact details and judicial circuit information for the court serving Roanoke County.
General District Court in Roanoke County
The Roanoke County General District Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, and preliminary hearings for felony charges within the 23rd Judicial District. The court is physically located in the City of Salem at 305 East Main Street, though it serves Roanoke County. Records from this court are public and available for inspection during regular hours.
Gretchen S. Preston serves as Clerk of the Roanoke County General District Court. The office phone is (540) 387-6168 and the fax is (540) 387-6066. Hours are 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM on weekdays. There is an important filing deadline to note: civil forms, protective orders, and restricted licenses must be filed by 3:30 PM, earlier than the general closing time. The mailing address is P.O. Box 997, Courthouse, 305 East Main St., Salem, VA 24153.
| Office | Roanoke County General District Court |
|---|---|
| Address | P.O. Box 997, 305 East Main Street, Salem, VA 24153 |
| Phone | (540) 387-6168 |
| Fax | (540) 387-6066 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM (civil filings by 3:30 PM) |
| Website | vacourts.gov - Roanoke County General District Court |
The screenshot below is from the Roanoke County General District Court page on vacourts.gov. It shows the clerk's contact and the important early filing deadline for civil matters at the Salem courthouse.
The Roanoke County General District Court page notes the 3:30 PM filing deadline for civil forms and shows the Salem courthouse address for misdemeanor and traffic case records.
Roanoke County Sheriff's Office
The Roanoke County Sheriff's Office is the primary law enforcement agency for the county and handles arrests, criminal investigations, courthouse security, and service of process. Arrest records and incident reports for Roanoke County are maintained by this office. For arrest records or crime reports specific to Roanoke County, contact the Sheriff's Office, not the Roanoke City Police Department, as these are separate agencies serving different jurisdictions.
The Sheriff's Office coordinates with both the Circuit Court and the General District Court on all criminal matters in Roanoke County. The county surrounds both the City of Roanoke and the City of Salem, so understanding which jurisdiction handled a specific arrest or case is important when deciding where to send a records request. Local jail records for people in county custody are held by the Sheriff's Office.
Search Criminal History in Roanoke County
Virginia provides free public tools for searching criminal history records in Roanoke County. The two main systems cover circuit court felony cases and general district court misdemeanor and traffic cases. Both are available online at no cost and require no registration. When searching, select Roanoke County, not the City of Roanoke, to get county-specific results.
The Virginia Circuit Court Online Case Information System (OCIS) covers felony and misdemeanor appeal cases filed in Virginia circuit courts, including Roanoke County. Search by defendant name or case number. Results show charge details, case status, disposition, and sentencing information. For certified copies, contact the Roanoke County Circuit Court Clerk. These records are for reference only.
For misdemeanor and traffic cases at the General District Court level, use the Virginia General District Court Case Information System. Search by name, case number, or hearing date. The statewide portal at vacourts.gov/caseinfo/home links all court search tools in one place. Be sure to select Roanoke County in the search, as the City of Roanoke appears separately in the system.
Note: Online records are reference only. Contact the Roanoke County courts for certified copies of any document.
Virginia State Police Criminal Record Checks
The Virginia State Police runs public criminal record checks through the Civil and Applicant Records Exchange (CARE) program. Submit Form SP-167 for a name-based check. The form and full instructions 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 released to courts, law enforcement, and authorized individuals. The VSP CARE program handles public name searches, employer forms, and fingerprint-based checks for volunteers and other authorized requesters. For legal advice about criminal record access, call the Virginia Lawyer Referral Service at (800) 552-7977.
VADOC Inmate Locator
The Virginia Department of Corrections maintains an online inmate locator for finding people in VADOC state custody. Search by name or seven-digit inmate ID to see the person's facility and expected release date. This tool is useful for confirming whether someone from Roanoke County is serving a state prison sentence.
The VADOC locator covers state prison only. People held in the Roanoke County jail or awaiting trial locally will not appear. For local custody records, contact the Roanoke County Sheriff's Office. VADOC data is updated daily but may briefly lag during transfers and processing cycles.
Criminal Records Access in Roanoke County
Virginia law governs public access to criminal records in Roanoke County. Under Virginia Code 19.2-389, criminal history information may be released to courts, law enforcement, and authorized individuals. 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 anyone who requests them.
Some records are restricted. Juvenile criminal records are sealed. Expunged records are removed from public access once a court grants the petition. Records tied to active investigations may be withheld. The Roanoke 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.
When searching for Roanoke County criminal records, always confirm you are using the county system and not the City of Roanoke or City of Salem systems. These are separate jurisdictions with separate records. Case dockets, criminal filings, court orders, and sentencing records for Roanoke County are all part of the public record and accessible through the county courts.
Cities in the Roanoke Valley
The City of Roanoke and the City of Salem are independent cities surrounded by Roanoke County. Both have their own court systems separate from the county. The City of Vinton is an incorporated town within Roanoke County.
Nearby Counties
Roanoke County borders several Southwest Virginia counties. Check the address associated with any case to confirm which county holds the records you need.