Rockingham County Criminal Records
Rockingham County criminal history records are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk and the Harrisonburg/Rockingham General District Court. Both serve residents of Rockingham County and the adjacent City of Harrisonburg. The county is part of the 26th Judicial Circuit, and criminal records can be searched online through the Virginia Judiciary's free case portals. This page covers where to look for Rockingham County criminal records, who to contact at the courthouse, and how to request copies of case files.
Rockingham County Overview
Rockingham County Circuit Court Criminal History
The Rockingham County Circuit Court handles felony criminal cases for the county. Hon. Chaz W. Haywood serves as Clerk of Court. Office hours run from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. You can reach the clerk by email at clerkchaz@rockinghamcountyva.gov. This is one of the few circuit court clerks in Virginia with a county-domain email address, making it easy to send written inquiries about specific cases or record requests. The court sits in Harrisonburg, which also functions as the county seat.
The Rockingham Circuit Court operates on a set schedule. Motion Day falls on the 1st Monday and the 3rd Wednesday after the 1st Monday each month. Misdemeanor appeals are heard on the 2nd Monday each month. Grand Juries meet on the 3rd Monday each month. Court convenes at 9:00 AM. Praecipes must be filed not less than 7 days before Motion Day and no more than 30 days in advance. These scheduling details matter if you are tracking a case or need to appear. The court has adopted local rules under Virginia Code section 8.01-4.
For the full current contact details, visit the Rockingham Circuit Court page on the Virginia Judiciary website. This is also where you can confirm current clerk details and any updates to court schedules.
| Office | Rockingham County Circuit Court |
|---|---|
| Clerk | Hon. Chaz W. Haywood |
| clerkchaz@rockinghamcountyva.gov | |
| Hours | 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Judicial Circuit | 26th Judicial Circuit of Virginia |
| Website | vacourts.gov - Rockingham Circuit Court |
The screenshot below was captured from the Virginia Judiciary website and shows the Rockingham Circuit Court's official contact page with the clerk's details and court schedule.
The Virginia Judiciary keeps this page updated with the current Rockingham Circuit Court clerk information, schedule, and court rules.
General District Court in Rockingham County
The General District Court for Rockingham County operates as the Harrisonburg/Rockingham General District Court, a combined court serving both the county and the City of Harrisonburg. This shared structure is common when an independent city and its surrounding county are closely linked geographically. The court handles misdemeanor criminal charges, traffic violations, and preliminary hearings for felony cases. Cases that go to trial for felony charges move from here to the Rockingham Circuit Court.
The direct court URL has at times returned errors, but case information for the Harrisonburg/Rockingham General District Court is available through the statewide online systems described below. If you need in-person help or want to call the court directly, the Rockingham Circuit Court clerk's office can direct you to the right contact. Both courts operate in Harrisonburg and share the same general courthouse area.
Rockingham County Sheriff's Office
Arrest records in Rockingham County are maintained by the Rockingham County Sheriff's Office. Each arrest creates a record that documents the person's name, the charges, the date of arrest, and booking details. These records are generally public under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act. If you need an arrest record from Rockingham County, contact the Sheriff's Office. Some records may require a formal written request, especially if the investigation is still active.
The Sheriff handles law enforcement in the unincorporated parts of Rockingham County. The Harrisonburg Police Department covers arrests within the city limits. So depending on where an arrest happened, you may need to contact one agency or the other. Once a charge is filed with the court, records also exist with the court clerk. Both the arrest record and the court case record are worth checking if you need the full picture of a criminal matter.
Search Criminal History in Rockingham County
Start with the Virginia Judiciary Case Information portal for a free search of Rockingham County criminal records. This tool covers both Circuit Court and General District Court cases across Virginia. You can search by name, case number, or hearing date. Results include the case status, upcoming hearings, and final dispositions. The system updates in real time, so it reflects current case activity at both the Rockingham Circuit Court and the Harrisonburg/Rockingham General District Court.
For misdemeanor cases and traffic violations, use the General District Court Online Case Information System. Accept the terms and conditions page and then search by name or case number. This system pulls from General District Courts statewide. Cookies and JavaScript must be enabled. Cases from the Harrisonburg/Rockingham General District Court show up here alongside records from other Virginia districts.
The Online Case Information System (OCIS) gives you access to Circuit Court-level criminal records. This is where to look for felony cases in Rockingham County. Search by defendant name or case number. The system returns case status, charge information, and disposition data. Through OCIS you can also subscribe to the Case Alert Subscription System (CASS), which sends free text or email notifications when a case you are tracking has an update. This is helpful if you are following a Rockingham County criminal case over time and don't want to keep checking manually.
Virginia State Police Criminal Record Checks
The Virginia State Police maintains the Central Criminal Records Exchange, which is a statewide database of criminal history data. A formal record check through the State Police pulls arrest and conviction history from all Virginia agencies, not just Rockingham County courts. You must submit fingerprints and pay a fee. The process starts with Form SP-167, which you submit to the CARE office at 7700 Midlothian Turnpike, North Richmond, Virginia.
Who can request a formal criminal history check is set out in Virginia Code section 19.2-389. The law limits access to authorized categories of requesters. For most members of the public seeking information about a specific person, the free court record searches through the Virginia Judiciary portals are the main avenue. A formal State Police check is more commonly used by authorized entities with a legal basis for requesting it.
VADOC Inmate Locator
If someone from Rockingham County is serving a felony sentence in a Virginia state correctional facility, you can look them up through the VADOC Inmate Locator. Search by name to find out which facility they are in, their sentence length, and their projected release date. People in local or regional jails, including the Rockingham County jail, are not included in the VADOC system. For those individuals, contact the Rockingham County Sheriff's Office or the regional jail authority directly.
Rockingham County Criminal Records and Public Access
Criminal case records filed in Rockingham County courts are public records under Virginia law. You can walk into the Circuit Court or General District Court clerk's office during business hours and request to see a case file. The clerk can make copies for a fee. Certified copies cost a bit more. For most routine requests, showing up in person is efficient and straightforward. Bring as much information about the case as you have, such as the defendant's name or approximate year the case was filed.
The Virginia Freedom of Information Act governs public access to government records held by Rockingham County agencies. Under FOIA, records are presumed public unless a specific exemption applies. If the Sheriff's Office or another agency denies your request, they must tell you which exemption they are using. You have the right to appeal that decision. For court records, FOIA is less relevant because the courts are governed by their own public access rules, which are generally open by default.
Under Virginia Code section 19.2-389, criminal history records compiled by law enforcement agencies have more restrictions than court case files. That section limits who can receive this type of compiled criminal history data. It's a different category from a court filing, which is open to the public at the clerk's window. If a record was expunged by court order, it is removed from public access and should not appear in online searches or at the clerk's office in Rockingham County.
Cities Near Rockingham County
The City of Harrisonburg is an independent city located within the geographic area of Rockingham County but is a separate jurisdiction with its own courts and government.
Criminal cases filed in the City of Harrisonburg go through Harrisonburg's city courts, not the Rockingham County Circuit Court. However, both jurisdictions share the combined General District Court.
Nearby Counties
Rockingham County shares borders with several counties in the Shenandoah Valley and surrounding regions. Each county has its own circuit court and district court for criminal matters.