Stafford County Criminal History Search

Stafford County criminal history records are kept at the Circuit Court Clerk's office at 1300 Courthouse Road in Stafford and through the Virginia State Police's statewide criminal records database. The county is part of the 15th Judicial Circuit. You can search court records online for free, visit the courthouse, submit a written request, or contact the Sheriff's Office for arrest-related records.

Stafford County Circuit Court Criminal Records

The Stafford County Circuit Court is part of the 15th Judicial Circuit of Virginia. Clerk of Court Hon. Kathy M. Sterne oversees the office at 1300 Courthouse Road, P.O. Box 69, Stafford, VA 22555. The office is open 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday. Note that financial payments are not accepted after 4:00 PM. The court has three active judges: Judge Levy in Courtroom One (reach through (540) 658-4840 option 1), Judge Strickland in Courtroom Two (option 2), and Judge Willis in Courtroom Two (option 3). The main clerk phone is (540) 658-8750 and fax is (540) 658-4653.

Under VA Code § 17.1-292(B), "court records" covers all official documentation collected or generated by the court clerk during civil, traffic, or criminal proceedings. Court records are public information in Stafford County according to VA Code §§ 16.1 and 17.1. Unlike other public records, the Virginia Freedom of Information Act does not directly control access to adjudicative records -- they have their own statutory framework. The clerk keeps a publicly accessible repository of court rulings, case files, dockets, and judgments.

The Stafford County Circuit Court page on the Virginia Judicial System website shows all three judges and courtroom contact options.

General District Court in Stafford County

The Stafford County General District Court is at The Judicial Center, 1300 Courthouse Road, Stafford, VA 22555. Call (540) 658-8935 or fax (540) 658-4834. This court handles civil matters not exceeding $25,000 (except personal injury and wrongful death cases up to $50,000), traffic violations, and misdemeanor criminal cases. Stafford County's General District Court handles a significant volume of misdemeanor criminal matters, and those records are part of the county's overall criminal history landscape. Cases appealed from this court go to the Circuit Court for trial.

Misdemeanor and traffic case records from the General District Court are searchable online at no charge. Visit eapps.courts.state.va.us/gdcourts/ and search by party name, case number, or hearing date. The Virginia Judicial System's Stafford General District Court page has official contact details.

The Stafford General District Court page shows the court address, contact details, and its jurisdiction over misdemeanor criminal matters.

Stafford County Sheriff's Office

The Stafford County Sheriff's Office -- specifically the Division of Administrative Services -- handles criminal records requests for the county. You can submit a written request through the sheriff's Online Record Request portal. To do so, provide the full name of the record subject, your contact information, the name of the investigating deputy, the date and approximate time of the incident, and the local case number. You can also visit the office at 1225 Courthouse Road, Stafford, VA 22554, call (540) 658-4969, or email dstout@staffordcountyva.gov.

The Virginia State Police (VSP) also maintains a controlled database of criminal records. Individuals can request records using Form SP-167 for members of the public, or Form SP-230 for non-criminal justice entities. Both require mailing to the CARE unit. The VSP address is 7700 Midlothian Turnpike, North Chesterfield, VA 23235.

Search Criminal History in Stafford County

Several free online tools let you search Stafford County criminal history records. Start with the Online Case Information System (OCIS) for a broad search of criminal and traffic cases statewide. For district court cases specifically, use eapps.courts.state.va.us/gdcourts/. The Virginia Courts Case Information System covers both district and circuit court filings across Virginia.

In-person searches at the Circuit Court Clerk's office give access to the full case file during regular business hours. Plain copies cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies cost $2.00 per document. Mail requests are also accepted with a written request identifying the case and payment. Property documents from 1699 to the present are publicly accessible. The Clerk's office also has a subscription-based Secure Remote Access system for registered users to access digital records remotely.

Virginia State Police Criminal Record Checks

The Virginia State Police (VSP) manages the CCRE, which aggregates criminal history data from across Virginia including Stafford County. Members of the public use Form SP-167, which must be notarized. Non-criminal justice entities may use Form SP-230. Both require a fee and must be mailed to CARE at 7700 Midlothian Turnpike, North Chesterfield, VA 23235. Full instructions and forms are at vsp.virginia.gov/criminal-record-check/. The current fee is $15.00 per search.

Under Virginia Code § 19.2-389, criminal history data in the CCRE is available to the public for lawful purposes including personal record review. Fingerprint-based checks provide a more precise match than name-based searches and may be required for certain authorized purposes.

Note: Name-based searches may return records for persons with similar names. Always verify results against other case information before relying on them.

VADOC Inmate Locator

If someone from Stafford County is incarcerated in a Virginia state facility, you can locate them using the VADOC Inmate Locator at vadoc.virginia.gov/general-public/inmate-locator/. Search by name to get basic location and status data. The tool covers state prisons and correctional centers only. Local jails and federal facilities are not included.

Criminal Records Access in Stafford County

Court records in Stafford County are public information under VA Code §§ 16.1 and 17.1. The clerk keeps a publicly accessible repository of court records. You can access these by visiting the courthouse, sending a written mail request, or using Virginia's online case information systems. Unlike other government records, the Virginia FOIA does not directly govern access to adjudicative records -- they have their own legal framework, which still presumes public access unless an exemption applies.

Restricted records include sealed cases, juvenile files, records involving protective orders, civil commitment proceedings, mental health emergency custody orders, and adoption files. Ongoing investigation records and records containing personally identifiable financial data may also be withheld. When you submit a request, the Clerk determines what is releasable before providing copies.

Copy fees are $0.50 per page for plain copies and $2.00 for certified documents. For property records, the Clerk's office has a Secure Remote Access system that allows subscription-based digital access. Subscribers complete, sign, and notarize an online form with a 6-month payment of $300 or $600 for a full year. Checks are made payable to "Clerk of the Circuit Court." Property records go back to 1699.

Nearby Counties

Stafford County is in northern Virginia along the Rappahannock River. These counties are its neighbors, each with separate court systems.