Alexandria Criminal Records

Alexandria criminal records are maintained by the Alexandria Circuit Court Clerk, General District Court, and the Alexandria Police Department. As an independent city, Alexandria runs its own court system separate from Arlington and Fairfax counties. You can search case records online through the Virginia Judiciary's case information system, or visit the courthouse at 520 King Street in person. This guide covers how to find felony records, misdemeanor cases, arrest reports, and how to request copies from each office that holds criminal records in Alexandria.

Alexandria Circuit Court Criminal Records

The Alexandria Circuit Court Clerk holds felony criminal records for the City of Alexandria. This office is the official custodian of indictments, motions, orders, verdicts, and sentencing documents for all felony cases tried in Alexandria. Because Alexandria is an independent city, these records are not held by Arlington County or Fairfax County. The Circuit Court is entirely its own system.

The Clerk's Office is at 520 King Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314. Hours run Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. You can reach the office through the Alexandria Circuit Court Clerk website for contact details and online services. The Clerk processes requests for certified copies and plain copies of criminal case documents. Copy fees follow the schedule set by Virginia Code section 17.1-275.

Felony criminal records in Alexandria include the original warrant or indictment, all pretrial motions, trial transcripts if ordered, the final judgment, and any sentencing order. These files are public records under Virginia law. Anyone can view them in person at the Clerk's window. Certified copies cost more than plain copies but carry the court seal and are accepted as official documents for legal purposes.

The Virginia Judiciary provides online access to Alexandria case information through its case information system. You can search by party name, case number, or hearing date. Online results show case status, party names, and scheduled hearings but do not include full document images. For those, you must visit the Clerk in person or submit a written request.

Alexandria Police Department and Arrest Records

The Alexandria Police Department is headquartered at 3600 Wheeler Avenue, Alexandria, Virginia. The Department's Records Section handles requests for incident reports, accident reports, and other police records. You can submit a request online, by mail, or in person at the Records window.

Alexandria Police arrest records document the time, location, and nature of an arrest. They list the charges, the arresting officer, and the disposition if known. These are separate from court records. Police records go through the Department; court records go through the Clerk's Office. Both are public, but different exemptions may apply. Under Virginia's Freedom of Information Act, records tied to active or ongoing investigations may be withheld. Once a case is closed, most records become available.

The Alexandria Police Department also operates the Alexandria Detention Center for pretrial detainees. Inmate lookup and booking information may be found through the Department of Corrections and Human Services. The Department submits all arrests to the Virginia State Police Central Criminal Records Exchange, which keeps a statewide database of criminal history.

The city's Alexandria Sheriff's Office also plays a role. The Sheriff operates the Alexandria Adult Detention Center, provides court security, and handles civil process. The Sheriff's Office works alongside the Police Department and reports to the Virginia State Police CCRE as well.

The Alexandria Police Department website at alexandriava.gov/police shows how to request records. Most reports are released within five business days unless the request involves complex research or large volumes of documents.

The Alexandria Police Department screenshot above shows the department's public-facing site at alexandriava.gov/police where you can start a records request for incident reports and arrest documents.

General District Court Records in Alexandria

The Alexandria General District Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, and preliminary hearings for felony charges. The court sits at 520 King Street along with the Circuit Court. Misdemeanor records from this court are public and available for search online or in person.

Misdemeanor cases include Class 1 through Class 4 misdemeanors as defined under Virginia Code Title 18.2. Class 1 misdemeanors carry the highest penalties and include charges like assault and battery, petty theft, and DUI. General District Court records include the original charge, any continuances, the plea entered, and the final disposition. If a case was appealed to Circuit Court, that record is held upstairs in the Clerk's Office.

The court is part of Virginia's unified court system and follows the same online case lookup available at the Virginia Judiciary's case information portal. You can search by name or docket number. The General District Court also provides online payment options for some traffic and criminal cases where permitted.

Court hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The court does not give legal advice, but you can find information about court procedures and forms at the court's website and at the state courts portal.

Requesting Criminal Records in Alexandria

Getting a copy of a criminal record in Alexandria takes a few steps depending on what type of record you need. For court records, contact the Clerk's Office at the courthouse. For police records, contact the Police Department's Records Section. For a full criminal history background check, go through the Virginia State Police CCRE.

To request court records, you can appear in person at the Clerk's Office at 520 King Street or submit a written request by mail. Include the full name of the person, the approximate case date or year, and the case number if you have it. The Clerk will search the index and pull the file. Plain copies cost a set amount per page. Certified copies carry an additional certification fee. The exact rates are set by state law under section 17.1-275.

For police incident reports and arrest records, submit a FOIA request to the Alexandria Police Department. You can do this online through the city's FOIA portal or by mailing a written request to the Records Section at 3600 Wheeler Avenue. The city has 5 business days to respond to most FOIA requests. They may charge for staff time spent on large research requests and for copying costs. Simple requests for a single incident report are often fulfilled quickly.

There is no single public database that combines all Alexandria criminal records in one place. The Virginia Judiciary's online system covers court records. Police records are held separately. For a full picture of someone's history, you may need to request from both sources.

Virginia CCRE and Alexandria Criminal History

The Virginia State Police maintains the Central Criminal Records Exchange, or CCRE, at vsp.virginia.gov. This statewide database compiles criminal history from all Virginia jurisdictions, including Alexandria. Every arrest made by Alexandria Police and every conviction entered in Alexandria's courts feeds into this system. The CCRE is the most complete source of Virginia criminal history.

Individuals can request their own Virginia criminal history record from the CCRE. This is called a personal record review. The process requires submitting fingerprints and a request form to the Virginia State Police. The fee is set by state regulation. Once processed, the report shows all Virginia arrests and dispositions on record. This is useful if you need to check your own record before a job application or for any other lawful purpose.

Third-party background checks through the CCRE require authorization. Certain licensed employers and agencies can access CCRE records through approved channels. General public requests are limited to court records and police records through the standard processes described above.

The Virginia State Police CCRE portal shown above at vsp.virginia.gov is where Alexandria residents can request a personal criminal history record or find information on authorized background checks.

Public Access and Expungement in Alexandria

Virginia criminal records are generally public. Court records at the Alexandria Circuit Court and General District Court are open to anyone who asks. Arrest records held by police can be accessed through FOIA. The courts do not restrict who can view case records unless a specific court order seals them.

Some records are not public. Juvenile criminal records are generally sealed. Records involving mental health proceedings may be restricted. Certain victim information is protected. Outside of these specific categories, Alexandria criminal records are open to public inspection under Virginia's court records access laws.

Virginia law allows for expungement of some criminal records. Under Virginia Code Title 19.2, Chapter 23.1, a person who was acquitted, had charges dismissed, or had their conviction set aside may petition the Circuit Court for expungement. If granted, the record is sealed and not visible to most background checks. The petition must be filed in the Circuit Court of the jurisdiction where the charge was brought. For Alexandria charges, that means the Alexandria Circuit Court.

Not all convictions qualify for expungement under Virginia law. The person petitioning must meet specific criteria. An attorney can help you determine whether your record qualifies. The Virginia State Bar's lawyer referral service and local legal aid organizations can assist Alexandria residents with expungement questions.

Virginia's expungement statute at law.lis.virginia.gov shown above outlines who can petition to have Alexandria criminal records sealed and what the court must consider when reviewing an expungement petition.

Nearby County Criminal Records

Alexandria is an independent city and does not belong to any county. However, it sits adjacent to Arlington County and Fairfax County, which maintain their own criminal records systems for cases filed in those jurisdictions. If a case was handled outside Alexandria city limits, it may be in one of these county systems instead.

Nearby Cities

These independent cities and communities near Alexandria also maintain their own criminal records systems.