Hampton Criminal Records
Hampton criminal records are maintained by the city's own Circuit Court Clerk and General District Court, both of which operate independently from any surrounding county. If you need to search criminal cases in Hampton, Virginia, you can look up case information online through the Virginia Judiciary's case portal or visit the courthouse in person on Kings Way. Hampton is an independent city in the Hampton Roads region, and its courts handle felony and misdemeanor cases separately from York County or any other neighboring jurisdiction.
Hampton Overview
Hampton Circuit Court Criminal Records
The Hampton Circuit Court Clerk maintains all felony criminal records for the city. This office holds indictments, motions, court orders, judgments, and sentencing records for felony cases tried in Hampton. The Circuit Court is part of Virginia's Ninth Judicial Circuit, which covers the City of Hampton.
You can reach the Circuit Court Clerk at hampton.gov. The office is at 101 Kings Way, Hampton, VA 23669. Hours run Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Certified copies of criminal records cost $2.00 per document, with standard copy fees set at $0.50 per page under Virginia Code Title 17.1.
Felony cases go through the Circuit Court after a preliminary hearing in General District Court. The Clerk tracks each case from indictment through final disposition. You can search by defendant name or case number using the Virginia Judiciary Online Case Information System. In-person review is also available at the public terminals inside the courthouse.
| Office | Hampton Circuit Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 101 Kings Way, Hampton, VA 23669 |
| Website | hampton.gov/departments/circuit-court-clerk |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
Hampton Police Division Records and Arrests
The Hampton Police Division is the city's primary law enforcement agency. The Division maintains arrest records, incident reports, accident reports, and investigative files for crimes that happen within Hampton city limits.
Arrest records held by the Police Division include basic booking details, charges, and bond status. Under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, found at Virginia Code Title 2.2, Chapter 37, certain arrest information is public. This includes the date and time of the arrest, the name of the person arrested, and the charges filed. Detailed investigative files may be withheld if the case is still open.
To request police records, contact the Hampton Police Division's Records Unit. You can visit in person or send a written request specifying the incident date, location, and names of parties involved. Fees apply for copies. The Division reports all arrests to the Virginia State Police Central Criminal Records Exchange within the timeframe required by state law.
The Virginia State Police handles statewide criminal history through the Central Criminal Records Exchange (CCRE). You can learn about the process at vsp.virginia.gov. A criminal history name search costs $15 through the CCRE, and a combined criminal history and sex offender registry search costs $20.
General District Court Records in Hampton
The Hampton General District Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, and preliminary hearings for felony charges. Misdemeanor records stay in the General District Court system and are separate from the Circuit Court files. The court is located at the same courthouse complex at 101 Kings Way.
The General District Court participates in the Virginia Judiciary Online Case Information System. You can search Hampton General District Court criminal and traffic cases by name, case number, or hearing date. The system shows case status, upcoming court dates, and final dispositions. Online payment for certain fines and costs may also be available through the system.
Records kept by the General District Court include warrants and summonses, charging documents, court orders, and sentencing records for misdemeanor offenses. These records are generally public unless sealed by a judge. For certified copies or detailed case file review, contact the court clerk directly. Copy fees match those charged in Circuit Court: $0.50 per standard page and $2.00 per certified document.
Note: General District Court cases involving juveniles are handled by the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court and are not public records under Virginia law.
How to Request Criminal Records in Hampton
There are several ways to get criminal records in Hampton. The right method depends on the type of record you need and how quickly you need it.
For court records, the fastest route is the online case search at vacourts.gov. This shows basic case information at no cost. For actual document copies or certified records, you need to contact the Circuit Court Clerk or General District Court Clerk directly. You can visit in person, send a written mail request, or call to ask about their current process. When submitting a request by mail, include the defendant's full name, date of birth if known, case number if you have it, and the specific documents you want. Include a check or money order for the copy fees.
For a statewide criminal history check through the CCRE, use the SP-167 form from the Virginia State Police. Submit it with the required fee and the subject's identifying information. The State Police typically process these requests within several business days. This type of check is different from a court records search because it pulls from the statewide database rather than a specific court's files.
For police incident reports or arrest records held by the Hampton Police Division, submit a written FOIA request to the Records Unit. Include the incident date, location, and party names. The city has five working days to respond under state law.
Note: Mail requests to the Circuit Court Clerk at 101 Kings Way, Hampton, VA 23669, and clearly label the envelope for the Criminal Division.
Virginia CCRE and Hampton Criminal History
The Virginia State Police operates the Central Criminal Records Exchange (CCRE) as the statewide criminal history repository. All arrests made by the Hampton Police Division and convictions from Hampton courts are reported to the CCRE and added to the statewide database. This means a CCRE search will show Hampton criminal history along with records from any other Virginia jurisdiction.
The CCRE is governed by Virginia Code § 19.2-387, which establishes it as the sole criminal recordkeeping agency of the Commonwealth. Access to criminal history information is controlled by Virginia Code § 19.2-389, which sets out who may get this data and for what purpose.
Individuals can request their own criminal history record from the CCRE. The fee is $15 for a name search and $20 for a combined criminal history and sex offender registry check. The official state process and forms are available at vsp.virginia.gov. You can also access the Virginia Sex Offender Registry through the State Police website at no charge for basic searches.
The Hampton Roads Regional Jail at hrrj.org serves Hampton and Newport News. The jail maintains inmate records and provides an online locator for current inmates with booking information and charges.
Public Access and Expungement in Hampton
Most Hampton criminal records are public. Court records from both the Circuit Court and General District Court are open for inspection unless a judge has issued a sealing or expungement order. The Virginia Judiciary's online system provides free access to basic case data for all participating courts.
Virginia law allows expungement of criminal records in limited situations. Under Virginia Code § 19.2-392.2, you may petition for expungement if you were acquitted, if the charge was dropped, or if a nolle prosequi was entered. The petition goes to the Circuit Court in the city where the case was decided. For Hampton cases, that means filing at the Hampton Circuit Court.
Virginia also has a process for sealing certain criminal records under recent legislative changes. The rules differ from expungement and apply to different categories of offenses and outcomes. If you want to know whether your Hampton criminal record qualifies for expungement or sealing, contact a licensed Virginia attorney or reach out to a legal aid organization in the Hampton Roads area.
The Virginia court case information portal at vacourts.gov is free to use and does not require registration. For full case documents or certified copies, fees apply at the clerk's counter. The Virginia FOIA Advisory Council at foiacouncil.dls.virginia.gov can answer questions about what Hampton records must be made public and what may be withheld.
Hampton's courts participate in the state's electronic filing and case management systems, so many records are available through the online portal. However, some older case files may only be available in paper form at the courthouse.
The Virginia State Police maintains the Hampton Roads Regional Sex Offender Registry data. Searches for registered sex offenders in Hampton are free through the official registry at sex-offender.vsp.virginia.gov.
The Virginia State Police criminal history portal is the starting point for statewide background checks that include Hampton arrest and conviction records.
Using the SP-167 form, you can request a name search of the CCRE that will return Hampton criminal history alongside records from any other Virginia court.
Adjacent County Criminal Records
Hampton is an independent city and does not belong to any county. Its courts operate separately. However, York County and James City County border Hampton and handle criminal cases for their own residents. If you are looking for records from those areas, visit the county pages below.
Nearby Cities
These independent cities are near Hampton. Each has its own courts and criminal records system.