Lexington Criminal Records Database
Lexington criminal records are kept by the city's own Circuit Court and General District Court, operating independently from Rockbridge County. If you are looking for criminal case data in Lexington, Virginia, you can start with a free search through the Virginia Judiciary's online case portal or visit the Lexington courthouse in person. As an independent city, Lexington maintains separate criminal records from the county, even though Rockbridge County surrounds the city.
Lexington Overview
Lexington Circuit Court Criminal Records
The Lexington Circuit Court Clerk maintains all felony criminal records for the city. The office holds indictments, motions, orders, judgments, and sentencing records. Lexington is part of Virginia's Twenty-fifth Judicial Circuit, which also covers Rockbridge County, Bath County, and Alleghany County, but city records remain separate from those of the surrounding county.
The courthouse is in downtown Lexington. Hours are typically Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Copy fees follow Virginia Code Title 17.1: $0.50 per page for standard copies and $2.00 per certified document. The Virginia Judiciary Online Case Information System allows free name or case number searches for most participating courts, including Lexington.
Felony cases begin in the General District Court. After a preliminary hearing, cases with probable cause are sent to the Circuit Court for indictment and trial. All records from that point are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk and are public unless a sealing or expungement order has been issued.
| Office | Lexington Circuit Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 2 South Main Street, Lexington, VA 24450 |
| Website | vacourts.gov |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
Lexington Police Department Records and Arrests
The Lexington Police Department provides law enforcement for the city. The department maintains arrest records, incident reports, accident reports, and investigative files for events within city limits. Basic arrest information is a public record under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act at Virginia Code Title 2.2, Chapter 37.
The Rockbridge County Regional Jail serves Lexington and Rockbridge County. When someone is arrested in Lexington and taken into custody, the booking happens at this regional facility. Inmate information including charges and bond status is publicly accessible through the jail's locator system.
To request police records from the Lexington Police Department, submit a FOIA request in writing. Include the date of the incident, the location, and names of parties involved. The city has five working days to respond under Virginia law. Fees may be charged for record searches and copies. Active investigation files may be withheld.
All Lexington Police Department arrests are reported to the Virginia State Police Central Criminal Records Exchange within the required timeframe, ensuring Lexington data is included in the statewide criminal history database.
For state prison inmate records, the Virginia Department of Corrections at vadoc.virginia.gov runs a public inmate locator. If a Lexington conviction resulted in a state prison sentence, the VADOC system can show current custody status and facility location.
General District Court Records in Lexington
The Lexington General District Court handles misdemeanor cases, traffic violations, and preliminary hearings for felony charges. This is the lower-level criminal court for the city, and its records are separate from those of Rockbridge County's General District Court.
Misdemeanor records in the General District Court include warrants, summonses, charging documents, court orders, and dispositions. These are public records. The Virginia Judiciary case portal allows searches for General District Court cases by name, case number, or hearing date. For full document access or certified copies, visit the clerk's office in person during business hours or mail a written request with payment.
The General District Court for Lexington is located at the same courthouse complex as the Circuit Court. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Copy fees match those charged in Circuit Court. Online fine payment may be available for qualifying case types through the Virginia Judiciary Online Payment System.
How to Request Criminal Records in Lexington
Getting criminal records from Lexington requires knowing which office holds the records you need. Court records and police records come from separate agencies.
Start with the free online search at vacourts.gov. This shows basic case data at no cost. For document copies or certified records from Circuit Court, contact the Lexington Circuit Court Clerk. For misdemeanor court records, contact the General District Court Clerk. Both offices are at the same courthouse. When writing a mail request, include the defendant's full name, approximate date of birth, case number if available, and specific documents requested. Include payment for fees.
For a statewide Virginia criminal history that includes Lexington, use the CCRE through the State Police. The SP-167 form is available at vsp.virginia.gov/forms.shtm. Send the completed form with $15 (or $20 for the combined criminal history and sex offender check). This pulls from the statewide database and covers all Virginia courts, not just Lexington.
For Lexington Police Department incident or arrest reports, send a written FOIA request to the department's Records Unit. Specify the type of record, the incident details, and your contact information. The five-day response requirement under Virginia FOIA applies.
Note: Lexington is a small city, and court records volume is lower than in larger Virginia cities. Staff may be able to assist with searches more directly for specific case inquiries.
Virginia CCRE and Lexington Criminal History
The Central Criminal Records Exchange at the Virginia State Police collects and maintains criminal history data from every Virginia jurisdiction, including Lexington. All arrests by the Lexington Police Department and convictions from Lexington courts are reported to the CCRE. A CCRE name search returns the full Virginia criminal history for a person, covering all jurisdictions where they may have been arrested or convicted.
The CCRE is established by Virginia Code § 19.2-387 and operates as the sole statewide criminal recordkeeping agency of the Commonwealth. Access to criminal history is restricted by § 19.2-389, which defines who may receive the information and for what purpose. Individuals may request their own criminal history. Authorized agencies and employers with a legal basis may also access the data.
The Virginia Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry is publicly searchable at no cost through sex-offender.vsp.virginia.gov. This covers all registered offenders in Virginia including those with a Lexington address.
Public Access and Expungement in Lexington
Criminal court records in Lexington are public. Court files at both the Circuit Court and General District Court are available for public inspection during business hours unless sealed or expunged by court order. Basic case information is also searchable through the state's online Judiciary portal for free.
Virginia allows expungement of certain criminal records under Virginia Code § 19.2-392.2. If you were acquitted, if charges were dismissed, or if a nolle prosequi was entered, you may be able to petition for expungement. The petition goes to the Circuit Court in the city where the case was decided. For Lexington cases, that means filing at the Lexington Circuit Court on South Main Street.
Virginia also allows sealing of some conviction records under more recent legislation. The eligibility rules are different from expungement, and they depend on the offense and the time elapsed since the conviction. A licensed Virginia attorney can tell you whether your specific Lexington criminal record qualifies for expungement or sealing.
The Virginia FOIA Council at foiacouncil.dls.virginia.gov provides advisory opinions and plain-language guidance on public access to government records. Their materials explain what Lexington court and police records must be disclosed and what may be lawfully withheld.
Lexington's courts participate in the Virginia Judiciary's electronic case management systems, so records from recent decades are generally searchable online. Older archived records may require in-person requests at the courthouse.
The Virginia Code governing the Central Criminal Records Exchange sets the legal framework for how Lexington criminal data is collected, maintained, and accessed at the state level.
Virginia Code Title 19.2 Chapter 23 establishes the rules for the CCRE, including who may access Lexington and statewide criminal history records and under what conditions.
Rockbridge County Criminal Records
Lexington is an independent city surrounded by Rockbridge County. The county has its own separate courts. If you are looking for records from Rockbridge County rather than Lexington city, use the county page below.
Nearby Cities
These Virginia independent cities are in the Shenandoah Valley and western Virginia area near Lexington. Each city has its own criminal records system.