Access Manassas Criminal Records
Manassas criminal records are maintained by the city's own courts as part of the 18th Judicial Circuit, which it shares with Prince William County and the City of Manassas Park. The Circuit Court Clerk at 9311 Lee Avenue holds felony case files, while the General District Court handles misdemeanors and traffic matters. Free case searches are available online through Virginia's Online Case Information System. For an official certified background check, submit the SP-167 form to the Virginia State Police CCRE for $15. This page explains how to get criminal records from Manassas courts, police, and state agencies.
Manassas Overview
Manassas Circuit Court Criminal Records
The Manassas Circuit Court Clerk's office at manassascity.org maintains all felony criminal case records for the city. The office is located at 9311 Lee Avenue, Manassas, VA 20110, which is a shared courthouse facility. Felony case files include indictments, plea documents, trial transcripts, sentencing orders, and any post-conviction records such as probation modifications or appeals. These are public records unless sealed by a judge.
Felony case files in Manassas can be accessed in person at the Circuit Court Clerk's office or by submitting a written records request.
The 18th Judicial Circuit serves Manassas, Prince William County, and Manassas Park. Even though these jurisdictions share a circuit, each maintains its own separate docket and case files. A case filed against someone in Manassas City will show up in the Manassas City docket, not in Prince William County. Make sure you search the right jurisdiction when requesting records.
| Office | Manassas City Circuit Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 9311 Lee Avenue Manassas, VA 20110 |
| Judicial Circuit | 18th (shared with Prince William County and Manassas Park) |
| Website | manassascity.org/government/courts/circuit-court-clerk |
Copies of court records cost $0.50 per page under Virginia Code § 17.1-275. Certified copies have an added certification fee. If you need a large number of pages from an old case, call ahead to check turnaround time.
Misdemeanor Records and Online Case Search
Misdemeanor charges and traffic matters in Manassas go to the General District Court. The Manassas General District Court page on vacourts.gov has current contact info and hours. This court processes Class 1 and Class 2 misdemeanors, petty larceny, simple assault, and related offenses. Preliminary hearings for felonies also start here before the case moves up to Circuit Court.
Virginia's OCIS system at eapps.courts.state.va.us gives you free access to Manassas case records online. Search by name or case number to find charges, court dates, and dispositions. No login is required. OCIS covers both the Circuit Court and General District Court. It is the fastest way to see if a criminal case exists before going to the courthouse in person.
Note: OCIS shows index-level case information. It does not include the full case file, exhibits, or transcripts. For those, you need to contact the clerk's office directly or visit in person during business hours.
Manassas Police and Arrest Records
The Manassas Police Department at manassascity.org/government/police-department handles arrest records and incident reports for the city. FOIA requests for Manassas police records can be submitted to the Records Division, which responds within five business days.
FOIA requests for Manassas police records can be submitted to the Records Division, which responds within five business days.
Under Virginia Code § 2.2-3704, any public body including a city police department must respond to FOIA requests within five working days. Basic arrest and incident information is generally public. This includes the date, time, and location of an incident, the general nature of the offense, and the identity of the individual arrested. Detailed investigative files may be withheld in some cases, particularly for ongoing investigations.
For a certified statewide criminal history report that includes Manassas arrests, submit the SP-167 form to the Virginia State Police CCRE. Download the form from vsp.virginia.gov/forms. A basic name search costs $15. The combined name search and sex offender check costs $20. This is the only official source for a certified Virginia criminal history covering all jurisdictions statewide.
The VADOC offender locator lets you search for state inmates by name. For victim notifications, VINE sends automatic alerts when an offender's custody status changes. The Virginia Sex Offender Registry is free and searchable by name or location.
Expungement of Manassas Criminal Records
Virginia Code § 19.2-392.2 gives Manassas residents the right to petition for expungement of qualifying criminal records. If you had a charge dropped, received a not-guilty verdict, or got a nolle prosequi in Manassas, you may be able to clear that record. The petition is filed in the Manassas City Circuit Court, which is the court that handled the original case.
Your petition must include your date of birth, the date of arrest, the name of the arresting agency, the specific charge, and the final disposition. Attach a copy of the original warrant or indictment if you have it. The petition is served on the Manassas Commonwealth's Attorney, who has 21 days to respond. The court then holds a hearing and rules on the request.
If you have no prior criminal record and the charge was a misdemeanor, Virginia law gives you the right to expungement in most cases. For felony charges, the standard is whether the continued existence of the record causes manifest injustice. Records that get expunged are removed from public databases and cannot be used against you in most civil or employment contexts. Getting an attorney to help with the petition is worth it, especially for more complex cases.
Legal Help in Manassas
Several resources serve Manassas residents who need legal assistance with criminal records. The Northern Virginia area has good coverage of both legal aid and private bar referral services. Start with these organizations if you need guidance on expungement, accessing records, or dealing with an old criminal case.
LawHelpVirginia has step-by-step guides on expungement and record access, written in plain language. The site connects you to local legal aid offices and self-help resources in Northern Virginia. Virginia Free Legal Answers lets you post a question and get a free response from a licensed Virginia attorney. Both services are available online and free to use.
The Virginia State Bar referral line at 1-800-552-7977 can connect you with attorneys near Manassas who handle criminal defense and expungement matters. Many offer an initial consultation at a reduced rate. For active criminal cases in Manassas, the Manassas Public Defender's office handles representation for eligible defendants who cannot afford a private attorney.
Prince William County Criminal Records
Manassas is an independent city inside Prince William County's geographic boundaries, but it operates a separate court system. Criminal cases arising in unincorporated Prince William County or in other Prince William towns are handled by the county courts. The 18th Judicial Circuit links the two, but their dockets are completely separate. If you are not sure which jurisdiction handled a case, check OCIS or call both clerk's offices.
Nearby Cities
These Virginia independent cities are near Manassas. Each one has its own criminal court records system.