Petersburg Criminal Records Database
Petersburg criminal records are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk and the General District Court for the 11th Judicial Circuit. Petersburg is an independent city in Virginia, so it operates its own court system without a parent county. Felony cases go through the Circuit Court and misdemeanor charges are handled by the General District Court. You can search Petersburg criminal case records for free through the Virginia OCIS system online. For copies or certified documents, contact the Circuit Court Clerk directly. The Petersburg Police Department and the Sheriff's Office also hold records tied to arrests and detention in the city.
Petersburg Overview
Petersburg Circuit Court Records
The Petersburg Circuit Court handles all felony criminal cases filed in the city. The Clerk's Office maintains the official records for every felony case, including grand jury indictments, motions, court orders, jury verdicts, sentencing guidelines, and final dispositions. These are the most complete records of serious criminal activity in Petersburg. For more, visit petersburgva.gov/circuit-court.
Virginia's 11th Judicial Circuit covers Petersburg as an independent city. Felony offenses under Virginia law are those punishable by more than one year of imprisonment. When a felony conviction is entered in Petersburg Circuit Court, the clerk reports it to the Virginia State Police Central Criminal Records Exchange within 15 days. From that point it becomes part of the statewide criminal history database. Copy fees are set by Virginia Code § 17.1-275 at $0.50 per page for standard copies and $2.00 per document for certified copies. The court also accepts written requests by mail if you can't go in person.
| Office | Petersburg Circuit Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Website | petersburgva.gov/circuit-court |
| Judicial Circuit | 11th Circuit |
| Copy Fee | $0.50 per page standard, $2.00 certified |
| Online Search | eapps.courts.state.va.us |
When you request Petersburg court records, bring the name of the defendant, date of birth, and case number if you have it. For mail requests, include those same details along with your contact information and payment. The court will process the request and send the records or let you know if more information is needed.
General District Court and Online Records
The Petersburg General District Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, and preliminary hearings for felony charges. Case information for Petersburg GDC is at vacourts.gov. This court processes warrants, summonses, charging documents, and final orders for lower-level criminal matters. It also conducts preliminary hearings to decide if there is probable cause to send a felony case up to circuit court.
Virginia's OCIS system at eapps.courts.state.va.us is free to use and covers Petersburg criminal records from both courts. Search by name, case number, or hearing date. Results show case status, charges, and court dates. OCIS is updated regularly as case events occur, so it reflects current status. For actual document copies, you need to contact the clerk's office directly. The OCIS portal is the best starting point if you are not sure whether a case exists or what the current status is.
Virginia's criminal statutes at Title 19.2 of the Code of Virginia govern how Petersburg courts handle criminal cases from first appearance through sentencing and appeal. These rules apply to every criminal matter in the city regardless of whether it is a misdemeanor or a felony.
Police Records and Arrest Reports
The Petersburg Police Department handles law enforcement for the city. The Records Division processes public records requests for incident reports, arrest records, and related documents. Contact the department through petersburgva.gov/police. You can visit in person, mail a written request, or check the city's website for any online request options. Incident reports are generally ready within a few business days after the event.
Virginia State Police CCRE at vsp.virginia.gov stores criminal history records for Petersburg arrests. Petersburg arrests are reported to the CCRE within 15 days and become part of the state criminal history database. This means a state-level SP-167 background check at $15 will pick up Petersburg records along with any other Virginia criminal history. The combo search at $20 also runs the Sex Offender Registry. Download forms at vsp.virginia.gov/forms.
Petersburg arrests are reported to the CCRE within 15 days and become part of the state criminal history database.
The Petersburg Sheriff's Office at petersburgva.gov/sheriff operates the city jail. The Sheriff holds pre-trial detainees and people serving sentences of up to one year. The Riverside Regional Jail also handles Petersburg inmates for longer sentences or overflow. You can check for state prison inmates through the VADOC Offender Locator at vadoc.virginia.gov. For victim notifications when an offender's custody status changes, register through VINE at vinelink.vineapps.com.
Virginia's FOIA law at foiacouncil.dls.virginia.gov governs how Petersburg responds to public records requests. Petersburg offices must respond to FOIA requests within five business days under § 2.2-3704.
Petersburg offices must respond to FOIA requests within five business days under § 2.2-3704.
Petersburg Criminal Record Expungement
Petersburg residents may be eligible to expunge criminal records under Virginia Code § 19.2-392.2. Expungement is available when the charge was acquitted, dismissed, or a nolle prosequi was entered. You file the petition in the Circuit Court where the case was disposed. For Petersburg cases, that means the Petersburg Circuit Court.
The petition must contain the date of arrest, the name of the arresting agency, the specific charge, the date the case ended, your date of birth, and the name you used at arrest. Attach a copy of the warrant or indictment if possible. The Commonwealth's Attorney is served and has 21 days to respond. The court then holds a hearing. If the court finds the record would cause manifest injustice, it orders expungement of both paper files and electronic records. For first-time misdemeanor arrests, you are generally entitled to expungement unless the Commonwealth shows good cause to deny it. Virginia's sealing process under Chapter 23.2 of Title 19.2 covers some other situations. Talking to a local attorney is the best way to figure out what applies to your case.
Legal Help in Petersburg
Several resources can help you navigate Petersburg criminal records. The Virginia FOIA Council at foiacouncil.dls.virginia.gov provides free guidance on public records rights. The Council publishes materials explaining what records must be disclosed and how to request them. If a Petersburg office denies your FOIA request, the Council can advise you or help mediate the dispute.
The Virginia Sex Offender Registry at sex-offender.vsp.virginia.gov covers Petersburg registrants. You can search by name or address at no cost. Violent sex offenders are in the publicly accessible portion of the registry. The registry is maintained by the Virginia State Police under Virginia Code § 9.1-913.
Note: For legal advice about Petersburg criminal records, expungement eligibility, or how to handle a FOIA denial, contact a licensed Virginia attorney or reach out to a legal aid organization serving the Petersburg or Tri-Cities area.
Dinwiddie County Criminal Records
Petersburg borders Dinwiddie County to the south and west. Petersburg is an independent city, so county records and city records are separate. If a case involves someone who lived in Dinwiddie County rather than the city, it may have been filed in the county court system instead. For more on Dinwiddie County's courts, see the county records page.
Nearby Cities
These cities are near Petersburg. Each is an independent city in Virginia with its own criminal courts and records system.