Portsmouth Criminal Records

Portsmouth is an independent city in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia, and criminal records for the city are kept through its own court system. The Portsmouth Circuit Court handles felony cases, while the General District Court covers misdemeanors and traffic charges. If you need to search Portsmouth criminal records, you can start online through the Virginia Judiciary's case information portal or visit the courthouse in person. This guide explains where those records are, how to find them, and what you may need to bring or send to get copies.

Portsmouth Circuit Court Criminal Records

The Portsmouth Circuit Court is the main court of record for felony criminal cases in the city. As an independent city, Portsmouth has its own court that does not share records with any surrounding county. The Circuit Court Clerk maintains all felony case files, including indictments, motions, orders, sentencing records, and final dispositions. These records are public and can be reviewed in person at the courthouse.

The Circuit Court handles serious charges under Virginia Code Title 18.2, which covers all criminal offenses in the Commonwealth. Cases at this level include violent felonies, drug distribution charges, and other crimes that carry a sentence of more than one year. The court sits in the Fifth Judicial Circuit. When a case is resolved, the clerk sends disposition data to the Virginia State Police Central Criminal Records Exchange.

Copy fees at the Circuit Court follow state law under Virginia Code Title 17.1: $0.50 per page for standard copies and $2.00 per document for certified copies. Mail requests should include the defendant's name, date of birth, case number if known, and a check or money order for the fee. Processing takes roughly one week.

Portsmouth Police Department Records

The Portsmouth Police Department maintains all arrest records, incident reports, and investigative files for the city. The Records Unit handles public requests for these documents. Arrest records from Portsmouth are reported to the Virginia State Police within 72 hours of booking, which means they appear in the state's Central Criminal Records Exchange fairly quickly after an arrest is made.

The Virginia State Police page at vsp.virginia.gov explains the statewide criminal history request process and the SP-167 form used to request records. Local arrest data feeds into that system. For records specific to Portsmouth incidents, the Police Department Records Unit is the right place to start. Available records under FOIA include the public portions of incident reports, basic arrest data, and accident reports.

The Portsmouth Police Department website has information on how to submit a records request. You can visit in person or send a written request by mail. Accident reports are often available through BuyCrash.com within a few days of the incident. Response times for other FOIA requests are typically five business days under Virginia Code Title 2.2, Chapter 37.

The Virginia State Police also maintains the Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry, which you can search at sex-offender.vsp.virginia.gov. This free search tool covers registered offenders statewide, including those in Portsmouth.

The Virginia State Police operates the statewide criminal records system. The image below shows the official criminal history request page, which covers all Virginia cities including Portsmouth.

Virginia State Police Criminal History Records

The SP-167 form on this page is how you request a name-based criminal history search from the state's Central Criminal Records Exchange.

General District Court Records in Portsmouth

The Portsmouth General District Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic offenses, and preliminary hearings for felony charges. Misdemeanor records include warrants, summonses, court orders, and sentencing information. These records are separate from Circuit Court felony files and are maintained by the General District Court Clerk.

Portsmouth General District Court records can be searched online through the Virginia Judiciary case information system at vacourts.gov. You can look up cases by name, case number, or hearing date. The system shows case status, charge descriptions, and disposition data. Online payment of fines is also available for eligible cases. For full record copies, visit the clerk's office in person or submit a written mail request.

Note: General District Court records cover cases punishable by less than one year in jail. Felony charges may start here at a preliminary hearing before being sent to the Circuit Court.

How to Get Criminal Records in Portsmouth

There are several ways to get criminal records in Portsmouth. The easiest starting point for most people is the online case information system at vacourts.gov. This shows case data for both Circuit and General District courts. It works for recent records and gives you names, charges, and dispositions without a trip to the courthouse.

To get actual copies of documents, you need to contact the clerk's office directly. For felony records, that means the Portsmouth Circuit Court Clerk. For misdemeanor records, contact the General District Court Clerk. You can visit in person, call ahead to ask about specific case files, or mail a written request. Either way, bring or include the defendant's name, an approximate date range, and the case number if you have it. Payment must accompany mail requests.

For a certified copy of a felony conviction, you typically need to go to the Circuit Court Clerk's office or send a written request with the $2.00 certification fee per document plus copy costs. Certified records are often needed for legal proceedings, professional licensing, or immigration matters.

The Virginia Judiciary case information portal at vacourts.gov shows how the statewide search system works. The image below is from that site.

Virginia Judicial System Case Information Portal

This system covers courts across the state. Use the locality filter to search Portsmouth-specific cases.

Virginia CCRE and Portsmouth Criminal History

The Virginia State Police's Central Criminal Records Exchange is the statewide repository for criminal history data. Under Virginia Code § 19.2-387, the CCRE is the sole state-level criminal records agency in the Commonwealth. All Virginia law enforcement agencies, including Portsmouth Police, report arrests and dispositions to the CCRE. This means a CCRE name search covers arrests that happened in Portsmouth along with any other Virginia jurisdiction.

A name search costs $15. A combined search that includes the Sex Offender Registry costs $20. You submit the SP-167 form with payment to the Virginia State Police. Results include conviction data for felony and misdemeanor cases across the state. The CCRE is authorized under Virginia Code § 19.2-389 to share this data with individuals requesting their own records, authorized agencies, and others with a lawful purpose.

Virginia Code restricts how criminal history data can be used. Under § 19.2-389, agencies and individuals who receive records through the CCRE can only use them for the specific purpose stated at the time of the request. Unauthorized use or further distribution can result in legal consequences.

Public Access and Expungement in Portsmouth

Most Portsmouth criminal court records are public. You don't need a reason to request them, and you don't have to be related to a party in the case. Court records are available to any member of the public during normal business hours, and many records can be accessed online without visiting the courthouse at all.

Some records can be sealed or expunged. Under Virginia Code § 19.2-392.2, a person who was charged but not convicted may file a petition for expungement in the Circuit Court of the city where the case was resolved. Portsmouth Circuit Court handles expungement petitions for city cases. The petition must include the date of arrest, the name of the arresting agency, the specific charge, and the date of final disposition. A copy is served on the Commonwealth's Attorney, who has 21 days to respond.

If you have no prior criminal record and the charge was a misdemeanor or civil offense, you are generally entitled to expungement when the case was dismissed or you were acquitted. The court holds a hearing and, if it finds the continued existence of the record causes a manifest injustice, it orders the expungement of police and court records, including electronic records. Once an order is entered, the Portsmouth Circuit Court Clerk forwards it to the appropriate agencies.

Virginia also has a sealing law under Chapter 23.2 of Title 19.2 for certain criminal records. This is a different process from expungement and applies to some convictions. An attorney familiar with Virginia law can help you determine which process applies to your situation.

Nearby Cities

Portsmouth is part of the Hampton Roads metro area. These nearby independent cities each have their own court systems and criminal records offices.