Find Criminal Records in Radford

Radford is an independent city in southwestern Virginia, surrounded by Montgomery County, and it maintains its own court system separate from the county. Criminal records for Radford are held at the Radford Circuit Court and the Radford General District Court. You can search Radford criminal records online through the Virginia Judiciary case portal, or you can visit the courthouse directly on First Street in downtown Radford. This page covers the courts, the police department, the state records system, and how to request copies of criminal case files.

Radford Circuit Court Criminal Records

The Radford Circuit Court serves as the city's court of record for felony cases. As an independent city, Radford has its own circuit court that operates separately from Montgomery County's court. The Circuit Court Clerk maintains all felony criminal records, including indictments, motions, orders, judgments, and sentencing information. Records are public and available for inspection during normal business hours unless sealed by a judge.

Felony cases in Radford arise under Virginia Code Title 18.2, the criminal offenses title of the Virginia Code. The court is part of the Twenty-seventh Judicial Circuit. After a case is resolved, the clerk sends disposition data to the Virginia State Police, which adds it to the Central Criminal Records Exchange. That statewide record is what appears when a background check is run against someone who had a case in Radford.

Copy fees follow state law under Virginia Code Title 17.1. Standard copies cost $0.50 per page and certified copies cost $2.00 per document. Mail requests need to include the defendant's full name, approximate date range, and payment. The clerk will process the request and send documents by return mail.

Radford Police Department Records

The Radford Police Department maintains local arrest records, incident reports, and investigative files for the city. When someone is arrested in Radford, the department reports that arrest to the Virginia State Police Central Criminal Records Exchange within 72 hours. That data becomes part of the statewide criminal history system maintained under Virginia Code § 19.2-387.

For records specific to Radford incidents, you request them from the Radford Police Department. Available records under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act include the public portions of incident reports, accident reports, and basic arrest information. Certain details may be redacted if disclosure would compromise a criminal investigation. Response time for FOIA requests is generally five business days under Virginia Code Title 2.2, Chapter 37.

The Virginia State Police also publishes the Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry. You can search it for free at sex-offender.vsp.virginia.gov. This covers registered offenders throughout Virginia, including Radford city.

The official Virginia State Police criminal history portal explains the process for statewide record searches.

Virginia State Police Criminal History Records

The SP-167 form on this page is used to request a name search of the Central Criminal Records Exchange, which includes Radford arrest and conviction data.

General District Court Records in Radford

The Radford General District Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, and preliminary hearings for felony charges. It is separate from the Circuit Court and maintains its own records. Misdemeanor case files include warrants, summonses, court orders, judgments, and sentencing records. These records are public and available at the clerk's office.

The Virginia Judiciary online case information system at vacourts.gov provides free online access to General District Court records. You can search by party name, case number, or hearing date. The system shows case status, charge codes, and disposition data for Radford misdemeanor and traffic cases. Online fine payment is available for eligible cases. For copies of actual documents, visit the clerk's office or submit a mail request with payment.

Note: If a misdemeanor charge carries a possible jail sentence, it starts in General District Court. Felony charges may have a preliminary hearing here before being certified to the Circuit Court for trial.

How to Get Criminal Records in Radford

Getting criminal records in Radford starts with identifying the right court or agency. Felony records go to the Circuit Court Clerk. Misdemeanor records go to the General District Court Clerk. Police records such as incident reports go to the Radford Police Department. For a statewide criminal history that covers everything in Virginia, you request from the Virginia State Police using the SP-167 form.

In-person requests are the fastest way to get copies. Bring the defendant's name, an approximate date of the case, and cash or check for copy fees. The clerk can search the records system while you wait. Mail requests take longer, typically one to two weeks, but work fine for non-urgent needs. Include all identifying information and a check or money order made out to the appropriate clerk's office.

Online searches through the Virginia Judiciary portal at vacourts.gov give you free access to case-level information including charge descriptions and dispositions. They don't give you the actual case documents, but they're a good starting point to confirm a case exists before you go in person.

Below is the Virginia Judiciary case information system, which covers Radford courts along with courts statewide.

Virginia Judicial System Case Information

Select Radford from the locality dropdown to filter results to cases handled in this city's courts.

Virginia CCRE and Radford Criminal History

The Central Criminal Records Exchange is Virginia's official statewide criminal history repository, operated by the Virginia State Police under Virginia Code § 19.2-387. All law enforcement agencies in the Commonwealth, including Radford Police, report arrests and dispositions to the CCRE. This means a name search through the CCRE will show any Radford criminal history alongside records from other Virginia jurisdictions.

You can request a CCRE name search for $15 using the SP-167 form available at vsp.virginia.gov/forms. A combined search that includes the Sex Offender Registry costs $20. The search results show conviction data for both felony and misdemeanor cases. Results are typically returned within a few weeks by mail.

Dissemination of CCRE records is governed by Virginia Code § 19.2-389. The law limits who can receive criminal history information and for what purpose. Information about an arrest may not be shared with non-criminal justice entities if a year has passed and no disposition has been entered and no active prosecution is pending.

Public Access and Expungement in Radford

Radford criminal court records are generally public. Anyone may come to the courthouse and review case files during business hours. You don't need a court order or special permission to look at most records. The online case information system extends that access to anyone with an internet connection.

Some records can be removed from public view through expungement. Under Virginia Code § 19.2-392.2, a person who was charged but not convicted may file a petition for expungement in the Radford Circuit Court. The petition must include the date of arrest, name of the arresting agency, the specific charge, date of final disposition, and the petitioner's date of birth and name at the time of arrest.

Once the petition is filed, a copy is served on the Commonwealth's Attorney, who has 21 days to object. The court then holds a hearing and decides whether continued existence of the record causes a manifest injustice to the petitioner. If the petitioner has no prior record and the charge was a misdemeanor or civil offense, expungement is generally granted in the absence of good cause shown by the Commonwealth. The court then orders expungement of both police and court records, including electronic records.

Montgomery County Criminal Records

Radford is an independent city but sits entirely within the geographic boundaries of Montgomery County. If a case involves someone who lives in the county rather than the city, it goes through Montgomery County's court system. You can find more information on the Montgomery County criminal records page.

View Montgomery County Criminal Records

Nearby Cities

These independent Virginia cities are near Radford. Each handles its own criminal records through a separate court system.