Salem Criminal Records
Salem criminal records are held by the Circuit Court and General District Court for the City of Salem, both part of Virginia's 23rd Judicial Circuit. You can search Salem criminal cases online through the Virginia Judiciary's Online Case Information System, or go in person to the courthouse on East Main Street. The city has its own courts separate from Roanoke County, even though they share the same judicial circuit. Salem arrests go into the statewide Central Criminal Records Exchange maintained by Virginia State Police. This guide covers where to look, how to request records, and what options exist for clearing a record.
Salem Overview
Salem Circuit Court Criminal Records
The Salem Circuit Court is the court of record for all felony cases in the city. It sits in Salem's downtown courthouse and handles the full range of serious criminal matters. The Circuit Court Clerk maintains the official case files, which include indictments, motions, sentencing orders, and final dispositions. These records are public unless sealed by a judge.
Salem is an independent city in Virginia, which means it operates its own court system separate from Roanoke County. You won't find Salem felony cases at the Roanoke County Courthouse. You go to Salem's courthouse on East Main Street. The 23rd Judicial Circuit covers Salem along with Roanoke City and Roanoke County, but each locality keeps its own court records. The Circuit Court Clerk can pull records for specific defendants or case numbers on request.
| Office | Salem Circuit Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 2 East Calhoun Street Salem, VA 24153 |
| Phone | (540) 375-3067 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | salemva.gov/circuit-court |
Copy fees follow state law at $0.50 per page under Virginia Code § 17.1-275. Certified copies cost more. If you need a certified copy for a legal proceeding, call ahead to ask about the current fee schedule and turnaround time.
General District Court and Online Case Search
The Salem General District Court handles misdemeanor cases, traffic offenses, and preliminary hearings for felonies. It processes a high volume of cases each year. The General District Court Clerk keeps records of warrants, summonses, judgments, and sentencing orders for all misdemeanor matters filed within the city.
You can search Salem criminal cases online through the Virginia Online Case Information System at eapps.courts.state.va.us. The system lets you look up cases by name or case number. You can check status, hearing dates, and dispositions for both the Circuit Court and the General District Court. The OCIS is free to use. It covers most Salem cases and is a good first step before going to the courthouse in person.
The General District Court is listed on the Virginia courts directory at vacourts.gov. That page has contact details, hours, and links to online payment for fines. If you need the actual file or want certified documents, a visit to the clerk's office is required.
Note: The OCIS system provides case summaries and status information but not full document images. For complete records, you must contact the clerk directly.
Salem Arrest Records and Police Reports
The Salem Police Department makes arrests within city limits and sends that information to the statewide CCRE. The department maintains its own records of incident reports, arrest logs, and investigation files. You can find the Salem Police Department at salemva.gov/police. The Records Division handles public records requests for incident reports and arrest logs.
Virginia's Freedom of Information Act gives you the right to ask for public records from city agencies. Under Virginia FOIA, public bodies must respond within five working days. Basic arrest information is generally available, including the date, location, arresting officer, and charges. Investigative files for open cases may be withheld under FOIA exemptions. The Salem Sheriff's office is also involved in some law enforcement duties and can be reached at salemva.gov/sheriff.
Virginia State Police CCRE at vsp.virginia.gov stores all Salem criminal history in the statewide database.
Salem arrests are reported to the CCRE within 15 days and become part of the permanent Virginia criminal history record.
To get your own criminal history from the CCRE, submit form SP-167 with a $15 fee for a name search or $20 for a combined criminal history and sex offender search. Forms are available at vsp.virginia.gov/forms. Mail the completed form and payment to the Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation.
Expungement of Salem Criminal Records
Virginia Code § 19.2-392.2 gives Salem residents a path to have certain criminal records cleared. Expungement is available when a charge was dismissed, resulted in acquittal, or a nolle prosequi was entered. You file a petition in the Salem Circuit Court, the same court where your case was handled.
Virginia's expungement law at law.lis.virginia.gov gives Salem residents a process to clear qualifying records under § 19.2-392.2.
Eligible Salem residents petition the Circuit Court to expunge records of dismissed charges, acquittals, or other qualifying dispositions.
The petition must include the arrest date, arresting agency, specific charge, date of final disposition, and your date of birth. A copy goes to the Commonwealth's Attorney, who has 21 days to object. The court then holds a hearing. If it finds that continued access to the record causes manifest injustice, the court orders expungement. For first-time misdemeanor arrests that were dismissed, expungement is generally granted unless the Commonwealth shows good cause to deny it. An attorney can help you determine if your record qualifies and walk you through the filing process.
Legal Help in Salem
Several resources are available for Salem residents who need help with criminal records. Legal Aid of Western Virginia serves the Salem area and provides free legal services to low-income residents. Call them for intake and eligibility information. Their services can include help with expungement petitions, FOIA requests, and understanding your rights.
LawHelpVirginia at lawhelp.org/va has self-help guides for criminal records, expungement, and court procedures. Virginia Free Legal Answers at va.freelegalanswers.org lets you ask a licensed attorney a legal question online at no cost if you meet income guidelines. The Virginia State Bar lawyer referral line is 1-800-552-7977. Staff there can connect you with a Salem-area attorney who handles criminal matters. A referral call is free, though attorney consultation fees may apply afterward.
The Salem City Government website at salemva.gov has links to all city departments including the courts and police. That is the best starting point if you are not sure which office to contact. Court clerks can answer questions about their procedures but cannot give legal advice.
Roanoke County Criminal Records
Salem is an independent city surrounded by Roanoke County. The two share the 23rd Judicial Circuit but maintain separate courts and records. If you need criminal records for cases in Roanoke County rather than the City of Salem, visit the Roanoke County court system. The county page has clerk contact info, online search links, and local resources.
Nearby Cities
These cities are near Salem. Each has its own courts and criminal records system.