Find Waynesboro Criminal Records
Waynesboro criminal records are held by the city's Circuit Court and General District Court, both part of Virginia's 25th Judicial Circuit. Waynesboro is an independent city in the Shenandoah Valley, separate from Augusta County even though they share a judicial circuit. The Waynesboro Police Department is the primary law enforcement agency within the city and reports all arrests to the Virginia State Police Central Criminal Records Exchange. You can search Waynesboro criminal cases online for free or visit the courthouse in person. This guide explains each source and how to get what you need.
Waynesboro Overview
Waynesboro Circuit Court Criminal Records
Waynesboro's Circuit Court is part of Virginia's 25th Judicial Circuit, described at vacourts.gov.
The Circuit Court handles all felony criminal cases for Waynesboro as part of the 25th Judicial Circuit.
The Circuit Court Clerk keeps the official files for all felony cases in Waynesboro. Records include indictments, charging documents, motions filed by both sides, court orders, sentencing worksheets, and final dispositions. These are public records unless a judge has ordered them sealed. You can visit the clerk's office during regular business hours to look up cases or request copies. Copy fees are $0.50 per page under Virginia Code § 17.1-275. Certified copies cost more. Call ahead to get current fee details and to ask about any specific case before making the trip.
| Office | Waynesboro Circuit Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 250 South Wayne Avenue Waynesboro, VA 22980 |
| Phone | (540) 942-6616 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | waynesboro.va.us/circuit-court |
General District Court and Online Case Search
The Waynesboro General District Court handles misdemeanor crimes, traffic offenses, and preliminary hearings for felony matters. It is also part of the 25th Judicial Circuit. The court's directory listing is at vacourts.gov, where you can find contact details, hours, and online payment links for fines.
The Virginia Online Case Information System at eapps.courts.state.va.us is the best free tool for searching Waynesboro criminal cases online. You can search by name or case number. The OCIS shows case status, hearing dates, charges, and dispositions for both Circuit Court and General District Court matters. No registration is needed. It is a good first step before contacting the clerk or going to the courthouse.
OCIS provides case summary data only. If you need the actual court file, certified copies, or to view original documents, you must visit the clerk in person or send a written request by mail.
Waynesboro Arrest Records and Police Reports
The Waynesboro Police Department is the primary law enforcement agency within the city and the main source for arrest records and incident reports. The department can be reached at waynesboro.va.us/police. The Records Division handles public records requests and FOIA submissions. Under Virginia's FOIA law at foiacouncil.dls.virginia.gov, public bodies must respond within five working days. Basic arrest information is generally available to anyone who asks, including the date, location, charges, and arresting officer. Active investigation files may be withheld.
Virginia Code § 19.2-390 requires law enforcement to report arrests to the CCRE within 15 days. Virginia Code § 19.2-387, at law.lis.virginia.gov, establishes the CCRE that stores all Waynesboro arrest history.
Waynesboro arrests are reported to the CCRE within 15 days under § 19.2-390.
To get your own criminal history from the statewide CCRE, submit form SP-167 with a $15 fee for a name search to the Virginia State Police. Forms are available at vsp.virginia.gov/forms. A combination search that includes the sex offender registry costs $20. Mail the completed form and payment to the Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation in Richmond.
Expungement of Waynesboro Criminal Records
Virginia Code § 19.2-392.2 gives Waynesboro residents a way to petition for expungement of certain criminal records. Expungement applies to charges that were acquitted, dismissed, or had a nolle prosequi entered. You file the petition in the Waynesboro Circuit Court where your case was handled. The petition must include the arrest date, arresting agency, the specific charge, date of final disposition, and your date of birth.
After filing, a copy goes to the Commonwealth's Attorney, who has 21 days to respond or object. The court then schedules a hearing. If the judge finds that continued public access to the record causes manifest injustice, the court orders expungement. For people with no prior criminal record who had a misdemeanor dismissed, expungement is generally available unless the Commonwealth shows good reason to deny it. Once the court enters the order, the clerk forwards it to the CCRE and other agencies to seal or remove the records.
Virginia also has a newer sealing process under Chapter 23.2 for certain conviction situations. The rules for sealing differ from standard expungement. If your case involved a conviction rather than a dismissal, ask an attorney whether sealing might apply to your record.
Legal Help in Waynesboro
Legal Aid Justice Center provides free civil legal services to low-income residents in the Shenandoah Valley area, which includes Waynesboro. They can help with expungement petitions and other criminal records issues. LawHelpVirginia at lawhelp.org/va has self-help guides covering expungement, FOIA requests, and court procedures in Virginia.
Virginia Free Legal Answers at va.freelegalanswers.org lets qualifying residents ask a licensed Virginia attorney a legal question online at no charge. The Virginia State Bar's referral line is 1-800-552-7977. Calls to the referral line are free. Attorney consultation fees may apply after the referral. The Waynesboro city website at waynesboro.va.us has links to all city departments, including the courts and police department. The Virginia Sex Offender Registry at sex-offender.vsp.virginia.gov is publicly searchable and includes any registrants from Waynesboro. You can search by name or by address.
Augusta County Criminal Records
Waynesboro is an independent city that borders Augusta County. Both are in the 25th Judicial Circuit, but each keeps separate courts and records. Criminal cases in Augusta County go through the Augusta County Circuit Court, not Waynesboro's courts. If you need records for a case in the county rather than the city, visit the Augusta County page for clerk details and search links.
Nearby Cities
These Virginia cities are near Waynesboro. Each has its own courts and criminal records system.