Search Botetourt County Criminal Records

Botetourt County criminal records are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk and the General District Court, both located at the courthouse in Fincastle, Virginia. If you need to find felony case filings, misdemeanor records, or arrest information from the Botetourt County Sheriff's Office, the county court system and Virginia Judiciary online tools are your starting points. This page explains where these records are held, how to request them, and what state laws apply to access and disclosure in Botetourt County.

Circuit Court Criminal Records in Botetourt County

The Botetourt County Circuit Court Clerk maintains all felony criminal case records for the county. The office is at 75 East Back Street, Fincastle, VA 24090. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Felony case files include indictments, plea agreements, motions, court orders, and sentencing records. These are public records once a case is no longer under seal. Copy fees follow Virginia Code section 17.1-275.

You can search Botetourt County Circuit Court cases using the Virginia Judiciary Online Case Information System at vacourts.gov. Search by name or case number. The system shows charges, case status, and hearing dates. It does not let you download documents, but it gives you the case number you need to request the full file from the clerk's office. The Botetourt County Circuit Court Clerk page on the county site has additional contact details.

Felony charges in Virginia that go to Circuit Court are governed by Virginia Code Title 19.2. The clerk must keep these records long term. If a case ended in conviction, the record stays open. If the case was dismissed or the person was acquitted, they may be able to petition to expunge the record under Virginia Code Title 19.2, Chapter 23.1.

The Circuit Court also hears criminal appeals from the General District Court. A person convicted in district court can appeal to circuit court for a new trial. Those records go to the circuit court clerk as well.

General District Court and Misdemeanor Records

The Botetourt County General District Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases and traffic-related offenses. It is part of the Twenty-third Judicial District of Virginia, which also includes Roanoke County. Misdemeanor records kept here include warrants, summonses, pleas, judgments, and court orders. You can search these cases online at vacourts.gov/caseinfo using the same tool as circuit court records.

Misdemeanors in Virginia are grouped into four classes under Virginia Code Title 18.2. Class 1 is the most serious and can result in up to 12 months in jail and a fine up to $2,500. Class 4 misdemeanors carry only a fine. Even minor misdemeanor convictions create a court record that stays in the system. DUI, assault and battery, and petty larceny are common misdemeanor cases handled by the Botetourt General District Court.

Court hours and the physical location of the General District Court are the same courthouse in Fincastle. For the most up-to-date schedule, check vacourts.gov for the Botetourt County General District Court page. Some district court records can also be paid online for cases that allow it.

Note: If you are searching for a traffic infraction record, these are civil matters in Virginia and will not show up in a criminal case search. DUI and reckless driving are criminal and will appear.

Botetourt County Sheriff's Office Records

The Botetourt County Sheriff's Office is the main law enforcement agency in the county. The Sheriff's Office keeps arrest records and incident reports. Each arrest is reported to the Virginia State Police Central Criminal Records Exchange, adding to the statewide criminal history database. The Sheriff also runs the county jail, where pretrial detainees are held.

You can visit the Botetourt County Sheriff's Office page for contact information. Incident reports and arrest records may be requested under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act. Under Virginia Code Title 2.2, Chapter 37, government records are public by default unless an exemption applies. Active investigation files are typically exempt. Completed case records, including arrest data, are usually available.

Submit FOIA requests in writing to the Sheriff's Office. Include the date of the incident, the name of the person involved, and what type of record you are requesting. The agency has five business days to respond under state law. They may charge for copying costs.

The screenshots below come from the official Botetourt County websites and show where to find criminal records resources for the county.

The Botetourt County Government website is the main portal for county departments including the courthouse and Sheriff.

This screenshot shows the Botetourt County government portal at botetourtva.gov, which links to courts, the Sheriff's Office, and other resources for criminal records in the county.

The Botetourt County Sheriff's Office accepts public records requests and provides law enforcement services throughout the county.

This image shows the Botetourt County Sheriff's Office page, where you can find contact information and learn how to submit a public records request for arrest reports and incident files.

How to Get Criminal Records in Botetourt County

Getting criminal records in Botetourt County can be done several ways. Online searches are free and fast for basic case lookups. In-person requests let you get certified copies the same day. Mail requests work for people who cannot visit in person.

Start online at vacourts.gov. This covers circuit and district court records statewide. Search by full name or case number. The results show charges, hearing dates, and dispositions. It does not give you certified documents, but it confirms whether a case exists and in which court. For a full criminal history report, the Virginia State Police CCRE handles formal requests.

To visit in person, go to the Botetourt County Courthouse at 75 East Back Street in Fincastle. The Circuit Court Clerk's office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Bring a valid photo ID. Staff can pull case files, print records, and certify documents. Fees apply per page as set by Virginia law.

• Online case search: vacourts.gov/caseinfo
• Circuit Court Clerk: 75 East Back Street, Fincastle, VA 24090
• Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM
• Sheriff FOIA requests: written request to the Sheriff's Office
• State criminal history: Virginia State Police CCRE

Mail requests should go to the Botetourt County Circuit Court Clerk at the Fincastle address. Include the subject's name, the case year if known, and what you need. Attach a check or money order for any copy fees. The clerk's office will process and mail back what is available.

Virginia CCRE and Botetourt County Criminal History

Virginia maintains a statewide criminal history database through the State Police Central Criminal Records Exchange. Every arrest in Botetourt County feeds into this system. Court outcomes are also reported so the CCRE can track whether a case ended in conviction, dismissal, or acquittal. The CCRE is more comprehensive than a single court's records because it covers arrests and dispositions across all Virginia courts.

To get an official criminal history report, submit a request to the Virginia State Police CCRE. You can request your own record at any time. Third-party requests require a lawful purpose. Fingerprint-based searches are the most accurate and are required for some background check purposes. Name-only searches can miss records if spelling varies.

The CCRE record gives a summary of arrests and outcomes. For more detail on any specific case, get the court records from the Botetourt County Circuit Court or General District Court. The two systems complement each other.

Under Virginia Code Title 19.2, Chapter 23, criminal history records are controlled. The CCRE is not a fully public database. It is used by law enforcement, courts, and authorized entities. Public access goes through the court case information system at vacourts.gov instead.

Public Access to Botetourt County Criminal Records

Court records in Botetourt County are public under Virginia law. The Virginia Freedom of Information Act, codified at Virginia Code Title 2.2, Chapter 37, presumes all government records are open unless a specific exemption applies. Criminal court records held by the circuit and district courts fall under this framework. You do not need a reason to request them.

Exceptions include juvenile court records, records sealed by court order, and documents tied to pending investigations. The largest category that affects public searches is expungement. Under Virginia law, a person with charges that were dismissed or nolle prossed can petition to have their record expunged. Once expunged, neither the CCRE nor the court file will show up in a public search. An expunged record is treated as if it never happened for most purposes.

Law enforcement records like incident reports and arrest data from the Sheriff's Office are also subject to FOIA. However, the Sheriff can withhold parts of records that identify confidential informants, contain personal victim data, or relate to ongoing cases. A written FOIA request triggers a five-day response window. If the agency denies the request, they must give a reason. You can challenge a wrongful denial in circuit court.

Nearby Counties

Botetourt County is in central-western Virginia. These neighboring counties each maintain their own criminal court records.