Access Campbell County Criminal Records

Campbell County criminal records are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk and General District Court in Rustburg, Virginia. The county wraps around the city of Lynchburg and handles a significant volume of criminal cases. If you need to search for felony case records, misdemeanor filings, or arrest information held by the Campbell County Sheriff's Office, you can do so online through the Virginia Judiciary system or by visiting the courthouse in Rustburg. This page explains how to find and request criminal records in Campbell County.

Circuit Court Criminal Records in Campbell County

The Campbell County Circuit Court Clerk maintains all felony criminal case records in the county. The office is at the Campbell County Courthouse in Rustburg. Felony criminal cases in Virginia start with an indictment from a grand jury. After that, the case file grows to include motions, hearings, plea agreements, and sentencing orders. The clerk keeps these on file. Once a case closes, it becomes part of the public record.

You can search Campbell County circuit court cases online at vacourts.gov. The Virginia Judiciary Online Case Information System is free and available at any hour. Search by name or case number. Results show charges, key dates, and dispositions. To get actual documents or certified copies, you need to go to the courthouse or make a written request. The Campbell County government website has the current courthouse contact information.

Fees for copies are set by Virginia Code section 17.1-275. Certified copies cost more than plain copies. When you visit the clerk's office, bring a photo ID. Staff can search by name or case number, pull files, and take payment for reproduction. Hours are Monday through Friday during standard business hours.

Campbell County is part of the Twenty-fourth Judicial Circuit. This means felony cases originating in Campbell County go through the Circuit Court in Rustburg. Under Virginia Code Title 19.2, criminal records must be kept long term. Even older cases can often be found on request. The circuit court also handles appeals from the General District Court, adding those records to its files.

General District Court and Misdemeanor Records

Campbell County General District Court is the venue for misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic offenses, and preliminary felony hearings in the county. It is part of the Twenty-fourth Judicial District of Virginia. Misdemeanor records at this court include warrants, charges, court orders, and dispositions. These are public and searchable online through the Virginia Judiciary case information system.

Virginia misdemeanors are classified under Title 18.2 into four classes. Class 1 misdemeanors carry the most serious penalties, including up to 12 months in jail. Common Class 1 charges in district court include DUI, simple assault, and drug possession. These cases create court records that stay in the system indefinitely unless expunged. Even a charge that was dismissed remains as a court entry until the person petitions to have it expunged.

For general district court records, search online at vacourts.gov/caseinfo. The same tool covers both court levels in Campbell County. If you need a specific document or a copy of the case file, contact the district court clerk at the Rustburg courthouse. Call ahead to confirm what you need and what the fee will be.

Note: Traffic infractions in Virginia are civil, not criminal. They will not show up in a criminal records search. DUI and reckless driving are criminal traffic offenses and do appear.

Campbell County Sheriff's Office Records

The Campbell County Sheriff's Office is the primary law enforcement agency for the county. Campbell County surrounds the independent city of Lynchburg, and the Sheriff handles law enforcement for the county portion. The Sheriff maintains arrest records and incident reports. Each arrest gets reported to the Virginia State Police Central Criminal Records Exchange. The Sheriff also operates the county jail for pretrial detainees and people serving county sentences.

Arrest records and incident reports are subject to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act. Under Virginia Code Title 2.2, Chapter 37, these records are public for closed cases. Active investigation files are exempt. Submit FOIA requests in writing to the Sheriff's Office. Contact information is available through the Campbell County government website. The agency has five business days to respond. If records are available, they may charge for reproduction.

For incidents that occurred on state roads in Campbell County, the Virginia State Police may have the report. Contact the VSP Records Management Office for those records. Lynchburg city criminal records are separate and handled by the city's courts and police, not Campbell County.

The screenshot below is from the Campbell County government website, which is the starting point for finding courts and the Sheriff's Office for records requests.

The Campbell County Government portal links to the Sheriff, Circuit Court Clerk, and other county agencies involved in maintaining criminal records.

This screenshot shows the Campbell County government website at co.campbell.va.us, which is the main portal for locating courts, the Sheriff's Office, and other agencies that handle criminal records in the county.

How to Get Criminal Records in Campbell County

There are several ways to access criminal records in Campbell County. Each method serves a different need depending on what you are trying to get and how quickly you need it.

Start online at vacourts.gov. This free tool covers all Virginia courts, including Campbell County Circuit Court and General District Court. Search by name or case number. Results include charges, hearing dates, and final case outcomes. For a statewide summary of criminal history from all Virginia arrests and court dispositions, the Virginia State Police CCRE handles those requests for a fee.

To visit in person, go to the Campbell County Courthouse in Rustburg. The Circuit Court Clerk's office is open Monday through Friday. Bring a government-issued ID. Staff can look up cases by name or case number, print records, and certify documents. Copy fees are set by Virginia law. Certified copies carry the official court seal.

• Online case search: vacourts.gov/caseinfo (free)
• Circuit Court Clerk: Campbell County Courthouse, Rustburg, VA
• Monday through Friday, standard business hours
• Sheriff FOIA requests: written request to the Sheriff's Office
• Official criminal history: Virginia State Police CCRE

Mail requests should go to the Campbell County Circuit Court Clerk in Rustburg. Include the full name, approximate year of the case, and the type of record you need. Include payment for copy fees. Call the clerk ahead of sending to confirm what is required and current fee amounts.

Virginia CCRE and Campbell County Criminal History

The Virginia State Police Central Criminal Records Exchange tracks criminal history statewide. Every arrest made in Campbell County by the Sheriff or any other local agency flows into the CCRE. When a case closes in court, the outcome is reported there too. The CCRE is the most complete single source for a person's Virginia criminal history because it spans all jurisdictions.

You can request a CCRE report through the Virginia State Police website. People can get their own records. Third-party requests need a valid legal basis. Fingerprint-based searches are more accurate and required for many formal purposes. Name-only searches can miss records due to name variations or data entry differences.

A CCRE report is a summary, not a full case file. It shows arrests and outcomes but not all the details of each proceeding. For the complete case record from any specific Campbell County case, go to the Circuit Court Clerk or use the vacourts.gov case search tool. Together, the CCRE and the court records give you the full picture.

The CCRE is governed by Virginia Code Title 19.2, Chapter 23. It is a controlled database, not a fully public one. Court records at vacourts.gov are the primary public access path for criminal case information in Campbell County.

Public Access to Campbell County Criminal Records

Criminal court records in Campbell County are public documents under Virginia law. The Virginia Freedom of Information Act at Virginia Code Title 2.2, Chapter 37 sets the framework: government records are presumed open. Court records at the Circuit Court Clerk and General District Court follow this rule. You can request them without explaining why.

Key exceptions include juvenile records, records sealed by court order, and expunged cases. Juvenile records are not public in Virginia. Expunged records are sealed by court order after a petition is granted. Under Virginia Code Title 19.2, Chapter 23.1, people with dismissed charges or acquittals may petition for expungement. Once granted, the record does not appear in any public search. Convictions generally cannot be expunged except in limited circumstances.

Sheriff's Office records are public under FOIA with some exemptions. Active case materials, victim personal data, and confidential informant identities can be withheld. Closed case records including arrest data and incident reports are generally available on request. If a request is denied, the agency must state the legal basis. You can challenge the denial in circuit court if you believe the denial was improper.

Cities Near Campbell County

Campbell County surrounds the independent city of Lynchburg. Lynchburg has its own court system separate from Campbell County. Criminal records for cases that happened within city limits are held by Lynchburg city courts.

Nearby Counties

Campbell County is in central Virginia south of Lynchburg. These counties border it and each maintain their own criminal court records.