Craig County Criminal Records

Craig County criminal records are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk and the General District Court in New Castle, the county seat. The county sheriff is the primary law enforcement agency, keeping arrest records and incident reports. Craig is one of Virginia's smallest and most rural counties, located in the Alleghany Highlands region in western Virginia. If you need to find or request criminal case information for Craig County, you can search online through the Virginia Judiciary system or contact the court and sheriff's office directly.

Circuit Court Criminal Records in Craig County

The Craig County Circuit Court Clerk holds all felony criminal records for the county. The courthouse is in New Castle. The clerk's office keeps indictments, motions, court orders, judgments, and sentencing records. You can visit in person or send a written request. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, though it's wise to call ahead given the county's small size.

Craig County is part of the Twenty-fifth Judicial Circuit of Virginia. The circuit court hears felony criminal cases, civil matters over $25,000, and appeals from the General District Court. Because Craig is a small county with a low case volume, staff typically know the records well and can assist with searches efficiently. Older records may be archived but are accessible upon request.

Copy fees follow Virginia Code Title 17.1: $0.50 per page for standard copies and $2.00 per document for certified copies. Written requests should include the defendant's full name, date of birth, case number if available, specific documents needed, your contact info, and payment. Case info is also searchable online through the Virginia Judiciary Online Case Information System.

The Craig County government website at craigcountyva.gov lists contact information for the court clerk and other county offices. It is a useful starting point for finding current phone numbers and addresses.

The Craig County government portal is shown below. It links to the Circuit Court Clerk and the Sheriff's Office.

Craig County Virginia Government

The county website provides contact information for courts, the sheriff's office, and other local agencies.

General District Court and Misdemeanor Records

The Craig County General District Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, and preliminary hearings for felonies. It is part of the Twenty-fifth Judicial District. Records here include warrants, summonses, court orders, and sentencing documents for misdemeanor offenses.

Online case information for Craig County is available through the Virginia Judiciary Online Case Information System. You can search by name or case number. The system shows charges, court dates, case status, and disposition details. For full documents or certified copies, you visit the court in person or make a written request. Copy fees are $0.50 per page for standard copies and $2.00 for certified documents.

The General District Court also conducts preliminary hearings for felony cases before they move up to the Circuit Court. Records from these hearings are public unless the case is sealed by order. Court is in session Monday through Friday during normal business hours.

Craig County Sheriff Records

The Craig County Sheriff's Office is the only law enforcement agency in the county. The Sheriff handles all arrest records, incident reports, and operates the county jail. All arrests made by the Sheriff's Office are reported to the Virginia State Police Central Criminal Records Exchange, which is the state's main criminal history repository.

To request arrest records or incident reports from the Craig County Sheriff's Office, you can visit in person or submit a written FOIA request. Public records include the non-exempt portions of incident reports and basic arrest data. Records tied to active investigations may be withheld. The Sheriff's Office handles all requests in line with the Virginia Freedom of Information Act.

The county jail houses people charged with local offenses who are waiting for trial or serving sentences of one year or less. Visitors to the jail must present valid photo ID. For inmate information, contact the Sheriff's Office directly.

The Virginia State Police provides statewide criminal history services for Craig County. State-level criminal background checks go through the Virginia State Police, not the local sheriff's office.

Virginia State Police Criminal History Records

The State Police Central Criminal Records Exchange holds statewide data, including records from Craig County arrests and convictions.

How to Request Criminal Records in Craig County

Getting criminal records in Craig County is straightforward. The court and sheriff's office in New Castle are small, which can make in-person visits quick and easy. There are three main paths: online search, in-person visit, or a mail request.

Online searches work for basic case status. The Virginia Judiciary OCIS gives free access to case info without going to the courthouse. In-person visits are best if you need to see the full case file or get certified copies on the spot. Mail requests usually take one to two weeks depending on what you need and whether records are archived.

For a statewide criminal history report covering all of Virginia, submit the SP-167 form to the Virginia State Police. The fee is $15.00 for a name search. Instructions and the form are at vsp.virginia.gov/CJIS_Criminal_History.shtm.

Note: Craig County's small staff may take slightly more time for mail requests than larger counties. Calling the clerk's office before you send a request can help speed things along.

Statewide Criminal History and Craig County

Virginia's Central Criminal Records Exchange at the State Police gathers arrest and conviction data from every county, including Craig. If someone was arrested in Craig County, that record flows into the state system. A statewide search through the State Police gives you a more complete picture than looking at just the local court's records.

The Virginia Judicial System online portal covers case records statewide. You can search Craig County criminal cases for free through the OCIS system. Results show court proceedings from the General District Court and the Circuit Court.

Virginia Code Title 19.2, Chapter 23 sets the rules for the Central Criminal Records Exchange, including who can access criminal history data and for what purposes. Public access is limited, and criminal history records are not freely shared for all uses.

FOIA and Public Access to Craig County Records

Virginia's Freedom of Information Act gives people the right to ask for public records from any state or local government body, including Craig County agencies. Public bodies must respond within five working days. Craig County's sheriff and courts must follow these rules.

You can request incident reports, accident reports, arrest records, and court filings that are not sealed. Active investigation files, juvenile records, and certain personal data are exempt from release. Copy fees are $0.50 per page for photocopies. Large requests may carry additional charges for search time.

The Virginia FOIA law is shown below. It applies to all county agencies in Craig County.

Virginia Freedom of Information Act

Virginia FOIA requires all public bodies, including Craig County agencies, to make non-exempt records available to anyone who asks.

If your FOIA request is denied, you have the right to appeal. You can go to the Virginia Freedom of Information Advisory Council or file in circuit court within 180 days. The agency must tell you in writing what legal exemption it is applying.

Cities and Towns Near Craig County

Craig County has no qualifying incorporated cities within its borders. The county seat is New Castle. Nearby independent cities in the region have their own court systems.

Salem and Roanoke are nearby independent cities. Both have their own circuit courts and maintain separate criminal records from Craig County.

Nearby Counties

Craig County is bordered by several counties in western Virginia. Each has its own Circuit Court Clerk and criminal records system.