Find Criminal Records in Hanover County

Hanover County criminal records are held by the Circuit Court Clerk, the General District Court, and the Hanover County Sheriff's Office, all based in the county seat of Hanover. You can search for Hanover County criminal records online through the Virginia Judiciary case portal, request copies in person at the courthouse, or submit a written request by mail. This page explains who holds what records and how to get them.

Hanover County Circuit Court Criminal Records

The Hanover County Circuit Court Clerk is the official keeper of all felony criminal records in the county. The courthouse sits in Hanover, Virginia. Office hours are Monday through Friday, typically 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, not including state holidays. The Clerk maintains all felony indictments, motions, court orders, judgments, and sentencing records. These are public unless a judge has ordered them sealed.

Hanover County is part of Virginia's Fifteenth Judicial Circuit. The Circuit Court handles serious felony cases and appeals from lower courts. The Circuit Court Clerk is an elected constitutional officer who serves an eight-year term. The same office keeps deed records, marriage licenses, wills, and other land and probate records in addition to criminal case files.

You can search Hanover County court cases online at the Virginia Courts case information system. Search by name, case number, or hearing date. The system shows case status, hearings, and dispositions. For full document review or certified copies, contact the Circuit Court Clerk's office directly. Copy fees are governed by Virginia Code section 17.1-275. Certified copies cost more than plain ones.

The Hanover County Government website provides additional contact information for county departments and offices. If you need help locating the right office, start there before making the drive to the courthouse.

General District Court Records in Hanover County

The Hanover County General District Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic offenses, and preliminary hearings for felony charges. Virginia's General District Courts do not hold jury trials. All cases are heard by a judge. The court keeps records of warrants, summonses, continuances, judgments, and sentencing for misdemeanor cases in Hanover County.

These records are public information. You can search them using the Virginia Judiciary Online Case Information System. The system shows case status and disposition data. For certified copies or a full file review, contact the General District Court Clerk in Hanover. Copy fees apply. Records are retained under state schedules, and older records may no longer be on hand.

Cases decided in General District Court can be appealed to the Circuit Court within 10 days. The appeal is heard fresh, as if the lower court case never happened. Either party can appeal.

Note: The online system may not show every document or detail in a case file. Always check with the clerk directly if you need complete records for legal or official use.

Hanover County Sheriff's Office Records

The Hanover County Sheriff's Office serves as the primary law enforcement agency for the county. It keeps arrest records, incident reports, and investigative files for crimes that occur in Hanover County. The Sheriff's Office also operates the Hanover County Jail. The Sheriff is an elected constitutional officer and reports to the county's residents.

The image below links to the Hanover County Government page, which includes the Sheriff's Office contact information and criminal records resources.

The Hanover County Government site connects you to the Sheriff's Office, which handles arrest records and law enforcement requests for the county.

Under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, certain arrest records are public. This includes the date, time, and place of an arrest, the person's name, and the charges filed. Detailed investigative records may be exempt while a case is active. The Sheriff's Office also reports all arrests to the Virginia State Police Central Criminal Records Exchange under Virginia Code section 19.2-390. To request records, submit a written request to the office. Include the date, name, and type of record you want. Fees may apply.

How to Request Hanover County Criminal Records

The fastest way to find basic Hanover County criminal case information is the free online search at vacourts.gov. For actual document copies, you must contact the correct office. Court copies come from the clerk. Arrest records come from the Sheriff's Office. State criminal history comes from the Virginia State Police.

For court records, contact the Circuit Court Clerk or General District Court Clerk at the Hanover County Courthouse. Give them the full name, approximate date, and case number if you have it. Staff can confirm what is on file. Pay by cash, check, or money order. Certified copies cost more than plain copies and fees are set by state law under Virginia Code section 17.1-275.

For FOIA requests directed at county agencies, submit a written request. Hanover County must respond within five working days. Some records are exempt, including those tied to open investigations and juvenile records. For questions about what is public and what is not, the Virginia FOIA Advisory Council offers free guidance and opinions on the law.

Virginia CCRE and Hanover County Records

The Virginia State Police operate the Central Criminal Records Exchange (CCRE), the statewide database that pulls together arrest and disposition data from all Virginia localities. Hanover County courts and the Sheriff's Office are required to report to this system under state law. The CCRE gives you a comprehensive view of a person's Virginia criminal history, not just what happened in Hanover County.

Visit the Virginia State Police Criminal History Records page to learn how to request a statewide criminal history report. Individuals can request their own records. Authorized agencies can request records on others. The process is different from a local court record search and covers the entire state.

Under Virginia Code section 19.2-390, all law enforcement agencies must report arrests and dispositions to the CCRE. If a disposition never got reported, the record may show only an arrest with no outcome. If you find a gap in your record, contact the court or the State Police to request a correction.

FOIA and Expungement in Hanover County

Virginia's FOIA law gives the public the right to access most government records, including many criminal records. The law is at Virginia Code Title 2.2, Chapter 37. Hanover County must respond to FOIA requests within five working days. The county may charge fees for the actual cost of searching, reviewing, and copying records. They cannot charge more than what the work actually costs.

Not all records are open. Records tied to active investigations may be withheld. Juvenile records are sealed by law. Confidential informant details are protected. Each request is reviewed on its own merits. Some parts of a record may be released while others are redacted or withheld. If you are denied access, you can seek guidance from the Virginia FOIA Advisory Council or challenge the denial in court.

Virginia law allows people to petition for expungement of certain criminal records. The rules are in Virginia Code Title 19.2, Chapter 23.1. If your charge was dismissed, you were acquitted, or you received an absolute pardon, you may qualify. File the petition in the Circuit Court in the jurisdiction where the charge was brought. In Hanover County, that means the Hanover County Circuit Court.

Expungement removes a record from public access but does not erase it from all law enforcement systems. Laws on who qualifies changed significantly in Virginia in recent years. Check the current statute before assuming you qualify. If you need help, legal aid organizations in Virginia serve people with limited income.

Note: Expungement petitions require filing in the correct court. Use the Hanover County Circuit Court for charges that originated there.

Cities in Hanover County

Hanover County is in central Virginia, north of Richmond. It includes several towns and communities. All felony criminal cases from the county go through the Circuit Court in Hanover. Misdemeanor and traffic cases are handled by the General District Court.

Towns and communities in Hanover County include Ashland, Mechanicsville, Atlee, and others. These areas file criminal cases through the Hanover County court system. None of these communities currently have independent city pages on this site.

Nearby Counties

These counties are adjacent to or near Hanover County. Check the county where the incident occurred to find the right court or sheriff's office.