Henrico County Criminal Records Search

Henrico County criminal records are kept by the Circuit Court Clerk, the General District Court, the Henrico County Police Department, and the Sheriff's Office. The county seat is Richmond. You can search Henrico County criminal records through the Virginia Judiciary online portal, go to the courthouse in person, or submit a written request. This page covers each office, what records they maintain, and how you can access them.

Henrico County Circuit Court Criminal Records

The Henrico County Circuit Court Clerk is the official keeper of all felony criminal records in the county. The courthouse is in Richmond, Virginia, which serves as the Henrico County seat. Office hours run Monday through Friday, generally 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, excluding state holidays. The Clerk maintains all felony indictments, motions, court orders, judgments, and sentencing documents. These are public records unless a judge has sealed them.

Henrico County is part of Virginia's Fourteenth Judicial Circuit. This is one of the busier circuits in the state given the county's large population. The Circuit Court handles all serious felony cases and civil matters over $25,000. It also hears appeals from the General District Court. The Circuit Court Clerk is an elected constitutional officer with an eight-year term. The same office keeps land records, marriage licenses, wills, and probate records.

To search Henrico County circuit court cases online, use the Virginia Courts case information system. Search by name, case number, or hearing date. The system shows case status, hearings, and dispositions. For full file review or certified copies, contact the clerk's office directly. Copy fees are set under Virginia Code section 17.1-275. Certified copies cost more than plain ones.

Henrico County surrounds the independent city of Richmond on three sides. Keep in mind that Richmond city cases are handled by Richmond's own courts and are separate from Henrico County. If you are unsure which court handled a case, the online portal can help you sort that out.

General District Court Records in Henrico County

The Henrico County General District Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, and preliminary hearings for felony charges. All cases are heard by a judge, not a jury. The court keeps records of warrants, summonses, continuances, judgments, and sentencing for misdemeanor offenses. These records are public unless sealed by court order.

You can search these records at the Virginia Judiciary Online Case Information System. Search by name, case number, or hearing date. For certified copies or full file review, contact the General District Court Clerk at the Henrico County Courthouse. Copy fees apply. State retention schedules govern how long records are kept, and older records may not be on file.

Cases decided in General District Court can be appealed to the Circuit Court within 10 days of judgment. The appeal is completely new, not a review of what happened below. Either party has the right to appeal.

Note: Online records show case status but may not include every document in the file. Contact the clerk directly for a complete record review.

Henrico County Police and Sheriff's Office Records

Henrico County has both a Police Department and a Sheriff's Office. The Henrico County Police Department handles general law enforcement for the county. The Sheriff's Office manages the jail and handles civil process and court security. Both agencies keep records relevant to criminal cases in the county.

The image below links to the Henrico County Police Department website, which handles criminal records requests for law enforcement matters in the county.

The Henrico County Police Department is the primary law enforcement agency for the county and handles arrest records and incident report requests from the public.

The image below links to the Henrico County Sheriff's Office, which runs the county jail and maintains jail-related records.

The Henrico County Sheriff's Office oversees the county jail and can provide information on inmate status and jail-related records for Henrico County.

Under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, arrest records that are public include the date, time, and place of the arrest, the name of the person arrested, and the charges filed. Detailed investigative records may be withheld if the investigation is ongoing. All arrests are reported to the Virginia State Police Central Criminal Records Exchange under Virginia Code section 19.2-390. To request records from the Police Department or Sheriff's Office, submit a written FOIA request with the relevant details.

How to Request Henrico County Criminal Records

Start with the free online search at vacourts.gov for basic case information. That works for both Circuit Court and General District Court cases in Henrico County. For actual document copies, you must go to the right office.

For court records, contact the Circuit Court Clerk or General District Court Clerk at the Henrico County Courthouse. Provide the full name, approximate date, and case number if available. Staff can confirm what is on file and whether any records are in archives. Pay by cash, check, or money order for copies. Certified copies cost more than plain ones, and fees are set by state law.

For police records, contact the Henrico County Police Department directly. For jail records or civil process records, contact the Sheriff's Office. Written FOIA requests are the standard method. Include as many details as you can. The county must respond within five working days. Some records are exempt, including records tied to active investigations, juvenile records, and records protected for other statutory reasons.

For questions about your rights under FOIA, contact the Virginia FOIA Advisory Council. They offer free guidance on the law and can help you understand what is releasable and what is not.

Virginia CCRE and Henrico County Records

The Virginia State Police maintain the Central Criminal Records Exchange (CCRE), which is the statewide database for criminal history. This system collects arrest and disposition data from all Virginia localities, including Henrico County. The Police Department, Sheriff's Office, and courts all report to the CCRE under state law. The result is a combined view of a person's Virginia criminal history.

Visit the Virginia State Police Criminal History Records page to request a statewide criminal history report. This covers all of Virginia, not just Henrico County. It is the most complete picture of a person's Virginia criminal record available to the public and to authorized agencies.

Under Virginia Code section 19.2-390, all agencies must report arrests and dispositions to the CCRE. If a disposition was not reported, a record may show an arrest without an outcome. Contact the originating court or the State Police to fix errors in the record.

FOIA and Expungement in Henrico County

The Virginia Freedom of Information Act, found at Virginia Code Title 2.2, Chapter 37, gives the public the right to most government records including many criminal records. Henrico County must respond to FOIA requests within five working days. Fees are limited to the actual cost of search and copying. The county cannot profit from a records request.

Active investigation records are often withheld under FOIA. Juvenile records are sealed. Certain informant details are protected. Each request is reviewed on its own. Parts of a record can be released while other parts are redacted. If you are denied access, you can appeal or seek guidance from the Virginia FOIA Advisory Council.

Virginia law permits certain individuals to petition for expungement of criminal records. The statute is at Virginia Code Title 19.2, Chapter 23.1. If your charge was dismissed, you were acquitted, or you got an absolute pardon, you may qualify. File the petition in the Circuit Court where the charge was originally brought. For Henrico County charges, that is the Henrico County Circuit Court.

Expungement removes a record from public access but does not erase it from all law enforcement systems. Virginia's expungement rules changed significantly in recent years. Check the current statute before assuming you qualify. Legal aid resources are available in Virginia for those who cannot afford an attorney.

Note: Henrico County charges and City of Richmond charges are handled by separate courts. File in the correct court based on where the charge originated.

Cities Near Henrico County

Henrico County wraps around the independent city of Richmond. Richmond has its own courts and law enforcement and is separate from Henrico County for all criminal record purposes. Other communities in Henrico County include Short Pump, Sandston, Highland Springs, and Glen Allen.

Note that Richmond is an independent city with its own court system. Henrico County criminal records are filed at the Henrico County Courthouse, not in Richmond City courts.

Nearby Counties

These counties border or are close to Henrico County. If you are not sure which county handled a case, use the county where the person lived at the time of the incident.