King George County Criminal Records

Criminal records in King George County are kept by the Circuit Court Clerk and the General District Court as part of Virginia's 15th Judicial Circuit. You can search case records online through the Virginia OCIS system or go in person to the courthouse in King George. This page explains how to find felony and misdemeanor case records, how to request copies, and where to turn for help with expungement. The county sits along the Rappahannock River and is served by both a full circuit court and a General District Court that handles lower-level criminal matters and traffic cases.

King George County Circuit Court

The Circuit Court Clerk's office in King George County is the main place to find felony criminal records. All felony cases filed in the county run through this court. The Clerk keeps indictments, motions, orders, sentencing documents, and final judgments on file. You can visit the office during business hours to look at case files or get copies. Certified copies of criminal case documents cost $.50 per page under Virginia Code § 17.1-275.

The 15th Judicial Circuit covers King George County along with other jurisdictions in the Northern Neck and Fredericksburg area. Felony charges handled here include violent crimes, drug offenses, property crimes over the general district court limit, and other serious offenses. When a case moves from the General District Court to the circuit level, the Clerk picks up the file and it becomes part of the circuit court record. You can also access some King George County circuit court records through the Virginia OCIS online system.

King George County's official site at kinggeorgecountyva.gov provides links to the Circuit Court Clerk, Sheriff, and public records offices.

The county government portal is the first stop for learning how to request criminal records in King George County.

General District Court and Online Search

The King George County General District Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic offenses, and preliminary hearings on felony charges. This court is part of the 15th Judicial District. Misdemeanor records from this court are separate from circuit court files and are stored at the General District Court level. You can get case info at the courthouse or search online.

Virginia's online case system gives you free access to General District Court records across the state. Visit eapps.courts.state.va.us to search King George County criminal cases by name or case number. The system shows hearing dates, case status, charges, and dispositions for most criminal and traffic matters. This is the quickest way to get basic case information without a trip to the courthouse. The General District Court in King George also processes minor traffic violations and civil claims under $25,000.

For the General District Court in King George, see vacourts.gov for contact details and court schedules. Online payment of some fines and costs is available through the OCIS portal for qualifying case types.

Note: Not all case records are available online. Older records and sealed files must be requested in person at the courthouse.

King George County Sheriff Records

The King George County Sheriff's Office maintains arrest records, incident reports, and jail records for the county. The Sheriff is the primary law enforcement agency for unincorporated areas of King George County. When arrests occur, the Sheriff's Office sends disposition data to the Virginia State Police Central Criminal Records Exchange within 15 days as required by Virginia Code § 19.2-390.

The King George County Sheriff's Office at kinggeorgecountyva.gov/sheriff maintains arrest records and incident reports for the county.

FOIA requests for Sheriff's Office records in King George County must be submitted in writing and receive a response within five business days.

To request records from the King George County Sheriff's Office, you need to submit a written FOIA request under Virginia's FOIA law. Public records that are typically available include basic incident reports, arrest logs, and jail booking information. Some records may be withheld if they relate to open investigations. The FOIA Council at foiacouncil.dls.virginia.gov provides guidance on what you can request and how to file. Responses are due within five working days of receiving your request.

Statewide Criminal History and Background Checks

The Virginia State Police Central Criminal Records Exchange (CCRE) holds criminal history data for all arrests and convictions in King George County and across the Commonwealth. The CCRE is the official state-level source for criminal history record checks. Anyone can request a name search using the SP-167 form for $15, or pay $20 to include a Sex Offender Registry check at the same time.

To get a criminal history record from the CCRE, download the SP-167 form from vsp.virginia.gov and mail it in with your payment. The search checks the full Criminal History Name File and returns any arrest or conviction data on file. This is the most thorough way to check someone's Virginia criminal record because it covers all counties, not just King George. If you need to check the Sex Offender Registry separately, the Virginia State Police maintain that at sex-offender.vsp.virginia.gov. Violent sex offenders can be searched for free on that site.

Criminal history record information is governed by Virginia Code § 19.2-389, which limits who can receive full record data and for what purposes. Most public access is limited to the case-level information available through OCIS. The CCRE is the only source for complete history data including all jurisdictions.

Expungement of King George County Criminal Records

Virginia allows eligible people to petition for expungement of arrest and court records under Virginia Code § 19.2-392.2. Expungement applies when a charge was acquitted, nolle prossed, or otherwise dismissed. You file the petition in the circuit court of the county where the case was disposed. For King George County cases, that means filing with the King George County Circuit Court.

The petition must include the date of the arrest, the name of the arresting agency, the specific charge you want expunged, the date of final disposition, your date of birth, and your full name at the time of arrest. A copy of the petition goes to the Commonwealth's Attorney, who has 21 days to file an objection. If the court finds that keeping the records would cause a manifest injustice, it can order expungement. If you have no prior criminal record and the case was a misdemeanor or civil offense, you are entitled to expungement unless the Commonwealth shows good cause to deny it.

Expungement in Virginia removes the record from public view but does not destroy all records. Law enforcement agencies may retain some information for internal purposes. The process can take several months from filing to final order. If you need help, contact a local attorney or reach out to legal aid resources listed below.

Note: Virginia Code Chapter 23.2 also allows sealing of certain criminal history records in some cases. Sealing is different from expungement and applies to different circumstances.

Legal Help in King George County

If you need help understanding your King George County criminal records or want to pursue expungement, several free and low-cost resources are available. These groups serve people across Northern Virginia and the Northern Neck region.

• LawHelpVirginia offers self-help guides, court forms, and a directory of legal aid programs statewide
• Virginia Free Legal Answers lets you post a legal question and get a free answer from a licensed Virginia attorney
• Virginia State Bar Lawyer Referral Service: call 1-800-552-7977 to get a referral to an attorney in your area
• The Virginia FOIA Council can help if you have a dispute about access to public records

Legal aid organizations in Virginia generally serve people who meet income guidelines. If you do not qualify for free help, the Virginia State Bar referral line can match you with an attorney who handles criminal records and expungement cases. Many attorneys offer a free or low-cost first consultation.

Cities in King George County

King George County has no independent cities. All criminal cases in the county are filed at the King George County Circuit Court or the General District Court for the 15th Judicial District.

Nearby Counties

These counties border King George County. If you are not sure which court has your case, check the address where the offense occurred.