Find Criminal Records in Lee County

Lee County criminal records are held by the Circuit Court Clerk, the General District Court, and the Sheriff's Office in Jonesville. You can search for criminal records online through the Virginia Judiciary case information system, go to the courthouse in person, or submit a written request to the appropriate office. This page covers each method and tells you what records each office holds and how to access them.

Lee County Circuit Court Criminal Records

The Lee County Circuit Court Clerk is the official keeper of all felony criminal records for Lee County. The office is at the Lee County Courthouse in Jonesville. Hours are typically Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, with state holidays excluded. The Clerk maintains felony indictments, motions, court orders, judgments, and sentencing documents. These records are public unless a judge has sealed them.

The Circuit Court Clerk can help you locate specific case files and confirm whether records are in the main office or in off-site archive storage. For older cases, advance notice may be needed to pull files. Copy fees are charged per page under Virginia Code section 17.1-275. Certified copies cost more than plain copies. The clerk accepts payment by cash, check, or money order.

Lee County is in far southwest Virginia and is part of the Thirtieth Judicial Circuit. The Circuit Court hears felony criminal cases, civil matters over $25,000, and appeals from lower courts. The Clerk is an elected constitutional officer who serves an eight-year term. The same office also keeps land records, marriage licenses, and probate files.

You can search Lee County court records online through the Virginia Courts case information portal. Search by name, case number, or hearing date. The system displays case status, scheduled hearings, and disposition outcomes. Some case details may not appear online, so an in-person visit may be necessary for a complete review.

The image below links to the Virginia Judicial System case portal, which provides online access to Lee County Circuit Court case information.

The Virginia Judiciary Online Case Information System covers Lee County Circuit Court and General District Court records and lets you search cases without visiting the courthouse.

General District Court Records in Lee County

The Lee County General District Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, and preliminary hearings for felony charges. All cases are decided by a judge. The court keeps records of warrants, summonses, continuances, judgments, and sentencing orders. These records are public unless sealed by court order.

Case records for Lee County General District Court can be searched through the Virginia Judiciary Online Case Information System. You can look up cases by name, case number, or hearing date. The system shows case status and disposition data. For certified copies or a full document review, you need to contact the General District Court Clerk directly. Copy fees apply for all reproduced documents.

The Virginia Judiciary Online Payment System lets you pay fines and court costs for eligible Lee County cases online using a credit or debit card. A convenience fee of 4% applies to card payments.

Note: The online case system may not contain every record detail. Always verify with the clerk's office if you need a certified copy or a full case file for court or legal use.

Lee County Sheriff's Office and Arrest Records

The Lee County Sheriff's Office is the primary law enforcement agency in the county. It maintains arrest records, incident reports, and investigative files for crimes that happen within Lee County. The Sheriff's Office also runs the county jail, which holds pretrial detainees and sentenced inmates serving short-term sentences.

Under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, certain arrest information is public. This includes the name of the arrested person, the date and time of the arrest, and the charges filed. Records related to active investigations may be withheld. The Sheriff's Office is required to report all arrests to the Virginia State Police Central Criminal Records Exchange under Virginia Code section 19.2-390, so Lee County arrest data flows into the statewide criminal history system.

To request records from the Lee County Sheriff's Office, submit a written request that includes the date and location of the incident and the names of the parties involved if you know them. Fees may apply for document reproduction. The office will tell you what is releasable and what may be exempt from disclosure.

How to Get Lee County Criminal Records

The fastest way to start a Lee County criminal records search is through the Virginia Judiciary case portal. This gives you basic case information at no cost. For document copies, contact the clerk's office or Sheriff's Office directly.

For court records, visit the Lee County Courthouse in Jonesville or submit a written request to the Circuit Court Clerk or General District Court Clerk. Include the case name, case number if you have it, and a list of the specific documents you need. Fees are charged per page. The clerk can tell you if files need to be retrieved from archive and how long that will take. Payment is accepted by cash, check, or money order.

For FOIA requests to Lee County agencies, send a written request to the county's FOIA Officer. Under Virginia law, the county must respond within five working days. Some records are exempt from disclosure, including active investigation files and juvenile records. Fees may be charged for the cost of searching and copying records. Contact Lee County through the county government office in Jonesville to reach the appropriate department.

For a complete statewide criminal background check that covers Lee County and all other Virginia jurisdictions, contact the Virginia State Police directly. They run searches through the Central Criminal Records Exchange, which pulls data from all Virginia courts and law enforcement agencies.

Virginia CCRE and Lee County Criminal History

The Virginia State Police operate the Central Criminal Records Exchange, which is the main statewide database for criminal history in Virginia. All counties, including Lee County, report arrests and case dispositions to this system. A search through the CCRE gives a complete view of a person's Virginia criminal history, which includes all reported offenses, not just those from Lee County.

You can request a state-level criminal history check through the Virginia State Police Criminal History Records page. Use the SP-167 form for individual record requests. The fee is $15 for a basic name search and $20 for a combined criminal history and sex offender registry search. Forms and instructions are available at the Virginia State Police forms page.

Under Virginia Code Title 19.2, Chapter 23, the Central Criminal Records Exchange is established as a separate division within the State Police. It is the sole criminal recordkeeping agency for the Commonwealth. Lee County law enforcement and courts are required by law to report arrest and disposition data to this system. Missing dispositions can sometimes be corrected by contacting the court or the arresting agency.

The image below shows the Central Criminal Records Exchange statute page, which sets the legal framework for how Lee County criminal records are collected and maintained at the state level.

Virginia Code Title 19.2, Chapter 23 governs the Central Criminal Records Exchange, which collects and maintains criminal history data for all Virginia localities including Lee County.

FOIA and Public Access in Lee County

Virginia's Freedom of Information Act makes most government records open to the public. This includes many criminal records held by Lee County agencies. The law is found at Virginia Code Title 2.2, Chapter 37. Lee County must respond to records requests within five working days. Fees may be charged for the actual cost of searching and copying records.

Some criminal records are not open to the public. Active investigation files are often exempt from disclosure. Juvenile records are sealed under state law. Confidential informant information is protected. The county reviews each request to determine what can be released. If a request is denied in whole or in part, the county must explain which exemption applies. You have options to appeal a denial or seek guidance from the Virginia FOIA Advisory Council.

Virginia also allows certain individuals to seek expungement of their criminal records under Virginia Code Title 19.2, Chapter 23.1. If you were acquitted, your charge was dismissed, or you received an absolute pardon, you may be eligible. The petition is filed in the Circuit Court where the charge was decided. For Lee County cases, that is the Lee County Circuit Court in Jonesville.

Note: Virginia's expungement eligibility rules were expanded in recent years. Review the current statute at law.lis.virginia.gov to confirm whether your record qualifies.

The image below links to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act code, which applies to all records requests submitted to Lee County agencies.

The Virginia FOIA Advisory Council provides guidance on submitting public records requests and understanding exemptions that may apply to Lee County criminal records.

Cities in Lee County

Lee County is in far southwest Virginia and includes several communities. All felony criminal cases from the county go through the Circuit Court in Jonesville. Misdemeanor cases are heard at the General District Court.

Communities in Lee County include Jonesville, Pennington Gap, St. Charles, and Dryden. None of these have independent city pages. All criminal filings for these areas go through the Lee County court system in Jonesville.

Nearby Counties

Lee County borders several other counties in southwest Virginia. Each has its own Circuit Court and General District Court for criminal filings.