Loudoun County Criminal Records

Criminal records in Loudoun County are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk, the General District Court, and the Sheriff's Office, all based in or near Leesburg. You can search for Loudoun County criminal records online through the Virginia Judiciary case information system, visit the courthouse in person, or send a written request to the appropriate clerk. This page explains each method and tells you which office holds which records and how to get them.

Loudoun County Circuit Court Criminal Records

The Loudoun County Circuit Court Clerk, Gary M. Clemens, maintains all felony criminal records for Loudoun County. The Clerk's Office is at 18 East Market Street, Leesburg, VA 20176. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The Circuit Court handles approximately 1,200 or more felony cases each year. Case files include indictments, motions, orders, judgments, and sentencing records. All of these documents are public unless sealed by a judge.

The Loudoun County Circuit Court Clerk provides public access terminals inside the courthouse for case searches. You can also submit a written records request by mail. Send mail requests to: Circuit Court Clerk, 18 East Market Street, Leesburg, VA 20176. Include the defendant's name, date of birth, case number, the specific documents requested, your contact information, and payment for estimated copy fees. Processing time is typically 5 to 7 business days.

Copy fees in Loudoun County follow Virginia Code section 17.1-275: $0.50 per page for standard copies, $2.00 per document for certified copies. Payment is accepted by cash, check, money order, and credit card. The office uses the Judicial Information Management System for case tracking and participates in the Virginia Judiciary E-Filing System. Loudoun County is Virginia's third largest county and is part of the Twentieth Judicial Circuit.

You can search Loudoun County court records online through the Virginia Courts case information portal. Search by name, case number, or hearing date. The system shows case status, scheduled hearings, and dispositions. Some details require an in-person visit to see the full case file.

The image below comes from the Loudoun County Circuit Court website, which is the official records source for felony criminal cases in the county.

The Loudoun County Circuit Court Clerk's Office at 18 East Market Street in Leesburg handles all felony criminal case files and processes records requests for Loudoun County.

General District Court Records in Loudoun County

The Loudoun County General District Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, and preliminary hearings for felony charges. The court is part of Virginia's Twentieth Judicial District. All cases are decided by a judge. The court maintains records of warrants, summonses, continuances, judgments, and sentencing orders. These records are public information unless sealed by court order.

You can search General District Court case records through the Virginia Judiciary Online Case Information System. Search by name, case number, or hearing date to find case status and disposition data. For certified copies or a full review of the case file, you need to contact the General District Court Clerk directly. Copy fees apply for all reproduced documents. The court participates in the Virginia Judiciary Online Payment System, which lets you pay eligible fines and court costs online.

Loudoun County processes a large number of misdemeanor and traffic cases each year given its population of around 420,000. The General District Court Clerk's Office can assist you with case searches and copy requests during regular business hours.

Note: Online records may not show every case detail. Always contact the clerk's office if you need a certified copy or a complete record for legal purposes.

Loudoun County Sheriff's Office Records

The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office maintains all incident reports, accident reports, and arrest records for Loudoun County. The Records Division processes public records requests under the Virginia FOIA. Available records include incident reports, accident reports, and basic arrest information. Records related to active investigations may be exempt from public disclosure.

Under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, basic arrest information is public. This includes the name of the arrested person, the date, time, and location of the arrest, and the charges filed. The Sheriff's Office reports all arrests to the Virginia State Police Central Criminal Records Exchange as required by Virginia Code section 19.2-390. This ensures Loudoun County arrest data is included in the statewide criminal history database.

To request records from the Sheriff's Office, visit the office during business hours or submit a written FOIA request. Fees apply for document reproduction. The Sheriff's Office uses computerized records management systems and can assist with locating incident and arrest records for Loudoun County.

The image below comes from the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office website, which handles FOIA requests and records access for county law enforcement records.

The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office maintains arrest records and incident reports for the county and processes public records requests from individuals and organizations seeking law enforcement records.

How to Request Loudoun County Criminal Records

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

For Circuit Court records, contact the Clerk's Office at 18 East Market Street, Leesburg, VA 20176. Include the defendant's name, date of birth, case number if known, specific documents requested, your mailing address, and payment. For General District Court records, contact that court's clerk at the same courthouse. Both offices are open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.

For FOIA requests to Loudoun County agencies, the county has designated FOIA officers for each department. Send a written request specifying the records you need. Virginia law requires a response within five working days. Some records are exempt, including active investigation files and juvenile records. Fee estimates are provided for requests that will incur significant costs. The Loudoun County government portal provides contact information for each county department.

The image below shows the Loudoun County government website, which is the starting point for finding FOIA contacts and department-specific records request procedures.

Loudoun County's official website at loudoun.gov provides links to all county departments, including the Circuit Court Clerk, Sheriff's Office, and FOIA resources needed for criminal records access.

Virginia CCRE and Loudoun County Criminal History

The Virginia State Police run the Central Criminal Records Exchange, which is the statewide database for criminal history in Virginia. Loudoun County courts and the Sheriff's Office report arrest and disposition data to this system as required by state law. A search through the CCRE gives you the most complete picture of a person's Virginia criminal history, covering all reported offenses from every jurisdiction in the state.

You can request a criminal history check through the Virginia State Police Criminal History Records page. The SP-167 form is used for this request. A basic name search costs $15. A combined criminal history and sex offender registry search costs $20. The SP-266 form is used for sex offender registry-only searches at $15. Forms are available at vsp.virginia.gov/forms.shtm.

Under Virginia Code Title 19.2, Chapter 23, the Central Criminal Records Exchange is the sole criminal recordkeeping agency for the Commonwealth. Loudoun County agencies must report arrests and dispositions to this system. Missing dispositions can be corrected by contacting the relevant court or the arresting agency. The Virginia Department of Corrections at vadoc.virginia.gov also maintains inmate records for Loudoun County residents serving state sentences.

FOIA and Public Access in Loudoun County

Virginia's Freedom of Information Act gives the public the right to access most government records, including many criminal records held by Loudoun County agencies. The FOIA statute is at Virginia Code Title 2.2, Chapter 37. Loudoun County must respond to public records requests within five working days. The county may charge fees for searching, reviewing, and reproducing records.

Not all criminal records are public. Active investigation files may be withheld. Juvenile records are sealed by law. Records that would compromise confidential sources are protected. When you submit a FOIA request, the county reviews each record to decide what can be released. The Virginia FOIA Advisory Council offers guidance on what records are typically available and how to appeal a records denial.

Virginia also allows eligible individuals to seek expungement of certain criminal records under 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. You file the expungement petition in the Circuit Court where the case was decided. For Loudoun County cases, that means the Loudoun County Circuit Court at 18 East Market Street, Leesburg, VA 20176. The Clerk's Office can provide expungement petition forms and assist with filing.

Note: Virginia's expungement law has been significantly updated in recent years. Review the current statute at law.lis.virginia.gov to confirm your eligibility before filing.

Cities in Loudoun County

Loudoun County includes the town of Leesburg as its county seat, along with many communities and towns. Criminal cases from all of Loudoun County, including Leesburg, go through the Loudoun County Circuit Court and General District Court.

Other communities in Loudoun County include Ashburn, Sterling, Lansdowne, Purcellville, and Dulles. All criminal cases from these areas go through the Loudoun County court system in Leesburg.

Nearby Counties

Loudoun County borders several other Virginia counties. Each handles criminal records through its own court system.