Search Northampton County Criminal Records

Criminal records in Northampton County are kept by the Circuit Court Clerk, the General District Court, and the Sheriff's Office in Eastville. You can search Northampton County criminal records using the Virginia Judiciary case information system online, visit the courthouse in person, or send a written records request to the clerk's office. This guide explains which office holds which type of record and how to reach each one.

Northampton County Circuit Court Criminal Records

The Northampton County Circuit Court Clerk maintains all felony criminal records for the county. The courthouse is in Eastville, which sits at the southern end of Virginia's Eastern Shore peninsula. Office hours run Monday through Friday during regular business hours. The Clerk's Office holds felony indictments, motions, orders, and sentencing documents. All of these are public records unless a judge has sealed them by order of the court.

The Northampton County government website lists contacts and general information for all county departments. For criminal records specifically, the Circuit Court Clerk is your main point of contact. Staff can tell you what case files are on hand and what may be in archive storage for older cases. Copy fees apply under Virginia Code section 17.1-275. Plain copies cost $0.50 per page; certified copies add $2.00 per document.

Northampton County is part of Virginia's 1st Judicial Circuit, the same circuit as neighboring Accomack County to the north. The Circuit Court handles felony cases, civil matters over $25,000, and appeals from the General District Court. The Clerk also keeps land records, marriage licenses, and probate documents for the county. Northampton is one of the oldest counties in Virginia, and its records go back many generations.

You can search Northampton County circuit court cases online at no cost. Use the Virginia Judiciary Online Case Information System to look up cases by party name or case number. The portal shows filing dates, upcoming hearings, and case dispositions. For documents not available in the online system, contact the clerk's office directly.

The Northampton County government page below is the official county resource for departments and contacts including court offices in Eastville.

The official county website provides links to the Circuit Court Clerk, Sheriff's Office, and other departments that maintain criminal records in Northampton County.

General District Court Records in Northampton County

The Northampton County General District Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, and preliminary hearings for felony charges that originate in the county. All cases are decided by a judge. The court keeps records of warrants, summonses, continuances, and judgments for misdemeanor matters filed in Northampton County.

These records are public. You can search them through the Virginia Judiciary case information portal. The search allows you to look up by name, case number, or hearing date. It shows case status and disposition results. For certified copies or full document review, contact the General District Court Clerk at the Eastville courthouse. Standard copy fees apply for all reproductions. Virginia retention schedules set the time frame for how long records are held before destruction.

Northampton County's General District Court is part of Virginia's 1st Judicial District. Misdemeanor classes range from Class 1 (most serious) through Class 4. The court also handles preliminary hearings where a judge decides whether there is enough evidence to send a felony case up to the Circuit Court. Cases decided in General District Court may be appealed to the Circuit Court within 10 days of judgment.

Note: Online records may not include all case documents. Contact the clerk's office directly if you need a full certified record for legal purposes.

Northampton County Sheriff's Office Records

The Northampton County Sheriff's Office is the primary law enforcement agency for the county. It keeps arrest records, incident reports, and investigative files for crimes that happen within Northampton County. The Sheriff's Office also operates the county jail, holding pretrial detainees and sentenced inmates serving shorter terms.

The Virginia Freedom of Information Act makes certain arrest records available to the public. You can request the date, time, and location of an arrest, the name of the person arrested, and the charges that were filed. Ongoing investigation files are commonly withheld under FOIA exemptions. The Sheriff's Office reports every arrest to the Virginia State Police Central Criminal Records Exchange as required by Virginia Code section 19.2-390.

To request records from the Northampton County Sheriff's Office, put your request in writing. Include the full name of the person involved, the date and place of the incident, and any incident or case number you have. The office will tell you which records it can release and what fees apply. Active investigation files may not be released until the case is resolved.

How to Request Northampton County Criminal Records

The fastest way to search Northampton County criminal records is online at the Virginia Judiciary case information portal. This free search gives you case status and disposition data. For copies of documents, you need to contact the appropriate clerk or law enforcement office directly.

For circuit court records, contact or visit the Northampton County Circuit Court Clerk in Eastville. Provide the party name, case number, and a list of the specific documents you want. Staff can confirm what is in the file and what requires an archive pull. Pay by cash or check; call ahead to verify payment options before visiting.

For misdemeanor records, contact the General District Court Clerk at the same courthouse. The process is similar. Give the clerk the case information and request the specific records you need. Copy fees apply to all document reproduction requests.

For law enforcement records, send a written FOIA request to the Northampton County Sheriff's Office. The county must respond within five working days. Fees may apply for the cost of searching and copying. Records tied to open investigations may not be released in full until the case is closed. You can also start your search at the county's website at co.northampton.va.us.

Virginia Criminal History and the Eastern Shore

The Virginia State Police operate the Central Criminal Records Exchange, which collects criminal history data from every Virginia locality including Northampton County. Courts and the Sheriff's Office in Northampton report to this statewide database as required by state law. A state-level criminal history request will include Northampton County records.

Visit the Virginia State Police Criminal History Records page to learn how to submit a request. A name-based criminal history check costs $15 and uses form SP-167. This covers all of Virginia. It is more thorough than a county-level search when you are not sure where all relevant charges were filed.

The Virginia State Police criminal history system draws from all localities including Northampton County and is updated as courts and law enforcement report new arrests and dispositions.

Under Virginia Code section 19.2-390, courts and law enforcement must report arrest and disposition data to the state. If a disposition was never entered, the record may show an open arrest. Contact the Northampton County Circuit Court or the Virginia State Police to request a correction if you find an error.

Public Access and Expungement in Northampton County

Virginia's Freedom of Information Act gives citizens the right to see most government records. The law is found at Virginia Code Title 2.2, Chapter 37. Northampton County agencies must respond to FOIA requests within five working days. Fees may be charged for the actual cost of searching and copying the records requested.

Not every criminal record is open to the public. Records tied to active investigations are routinely exempt. Juvenile records are sealed by default. Details about confidential informants are protected under specific FOIA exemptions. When you submit a request, the agency reviews each part of your request and provides a written explanation of what is being released and what is being withheld.

Virginia law allows some individuals to petition for expungement of 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 be eligible. The petition is filed at the Circuit Court in the county where the charge was brought. For Northampton County cases, file at the Northampton County Circuit Court in Eastville.

Expungement removes a record from public view but does not erase it entirely. Law enforcement may still access expunged records under some state law provisions. Talk to a licensed attorney before you file if you are unsure whether your case qualifies. Virginia legal aid programs can help people with limited income understand and navigate the expungement process.

Note: Virginia's expungement law changed significantly in recent years. Confirm your eligibility by reading the current statute at law.lis.virginia.gov before filing.

Communities in Northampton County

Northampton County sits at the southern tip of Virginia's Eastern Shore and includes several small communities. All criminal cases from these areas are filed through the county court system in Eastville.

Communities in Northampton County include Eastville, Cape Charles, Exmore, Nassawadox, Cheriton, and Machipongo. None of these communities currently qualify for their own city pages. All criminal filings from Northampton County residents are handled through the Northampton County courts in Eastville.

Nearby Counties

Northampton County is at the southern end of Virginia's Eastern Shore. Accomack County borders it to the north. Across the Chesapeake Bay are Hampton Roads counties and cities.