Find Criminal Records in Pittsylvania County
Pittsylvania County criminal records are held by the Circuit Court Clerk and General District Court in Chatham, Virginia. The county is Virginia's largest by land area and is part of the 22nd Judicial Circuit. You can search criminal case records online using the Virginia Judiciary's Online Case Information System, visit the courthouse in Chatham, or submit a records request to the Sheriff's Office. State criminal history records for Pittsylvania County residents are also accessible through the Virginia State Police Central Criminal Records Exchange.
Pittsylvania County Overview
Pittsylvania County Circuit Court Records
The Circuit Court Clerk in Chatham is the official keeper of felony criminal records for Pittsylvania County. All indictments, court orders, sentencing records, and case files from felony proceedings are stored here. The office is open to the public during normal business hours. You can request to review a case file or ask for copies of specific documents.
Pittsylvania County is the largest county in Virginia by geographic area, which means the court handles cases from a wide stretch of the state's southern region. The 22nd Judicial Circuit includes Pittsylvania County and the independent city of Danville. If you are looking for a case involving someone from Danville, note that Danville is an independent city with its own separate court system. Cases filed in Pittsylvania County itself go through the courts in Chatham. Under Virginia Code Title 17.1, the Clerk is required to maintain complete records of all cases filed in the circuit court, and these records are open to the public.
| Office | Pittsylvania County Circuit Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 1 North Main Street, Chatham, VA 24531 |
| Phone | (434) 432-7887 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | pittsylvaniacountyva.gov/circuit-court |
Pittsylvania County's official government site at pittsylvaniacountyva.gov provides access to court clerk and Sheriff information.
The Circuit Court Clerk in Chatham maintains all felony criminal case records for Pittsylvania County.
Copy fees are set at $.50 per page under Virginia Code § 17.1-275. Certified copies include an additional fee. Contact the Clerk's office to confirm exact costs before your visit.
General District Court and Online Case Lookup
Misdemeanor criminal cases in Pittsylvania County go through the General District Court, which is part of the 22nd Judicial District. This court handles class 1 and class 2 misdemeanors, traffic offenses, and other lower-level criminal matters. The General District Court keeps its own records and processes its own cases separately from the Circuit Court.
Free online searches for Pittsylvania County criminal cases are available through the Virginia Judiciary Online Case Information System at eapps.courts.state.va.us. Search by name or case number. The system returns case status, charge descriptions, hearing dates, and disposition data for both the Circuit Court and General District Court. This is the best starting point if you want to check for records before going to the courthouse. The system covers cases going back several years for most courts.
Note: OCIS provides a summary of case data. Full court files and certified copies must be obtained directly from the Clerk's office in Chatham.
Pittsylvania County Sheriff Arrest Records
The Pittsylvania County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement for the county and is the primary source for arrest records and incident reports. Arrests made in Pittsylvania County are reported to the Virginia State Police Central Criminal Records Exchange within 15 days of the arrest date. The Sheriff's Office also maintains its own records locally.
The Pittsylvania County Sheriff's Office at pittsylvaniacountyva.gov/sheriff handles arrest records and FOIA requests for law enforcement records.
The Sheriff's Office maintains incident reports and arrest records, available through FOIA requests for non-exempt records.
You can request records from the Sheriff's Office under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, codified at Virginia Code Title 2.2, Chapter 37. The Sheriff must respond within five business days. Basic arrest information and incident reports are generally public. Information about ongoing investigations, confidential informants, or sensitive investigative techniques may be withheld. The Virginia FOIA Council at foiacouncil.dls.virginia.gov can help you understand what records you can request and how to do it.
| Office | Pittsylvania County Sheriff's Office |
|---|---|
| Address | 21 North Main Street, Chatham, VA 24531 |
| Phone | (434) 432-8108 |
| Website | pittsylvaniacountyva.gov/sheriff |
State Criminal History Records
The Virginia State Police Central Criminal Records Exchange holds statewide criminal history data, including arrests and convictions from Pittsylvania County. To get a name-based search of this database, submit the SP-167 form with the required fee. A basic name search costs $15. A combination search that also checks the Sex Offender Registry costs $20. Download the SP-167 form from vsp.virginia.gov/forms and submit it to the Virginia State Police.
The legal basis for the CCRE is found at Virginia Code § 19.2-387, which makes the CCRE the sole criminal recordkeeping agency of the Commonwealth. The CCRE holds arrest records, conviction data, and disposition information for all Virginia counties. Under § 19.2-389, the dissemination of this information is controlled. You can always request your own record. Access by third parties is limited by law to specific authorized purposes.
The Virginia Department of Corrections inmate locator at vadoc.virginia.gov lets you search for current or former state inmates from Pittsylvania County. If someone was sentenced to a state prison, their record will appear in this system. Search by name or offender ID number. For victim notification, VINE at vinelink.vineapps.com sends automatic alerts when an offender's status changes.
Sex Offender Registry Pittsylvania County
The Virginia Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry is free to search at sex-offender.vsp.virginia.gov. The registry is maintained by the Virginia State Police under Virginia Code § 9.1-900. You can search by name to check if a person is registered, or search by location to see who is registered in Pittsylvania County.
Virginia classifies registrants as sex offenders or violent sex offenders. Both types appear in the public registry. Each listing includes the person's name, address, photo, and conviction details. Offenders must keep their registration current. Under § 9.1-903, registrants must update their information whenever they move or change other details. The registry is a key resource for Pittsylvania County residents who want to know about registered offenders in their area.
Expungement in Pittsylvania County
If your criminal case in Pittsylvania County ended in acquittal, dismissal, or a nolle prosequi, you may be eligible to have the record expunged under Virginia Code § 19.2-392.2. The petition must be filed in the Pittsylvania County Circuit Court in Chatham. It must include the date of arrest, the arresting agency, the specific charge, the date of final disposition, your date of birth, and the name you used at the time.
The Commonwealth's Attorney receives a copy of the petition and has 21 days to respond. If you have no prior criminal record and the original charge was a misdemeanor, you are generally entitled to expungement unless the Commonwealth shows good cause to deny it. For felony charges that were dismissed, the court holds a hearing. If the continued existence of the record would cause manifest injustice, the court orders expungement of both court and police files, including electronic records.
Virginia Code Chapter 23.2 also covers the sealing of criminal records in certain situations beyond standard expungement. Both processes require going through the Circuit Court. Talk to a Virginia attorney to figure out which process applies to your case.
Legal Help in Pittsylvania County
Residents of Pittsylvania County who need legal help with criminal records or expungement can turn to Piedmont Legal Aid, which serves the Southside Virginia region. They provide free civil legal assistance to people who meet income guidelines. Contact them at piedmontlegalaid.org for eligibility details. They handle matters including expungement petitions and public records requests.
The Virginia Courts website at vacourts.gov has self-help guides on court procedures and forms. For private attorney referrals in the Chatham area, use the Virginia State Bar's lawyer referral service. The Virginia General District Court General District Court for the 22nd Judicial District is accessible at vacourts.gov for case information. The VINE notification service at vinelink.vineapps.com is available to crime victims who want to track offender status changes.
Note: This website is for informational purposes only. It does not provide legal advice. Contact a licensed Virginia attorney for help with your specific situation.
Cities in Pittsylvania County
Pittsylvania County has no independent cities within its boundaries. Danville is an adjacent independent city that borders the county, but it has its own separate court system and is not part of Pittsylvania County for jurisdictional purposes. All criminal cases from communities within Pittsylvania County itself are handled by the courts in Chatham.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Pittsylvania County. If you are unsure which court handled a case, check the exact address or town to verify the county jurisdiction before you search.