Virginia Public Records

To search for inmates in Bristol, VA (independent city), contact the Bristol Virginia Police Department at 30 Edgemont Avenue, Bristol, VA 24201 (276-645-7400) and the Bristol Sheriff's Office at 497 Cumberland Street, Bristol, VA 24201 (276-645-7400). Bristol is a small independent city; many detainees are held at the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail at https://swvrja.org/. For state-prison inmates from Bristol, use the VA Department of Corrections inmate locator at https://vadoc.virginia.gov/inmates-and-supervisees/. The Federal BOP locator at https://www.bop.gov/inmateloc/ covers federal facilities. Virginia FOIA (Va. Code §2.2-3700) governs disclosure. Sources: Bristol VA (https://www.bristolva.org/), SWVRJA (https://swvrja.org/).

To look up a court case in Scott County, VA, contact the Scott Circuit Court at 202 W. Jackson Street, Suite 102, Gate City, VA 24251 (276-386-7341) for felonies, civil, family, and probate. The Scott General District Court handles misdemeanors, traffic, and small claims. Online case search is available through the Virginia Courts Case Information System at https://eapps.courts.state.va.us/ocis/. Free name and case-number search returns scheduled hearings, filings, and dispositions. Virginia FOIA (Va. Code §2.2-3700) governs disclosure. Certified copies cost $2.50 per page plus $1 certification. Sources: VA Courts (https://www.courts.state.va.us/), Scott County (https://www.scottcountyva.com/).

To search court records in Hampton, VA, the Hampton Circuit Court at 101 King's Way Mall, Hampton, VA 23669 (757-727-6105) handles felonies, civil, and family cases; the Hampton General District Court handles misdemeanors, traffic, and small claims. Online search is available through the Virginia Courts Case Information System at https://eapps.courts.state.va.us/ocis/. Free name and case-number search returns scheduled hearings, filings, and dispositions. Virginia FOIA (Va. Code §2.2-3700) governs disclosure. Certified copies cost $2.50 per page plus $1 certification. Sources: VA Courts (https://www.courts.state.va.us/), Hampton (https://hampton.gov/).

To look up a traffic ticket in Galax, VA, contact the Galax General District Court at 753 East Stuart Drive, Galax, VA 24333 (276-236-8731), which handles traffic violations within the city. Online case search is available through the Virginia Courts Case Information System at https://eapps.courts.state.va.us/ocis/. Free name and case-number search returns scheduled hearings and ticket status. Pay tickets online at https://eapps.courts.state.va.us/ocis/landing. Standard fees vary by violation. Virginia FOIA (Va. Code §2.2-3700) governs disclosure. Sources: VA Courts (https://www.courts.state.va.us/), Galax (https://www.galaxva.com/).

To find out if someone is divorced in Charlottesville, VA, contact the Charlottesville Circuit Court Clerk at 315 East High Street, Charlottesville, VA 22902 (434-970-3766). Divorce decrees become public records once filed under VA FOIA (Va. Code §2.2-3700), unless sealed. Search Virginia Courts case records at https://eapps.courts.state.va.us/ocis/. Certified copies of decrees cost $2.50 per page plus $1 certification at the Circuit Court. The VA Office of Vital Records at https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/vital-records/ does NOT issue divorce certificates — they're only available from the issuing Circuit Court Clerk. Sources: Charlottesville Circuit Court (https://www.charlottesville.gov/), VA Courts (https://www.courts.state.va.us/).

For an official criminal history report in Richmond, VA, the Virginia State Police Criminal Records Exchange at https://www.vsp.virginia.gov/sections/criminal-records-exchange/ provides name-based statewide criminal history for $15 (with notarized SP-167 form). The Richmond Police Department Records Section at 200 W. Grace Street, Richmond, VA 23220 (804-646-6700) issues local police clearance letters. For fingerprint-based statewide and FBI-level checks, use authorized Live Scan vendors. Court records are free at https://eapps.courts.state.va.us/ocis/. Virginia FOIA (Va. Code §2.2-3700) governs disclosure. Subjects can request their own record. Sources: VSP CRE (https://www.vsp.virginia.gov/), Richmond PD (https://www.rva.gov/police).