Virginia Public Records

Virginia Public Records Search

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About Virginia Open Public Records
The Virginia Public Records Act, passed in 1975, allows access to the documents and records of the public agencies tasked with the operation of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Records are required to be properly maintained by the individual agencies involved, with the head of the agency having direct responsibility for official records in the absence of a specifically appointed Records Officer. The Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Advisory Council is a state agency whose duties include resolving disputes with citizens over Freedom of Information issues, the initial presumption being that all Commonwealth documents are open to the public. One of the thirteen original colonies, Virginia achieved statehood on June 25, 1788. The 8 million residents live in either one of 39 cities, numerous unincorporated towns, or hundreds of unincorporated communities which make up the 95 counties. Richmond is the capital city, with Virginia Beach taking honors as the most populous. With it's close proximity to the nation's capital, many Virginia residents are employed by federal agencies or government contractors. Contact the Virginia State Police to obtain criminal history records and background checks. Search the many public records available online for the state of Virginia. The Department of Health will help you find birth, death and marriage records. Please check out the link for court records and learn all about the Virginia judicial system to get information on courts, cases and jury duty. Investigate the county and city websites to see what public records, community resources and local attractions they have available and to imagine what it would be like to live in Virginia. Learn facts and figures about the demographics, education and history of the people of the state. Inspect the data on firms and companies to get a feel for the current business atmosphere. Request criminal records and learn about prisons, inmates and victims services from the Department of Corrections. Read the always updated crime reports and news headlines. New Virginia sources are added on a regular basis so check back often.
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  • How do I convince the state of Florida that I have no criminal history in Virginia?
    Criminal History Records Check (SP-230) and (SP-167) are obtained from the Virginia state police. Their website will list their purposes; one example of an SP-230 request is for Armed.
    Open-Public-Records.com (Staff)
  • How do I find a copy of a marriage certificate in Virginia?
    Virginia's division of vital records tells you how to request a certificate (certified copy) of marriages. Marriage records are available from 1936 to the present, and they can be requested by mail, in person/walk-in, express delivery, and at full-service DMV locations. Marriages are considered public records after 25 years; only immediate family, such as the spouse, child, sibling, parents, and grandparents, can request and obtain them within 25 years.
    Open-Public-Records.com (Staff)
  • How can I find out if someone has a building permit in Virginia?
    Building permits are public documents and can be requested from the county. Individual counties have their websites with public searches such as "Permit Status by Address" (for Fairfax Co.) You will need to check the particular department in that county. Projects are required to obtain permits by submitting plans and other documents. You can look up more, for example, using the Community Complaint Inquiry and checking for existing code enforcement cases (according to Fairfax county) or filing a complaint. The process to obtain the building permit is listed on the county's page, which will tell you the proper requirements for the application.
    Open-Public-Records.com (Staff)
  • Where can I find in Virginia a copy of free arrest records?
    It depends on where you are looking for the records. Some departments list their recent arrests online for public view; take Fairfax county, for example. You will need to look into individual counties'/cities' jails to see persons in the custody of the police. If you need the official reports, the department's website will have a process to obtain them. However, if you need the information, you will need to locate them at all levels, including courts and statewide incarceration.
    Open-Public-Records.com (Staff)
  • Where do I find out in Virginia about a DUI arrest?
    Arrest lists (whether DUI or others) can be found on independent police sites such as the one in the city of Danville, which also has warrants and reported incidents. You can’t tell which departments have these databases until you’ve accessed them. Remember that police sites are not marketed to gain many visitors but to assist with some of their tasks. Putting inmates and persons in custody and wanted fugitives online help by having public access.
    Open-Public-Records.com (Staff)
  • Where can I find it in Virginia? What time is my traffic court case?
    Access the General District Court Online Case Information System. On the left menu, you will see a tab for traffic/criminal; under that tab, you will see options to search cases by name, number, date, or process/service. You will be able to select which court. After that, you will be taken to a page where you can search for free and view case numbers (if searching by name or other criteria), defendant, hearing date, hearing time, charge, and action.
    Open-Public-Records.com (Staff)
  • Where can I find in Virginia an offender's mugshot from 1997?
    It's probably easier since they've already been in the system for so long—Virginia's department of corrections' offender locator. A name search can be conducted if you do not know any other information about that person. It's an open free search and worth the time spent checking.
    Open-Public-Records.com (Staff)
  • Where do I find in Virginia if I can get a copy of my driving and other people's driving records?
    If the driving record is your own, the state's DMV provides copies over the net. Other than that, the law, according to the DMV's site, is that driving records are not open to the public; here's the Virginia code Va. Code §§ 46.2-208 through 214. The federal law is not as restrictive as Federal Driver's Privacy Protection Act (18 USC §§ 2721-2725). However, this does not mean it is not open at any time. You can look up the law for exceptions (impractical to go over all of the exceptions to the law without knowing your specific situation and if they would apply).
    Open-Public-Records.com (Staff)
  • Where can I find access to and a copy of a will in Virginia?
    Some wills are recorded and can be viewed through the county recorders/clerk's office. If you are in the will, the attorney drafting the will may have a copy they can provide
    Open-Public-Records.com (Staff)
  • Does Virginia expunge records automatically after ten years if it's a misdemeanor?
    No, you must petition the court and pay all subsequent fees.
    Open-Public-Records.com (Staff)
  • Where can I find in Virginia historical criminal records and inmate autopsies from 1941?
    There are different types and sources of criminal and arrest records. Criminal records are from the court or central criminal database/repository, and arrest records are from individual law enforcement agencies which made the arrest. Each has its records division and specifics regarding the records provided.
    Open-Public-Records.com (Staff)
  • How do I get details on a shooting in Virginia that happened in the past without having the names?
    Libraries keep copies of old past reports in local papers you can access and look up local crimes. These copies can be accessed by microfilm or database. The search shouldn't cost anything other than the inconvenience of having to go to the library
    Open-Public-Records.com (Staff)
  • Are a driver's license a public record, and can I get a copy of someone's license in Virginia?
    Virginia's DMV page "Release of DMV Information" states that driving license information is "NOT" public unless you obtain written consent. There are exceptions.
    Open-Public-Records.com (Staff)
  • How do I get access to my late husband's mugshot in Virginia?
    Check old newspapers and articles at the library local to where his arrest occurred.
    Open-Public-Records.com (Staff)
  • Where can I find, in Virginia, access to marriage records?
    Marriage records from 1936 to 2014 in Virginia can be found at the Office of Vital Records. You can follow the birth records link listed under "free public records" since the same department provides them.
    Open-Public-Records.com (Staff)
  • Where can I find Virginia, the worst area for drug trafficking?
    There are two ways to look up areas and see the types of crimes occurring. One is the crime maps that are freely available online; note that not all areas are included. The other is the recent arrests. There are certain times when drug activity picks up, and their arrests follow. Also, there are published reports of sweeps. This is when a joint effort from law enforcement executes warrants for arrest or search. The agency will release reports for the media, online, tv, or their own site's press release.
    Open-Public-Records.com (Staff)
  • Where can I find in Virginia, daily crime statistics?
    Crime mapping allows visitors to choose the day(s) span to view their recorded offenses. The area to search can be narrowed, however, the coverage is not the entire state, as some police or sheriff's departments provide their arrest and incident data and others do not. It is free, and several crime mapping services are open to the public.
    Open-Public-Records.com (Staff)
Virginia Free Public Records Directory

Departments which record, maintain and provide official documents, certificates or information requested by the general public.

Virginia Latest Criminal Filings
  • Court Name:U.S. Criminal Court Records for the Western District of Virginia
    Case Number: 1:25-cr-00031-1
    Case Name:
    USA v. Shelton, Jr.
    Date Published: July 17, 2025
  • Court Name:U.S. Criminal Court Records for the Western District of Virginia
    Case Number: 6:25-cr-00012-1
    Case Name:
    USA v. Spinner
    Date Published: July 17, 2025
  • Court Name:U.S. Criminal Court Records for the Western District of Virginia
    Case Number: 6:23-cr-00010-1
    Case Name:
    USA v. Staton
    Date Published: July 17, 2025
  • Court Name:U.S. Criminal Court Records for the Western District of Virginia
    Case Number: 7:25-cr-00027-1
    Case Name:
    USA v. Piasta
    Date Published: July 16, 2025
  • Court Name:U.S. Criminal Court Records for the Western District of Virginia
    Case Number: 1:25-cr-00030-1
    Case Name:
    USA v. Fry
    Date Published: July 16, 2025
  • Court Name:U.S. Criminal Court Records for the Western District of Virginia
    Case Number: 6:23-cr-00003-1
    Case Name:
    USA v. Chapman
    Date Published: July 16, 2025
  • Index »
Virginia Latest Civil Filings
Virginia Latest Federal filings
  • Court Name:U.S. Federal Court Records for the Western District of Virginia
    Case Number: 25-50413
    Case Name:
    Gary Lee Smith and Lisa Marie Smith
    Date Published: July 17, 2025
  • Court Name:U.S. Federal Court Records for the Western District of Virginia
    Case Number: 25-60834
    Case Name:
    Joseph Adolph Thomas
    Date Published: July 17, 2025
  • Court Name:U.S. Federal Court Records for the Western District of Virginia
    Case Number: 25-60838
    Case Name:
    Kenneth Dewayne Huff
    Date Published: July 17, 2025
  • Court Name:U.S. Federal Court Records for the Western District of Virginia
    Case Number: 25-60832
    Case Name:
    Velma D Miller
    Date Published: July 17, 2025
  • Court Name:U.S. Federal Court Records for the Western District of Virginia
    Case Number: 25-60833
    Case Name:
    Sherry D Wisecarver
    Date Published: July 17, 2025
  • Court Name:U.S. Federal Court Records for the Western District of Virginia
    Case Number: 25-60837
    Case Name:
    Linda Marcia Woodson
    Date Published: July 17, 2025
  • Index »
Virginia District Court Filings
Virginia Latest Crime Records (Updated 07/18/2025)
  • Total Violent Crime:
    17,753
  • Murder And Nonnegligent Manslaughter:
    426
  • Rape:
    2,816
  • Robbery:
    3,524
  • Aggravated Assault:
    10,987
  • Total Property Crime:
    140,213
  • Burglary:
    13,900
  • Larceny Theft:
    116,044
  • Motor Vehicle Theft:
    10,269
Virginia Census Data

  • Information About People and Demographics

  • Total population of persons residing within the state
    8,001,024
  • Estimate of the state's total residency
    7,079,048
  • Percentage change of the total resident population
    13%
  • Net change of residents' total population
    922,509
  • Complete count of statewide resident population
    7,078,515
  • Population estimate of residents less than 5 years of age
    533,143
  • Estimated percentage of residents that are less than 5 years of age
    7%
  • Estimate of residents that are less than 18 years of age
    1,847,182
  • Estimated percentage of residents that are less than 18 years of age
    23%
  • Percentage estimate of residents that are 65 years of age and older
    12%
  • Estimate of residents that are 65 years of age and older
    960,090
  • Total estimate percentage of female residents
    51%
  • State's white resident population
    5,486,852
  • State's black resident population
    1,551,399
  • State's American Indian and Alaska Native resident populations
    29,225
  • State's Asian resident population
    439,890
  • State's Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander resident population
    5,980
  • Statewide resident population of two or more races
    233,400
  • Statewide resident population of Hispanic or Latino origin
    631,825
  • Non Hispanic white resident population
    5,186,450
  • Statewide percentage of white residents
    69%
  • Statewide percentage of black residents
    19%
  • Statewide percentage of American Indian and Alaska Native residents
    0%
  • Statewide percentage of Asian residents
    6%
  • Statewide percentage of Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
    0%
  • Statewide percentage of Two or more races
    3%
  • Statewide percentage of Hispanic or Latino Origin
    8%
  • Statewide percentage of non Hispanic white
    65%

  • Vital Statistics

    Births and deaths occurring in Virginia
  • Births
    108,884
  • Deaths
    58,225
  • Infant death occurring within the state of persons one year of age or less
    848
  • Percentage of persons with the same residence of one year or more
    83%

  • Resident Background Information

    Education and background history of Virginia Residents
  • Percentage of foreign born population in the state
    10%
  • Percentage of residents 5 years of age and older that speak languages other than English at home
    13%
  • Percentage of persons from 25 years of age and older with high a school education or higher
    86%
  • Percentage of persons from 25 years of age and older with bachelor's degree or higher
    33%
  • Total number of Veterans
    748,345

  • Current Housing and Real Estate Data

    Households located in Virginia
  • Average time spent commuting to work for person 16 years and over not working from their personal residence
    27 Min
  • Housing unit estimates
    3,330,465
  • Net change of housing units estimates
    426,024
  • Housing unit estimates - percentage change
    15%
  • Percentage of the state's housing units being occupied by owners
    69%
  • Median value of the state's housing units being occupied by owners
    $247,100
  • Percentage of housing in structure of multi dwelling units
    21%
  • Total number of households
    2,936,634
  • Average size of households
    3

  • Virginia Employment Data

    Income, earnings and payrolls of people residing within the State
  • Per capita income in the past 12 months in dollars adjusted to inflation
    $31,606
  • Statewide income of median households in Virginia
    $59,372
  • Percentage of persons living in poverty
    11%
  • The personal income of persons employed
    $321,245
  • Per capita income of persons employed
    $41,727
  • Labor force of civilian workers
    4,173,723
  • The unemployment of the civilian labor force
    277,562
  • The rate of unemployed civilian labor force
    7%
  • Employment of person relating to all industries
    4,936,137
  • Net change of employment in all industries
    528,813
  • People employed by the government
    865,871
  • Earnings by persons working in all industries
    252,275,298
  • Average earnings per job in all industries
    51,108
  • Number of private non farm establishments
    197,716
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