Virginia · Local jail bookings, VINE, court cases, State Police histories and VADOC custody
Find a Virginia Arrest and Trace It to the Final Court Result
Virginia arrest records are divided among city jails, county sheriffs, regional jail authorities, police departments, courts, State Police and VADOC.
This guide shows the correct search order and explains warrants, reports, bail, lawyers, victim help, jail services, VADOC rules, corrections, expungement and Virginia’s July 2026 criminal-record sealing process.
VIRGINIA RECORD ROUTER
ACTIVE
PUBLIC RECORD SEARCH
MATCH FOUND
LOCAL
JAIL
COURT
OUTCOME
STATE
HISTORY
IDENTITY VERIFIED
Arrest is not conviction. A booking charge is an allegation recorded during arrest or jail intake. It can be rejected, amended, reduced or dismissed. Verify the person and read the final court disposition.
Recent arrestStart with Virginia Jail VINE and the local jail.
Police narrativeRequest it from the agency that created the report.
Case outcomeUse Virginia Courts and the local clerk.
State custodyUse the VADOC inmate and supervisee locator.
2026 changeExpanded criminal-record sealing began July 1, 2026.
Record router
Which Virginia record answers your question?
LOCAL OR REGIONAL JAIL
Is the person held now?Booking, inmate number, charges, bond, holds, housing and release status.
First search for a recent arrest.
ARRESTING AGENCY
What allegedly happened?Incident report, arrest report, criminal complaint, property and releasable supplements.
Request from the police, sheriff or State Police.
VIRGINIA COURTS
What was formally filed?Charges, hearing dates, warrants, pleas, judgments and disposition.
Search the correct locality and court level.
VIRGINIA STATE POLICE
What appears on a statewide history?Name-based criminal-history information reported to the state repository.
Use the current official background-check form.
VADOC
Is the person in state custody?State prison, probation, parole and other VADOC-supervised placements.
A new local-jail detainee may not appear.
Most reliable order: Locate the jail booking → save identifiers → identify the arresting agency → search the court case → read every disposition → request only the missing official document.
Recent arrest workflow
How to find someone arrested in Virginia
Identify the place of arrest
Search the city or county where the arrest happened, not only the person’s home address.
Identify the likely jail system
The person may be in a city jail, county jail or multi-jurisdiction regional jail.
Search Virginia Jail VINE
Use the person’s legal name and verify the facility before registering for notifications.
Open Virginia Jail VINE
Check the official jail website
Some facilities publish additional booking, bond, housing, visitation or release information.
Start with the surname
Add the first name or birth information only when the broad search returns too many people.
Open every possible match
Compare the date of birth, age, booking date, arrest location and inmate number.
Save every identifier
Record the inmate number, booking number, arrest number, report number and court case number.
Read every charge and hold
One booking can include several charges, warrants or detainers.
Confirm the current facility
A person can move from a police lockup to a local jail, regional jail, hospital or another jurisdiction.
Local jail notifications
Use Virginia Jail VINE for custody and release updates
Confirm the jail and person
Match the locality, custody location and available identifying information.
Register for available notifications
Choose the telephone, email or other options displayed by the live system.
Protect your registration information
Keep any PIN or confirmation code private.
Update your contact method
A disconnected telephone or full email account can prevent timely delivery.
Maintain a separate safety plan
VINE is useful but should not be the only protection used for an urgent safety concern.
VINE and NAAVI are separate. Virginia Jail VINE covers participating local and regional jails. VADOC’s NAAVI system covers state-custody notifications.
Locality and regional-jail router
Find the jail responsible for the booking
Northern Virginia
Fairfax, Arlington, Alexandria, Loudoun, Prince William, Manassas and nearby jurisdictions
Richmond region
Richmond, Henrico, Chesterfield, Hanover, New Kent and surrounding localities
Hampton Roads
Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Hampton and Newport News
Shenandoah and western Virginia
Roanoke region, Augusta, Rockingham, Frederick, regional jail authorities and nearby counties
Central Virginia
Lynchburg, Campbell, Amherst, Bedford and Blue Ridge Regional Jail jurisdictions
Southside Virginia
Petersburg-area, Riverside Regional Jail, Piedmont Regional Jail and surrounding counties
Southwest Virginia
Washington, Wise, Tazewell, Buchanan, Russell, Smyth and regional-jail jurisdictions
Rappahannock region
Stafford, Spotsylvania, Fredericksburg and Rappahannock Regional Jail jurisdictions
Direct official facility entry points
City police versus jail: A city police department can make the arrest while a sheriff or regional jail maintains the booking. Request the incident report from the arresting agency, not automatically from the jail.
Booking-result decoder
What each Virginia jail field means
Booking fields, limitations and next actions
| Field |
What it identifies |
What it does not prove |
Best next action |
| Inmate number |
The person within that jail system. |
The outcome of a criminal charge. |
Use it for mail, calls, deposits and jail questions. |
| Booking number |
A particular jail admission. |
Every allegation became a filed charge. |
Save it for records requests. |
| Booking date |
When jail intake occurred. |
The exact offense or arrest time. |
Compare it with the known timeline. |
| Arresting agency |
The law-enforcement agency responsible for the arrest. |
That the jail owns the police report. |
Request the incident report from this agency. |
| Booking charge |
The allegation received during intake. |
What the prosecutor filed. |
Read the court charging document. |
| Case number |
A court proceeding. |
It covers every booking charge. |
Search the exact Virginia court case. |
| Bond amount |
A financial release condition connected to a charge. |
Paying it clears every hold. |
Confirm all charges and detainers. |
| Held without bond |
No release bond is currently available. |
The status cannot change after judicial review. |
Check the next court or bond hearing. |
| Detainer or hold |
Another authority may control release. |
The displayed local bond controls custody. |
Identify the agency owning the hold. |
| Release date |
The end of that jail episode. |
Dismissal, acquittal or innocence. |
Read the court disposition. |
| Mugshot |
An image created during booking. |
Identity by itself, guilt or conviction. |
Match stronger identifiers. |
Identity protection
Verify the person before relying on the arrest result
First and last names match
Middle name, suffix or alias is consistent
Date of birth or age matches
Booking date matches the known event
Arresting agency matches the location
Inmate or booking number matches another record
Court case follows the same incident
Physical descriptors are consistent
Minimum standard: Confirm at least two independent identifiers before sending money, publishing an accusation, contacting an employer or treating a result as belonging to a specific person.
Troubleshooting
No Virginia jail result found?
Intake is incomplete
Transportation, fingerprints, medical screening and data entry can delay publication.
The wrong locality was searched
Search where the arrest occurred and any locality connected to the warrant.
The person is in a regional jail
The city or county may not operate its own jail.
The name is different
Try the surname alone, maiden name, hyphen variation, suffix or alias.
The person was released quickly
A current-custody list may remove the person after release.
The person was transferred
Check another jail, VADOC, federal custody, hospital custody or another state.
No court case appears yet
Prosecutor review or clerk entry may still be pending.
The record is restricted
Juvenile, sealed, expunged or confidential information may not appear.
Missing-booking call script
I am trying to confirm the custody status of [full legal name], date of birth [date]. The arrest may have occurred on [date] through [agency] in [city or county]. Can you confirm whether the person is being processed, held, released, transferred or listed under another identifier?
Arrest-to-disposition timeline
What happens after a Virginia arrest?
Incident and arrest record
The law-enforcement agency may create an incident report, arrest report, complaint, property record and recordings.
Local or regional jail booking
The jail records identity, fingerprints, property, allegations, warrants, holds and housing.
Magistrate review
A magistrate considers probable cause and whether the arrested person is eligible for bail.
General district or J&DR proceeding
Misdemeanor trials, felony preliminary hearings and adult matters within J&DR jurisdiction may begin here.
Commonwealth’s Attorney review
The prosecutor may accept, amend, reduce or decline allegations.
Circuit court felony case
A certified or indicted felony generally proceeds in circuit court.
Disposition
Each count may end through dismissal, nolle prosequi, acquittal, plea, conviction or another order.
Sentence or supervision
The person may receive jail, probation, community supervision or VADOC custody.
Correction or record relief
A factual error may be corrected, or an eligible record may later be expunged or sealed.
Arrest and incident reports
Request the report from the agency that created it
City police made the arrest
Request the incident and arrest report from the city police records unit.
County sheriff made the arrest
Request the investigative report from the sheriff, even when a regional jail handled booking.
Virginia State Police made the arrest
Use the VSP report or incident number for the records request.
Several agencies participated
Each agency may maintain separate reports, recordings and supplements.
Ask for the specific records you need
Incident report
Arrest report
Criminal complaint or warrant information
Booking sheet
Booking photograph
Property or inventory record
Releasable supplements
Dispatch or call-for-service record
Releasable body-camera footage
Release or transfer information
Copy-ready Virginia records request
I request an electronic copy of the releasable incident report, arrest report, criminal complaint or warrant information, booking sheet and releasable supplements concerning [full legal name] for the incident on or about [date and time] at [location]. Known identifiers are report number [number], inmate or booking number [number] and court case number [number]. Please provide a written cost estimate before processing if charges will exceed $[amount].
Virginia FOIA workflow
How to make a focused Virginia public-record request
Virginia FOIA rights are defined by state law. Virginia citizens and qualifying media representatives receive the statutory access rights described by the Act. An agency may use another lawful process or exercise discretion for other requesters.
Find the correct records custodian
Send the request to the police, sheriff, jail or agency maintaining the requested material.
Use a written request
Written wording creates a clear record of the documents, dates and cost limit.
Describe records rather than asking questions
Ask for identified documents instead of asking the agency to explain the incident.
Narrow the date, location and person
Precise requests reduce search time and cost.
Ask for electronic delivery
This can reduce printing and mailing charges.
Set a cost ceiling
Require written approval before the agency exceeds a stated amount.
Track the five-working-day response period
Virginia agencies generally must respond within five working days, subject to lawful extensions and exceptions.
Read the response category
The agency may produce records, withhold records, partially produce and redact, state that records do not exist or invoke additional time.
Ask for the legal basis of withholding
Request the specific exemption supporting a denial or redaction.
Separate court case records from agency FOIA
Court case files should be requested from the clerk maintaining the case.
An agency may charge the actual cost of searching, reviewing, copying and supplying records. A deposit may be required when estimated charges exceed the statutory threshold. Obtain an estimate before authorizing a broad search.
Virginia Courts search
Find the filed charge and final court result
Statewide OCIS search
- Adult criminal cases in participating J&DR courts.
- Criminal and traffic cases in general district courts.
- Criminal cases in participating circuit courts.
- Search by available name and case information.
- Payments cannot be made through the statewide search.
Open the statewide search
Locality-specific court search
- Select the city or county connected to the arrest.
- General district cases can be searched by locality.
- Circuit participation and systems vary.
- Some circuit courts use a separate local system.
- Contact the clerk when the online system is incomplete.
Open Virginia case-information options
Choose the correct court level
General District CourtHandles misdemeanor and traffic trials and conducts preliminary hearings in felony cases.
Circuit CourtVirginia’s general-jurisdiction trial court. It handles felony trials and appeals from district courts.
Juvenile and Domestic Relations District CourtHandles cases involving children and families, including adult criminal matters within its jurisdiction.
Search the case number first
A case number is more precise than a name-only search.
Select the correct locality
The same person can have cases in several Virginia courts.
Confirm the defendant
Compare the name, charge, arrest date and hearing history.
Find the charging document
Compare the warrant, complaint or indictment with the booking charge.
Check amendments
A later charge can replace, reduce or add to the original allegation.
Read warrant entries in order
An older warrant entry may be followed by service, recall or another order.
Find the disposition for every charge
One dismissal does not prove that all counts were dismissed.
Contact the clerk for formal proof
Request an ordinary or certified disposition when the online docket is not sufficient.
Find the court and clerk
Docket decoder
Virginia court terms that change the meaning of an arrest
Read the exact result instead of relying on a “closed” label
| Term |
Practical meaning |
What to verify |
| Pending |
The case has not reached final disposition. |
Read the latest entry and next hearing. |
| Dismissed |
The listed charge was dismissed. |
Check whether other charges remain. |
| Nolle prosequi |
The prosecutor chose not to proceed with the charge at that time. |
Check later filings and related charges. |
| Acquitted |
The defendant was found not guilty of that charge. |
Check every separate count. |
| Certified to circuit court |
A felony matter moved from district court after preliminary proceedings. |
Search the circuit court case. |
| Indicted |
A grand jury returned a formal felony charge. |
Read the indictment and subsequent amendments. |
| Guilty |
A judgment of guilt was entered. |
Read the offense, sentence and appeal status. |
| Deferred disposition |
The court postponed final disposition subject to conditions. |
Check the later dismissal or conviction order. |
| Capias |
A court process directs that the person be taken into custody. |
Check whether it was served or recalled. |
| Disposed |
The court considers the case resolved. |
Read the actual disposition and sentence. |
Court-file copies
How to order the correct court document
Court-copy prices and ordering methods can vary by clerk and locality. Confirm the current charge before ordering.
Docket printoutUseful for basic event history but may not prove the final disposition.
Ordinary copyA noncertified copy of a warrant, order, indictment, judgment or disposition.
Certified copyA clerk-certified document for formal use by an employer, agency or court.
Complete case fileUse only when individual documents do not answer the request.
Identify the exact court
Obtain the locality, court level and case number.
Ask the recipient what it needs
Determine whether an ordinary copy or certified disposition is required.
Name the specific document
Request the warrant, indictment, dismissal, judgment or sentencing order.
Ask for the total price
Confirm search, page, certification and delivery charges.
Provide payment as instructed
Clerks can use different online, mail and in-person procedures.
Verify the received document
Check the name, case number, charge and disposition.
Court case files are requested from the clerk maintaining the case. Administrative records of the judiciary use a different public-record process.
Warrant verification
How to check a possible Virginia warrant
Virginia does not provide one complete public statewide warrant list. A “most wanted” page is not a complete warrant search.
Identify the issuing locality
Use the arrest, citation, court case or agency information.
Check the sheriff or police page
Some localities publish a limited wanted-person or warrant service.
Read the newest entry
An older “issued” entry may have been followed by service or recall.
Confirm directly
Contact the issuing court, magistrate or law-enforcement agency through independently verified official contact information.
Use legal counsel when the warrant concerns you
A lawyer can explain appearance, surrender and bail options.
Scam warning: Do not pay an alleged warrant through gift cards, cryptocurrency, a text link or an unsolicited caller. Independently contact the court or agency.
Never confront or attempt to detain anyone. Similar names, recalled warrants and delayed updates can cause dangerous mistakes.
Bail and bond
How to confirm release conditions safely
Virginia magistrates determine probable cause and initial bail eligibility. A judge can later review or change the bail order.
Confirm the person and booking
Match the legal name, birth date and inmate number.
List every charge and case number
One arrest can involve several release conditions.
Identify every hold
Another locality, state, probation office or federal agency may prevent release.
Confirm the current bail type
Ask whether release is recognizance, unsecured, secured, cash, surety or currently denied.
Ask where the bond must be posted
Follow the jail, magistrate or court instructions for that case.
Read the written agreement
Identify the premium, collateral, payment terms, forfeiture consequences and collateral-release process.
Keep every receipt
Save the bond number, payment confirmation and signed contract.
Allow release processing time
The jail must verify the bond, clear holds, finish records and return property.
Recognizance
Release on a promise to appear, subject to stated conditions.
Unsecured bond
No money is posted initially, but the stated amount can become due after a violation.
Secured or cash bond
Property, cash or approved security is required before release.
Surety bond
A licensed bail bondsman posts the bond under a private written agreement.
Bail-verification call script
I am calling about inmate number [number] for [full legal name]. Please confirm every active charge, the current bail condition for each case, all holds or detainers, accepted bond methods and whether another court or agency must approve release.
Defense counsel
How to get a criminal-defense lawyer in Virginia
Court-appointed counsel
- Ask for counsel at the first court appearance.
- Complete the required financial eligibility statement.
- List income, assets, expenses and dependents accurately.
- Ask whether a public defender or certified court-appointed attorney was assigned.
- Record the lawyer’s name and contact instructions.
Private lawyer
- Verify the lawyer’s Virginia license.
- Ask who will personally handle the case.
- Request the scope and fee in writing.
- Ask whether bail, preliminary hearing, trial and appeal are included.
- Keep the signed agreement and receipts.
Do not discuss case facts on ordinary jail calls. Local jail and VADOC calls are generally monitored unless properly verified as privileged attorney communication.
Victim assistance
How to obtain a Virginia victim advocate
Identify the prosecuting office
Use the court case to locate the Commonwealth’s Attorney handling the charge.
Ask for the Victim/Witness Assistance Program
Request the advocate assigned to the case or locality.
Provide the case information
Have the defendant name, case number, charge and next court date available.
Register separately after VADOC transfer
Use NAAVI when the person enters state correctional custody.
Open Virginia NAAVI
Ask about the Virginia Victims Fund
Qualifying assistance can include medical expenses, counseling, funeral expenses, lost wages, moving and temporary housing.
Local and regional jail visitation
How to schedule a Virginia jail visit
Local rules are not statewide. Each city jail, county jail and regional jail controls its own application, provider, schedule, identification rules, fees and dress code.
Confirm current custody
Recheck Virginia VINE and the jail before scheduling.
Record the inmate number and housing unit
A regional authority may operate several facilities.
Open the official visitation instructions
Determine whether visits are in person, onsite video, remote video or attorney-only.
Create the approved provider account
Use only the service linked from the jail’s official website.
Complete visitor approval
Provide the requested name, birth date, address and identification.
Add minors correctly
Check adult-supervision, relationship and document requirements.
Select the correct facility and visit type
Remote and onsite sessions can have different schedules and costs.
Wait for confirmation
A submitted request is not always an approved visit.
Recheck before traveling
Court trips, lockdowns, transfers and disciplinary restrictions can cancel visits.
Arrive early with valid ID
Leave prohibited property outside and follow screening instructions.
Local jail services
Visitation, mail, calls and money rules to confirm
Visitor approval
- Background or warrant checks may apply.
- Former inmates may face a waiting period.
- Probation or parole status may require permission.
- False application information can cause denial.
Visit conduct
- Visits may be monitored and recorded.
- No photographing, recording or livestreaming.
- Threats or criminal communication can end access.
- Visitors must follow staff directions.
Dress code
- No revealing or transparent clothing.
- No gang, drug or weapon graphics.
- No clothing resembling inmate uniforms.
- Bring an alternative outfit when traveling far.
Personal mail
- Use the exact name and inmate number.
- Use the current official mailing address.
- Confirm whether mail is scanned.
- Do not send cash or unauthorized items.
Telephone calls
- Most jails do not accept ordinary incoming inmate calls.
- Use the approved telephone provider.
- Assume nonlegal calls are monitored.
- Do not transfer or conference calls.
Deposits and commissary
- Verify the inmate and facility.
- Use the jail-approved deposit system.
- Review transaction charges.
- Keep the confirmation number.
Never send these without checking the facility rules
Cash, personal checks or gift cards
Food, medicine or hygiene items
Stickers, glitter, glue or perfume
Prohibited photographs
Books from an unapproved seller
Original identification documents
Legal documents through scanned personal mail
Contraband or escape instructions
State custody and supervision
When to use the VADOC inmate and supervisee locator
The locator can include
- People in VADOC correctional institutions.
- Probationers and parolees supervised by district offices.
- People assigned to institutional hospitals.
- Certain people in local or regional jails under VADOC authority.
- Community Corrections Alternative Program participants.
The locator does not replace
- A recent local-jail booking search.
- A police incident report.
- The criminal court docket.
- A complete statewide arrest history.
- Real-time warrant confirmation.
Use additional filters carefully
Location, race, gender and age range can narrow a common-name search.
Verify the DOC ID
The seven-digit number is needed for mail, calls, deposits and visits.
Record the current facility or district office
This controls contact and service instructions.
Recheck before traveling or sending money
The locator is updated daily, but information can be delayed or inaccurate.
Virginia Department of Corrections
P.O. Box 26963
Richmond, VA 23261
Phone:
804-674-3000
VADOC visitation
Apply, schedule and prepare for a Virginia state-prison visit
VADOC visitation procedures can change by facility. Check cancellation notices and the facility schedule before traveling.
Find the inmate and facility
Use the locator and record the seven-digit DOC ID.
Add minor visitors to an adult application
Each minor must be approved and registered.
Complete required minor documentation
An approved adult who is not the parent or legal guardian must bring the notarized statement or applicable court order each visit.
Wait for application approval
Visitor approvals expire three years after the approval date.
Renew early
Submit renewal at least 45 days before expiration for in-state visitors and 90 days for out-of-state visitors.
Register with the online scheduler
An approval email is generally sent within three working days after scheduler registration.
Select an available appointment
Visits may be scheduled up to 14 days in advance. Visitors are limited to one visit per weekend.
Arrive one hour early
Security screening takes place before the scheduled session.
Bring matching picture identification
Use a driver license, military ID, qualifying passport or other official federal or state picture ID.
VADOC visit options
In-person visitRequires approved visitation application and online scheduling.
Facility video visitRequires the applicable visitor approval and online scheduling.
At-home internet videoVADOC states that a visitation application is not required, but registration and scheduling are required.
Current VADOC visitor rules
Clothing must cover from neck to kneecaps
Appropriate underwear and footwear are required
No tube tops, tank tops or halter tops
No exposed midriff, side or back
No leggings, spandex or form-fitting clothing
No see-through or revealing clothing
No clothing resembling inmate attire
No watches or wearable technology
No food or drinks inside
Accommodation requests should be made early
Visitors may visit multiple inmates only when the inmates are immediate family members. A visitor is generally limited to one inmate who is not immediate family.
VADOC general and legal mail
How to address state-prison mail correctly
General correspondence format
Inmate’s first and last name
Seven-digit state ID number
Facility or institution name
Facility address and ZIP code
Confirm the current facility and DOC ID
Use the locator before addressing the envelope.
Use the facility directory address
Do not send ordinary mail to VADOC headquarters.
Send only approved general correspondence
Letters, greeting cards, postcards and appropriate photographs are generally accepted.
Expect photocopy delivery
General mail is copied. The original envelope, correspondence and photographs are shredded.
Limit the mailing
VADOC delivers a maximum of three black-and-white, 8.5 × 11-inch, front-and-back photocopied pages, including the envelope copy.
Use the separate legal-mail channel
Attorneys and courts must use the centralized legal correspondence address.
General mail accepted
Letters
Greeting cards
Postcards
Appropriate photographs
General mail not accepted
Money orders, cash or checks
Postage stamps
Prepaid envelopes or postcards
Nude or semi-nude images
Contraband
Items violating facility procedures
Attorney and court legal correspondence
VADOC Centralized Mail Distribution Center
Inmate Name, Inmate Number
3521 Woods Way
State Farm, VA 23160
Civil process requiring formal service should be sent through the appropriate jurisdiction for the facility where the inmate is housed, not automatically to the centralized legal-mail address.
VADOC telephone access
How state-prison calls and prepaid accounts work
The inmate maintains the approved call list
The list can contain up to 15 telephone numbers.
Set up an AdvancePay account
Family and friends can fund a prepaid account through ConnectNetwork.
Use the seven-digit DOC ID
The number is needed to select the correct inmate.
Understand the 20-minute limit
VADOC limits calls to 20 minutes to provide fair telephone access.
Assume calls are recorded
Calls are monitored and recorded except properly verified attorney calls.
Do not transfer or forward calls
Third-party transfer, forwarding and conference functions can cause loss of telephone privileges.
Do not discuss witnesses, evidence, passwords, admissions or confidential legal strategy on an ordinary recorded call.
VADOC commissary deposits
How to send money through JPay
Use the inmate’s seven-digit DOC ID. Do not mail cash, checks or money directly to a VADOC facility or headquarters.
OnlineUse JPay with a credit or debit card.
CashUse an approved MoneyGram agent location.
Money orderUse the JPay deposit slip and mail it to the JPay processing address.
JPay money-order address
JPay
P.O. Box 278170
Miramar, FL 33027
Published VADOC JPay deposit fees
| Deposit amount |
Online fee |
Telephone fee |
Walk-in fee |
| $0.00–$20.00 |
$2.95 |
$3.95 |
$6.95 |
| $20.01–$100.00 |
$5.95 |
$6.95 |
$6.95 |
| $100.01–$200.00 |
$7.95 |
$8.95 |
$6.95 |
| $200.01–$300.00 |
$9.95 |
$10.95 |
$6.95 |
A percentage of incoming money may be applied to fines, costs or restitution. VADOC also restricts sending money to more than one inmate without prior approval.
State-custody notifications
Register with NAAVI after a VADOC transfer
Registering with local-jail VINE does not automatically register you with VADOC NAAVI.
Confirm VADOC custody
Use the inmate and supervisee locator.
Open NAAVI
Register confidential contact information for eligible state-custody notifications.
Open Virginia NAAVI
Complete identity and case information
Provide the information requested by the notification system.
Keep contact details current
Update telephone, email or mailing changes promptly.
Maintain a safety plan
Contact 911 for immediate danger.
NAAVI can provide updates about
Transfer to another VADOC facility
Anticipated release notice
Actual release
Death in custody
Legal name change
Work-release status
Escape
Recapture
Parole interview
Parole decision
Virginia State Police criminal history
How to request a statewide criminal-history check
A Virginia State Police criminal-history check is different from a live jail search. It may not answer whether someone was arrested today, where the person is held or whether a current warrant exists.
SP-167 route
Commonly used for a general Virginia criminal-history name search.
- Follow the current subject-consent requirements.
- Complete required signatures and notarization.
- Use the current payment amount.
- Mail to the address printed on the current form.
Authorized-organization routes
Certain employers, care providers and organizations use separate statutory forms or fingerprint procedures.
- Confirm the legal purpose.
- Use the correct VSP form.
- Do not substitute a general public form.
- Follow fingerprint rules when required.
Define the reason for the check
Personal review, employment, licensing, adoption and volunteer screening can use different procedures.
Complete all identifying information
Use legal names, aliases and accurate birth information.
Obtain required consent or notarization
Follow the exact form instructions.
Include the current payment
Use only the payment methods listed by VSP.
Keep a complete copy
Save the form, payment proof and mailing tracking.
Compare the result with local court files
Verify disputed or incomplete entries with the clerk maintaining the case.
Record correction
How to correct inaccurate Virginia arrest information
Identify exactly what is wrong
Separate a wrong-person match, incorrect charge, missing disposition and failed sealing update.
Identify the originating agency
Determine whether the error began with police, jail, court, prosecutor, VSP or VADOC.
Obtain the controlling record
Use a certified dismissal, judgment, acquittal, amended order or identity document.
Contact the source agency first
Ask the agency that created or submitted the incorrect information to correct it.
Use fingerprint comparison when identity is disputed
A name-only argument may not resolve a same-name or identity-theft problem.
Request written confirmation
Keep the date, contact person and proof that corrected data was transmitted.
Recheck every separate system
Jail, court, VSP, VADOC and private databases may update independently.
Use correction when
- The record belongs to someone else.
- The charge is entered incorrectly.
- The disposition is missing or wrong.
- An identifier is inaccurate.
Use record relief when
- The record is factually accurate.
- The case may qualify for expungement.
- The case may qualify for sealing.
- You seek restricted access rather than correction.
Traditional Virginia expungement
How to evaluate and file an expungement request
Expungement is not available merely because a person completed a sentence, was released from jail or dislikes an accurate conviction record.
Situations that may support expungement review
Acquittal
Nolle prosequi
Dismissal without conviction
Identity theft
Wrong-person arrest or charge
Another ground authorized by Virginia law
Collect every arrest identifier
Obtain the arresting agency, arrest date, booking number, charge and court case number.
Obtain the final disposition
Request the certified dismissal, acquittal or other controlling order.
Confirm the legal ground
Compare the exact disposition with Virginia Code § 19.2-392.2.
Use the correct petition or motion
Form DC-363 covers qualifying expungement requests and identity-related situations.
Open Virginia form DC-363
Complete every identifying field
Include the charge, final disposition date, disposing court and underlying case number.
Attach the charging document
Include the warrant, summons, indictment or presentment when required.
Obtain fingerprints
The form requires a complete fingerprint set when applicable.
File in the proper court
Confirm whether filing belongs in circuit, general district or J&DR court under the applicable procedure.
Attend the hearing when required
Bring certified dispositions, fingerprints and supporting identity evidence.
Keep certified copies of the order
Use them if an agency or private database fails to update.
Effective July 1, 2026
Virginia’s expanded criminal-record sealing process
Virginia’s expanded criminal-record sealing legislation became effective July 1, 2026. Virginia Courts now provides petition and motion forms connected to the new sealing statutes.
Sealing eligibility is not determined by the page title, a jail release or a “closed” court label. It depends on the exact offense, disposition, criminal history, waiting period and statutory limits.
Automatic or system-initiated sealing
- Applies only to categories identified by Virginia law.
- Implementation depends on accurate court and state records.
- Not every dismissed or old case is automatically sealed.
- Verify whether the public case and VSP record were updated.
Petition-based sealing
- Requires the correct circuit-court form.
- Eligibility depends on the statutory petition category.
- Addenda may be needed for several charges or cases.
- The court must enter an order before sealing is complete.
New Virginia sealing forms
CC-1201Petition for sealing pursuant to Virginia Code § 19.2-392.12.
CC-1201(A)Addendum for additional information connected to a CC-1201 petition.
CC-1203Petition for sealing under the applicable provisions of § 19.2-392.12:1.
CC-1203(A)Addendum for the subsection A petition category.
CC-1203(B)Addendum for the subsection B petition category.
CC-1206Motion to access a sealed court record when legally authorized.
Collect the complete criminal history
Do not evaluate one case without checking other convictions and pending charges.
Obtain every disposition
Use certified court records when possible.
Identify the correct sealing statute
Automatic sealing, § 19.2-392.12 petitions and § 19.2-392.12:1 petitions have different requirements.
Check excluded offenses and limits
Certain offenses and criminal histories are not eligible.
Check the waiting period
Measure it from the event specified by the applicable statute.
Complete required addenda
List every charge and case covered by the petition.
File with the correct circuit court clerk
Confirm the current filing fee, service process and hearing requirements.
Obtain the signed order
A filed petition is not the same as a granted sealing order.
Verify implementation
Recheck the court system, VSP record and other public repositories after processing.
A sealed record can remain available to courts, law enforcement and other entities specifically authorized by Virginia law. Sealing does not guarantee removal from news archives or every privately copied database.
Official-source extraction
What this guide keeps inside the article
Search workflowLocal-jail routing, VINE, identity checks, missing-record fixes and court verification are explained on-page.
Legal recordsPolice reports, FOIA response steps, court levels, warrant verification and copy ordering are separated clearly.
Release and helpBail, licensed bondsmen, appointed counsel, private lawyers and victim assistance include direct action paths.
Correctional servicesLocal jail rules are separated from VADOC visits, mail, calls, deposits and notifications.
Record repairThe guide distinguishes factual corrections, traditional expungement and the July 2026 sealing process.
External linksOfficial portals remain mainly for live searches, applications, scheduling, payments and court filings.
Title-focused FAQs
Virginia arrest public-record questions answered
How do I search Virginia arrest public records?
Start with Virginia Jail VINE or the local jail, verify the person and then search Virginia Courts for the filed charge and disposition.
Is there one statewide Virginia arrest database?
No. Local jails, police agencies, courts, State Police and VADOC maintain different parts of the record.
How do I find someone arrested today?
Search the city, county or regional jail connected to the arrest and allow time for transportation and intake.
What is Virginia Jail VINE?
It is the custody-information and notification system for participating local and regional Virginia jails.
How do I find a past booking?
Check whether the jail publishes released inmates. Otherwise request the historical booking sheet and release information from the jail or sheriff.
Why does the jail charge differ from the court charge?
The jail records the allegation received during intake. The Commonwealth’s Attorney may decline, reduce, replace or amend it.
How do I find the final court result?
Search the correct Virginia court by locality and case number and locate the disposition for every charge.
How do I request an arrest report?
Send a focused records request to the police, sheriff or State Police unit that created the report.
How do I check a Virginia warrant?
Check the official court and local law-enforcement source, then confirm directly with the issuing authority.
What is a Virginia State Police criminal-history check?
It is a statewide name-based criminal-history search using the current VSP form and requirements. It is not a live jail or warrant search.
How do I correct an inaccurate Virginia criminal record?
Identify the source agency, obtain certified proof and request correction from that agency before rechecking the other systems.
Who appears in the VADOC locator?
It includes people in VADOC institutions, supervised probationers and parolees, institutional-hospital placements and certain other VADOC-supervised categories.
Can a Virginia arrest be expunged?
Some qualifying acquittals, dismissed matters, identity-theft cases and wrong-person arrests may be eligible under Virginia law.
What changed on July 1, 2026?
Virginia’s expanded criminal-record sealing legislation became effective and new petition-based sealing forms became available.
Does a Virginia mugshot prove guilt?
No. A mugshot documents booking and does not prove identity by itself, prosecution, guilt or conviction.