Search Virginia Background Check Records
Virginia background check records are held by the Virginia State Police Central Criminal Records Exchange, which serves as the official repository for criminal history across all 95 counties and independent cities in the Commonwealth. You can search court case records online through the Virginia Judicial System, request official criminal history by mail or in person, and look up sex offender registry data through dedicated state tools. This guide covers every main source for Virginia background check records, what each system contains, and how to submit a request or run a search.
Virginia Background Check Overview
Virginia State Police Criminal Background Check
The Central Criminal Records Exchange, known as the CCRE, is the official source for criminal history records in Virginia. It runs as a separate division within the Virginia Department of State Police and was established in 1966. Under Virginia Code § 19.2-387, the CCRE is the sole criminal record-keeping agency of the Commonwealth. Every arrest, conviction, and court disposition from law enforcement agencies and courts across all 95 Virginia counties and independent cities feeds into this central system. The CCRE does not include juvenile records, DMV records, or DNA data, which are held by other agencies.
To get a Virginia criminal history record, you fill out form SP-167, the Criminal Record Name Search Form. Both the subject of the record and the requestor must sign the form before a notary. The completed, notarized form must be mailed to Virginia State Police Headquarters, 7700 Midlothian Turnpike, North Chesterfield, VA 23235. You can also submit the form in person at that address. Walk-in visits require two forms of identification and payment in the exact cash amount or by money order. For a full list of available forms, visit vsp.virginia.gov/services/forms/.
Three types of checks are available. A Virginia-only criminal history check costs $15.00 per name. An FBI-only record check costs $24.00. A combined Virginia and FBI check is $37.00. These fees cover a name-based search. For arrest and charge details beyond conviction data, you must also include a fingerprint card. The first fingerprint card costs $10.00, and each additional card is $5.00. Fingerprints can be taken at State Police Headquarters or at any State Police division office across the state.
Processing takes 12 to 15 business days after the CCRE receives your request. Records are sent by first-class mail. No expedited service is offered. Reach the Civil and Applicant Records Exchange by phone at (804) 674-2131 or by mail at P.O. Box 85076, Richmond, VA 23285. The CCRE main website is at vsp.virginia.gov/services/criminal-background/.
The screenshot below shows the Virginia State Police criminal background check page, where you can find current forms and fee information.
The Virginia State Police CCRE page lists request types, fees, and mailing instructions for criminal history record checks.
The screenshot below shows the Virginia State Police forms page, where form SP-167 and other request forms are available for download.
Form SP-167 is the main form for individuals requesting a Virginia criminal history background check through the CCRE.
Virginia Court Records Search
Virginia courts give free public access to case records through the Virginia Judicial System website. The main tool is the Online Case Information System, or OCIS 2.0, which covers criminal and traffic records from General District Courts and selected Circuit Courts, plus criminal case details from Juvenile and Domestic Relations courts. You can search by last name, first name, case number, or hearing date at vacourts.gov/caseinfo/home.html. Results show party names, case status, docket entries, and scheduled hearings.
Virginia Code § 8.01-420.8 requires that personal identification numbers in court filings show only the last four digits. This protects sensitive data while keeping most case information public. Virginia courts also let you search appellate cases through separate systems for the Supreme Court of Virginia and the Court of Appeals. For most criminal and traffic cases, the General District Court system is the right starting point.
The Case Alert Subscription Service through OCIS 2.0 lets you sign up for free text or email alerts when a tracked case is updated. This is helpful if you need to follow a case without checking back manually. Most Virginia courthouses also allow in-person record access during business hours. Copy fees are typically $0.50 per page, with certified copies costing an additional $2.00 per document.
The screenshot below shows the Virginia Courts case information portal, where you can search records from courts across all 95 counties.
The Virginia Judicial System's case search tool gives free access to court records, docket entries, and case status from courts statewide.
Virginia Sex Offender Registry
The Virginia State Police maintains the Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry under Virginia Code § 9.1-900 through § 9.1-918. It lists names, descriptions, conviction details, and photographs of individuals convicted of specific offenses. Public access to violent sex offender information is free at sex-offender.vsp.virginia.gov/sor/. You can search by name, ZIP code, or geographic map.
The registry has two categories. The first is sex offenders. The second is violent sex offenders. Free online search covers violent sex offenders. For an official name-based search of the full registry, you submit form SP-266 and pay $15.00. A combined criminal history and sex offender search costs $20.00. Sign up for free email alerts when a registered offender moves into a specific area by creating an account on the registry website. Contact the Sex Offender Registry unit at (804) 674-2825 or sor.vsp@vsp.virginia.gov.
Note: Virginia law prohibits using registry information to intimidate or harass any person. Willful violations are punishable as a Class 1 misdemeanor under Virginia Code § 19.2-390.1.
Virginia FOIA and Public Records
The Virginia Freedom of Information Act, at Virginia Code § 2.2-3700 et seq., gives the public the right to request records from state and local agencies. All public records are presumed open unless a specific exemption applies. The law must be read broadly in favor of access. Police incident reports, court filings, and most agency documents are public unless a narrow statutory exemption applies.
To request records under FOIA, you submit a written request to the agency holding them. Requests can go by mail, email, or in person. The agency must respond within five working days. Complex requests may take up to 12 working days total. If charges will exceed $200, the agency must give you a cost estimate first and ask if you want to proceed. You have the right to request an estimate before work begins, and you may ask for a fee waiver in some cases.
Certain records are exempt from FOIA disclosure. Active criminal investigations, juvenile case files, personnel records, and some security materials are not available through public requests. If an agency denies your request, it must tell you which exemption applies. You can challenge a denial by filing a petition in district or circuit court. The Virginia FOIA Advisory Council answers questions at (804) 698-1810 or toll-free at 1-866-448-4100. You can also email foiacouncil@dls.virginia.gov.
Virginia Background Check Laws
Virginia Code Title 19.2, Chapter 23 sets the rules for criminal record-keeping in the Commonwealth. Section 19.2-387 defines the CCRE as the state's sole criminal record-keeping agency. Section 19.2-389 governs who may receive criminal history information and under what conditions. Records go to criminal justice agencies, government security agencies, and individuals specifically authorized by law. Virginia Code § 19.2-390 requires law enforcement officers, conservators of the peace, and court clerks to report specific information to the State Police for inclusion in the CCRE.
Virginia passed record sealing laws that will take effect July 1, 2026. Under Virginia Code § 19.2-392.12, qualifying individuals can petition a court to seal certain convictions from public view. Once sealed, those records will not show up in standard public background check searches. The process is not automatic. You must petition the court, meet eligibility criteria, and wait a defined period after completing a sentence. Records of serious violent offenses and sexual offenses are not eligible for sealing.
Criminal convictions remain permanently on record in Virginia unless sealed by a court. There is no automatic clearing after any set number of years for convictions. The record sealing law was originally set to take effect July 1, 2025, but the Virginia legislature extended the date to July 1, 2026 during the 2025 session.
The screenshot below shows the Virginia Code's CCRE statutes page, where the full text of the criminal records exchange law is available.
Virginia Code § 19.2-387 through § 19.2-392 governs the Central Criminal Records Exchange and defines who can access Virginia criminal history records.
The screenshot below shows the Virginia record sealing laws page, which explains the Clean Slate process taking effect July 1, 2026.
Starting July 1, 2026, eligible Virginians can petition to seal qualifying convictions, which will remove those records from standard public background check results.
Virginia Professional Licensing Checks
Several Virginia state agencies require fingerprint-based background checks before they issue professional licenses. The Virginia Department of Health Professions oversees licensing for nurses, doctors, therapists, and many other healthcare workers. Applicants submit fingerprints to the CCRE, which forwards them to the FBI for a national check alongside a Virginia state check. Details on which professions require checks and how to submit fingerprints are at dhp.virginia.gov.
Virginia school employees must complete fingerprint-based checks through the Virginia State Police and the FBI before working with students. Gaming employees and security personnel face similar mandatory checks under Virginia Code § 58.1-4104. These checks use the CCRE system and cover both state and federal criminal history.
The screenshot below shows the Virginia Department of Health Professions website, which handles licensing background check requirements for healthcare workers.
The Virginia Department of Health Professions coordinates background check requirements for dozens of licensed health professions operating in the Commonwealth.
Virginia Firearms Background Checks
Virginia law requires a criminal history record check for all firearm purchases from licensed dealers. The Virginia State Police Firearms Transaction Program handles these checks. When you buy a firearm, the dealer collects your name, date of birth, gender, race, and identification number, then submits the information to the State Police. Two forms are required: the federal ATF form 4473 and the Virginia-specific form SP-65. Form 4473 covers general eligibility questions, while SP-65 addresses Virginia-specific disqualifiers such as restraining orders.
The State Police checks CCRE records against state and federal disqualifying criteria. If records show a prohibition, the dealer is notified and the sale stops. The dealer receives a unique reference number for each inquiry. Courts must send copies of mental health commitment orders to the CCRE using form SP-237, which helps keep disqualifying mental health records current in the system. More details are at vsp.virginia.gov/services/firearms/.
The screenshot below shows the Virginia State Police firearms background check program page.
The Virginia Firearms Transaction Program uses CCRE data to run background checks on all firearm purchases from licensed dealers in the state.
Note: For general questions about the Virginia CCRE, contact the Civil and Applicant Records Exchange at (804) 674-2131 or visit vsp.virginia.gov/contact/ for a full list of State Police division contacts.
Browse Virginia Background Checks by County
Each of Virginia's 95 counties has its own Circuit Court Clerk, Sheriff's Office, and General District Court. Browse a county to find local contact information, available background check resources, and direct links to county-level court and law enforcement offices.
View All 95 Virginia Counties →
Virginia Cities Background Check Resources
Virginia has 39 independent cities, each with its own law enforcement and court systems separate from the county structure. Browse a city below to find background check resources, police records contacts, and court information for major Virginia cities.