Radford Background Check Records

Radford background check records come from the Radford Police Department and the Circuit Court Clerk for this independent city on the New River in Southwest Virginia, adjacent to Montgomery County.

Radford Police Department Records

The Radford Police Department serves this independent Virginia city. The department website is at radfordva.gov/police. Radford is a separate jurisdiction from Montgomery County and maintains its own police force and records. Arrest records, incident reports, and local criminal history requests for events within city limits are handled by the Radford Police Department.

Radford University is located within the city, which means the police department handles incidents for a significant campus and surrounding area. Radford University Police also maintain separate records for on-campus incidents. If you need records involving a campus-area incident, you may need to contact both the city police and the university police department.

To request police records, submit a written FOIA request to the Radford Police Department or the city attorney. Virginia Code § 2.2-3700 requires a response within five working days. Active criminal investigations, juvenile records, and personnel files are not subject to public disclosure. The first 30 minutes of staff search time is typically free. For a full Virginia criminal history search, use the Virginia State Police CCRE.

For inmate custody status, VINELink provides free name searches and notification registration for people held in the New River Valley area or transferred to state corrections.

Radford Circuit Court Criminal Records

Radford is part of the 27th Judicial Circuit, which also covers Montgomery County, Pulaski County, Giles County, Floyd County, Wythe County, and Carroll County. The Radford Circuit Court handles felony criminal cases, civil matters, appeals from district court, and maintains land records, marriage licenses, and probate records for the city. For certified copies of court documents, contact the Circuit Court Clerk. Standard copies cost $0.50 per page plus a certification fee.

Case information is available at no cost through the statewide Virginia Judiciary Case Information system. Search by name or case number to find case status, charges, hearing dates, and docket entries. No registration needed. This covers circuit court and general district court records for Radford.

The Montgomery County-Radford General District Court handles misdemeanor cases, traffic violations, and civil claims under $25,000. Case records are also searchable through the statewide portal. For FOIA requests directed at city government, contact the Radford City Clerk or City Attorney. Marriage records and deed records are held by the Circuit Court Clerk in Radford.

Online Resources for Radford Background Checks

The free starting point is the Virginia Judiciary Case Information system. Search Circuit and General District Court cases by name or case number at no cost. No login required.

For full statewide criminal history, use Form SP-167 from the VSP forms page for a $15 name-based CCRE check. Mail to CARE at 7700 Midlothian Turnpike, North Chesterfield, VA 23235. This covers all Virginia counties and cities.

The Virginia State Police Sex Offender Registry is free and searchable by name, zip code, or address. Results include photos, current addresses, and conviction details for registered offenders in the Radford and New River Valley area.

Virginia FOIA and Background Check Laws

Virginia FOIA at Title 2.2, Chapter 37 governs public records access in Radford. Criminal history statutes at Title 19.2, Chapter 23 govern the CCRE. Virginia's record sealing law at § 19.2-392.12 takes effect July 1, 2026. Contact the FOIA Advisory Council at (804) 698-1810 with questions about public records in Virginia.

Nearby Virginia Cities

These independent Virginia cities are near Radford in Southwest Virginia's New River Valley.