Virginia Beach Background Check and Criminal Records

Virginia Beach background check records start at the Virginia Beach Police Department Records Unit. The city has a specific form, PD-150, for citizens requesting a local Virginia Beach criminal record check. The Virginia Beach Sheriff's Office also operates in the city but refers criminal record requests to the Police Department. Virginia Beach is the most populous city in Virginia, and its court system includes the Virginia Beach Circuit Court and General District Court. For records beyond the city limits, the Virginia State Police CCRE holds statewide criminal history and is accessible online.

Virginia Beach Police Department Local Record Check

The Virginia Beach Police Department handles local criminal record checks through its Records Unit, which is at the Virginia Beach Municipal Center, Building 11, at 2405 Courthouse Drive. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, though services requiring processing may not be accepted after 4:00 PM. The general Police Department line is (757) 385-4441. You can also reach the Records Unit by email at vbpd@vbgov.com.

To get a local Virginia Beach criminal record check, you must complete Form PD-150. This form is available on the city's website. In-person requests require a valid government-issued photo ID plus one additional form of ID. The fee is $15, payable by cash, personal check, or credit card (MasterCard, Visa, or Discover). Make checks payable to "City of Virginia Beach." Local record checks cover only arrests made by Virginia Beach Police and do not reflect statewide records.

Mail requests are also accepted. To request by mail, you need to:

• Complete Form PD-150 with full name, maiden name, aliases, sex, race, date of birth, and Social Security Number
• Have your signature notarized on the form
• Include a copy of a valid government-issued photo ID and one additional ID
• Include payment of $15 and a self-addressed return envelope

Mail the completed package to: City of Virginia Beach Police Department, Police Records Unit, 2405 Courthouse Dr., Virginia Beach, VA 23456. The PD-150 form can be downloaded from the city's website.

Virginia Beach Sheriff's Office and Records

The Virginia Beach Sheriff's Office operates at 2405 Courthouse Drive, Virginia Beach, VA 23456. The phone number is (757) 385-4555. The Sheriff's Office is responsible for the city jail, courthouse security, and civil process. It does not provide criminal records or background checks directly. If you contact the Sheriff for a background check, they will direct you to the Police Department's Records Unit instead.

The Sheriff's Office does maintain information on incarcerated individuals held in the Virginia Beach jail. Jail records and inmate lookups are separate from the general criminal history check process. For those records, contact the Sheriff's Office directly at the number above.

Virginia Beach Circuit Court Criminal Case Records

The Virginia Beach Circuit Court is located at 2425 Nimmo Parkway, Building 10, Virginia Beach, VA 23456. Reach the clerk at (757) 385-4581. This court maintains all felony criminal case files for the city, along with civil records, estates, land records, and court orders. Felony charges and convictions processed through Virginia Beach Circuit Court are reported to the state CCRE. For full case files or certified copies, contact the clerk directly or visit in person.

The Virginia Beach General District Court is at 2449 Princess Anne Road, Building 10, and can also be reached at (757) 385-4581. It handles misdemeanor and traffic cases. Both courts are searchable through the Virginia Courts Case Information portal. You can look up cases by name or case number at no charge. The results show charge type, hearing dates, and case outcomes but not full case documents.

Virginia Background Check Laws and Virginia Beach CCRE Records

Virginia Beach criminal history flows into the Virginia State Police CCRE. The CCRE is the statewide database of criminal records and is governed by Virginia Code Title 19.2, Chapter 23. This chapter covers the structure and access rules for the CCRE. You can request your own statewide criminal history from the Virginia State Police at vsp.virginia.gov/services/criminal-background. The cost is $15 for a name-based search or $27 for fingerprint-based. Forms are at vsp.virginia.gov/services/forms.

Virginia's public Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry is searchable at sex-offender.vsp.virginia.gov. The registry includes all registered offenders statewide, including those with Virginia Beach addresses. You can search by name, zip code, or street address. Under Virginia Code Section 19.2-392.12, certain convictions may be sealed after a waiting period under the state's Clean Slate law. Sealed records do not appear in public court searches.

Note: Virginia FOIA applies to Virginia Beach city records just as it does statewide. Requests for records not available online should be submitted in writing to the relevant city department. The Virginia FOIA Council at 866-448-4100 can help you understand your rights and how to submit a proper request.

The Virginia Beach Sheriff's Office maintains custody of individuals held in the city jail and handles courthouse security, while criminal record checks are directed to the Virginia Beach Police Department Records Unit.

The Virginia Beach Sheriff's Office and Police Department are co-located at the Municipal Center. For criminal background checks, always contact the Police Department Records Unit, not the Sheriff's Office.

Nearby Virginia Cities

These Virginia cities are in the Hampton Roads area near Virginia Beach. Each is an independent city with its own law enforcement and courts.