Bland County Background Check Records
Bland County background check records are kept by the Sheriff's Office and the Circuit Court Clerk in this rural southwest Virginia county. If you need to find criminal history, arrest records, or court case information for someone with ties to Bland County, this page explains which offices hold those records, what you can search online, and how to submit a formal request. Bland County is part of the 29th Judicial Circuit and connects to Virginia's statewide criminal records database through the CCRE at the Virginia State Police.
Bland County Overview
Bland County Sheriff Background Checks
The Bland County Sheriff's Office is responsible for law enforcement, jail operations, and criminal records in the county. The office processes background investigations for concealed handgun permit applications. When someone applies for a concealed handgun permit at the Circuit Court Clerk's office, the Sheriff's Office conducts the background investigation by checking CCRE, FBI records, and local criminal history. The completed report goes back to the Circuit Court Judge, who issues the approval or denial.
For public records requests, the Sheriff's Office follows Virginia's Freedom of Information Act under Virginia Code § 2.2-3700 et seq. You can request arrest records, incident reports, and warrant information in writing. The office has five working days to respond. Juvenile records, active criminal investigations, and personnel files are exempt from release under state law. For anything beyond local arrest records, you will need to go through the Virginia State Police Central Criminal Records Exchange.
Bland County is a small county and many services are shared with neighboring counties in the 29th Judicial Circuit, which also covers Buchanan and Tazewell counties. The magistrate court for this region covers Bland along with Giles, Buchanan, Carroll, Dickenson, Floyd, Grayson, Lee, Montgomery, Pulaski, Russell, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, Wise, and Wythe counties, as well as Bristol, Galax, Norton, and Radford cities.
| Office | Bland County Sheriff's Office |
|---|---|
| Address | P.O. Box 577, Bland, VA 24315 |
| Phone | (276) 688-3581 |
| Website | vacourts.gov - Bland Circuit |
Bland County Circuit Court Criminal Records
The Bland County Circuit Court Clerk holds the official record of all criminal and civil court cases filed in the county. This includes felony cases, misdemeanor appeals from General District Court, civil suits, land records, marriage licenses, probate records, and wills. Court records are public unless they have been sealed by a court order.
The concealed handgun permit process in Bland County starts at the Clerk's office. You fill out Form SP-248 there and pay the required fees: a $24.00 certified check or money order payable to the Virginia Department of State Police, plus $15.00 to the Clerk of Bland County Circuit Court. From there, the Sheriff's Office takes over the background investigation piece. The whole process can take 45 days or more depending on caseload.
Online case information for the Bland County Circuit Court is available through the Virginia Judiciary Case Information system. You can search by name or case number at no cost to see docket entries and case status. For physical copies of documents, contact the Clerk's office directly. Standard copies are $0.50 per page, and certified copies carry an additional fee. The Clerk's office is the right place to look for records on felony cases, land transactions, and marriage and probate records.
| Office | Bland County Clerk of Circuit Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 612 Main Street, P.O. Box 295, Bland, VA 24315 |
| Phone | (276) 688-4562 |
| Website | vacourts.gov |
Bland County Court Records Online
The Virginia Judiciary provides online access to Bland County Circuit Court records through its case information system. You can search criminal and civil cases filed in the county without any account or fee.
From this portal you can view case filings, hearing schedules, and disposition information for cases heard in the Bland County Circuit Court going back several years.
For broader records searches including land records and additional case data, the Virginia Judicial System maintains county-level records portals that are updated on a regular basis.
Use the statewide case information system to cross-reference Bland County records with information from neighboring counties in the 29th Judicial Circuit.
Online Resources for Bland County Records
The main free tool for Bland County background check research is the Virginia Judiciary Case Information system. This covers both Circuit Court and General District Court cases by name or case number. Results are free and available without registration. The General District Court for Bland handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, and civil matters under $25,000.
For statewide criminal history, the Virginia State Police Central Criminal Records Exchange is the right resource. Submit Form SP-167 to get a name-based background check for $15 (Virginia records only). The form is available on the VSP forms page. Mail the completed form to CARE at 7700 Midlothian Turnpike, North Chesterfield, VA 23235. This check draws from the full statewide database and gives a more complete picture than just local court searches.
The Virginia State Police Sex Offender Registry is searchable by name, zip code, or address. Bland County residents can search for registered offenders in their area. The registry shows photos, addresses, and conviction details at no cost.
Virginia Background Check Laws
Virginia's Freedom of Information Act at Title 2.2, Chapter 37 gives the public the right to request records from government offices in Bland County, including the Sheriff's Office and Circuit Court Clerk. Agencies must respond within five working days, with a possible extension to twelve days for complex requests. Criminal investigative files may be withheld for up to 65 working days.
The CCRE statutes at Title 19.2, Chapter 23 govern how criminal history records are shared in Virginia. Under Virginia Code § 19.2-383(d), agencies only release conviction data on Class 3 and 4 misdemeanors directly to the public. Felonies and Class 1 and 2 misdemeanors go through the CCRE at the Virginia State Police.
Virginia's record sealing law at § 19.2-392.12 allows some individuals to petition to seal older criminal records effective July 1, 2026. Sealed records will not show up in standard public court searches. Contact the Virginia FOIA Advisory Council with questions about what records you can access and how to request them.
Nearby Counties
Bland County is located in the mountainous southwestern corner of Virginia. Neighboring counties share some court and law enforcement services with Bland.