Campbell County Background Check and Public Records

Campbell County background check records are held by the Sheriff's Office and Circuit Court in Rustburg, Virginia. The county provides detailed FOIA contact information and a published fee schedule, making it easier than many Virginia counties to know exactly what to expect when requesting records. Criminal history, arrest records, court case filings, and civil judgments are all accessible through official channels. This page covers the specific offices, contacts, fees, and statewide tools that apply to background check research in Campbell County.

Campbell County Sheriff's Office

The Campbell County Sheriff's Office, led by Sheriff Whit W. Clark III, is located at 87 Courthouse Lane in Rustburg. The Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement records including arrest documentation, incident reports, and criminal history information for unincorporated Campbell County. FOIA requests to the Sheriff's Office are directed to a specific contact, making the process more organized than in counties without a designated FOIA officer.

To submit a FOIA request to the Campbell County Sheriff's Office, contact Rhonda Mason at the address or phone number above. Include as much detail as possible about the records you seek, including names, dates, and any case numbers. The office will respond within five working days as required by the Virginia Freedom of Information Act.

For records held by county government (rather than the Sheriff's Office specifically), contact the county FOIA officer. Campbell County's general government FOIA contact is Sherry Harding, who can be reached at 434-332-9818 or by email at per@campbellcountyva.gov. Her mailing address is 47 Courthouse Lane, Suite 2, Rustburg, VA 24588. The county website is at co.campbell.va.us.

Arrest records held by the Sheriff's Office describe the circumstances of an arrest and the charges filed. Records may be withheld for active investigations or if the record has been sealed under Virginia Code Section 19.2-392.12. Juvenile records are protected separately and are not available through standard FOIA channels.

FOIA Fee Schedule and Circuit Court Records

Campbell County publishes its FOIA fee schedule, which is helpful to know before you submit a request. Simple requests where no research is needed are often provided free of charge. For requests that require staff research time, fees apply as follows:

This fee schedule applies to general county records. Court records held by the Circuit Court Clerk follow Virginia's standard statutory fee schedule, which may differ. Call the Circuit Court Clerk's office to confirm current court document fees before ordering copies.

The Campbell County Circuit Court sits in the 24th Judicial Circuit. The Circuit Court handles felony criminal cases, civil matters over $25,000, appeals from general district court, estate proceedings, and land and marriage records. Criminal conviction records from felony cases are maintained here and can be accessed in person or through the online court portal.

For online court access, use the Virginia Courts Case Information portal. Select Campbell County from the court list and search by name or case number. The portal covers both circuit and general district court records and is free to use without creating an account.

Campbell County's General District Court handles misdemeanor cases, traffic charges, and small claims. Misdemeanor records from this court appear in the same online portal as circuit court records, making it easy to check both with one search.

Campbell County Government Resources

The Campbell County government website provides information about county services, FOIA contacts, and public records procedures. The image below comes from the official county website at co.campbell.va.us.

The Campbell County website includes contact details for FOIA requests, county offices, and public services, making it a useful starting point for records research in Rustburg.

Virginia Statewide Records Systems

Campbell County records can be supplemented through Virginia's statewide databases. These systems are available online and cover Campbell County along with all other Virginia jurisdictions.

The Virginia Courts Case Information portal is the primary free tool for court record searches. It covers circuit and general district courts in Campbell County. You can search by name, case number, or attorney name. Results include case type, hearing dates, charges, and dispositions. No login is required.

The Virginia State Police maintains the Central Criminal Records Exchange (CCRE) for statewide criminal history. Virginia residents can request their own records through the VSP criminal background check page. The CCRE is governed by Title 19.2, Chapter 23 of the Virginia Code. Third-party requests require authorization and fingerprinting.

The Virginia Sex Offender Registry includes all registrants in Campbell County. You can search by name, address, or zip code. Entries include photos, offense details, and current registration addresses. The registry is updated regularly and is free to use.

For form downloads related to VSP background checks, visit the VSP forms page. This page has fingerprint cards and request forms for the formal CCRE process.

The Virginia FOIA Council provides guidance for records requesters and agencies alike. If you have a dispute with Campbell County over a FOIA request, the Council can offer advisory opinions and mediation assistance.

Virginia Records Laws and Campbell County

Background check and public records access in Campbell County is governed by a set of Virginia statutes. Here is what you need to know about the key laws that apply.

The Virginia FOIA statute is the primary tool for accessing public records in Campbell County. FOIA gives any person the right to inspect or copy public records held by government agencies. Campbell County has designated FOIA contacts for both the Sheriff's Office and general county government, making it straightforward to know where to send requests. Fees are capped by statute and must be disclosed in advance if they will exceed $200.

Criminal records law at Title 19.2, Chapter 23 governs how criminal history data is collected and released by Virginia law enforcement agencies, including those in Campbell County. These statutes require accurate and timely reporting to the CCRE and limit access to detailed criminal history reports to authorized users.

Virginia's record sealing statute, Section 19.2-392.12, allows qualifying individuals to petition for record sealing. Sealed records are removed from public access. Campbell County courts process sealing petitions as they do other civil matters.

Juvenile and Domestic Relations court records in Campbell County are sealed by default. The JDR court's records are not accessible through FOIA or the public court portal. This protection applies to all JDR proceedings regardless of the nature of the case or the outcome.

Nearby Counties

Campbell County is located in central Virginia's Piedmont region and borders several neighboring jurisdictions. Records for these adjacent counties can be found through their respective courts and law enforcement offices.