Chesterfield County Background Check Records

Chesterfield County background check records are kept across several offices, including the Sheriff's Office, the Police Department Records unit, and the Circuit Court Clerk on the second floor of the courthouse at 9500 Courthouse Road. Whether you need to look up a criminal case, pull an arrest record, or get a certified copy of a court file, this guide covers the right office to contact, what each agency keeps, and how to submit a records request in Chesterfield County, Virginia.

Chesterfield County Sheriff Background Check Records

The Chesterfield County Sheriff's Office is the main law enforcement agency for unincorporated areas of the county. The Sheriff handles arrest records for cases in its jurisdiction and can respond to records requests under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act. Active warrants are posted as downloadable PDFs on the Sheriff's website at chesterfield.gov. For criminal records tied to incidents within Chesterfield's unincorporated areas, contact the Sheriff's Office directly at (804) 748-1261.

For incidents handled by the Chesterfield County Police Department, records requests go to a separate office. The Police Records Unit at 10001 Iron Bridge Road handles requests for police incident reports and FOIA submissions. Their direct line is (804) 748-1266, fax (804) 748-6265. As of July 1, 2021, the county charges for FOIA requests once costs exceed $20. Below that amount, the fee is waived. If you are a victim of a crime, charges are also waived. When estimated costs exceed $200, the county sends a written estimate first and may ask for a deposit of half the total before processing.

Chesterfield Circuit Court Criminal Records

The Circuit Court Clerk maintains all court-level criminal and civil records for Chesterfield County. The office is on the second floor of the courthouse at 9500 Courthouse Road. You can reach the general clerk line at (804) 748-1241, the civil records line at (804) 717-6981, and the criminal records line at (804) 717-6980. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

For mailed requests, send to P.O. Box 125, Chesterfield, VA 23832-0909. Copies cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies are $2.00 per document. Mail requests add $2.00 for postage and processing. If you need land records online, the county offers Secure Remote Access through ccclandrecords.org at a $600 annual subscription fee. General case status can be checked for free through the Virginia Judiciary Online Case Information System.

The General District Court at the same address handles misdemeanor cases and civil claims under $25,000. Their number is (804) 748-1231. The Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court is at 7000 Lucy Corr Boulevard, phone (804) 748-1379.

Online Access and FOIA Requests

Most Chesterfield County court records can be searched for free using the state's online portal. The Virginia Judiciary Online Case Information System lets you search by name or case number across circuit, general district, and juvenile courts. This is a good first step before calling or visiting the courthouse in person.

For records held by the Sheriff or Police Department that are not in the court system, you use Virginia's Freedom of Information Act process. Virginia FOIA, found at foiacouncil.dls.virginia.gov, gives you the right to inspect or receive copies of public records. Public bodies must respond within five working days. Chesterfield applies a fee threshold of $20 for police records FOIA requests as of July 1, 2021. Requests that would cost less than $20 to fulfill are processed at no charge.

The Virginia State Police also maintains the statewide Central Criminal Records Exchange (CCRE), which is the official state repository for all criminal history records. This is separate from county-level records and covers convictions across Virginia. A name search costs $15. Fingerprint-based checks are also available for a higher fee.

Note: The CCRE processes requests in about 12 to 15 business days and does not offer expedited service.

Virginia Background Check Laws

Virginia law gives the public broad access to court records while protecting certain categories of files. Under Virginia Code Title 19.2, Chapter 23, the Central Criminal Records Exchange serves as the sole criminal record-keeping agency for the Commonwealth. This means most official background check requests for criminal history flow through the State Police, not county offices. However, county clerks still hold court case files that are open to the public under Virginia's court records access policies.

Sealed records are different from general public records. Virginia passed record sealing legislation under Virginia Code § 19.2-392.12 that takes effect July 1, 2026. Once a record is sealed, it does not show up on background checks for the general public. Until then, most convictions and many arrests that did not lead to conviction remain visible in court records systems.

Juvenile records and adoption files are sealed by default. Active criminal investigations are also exempt from FOIA disclosure. The Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry is public and searchable at sex-offender.vsp.virginia.gov. This registry is updated by the Virginia State Police and includes names, photos, and conviction information for registered offenders in Chesterfield County and throughout Virginia.

Chesterfield County Records Resources

The Chesterfield County Sheriff's Office posts active warrant information and handles law enforcement records for unincorporated areas of the county.

The Sheriff's Office is your first contact for arrest records and warrant lookups in Chesterfield County.

The Chesterfield County Police Records Unit handles FOIA requests and incident report copies for events handled by county police.

Police records requests are processed separately from court records and can be submitted by phone, in person, or through a written FOIA request.

The Chesterfield County Circuit Court keeps criminal and civil case files going back many years, accessible to the public during regular business hours.

The Circuit Court Clerk can search by name or case number and make copies at $0.50 per page for standard records.

Land records and deed history for Chesterfield County are available through the Chesterfield County Land Records portal, which offers remote access for a yearly subscription fee.

Land records can be useful for property history searches as part of a broader public records review.

Nearby Counties

These Virginia counties border Chesterfield County. Each has its own courthouse and records office.