Roanoke County Background Check Records
Roanoke County background check records are maintained by the Sheriff's Office and the Circuit Court Clerk in Salem, Virginia. This county surrounds the City of Roanoke and is part of the 23rd Judicial Circuit. To find criminal history, arrest records, or court case files tied to Roanoke County, this page explains the local offices, the free online tools available, and how Virginia FOIA applies. Roanoke County connects to the Virginia State Police CCRE for statewide criminal history searches. Note: Roanoke County and the City of Roanoke are separate jurisdictions.
Roanoke County Overview
Roanoke County Sheriff Background Check Requests
The Roanoke County Sheriff's Office at 401 East Main Street, Salem, VA 24153 handles arrest records, incident reports, criminal warrants, and local criminal history for the county. The office can be reached at (540) 777-8641, and the website is at roanokecountyva.gov/sheriff. To request public records, submit a written FOIA request to the Sheriff's Office. Virginia Code § 2.2-3700 et seq. requires the office to respond within five working days, with a possible extension to twelve days for complex requests.
Active criminal investigations, juvenile records, and personnel files are exempt from public disclosure under Virginia FOIA. For resolved cases and past arrests, basic incident information is available through a written request with copy fees based on actual cost. Roanoke County is a larger, more urbanized county, so the office handles a higher volume of records requests than smaller rural counties.
For inmate status, VINELink provides free online searches for anyone currently held in Roanoke County by name or offender ID. You can register for custody change notifications at no cost. For people transferred to state custody, the Virginia Department of Corrections offender search is a free resource. For statewide criminal history covering all Virginia jurisdictions, use the Virginia State Police CCRE rather than the local Sheriff's Office.
| Office | Roanoke County Sheriff's Office |
|---|---|
| Address | 401 East Main Street, Salem, VA 24153 |
| Phone | (540) 777-8641 |
| Website | roanokecountyva.gov/sheriff |
Roanoke County Circuit Court Criminal Records
The Roanoke County Circuit Court Clerk is Brenda S. Hamilton, at P.O. Box 1126, Salem, VA 24153, reachable at (540) 387-6205. The Circuit Court holds all official court records for criminal and civil cases in the county, including deed records, marriage licenses, probate records, court case files, and judgments. For certified copies of court documents, contact the Clerk's office directly. Standard copies are $0.50 per page with a certification fee on top of that.
Case information for the Roanoke County Circuit Court is available online at no cost through the statewide Virginia Judiciary Case Information system. Search by name or case number to see case status, charges, hearing dates, and docket entries. The 23rd Judicial Circuit covers Roanoke County and the independent City of Salem. The General District Court handles misdemeanors, traffic violations, and civil matters under $25,000, with case information also searchable through the same portal.
For FOIA requests directed at Roanoke County government, contact the county administrator. The county has a dedicated public records process on its website at roanokecountyva.gov. Marriage records, probate records, and land records are maintained at the Clerk's office. The county is well-resourced and generally responsive to FOIA requests. For the most complete statewide criminal history, use the Virginia State Police CCRE.
| Office | Roanoke County Clerk of Circuit Court |
|---|---|
| Clerk | Brenda S. Hamilton |
| Address | P.O. Box 1126, Salem, VA 24153 |
| Phone | (540) 387-6205 |
| Case Search | vacourts.gov |
Roanoke County Sheriff and Court Records
The Roanoke County Sheriff's Office at roanokecountyva.gov/sheriff provides information on law enforcement services, records requests, and FOIA procedures for the county.
Through the Sheriff's page you can find contact information and information about records requests and services provided to Roanoke County residents.
The Virginia Judiciary Case Information system provides free access to Roanoke County Circuit Court and General District Court case filings and docket information.
Use the state courts portal to search Roanoke County cases by name or case number and find current case status, charges, and hearing dates at no cost.
Online Resources for Roanoke County 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 registration needed.
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. Community notification alerts are available at no charge.
Virginia FOIA and Background Check Laws
Virginia FOIA at Title 2.2, Chapter 37 governs public records access in Roanoke County. Five-day response required. 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.
Nearby Counties
Roanoke County surrounds the City of Roanoke in the Roanoke Valley of Southwest Virginia.