Russell County Background Check Records
Russell County background check records are maintained by the Sheriff's Office and the Circuit Court Clerk in Lebanon, Virginia. This Southwest Virginia county is part of the 29th Judicial Circuit. To find criminal history, arrest records, or court case files tied to Russell County, this page explains the local offices, the free online tools available, and how Virginia FOIA applies. Russell County connects to the Virginia State Police CCRE for statewide criminal history searches.
Russell County Overview
Russell County Sheriff Background Check Requests
The Russell County Sheriff's Office at 60D Broad Street, Lebanon, VA 24266 handles arrest records, incident reports, criminal warrants, and local criminal history for the county. The office can be reached at (276) 889-1600, and the website is at russellsheriff.com. 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. The first 30 minutes of staff time is typically free. Copy fees are generally $0.25 to $0.50 per page depending on format.
For inmate status, VINELink provides free online searches for anyone currently held in Russell 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 | Russell County Sheriff's Office |
|---|---|
| Address | 60D Broad Street, Lebanon, VA 24266 |
| Phone | (276) 889-1600 |
| Website | russellsheriff.com |
Russell County Circuit Court Criminal Records
The Russell County Circuit Court Clerk is located at 57 East Main Street, Lebanon, VA 24266, reachable at (276) 889-8000. The Circuit Court holds all official court records for criminal and civil cases in the county, including land 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. Written requests with payment are accepted by mail.
Case information for the Russell 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 29th Judicial Circuit covers Russell County along with Buchanan, Dickenson, and Tazewell counties in Southwest Virginia. The General District Court handles misdemeanors, traffic violations, and civil matters under $25,000, with case information also searchable through the same statewide portal.
For FOIA requests directed at Russell County government, contact the county administrator. The administrator serves as the county FOIA officer. Marriage records, probate records, and land records are maintained at the Clerk's office and available through a written request with the appropriate fees. For the most complete statewide criminal history search, use the Virginia State Police CCRE.
| Office | Russell County Clerk of Circuit Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 57 East Main Street, Lebanon, VA 24266 |
| Phone | (276) 889-8000 |
| Case Search | vacourts.gov |
Russell County Circuit Court Records
The Virginia Judiciary Case Information system provides free online access to Russell County Circuit Court and General District Court case filings, docket entries, and case status information.
Use the state courts portal to search Russell County criminal and civil cases by name or case number and find current case status, charges, and hearing information at no cost.
Online Resources for Russell 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 Russell 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
Russell County is in Southwest Virginia near the Kentucky border.