Smyth County Criminal Records and Background Checks

Smyth County background check records are available through the Sheriff's Office and Circuit Court Clerk in Marion, Virginia. The Sheriff handles arrest records, incident reports, and fingerprinting. The Circuit Court Clerk holds court case files, land records, marriage records, and probate documents going back to 1832. If you need a local criminal records check or want to search court case history for Smyth County, both offices have clear processes for how to request information.

Smyth County Sheriff's Office and Records

The Smyth County Sheriff's Office is at 626 South Main Street in Marion. The main administrative line is (276) 782-4056. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Administrative Assistant Kim Medley can help with records requests and general inquiries. The office handles accident reports, offense reports, and fingerprinting for residents and others who need these services in Smyth County.

Accident reports can be requested by mail with a self-addressed, stamped envelope or by visiting in person. Offense reports are generally available only to victims, complainants, or insurance companies. Fingerprinting is done by appointment only at the Smyth County Courthouse at 109 West Main Street in Marion. Contact Jonna Tuell at (276) 781-2349 to schedule. Fingerprinting hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to noon and 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM.

Fingerprinting fees are waived for Smyth County residents. Non-residents pay $10 for the first card and $5 for each additional card. You must bring two forms of ID, and one must be a photo ID. This service is useful for people who need fingerprints for licensing, government applications, or other official purposes.

Smyth County Circuit Court Records

Smyth County Circuit Court Clerk John H. Graham manages court records, land records, and vital records for the county. The clerk's office is at 109 West Main Street, Suite 1081 in Marion. Records held include court case files, deeds, mortgages, surveys, marriage licenses, probate records, wills, estates, and concealed handgun permits. Marriage and divorce records date from 1832.

Land records can be searched in person at the courthouse vault or deed room. Online access is available through a Secure Remote Access (SRA) subscription at $50 per month. Electronic recording of documents is available through Simplifile, CSC, and ePN. Recording fees are based on the consideration or actual value of the transaction. You can calculate recording fees using the online deed calculator at vacourts.gov.

The statewide court case search at vacourts.gov covers Smyth County along with all other Virginia circuit and district courts. This is a free tool and lets you search by party name or case number.

Smyth County FOIA and Records Requests

Smyth County has a formal FOIA process with dedicated officers for both the county government and the Sheriff's Office. The County FOIA Officer is Alicia Richardson at the Smyth County Administrator's Office, 121 Bagley Circle, Suite 100, Marion, VA 24354. Phone: (276) 706-8305. Email: lrichardson@smythcounty.org.

The Sheriff's Office FOIA Officer is Carly Greer at 626 South Main Street, Marion, VA 24354. Phone: (276) 781-2349. Email: crgreer@smythcounty.org. For records held by the Sheriff, go to the Sheriff's FOIA officer. For county government records, contact the County Administrator's office.

FOIA fees in Smyth County are set by the county. Research and compilation costs $25.00 per hour. Copies are $0.50 per page. CDs cost $1.00 each. If your request is expected to cost more than $200 to fulfill, the county may ask for a deposit before processing begins. You can submit a FOIA request through the county website at smythcounty.org.

Virginia Background Check Laws Affecting Smyth County

Virginia law requires all law enforcement agencies to report arrest and disposition data to the Central Criminal Records Exchange (CCRE). Smyth County Sheriff's Office participates in this system. When you request a background check through Virginia State Police, any Smyth County arrests or convictions properly reported to the CCRE will appear. The legal framework for this statewide system is in Virginia Code Title 19.2, Chapter 23.

Virginia State Police runs the CARE program for public background check requests. Name checks cost $11 to $32 depending on the submission method. Fingerprint-based checks cost $58 and are more reliable. You can request a check online or by mail through vsp.virginia.gov. Processing times run roughly 7 to 10 business days for name checks and 10 to 15 days for fingerprint checks.

Under Virginia Code Section 19.2-392.12, people whose charges were dismissed or who were acquitted can petition a circuit court to have those records sealed. If granted, sealed records do not show up on standard background check reports. This is not automatic. A person must file the petition and a judge must approve it. For Smyth County cases, that petition would go to the Smyth County Circuit Court.

The Virginia Sex Offender Registry is managed by Virginia State Police and is free to the public. You can search registered offenders in Smyth County at sex-offender.vsp.virginia.gov. Results can be filtered by name, city, zip code, or shown on a map.

Note: Birth and death records for Smyth County are available from the Virginia Department of Health Office of Vital Records, not the county offices. Marriage and divorce records from 1832 forward are held by the Circuit Court Clerk.

Smyth County Records Resources

The Smyth County Sheriff's Office in Marion handles local criminal records, incident reports, and fingerprinting. The screenshot below shows the Sheriff's Department page where you can find contact information and service details.

The Sheriff's Office is the primary source for local Smyth County arrest records and incident report requests.

Court and land records for Smyth County are maintained by the Smyth County Circuit Court Clerk. The image below shows the Circuit Court Clerk's office page with information about records access and online search options.

The Circuit Court Clerk's office at 109 West Main Street in Marion holds Smyth County records going back to the 1800s.

Nearby Counties

Smyth County is in Southwest Virginia, bordered by several other counties. Check the county where the case was filed if you need records from a different jurisdiction.