Sussex County Background Check Records
Sussex County background check records are maintained by the Sheriff's Office and the Circuit Court Clerk in Sussex, Virginia. This Southside Virginia county is part of the 6th Judicial Circuit and was formed from Surry County in 1754. To find criminal history, arrest records, or court case files tied to Sussex County, this page explains the local offices, the free online tools available, and how Virginia FOIA applies. Sussex County connects to the Virginia State Police CCRE for statewide criminal history searches.
Sussex County Overview
Sussex County Sheriff Background Check Requests
The Sussex County Sheriff's Office at 20209 Governor Harrison Parkway, Sussex, VA 23884 handles arrest records, incident reports, criminal warrants, and local criminal history for the county. The office can be reached at (434) 246-5122, and the website is at sussexsheriff.org. Publicly available police reports may be obtained in person from the Administrative Division. A dedicated records and FOIA page is available at sussexsheriff.org/records-and-foia.
To request public records, submit a written FOIA request to the Sheriff's Office Administrative Division. 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. For past arrests and resolved cases, basic incident information is available through a written request with copy fees based on actual cost.
For inmate status, VINELink provides free online searches for anyone currently held in Sussex 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 | Sussex County Sheriff's Office |
|---|---|
| Address | 20209 Governor Harrison Parkway, Sussex, VA 23884 |
| Phone | (434) 246-5122 |
| Records/FOIA | sussexsheriff.org |
Sussex County Circuit Court Criminal Records
The Sussex County Circuit Court Clerk is located at P.O. Box 1337, Sussex, VA 23884, reachable at (434) 246-5511. 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. Sussex County records go back to 1754, when the county was formed from Surry County. Historical Rule Docket Books from 1785 to 1807 are available at the Library of Virginia for research into older court proceedings. For certified copies, contact the Clerk directly. Standard copies are $0.50 per page with a certification fee on top.
Case information for the Sussex 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 6th Judicial Circuit, which includes Sussex, also covers Prince George, Surry, and Southampton counties. 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 Sussex County government, contact the county administrator. Marriage records, probate records, and land records are all maintained at the Clerk's office and available through a written request with the appropriate fees. The Library of Virginia also holds historical collections for Sussex County that may be useful for older property and court research.
| Office | Sussex County Clerk of Circuit Court |
|---|---|
| Address | P.O. Box 1337, Sussex, VA 23884 |
| Phone | (434) 246-5511 |
| Case Search | vacourts.gov |
Sussex County Sheriff and Records Resources
The Sussex County Sheriff's Office website at sussexsheriff.org provides information on law enforcement services, records requests, and how to access publicly available police reports in person.
Through the Sheriff's website you can find contact information and the records and FOIA page with details on how to request police reports and incident records from Sussex County.
The Sussex County Sheriff's records and FOIA page explains how to request public records, what records are available to the public, and how the county handles FOIA requests.
Use the records and FOIA page to find out how to submit a public records request to the Sussex County Sheriff's Office and what types of records are available through the Administrative Division.
Online Resources for Sussex 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 Sussex 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
Sussex County is in Southside Virginia between Petersburg and the North Carolina border.