Tazewell County Background Check Records
Tazewell County background check records are maintained by the Sheriff's Office and the Circuit Court Clerk in Tazewell, Virginia. This Southwest Virginia county is part of the 29th Judicial Circuit. To find criminal history, arrest records, or court case files tied to Tazewell County, this page explains the local offices, the free online tools available, and how Virginia FOIA applies. Tazewell County connects to the Virginia State Police CCRE for statewide criminal history searches.
Tazewell County Overview
Tazewell County Sheriff Background Check Requests
The Tazewell County Sheriff's Office at 120 East Main Street, Tazewell, VA 24651 handles arrest records, incident reports, criminal warrants, and local criminal history for the county. The office can be reached at (276) 988-0891. The fax number is (276) 988-3008. 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. You do not need to state a reason for your request.
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. Personnel records maintained for all employees and background investigations for hires are also exempt from disclosure. For past criminal cases, the Circuit Court is a better source than the Sheriff's Office for certified copies of charging documents and case dispositions.
Tazewell County inmates are housed at the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail. For inmate status, check the jail directly or use VINELink for free online searches and custody notification registration. 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 | Tazewell County Sheriff's Office |
|---|---|
| Address | 120 East Main Street, Tazewell, VA 24651 |
| Phone | (276) 988-0891 |
| Fax | (276) 988-3008 |
Tazewell County Circuit Court Criminal Records
The Tazewell County Circuit Court Clerk is located at 101 East Main Street, Tazewell, VA 24651, reachable at (276) 988-1222. 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. The fax for the Clerk's office is (276) 988-1230. For certified copies of court documents, contact the Clerk directly. Standard copies are $0.50 per page with a certification fee on top of that.
Case information for the Tazewell 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, which includes Tazewell, also covers Buchanan, Dickenson, and Russell counties in Southwest Virginia. The General District Court handles misdemeanors, traffic violations, and civil matters under $25,000, with case information searchable through the same statewide portal.
For FOIA requests directed at Tazewell County government, contact the county administrator. Marriage records, probate records, and land records are maintained at the Clerk's office and available through a written request with the appropriate fees. The county website at tazewellcountyva.org provides contact information for county offices. For a complete statewide criminal history, use the Virginia State Police CCRE.
| Office | Tazewell County Clerk of Circuit Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 101 East Main Street, Tazewell, VA 24651 |
| Phone | (276) 988-1222 |
| Fax | (276) 988-1230 |
| Case Search | vacourts.gov |
Tazewell County Sheriff and Court Records
The Tazewell County Sheriff's Office is located at 120 East Main Street in Tazewell and handles arrest records, incident reports, and local criminal history for the county.
Contact the Sheriff's Office to request incident reports, arrest records, and other public law enforcement records through a written FOIA request.
The Virginia Judiciary Case Information system provides free online access to Tazewell County Circuit Court and General District Court case filings, docket entries, and case status information.
Use the state courts portal to search Tazewell County cases by name or case number and find current case status, charges, and hearing information at no cost.
Online Resources for Tazewell 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 Tazewell 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
Tazewell County is in Southwest Virginia near the West Virginia border.