Charlottesville Arrest Records Search

Charlottesville arrest records are maintained by the Charlottesville Police Department and the city's Circuit Court clerk, both part of this independent Virginia city that operates separately from Albemarle County. You can search criminal cases free of charge through the Virginia Courts Case Information System, request a certified criminal history from the Virginia State Police, or contact the Police Department for local records and incident reports.

Charlottesville Police Department

The Charlottesville Police Department is the primary law enforcement agency for the city. The department maintains arrest records, incident reports, and booking records for all criminal activity within city limits. Staff in the records division handle requests from the public and can tell you what records are available and how to get them.

Charlottesville is an independent city, so it does not belong to Albemarle County even though the county surrounds it. This matters for records searches. If an arrest happened inside Charlottesville, the case is in Charlottesville's court system. If it happened in the county, it is in Albemarle County's courts. The two are separate systems. The online case search tool covers both, but you need to make sure you are looking at the right jurisdiction.

To request records under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, submit a written request to the Police Department's records custodian. Identify the record as clearly as possible, including the person's name, the approximate date of the arrest, and the type of document you need. The department has five working days to respond. Fees may apply for actual copying and search costs, but overhead charges are not permitted.

How to Search Charlottesville Arrest Records

The free starting point is vacourts.gov. Search by name or case number across Charlottesville's Circuit Court and General District Court. You will see charges, court dates, and dispositions. No account is needed. No fee applies. This covers both open and closed cases unless the record has been sealed or expunged.

Charlottesville has its own Circuit Court and General District Court. The Circuit Court handles felonies and appeals. The General District Court handles misdemeanors, traffic cases, and felony preliminary hearings. Both are city courts. Because Charlottesville is an independent city, there is no county court involvement for cases originating within city limits.

For a statewide certified criminal history, use the Virginia State Police CARE system. Form SP-167 covers personal and third-party checks and costs $15 with a notarized signature. Form SP-230 covers employer conviction checks at $29. Mail to VSP in Richmond with payment. Full instructions are at vsp.virginia.gov. Allow roughly 15 business days for your record to come back.

If someone is in a state correctional facility, use the VADOC Offender Locator. For someone held in the city jail, contact the Police Department directly. The VADOC tool does not cover local lockups.

Note: Juvenile records, sealed records, and expunged files will not appear in online searches. Some protective order proceedings are also restricted. Contact the court clerk if a record you expect to find is absent.

Charlottesville Court Records

The Charlottesville Circuit Court handles all felony criminal cases for the city, plus civil cases above the General District Court's limit and appeals from lower courts. The clerk's office keeps the official docket and case files. You can request certified copies of orders and judgments for a per-page fee. Public access terminals are usually available at the courthouse during regular business hours.

The General District Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, and preliminary hearings on felony charges. It is the busier of the two courts day to day. Records from both courts are accessible online through the Virginia Judiciary's case search. If you need a physical copy or want to review a file, visit the appropriate clerk's office in person and bring photo ID.

Under § 19.2-389 of the Code of Virginia, the Virginia State Police Central Criminal Records Exchange is the statewide repository for criminal history information. Local courts keep their own case files, but a full criminal history search across all Virginia jurisdictions goes through VSP.

FOIA and Public Access in Charlottesville

Virginia's Freedom of Information Act at § 2.2-3704 presumes all government records are open to the public unless a specific exemption applies. You do not need to explain your reason for requesting records. Describe what you want with enough detail for the agency to find it.

Arrest identities and charges must be disclosed under Virginia law. The name of the arrested person, the charge, and the charge status are public. Active investigation materials are exempt. Juvenile records are confidential. If the agency denies part or all of your request, it must cite the legal basis for the denial. For help understanding a denial or navigating the FOIA process, the Virginia FOIA Advisory Council is available at (804) 698-1810 or by email.

Expungement of Charlottesville Arrest Records

Virginia's expungement statute at § 19.2-392.2 allows you to petition for sealing of an arrest record if you were acquitted, if your case was dismissed or nolle prosequi, or if you were arrested but never charged and the record causes concrete harm. Absolute pardon recipients may also be eligible.

Virginia does not allow expungement of convictions as a general rule. If you were found guilty, that record stays. Starting in July 2025, certain convictions may qualify for automatic sealing under new state laws after applicable waiting periods pass. To pursue expungement in Charlottesville, petition the Circuit Court, submit fingerprints through VSP, and serve the Commonwealth's Attorney. A hearing may be scheduled if there is opposition. Filing fees apply at the clerk's office.

Nearby Independent Cities

Charlottesville is in central Virginia. Other independent cities in the region include Harrisonburg to the north and Buena Vista to the west.