Covington Virginia Arrest Records

Covington arrest records are maintained by the Covington Police Department and the city's own Circuit Court, since Covington is an independent Virginia city with courts separate from Alleghany County. You can search criminal cases at no charge through the Virginia Courts Case Information System, or contact the Police Department at (540) 965-6350 to request local booking records and incident reports.

Covington Police Department

The Covington Police Department handles law enforcement for this small independent city in the Alleghany Highlands. The department maintains arrest records, booking records, and incident reports for all activity within city limits. Staff can assist with records requests and tell you what documents are available and how to get them.

Covington is surrounded by Alleghany County but operates independently from it. Cases from within Covington city limits go through Covington's own courts, not Alleghany County's. The courts for Covington and Alleghany County are actually co-located in some facilities as they share judicial resources, but the case records are distinct. When searching online, check which jurisdiction you are looking at.

Freedom of Information Act requests for Covington Police Department records go to the department's FOIA officer. Write out your request and describe the records you want with enough detail for staff to locate them. Include the name of the person and the approximate date of the arrest or incident. The city has five working days to respond. Fees for actual copying and search costs may apply.

How to Search Covington Arrest Records

Use the Virginia Courts Case Information System at vacourts.gov for free online case searches. Search by name or case number to find records in Covington's Circuit Court and General District Court. The tool shows charges, hearing dates, and case outcomes. No fee. No login required.

Covington has its own Circuit Court and General District Court. The Circuit Court handles felonies and appeals from the General District Court. The General District Court handles misdemeanors, traffic cases, and preliminary felony hearings. Because Covington is an independent city, all criminal cases from within city limits run through these courts, not Alleghany County's courts.

For a certified statewide criminal history, go through the Virginia State Police CARE system. Form SP-167 is for personal and authorized third-party checks and costs $15. A notarized signature is required. Employers use form SP-230 for conviction-only records at $29. Both forms and full instructions are at vsp.virginia.gov. Mail with payment to VSP in Richmond. Processing takes approximately 15 business days.

To look up a state prison inmate, use the VADOC Offender Locator. For local jail inquiries in Covington, call the Police Department. The VADOC system does not cover local detention facilities.

Note: Sealed records, expunged files, juvenile cases, and some protective order proceedings are not visible online. If a record seems to be missing, contact the court clerk directly.

Covington Court Records

The Covington Circuit Court is the city's court of general jurisdiction. It handles felony criminal cases, higher-value civil cases, and appeals from the General District Court. The clerk's office maintains official court files and provides certified copies for a fee. During business hours, public access terminals at the courthouse let you search without charge.

The General District Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, and felony preliminary hearings. Both courts are in the statewide online case search system. To get a physical copy or review a file, visit the clerk's office in person with photo ID and any case details that will help narrow the search. Under § 19.2-389 of the Code of Virginia, the Virginia State Police Central Criminal Records Exchange is the central repository for statewide criminal history information.

FOIA and Public Access

Virginia's FOIA law at § 2.2-3704 gives the public the right to request government records. All records are presumed open unless a specific exemption applies. You do not need to say why you want them. Arrest identities and charges are public. Active investigations and juvenile records are the main exceptions. If a request is denied, the agency must state the legal basis. Contact the Virginia FOIA Advisory Council at (804) 698-1810 for help.

Expungement of Covington Arrest Records

Under § 19.2-392.2, you can petition for expungement of a Covington arrest record if you were acquitted, if your charge was dismissed or nolle prosequi, or if you were arrested but never charged and the record causes harm. Absolute pardon recipients may also qualify.

Virginia generally does not allow expungement of convictions. Starting in July 2025, new state law may allow some misdemeanor and felony convictions to be sealed automatically after waiting periods expire. To file for expungement in Covington, petition the Circuit Court here, submit fingerprints through VSP, and serve the Commonwealth's Attorney with a copy of the petition. Filing fees apply. The court may hold a hearing if the Commonwealth's Attorney objects.

Nearby Independent Cities

Covington is in the Alleghany Highlands in western Virginia. Other independent cities in the region include Buena Vista and Harrisonburg.