How to Find Public Records in Virginia (2026 Guide)

In a free and open society, access to government records is considered a fundamental civil right. Whether you need to run a background check, locate a court filing, verify vital records, or research a sex offender registry, accessing public records in the Commonwealth of Virginia has never been more straightforward. With dozens of state agencies offering online portals, most Virginians can find what they need without ever leaving their home. This comprehensive 2026 guide walks you through every major category of public records in Virginia — what they are, where to find them, and how to request them the right way.

What Are Public Records?

Almost any document, file, image, recording, or archive that is created, stored, or maintained by a government agency — an agency funded by taxpayer money — is considered a public record. This definition is intentionally broad, and for good reason: citizens in a democratic society have a vested interest in understanding how their government operates and how their tax dollars are spent.

Public records in Virginia encompass a wide range of document types, including:

• Legislative records: Meeting minutes, committee proceedings, voting records, and budget documents from the Virginia General Assembly and local governing bodies.
• Court records: Case filings, verdicts, sentencing documents, appeals, and civil judgments from every level of the Virginia judicial system.
• Criminal records: Conviction histories, incarceration records, and parole status maintained by the Virginia State Police and the Virginia Department of Corrections.
• Vital records: Birth certificates, death certificates, marriage licenses, and divorce decrees maintained by the Virginia Department of Health.
• Property records: Deeds, liens, mortgages, property tax assessments, and land surveys maintained by individual county clerk offices.
• Sex offender registry: Publicly searchable database of registered sex offenders maintained by the Virginia State Police.
• Missing persons records: Official reports and databases maintained by law enforcement agencies across the state.

The government creates and maintains these records because they have a direct bearing on your life as a citizen. In a democracy, the people are the government — and transparency is the foundation of accountability. That principle is codified in Virginia law and reinforced at the federal level.

Public Records Laws in Virginia

Virginia has two primary laws governing public access to government-held records, and both are essential reading for anyone seeking information from a state or local agency.

The Virginia Freedom of Information Act (VFOIA) was originally enacted in 1968 and has been amended numerous times since. It mandates that all public records held by state and local government agencies in Virginia are presumptively open to any citizen of the Commonwealth, as well as any member of the news media. Agencies must respond to FOIA requests within five working days — either providing the records, denying the request with a written explanation, or requesting a reasonable extension.

The Virginia Public Records Act complements VFOIA by establishing the framework for how government agencies must create, manage, preserve, and eventually dispose of official records. This law ensures that records are not destroyed prematurely and that proper archiving protocols are followed statewide.

Both statutes operate in harmony with the federal Freedom of Information Act, which governs access to federal agency records. If the records you need are held by a federal agency — such as the FBI, Social Security Administration, or U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs — you would file a federal FOIA request rather than a state-level one.

Importantly, not every record is accessible to everyone. Virginia law carves out specific exemptions to protect personal privacy, ongoing criminal investigations, attorney-client privilege, trade secrets, and records whose disclosure would compromise public safety. Sensitive financial information, such as your credit history or Social Security number, is specifically protected and not considered publicly available.

If you believe a VFOIA request has been wrongly denied, you can seek assistance from the Virginia Freedom of Information Advisory Council, which provides guidance and informal dispute resolution at no cost.

Why Search for Public Records?

People search for public records in Virginia for a wide variety of personal, professional, and legal reasons. According to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, many records are available to the public upon request regardless of the reason — you generally do not need to justify why you want access to a public record.

The most common reasons Virginians search public records include:

• Employment screening: Employers routinely request criminal background checks before hiring. In Virginia, employers must generally obtain your written consent before accessing your criminal history, and anti-discrimination laws restrict how that information can be used.
• Tenant screening: Landlords and property managers frequently check criminal and court records when evaluating rental applications.
• Professional licensing: If you are applying for a state license in fields such as education, healthcare, law, or psychology, you will typically be required to submit to a background check.
• Vital records requests: Copies of birth, death, marriage, and divorce records are often needed for legal proceedings, name changes, visa applications, insurance claims, and estate settlements.
• Legal research and appeals: Attorneys and self-represented litigants frequently pull court records to review case history, locate precedents, or prepare appeal documents.
• Personal research: Genealogists, journalists, and curious individuals often request historical government records for research purposes.
• Community safety: Parents, schools, and neighbors use the sex offender registry and other public safety databases to stay informed about potential risks in their area.

Criminal Records and Background Checks

One of the most frequently requested categories of public records in Virginia involves criminal history. Whether you are an employer conducting pre-hire due diligence, a property owner screening a prospective tenant, or an individual wanting to review your own record, understanding the criminal records system in Virginia is essential.

The Virginia State Police maintains the central repository for criminal history records in the Commonwealth. A standard criminal background check in Virginia typically covers felony and misdemeanor convictions. Importantly, standard civilian requests generally do not include arrest records — because Virginia law recognizes that an arrest is not a conviction, and using arrest records to discriminate in employment or housing is prohibited.

Law enforcement agencies and authorized government entities seeking arrest records must submit fingerprint data through the Virginia State Police Criminal Justice Information Services division. This additional layer of authentication helps protect individuals from having unproven charges unfairly used against them.

If you have a prior conviction and want to prevent it from appearing on background checks conducted by employers or landlords, you may be eligible to petition for expungement of your criminal record in Virginia. Expungement eligibility depends on the nature of the offense, the outcome of the case, and how much time has elapsed since the conviction or charge was resolved.

To run a criminal history record check through official channels, visit the Virginia State Police CATS Public Portal. This is the official form used by non-government agencies seeking access to a person’s criminal history records in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

With the inmate’s permission, you can also access the criminal history of a person currently serving time or who is on active parole in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Jail, Prison, and Inmate Records

Inmate and prison records are another commonly requested category of public records in Virginia. People search these records to locate a friend or family member currently incarcerated, to determine how much time remains on someone’s sentence, to arrange financial support for an inmate, or — in the case of crime victims — to monitor the status and potential release of an offender.

The Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC) maintains a publicly searchable offender locator database for all individuals currently serving sentences in state penitentiaries. Victims of crime have specific legal rights in Virginia to receive notification about offender status changes, including parole hearings and release dates, through the Virginia Victim Notification System.

You can search Virginia prison records in two ways through the VADOC portal:

• Search prison records in Virginia by Offender ID
• Search prison records in Virginia by Offender name

For individuals held in local jails — rather than state prisons — you will need to contact the sheriff’s office or jail directly in the relevant Virginia county or independent city. Many local jails maintain their own online inmate lookup tools, though availability varies by jurisdiction. Virginia has 95 counties and independent cities, each with its own local detention facilities.

If you need to send money to an inmate or arrange visitation, the VADOC website provides current information on approved vendors and visitation scheduling. Note that policies can change, so always verify current procedures directly with the facility.

Court Records

Virginia’s court system is structured in tiers, and knowing which court heard a particular case is the first step to finding the records you need. Searching for court records in the Commonwealth of Virginia requires a basic understanding of the judicial hierarchy.

Virginia’s court system is organized as follows:

• Virginia Supreme Court: The court of last resort for civil and criminal appeals in the Commonwealth.
• Virginia Court of Appeals: Handles intermediate appeals from Circuit Courts in criminal, domestic relations, and administrative law cases.
• Circuit Courts: The trial courts of general jurisdiction, handling felony criminal cases, major civil matters, family law, and probate. There are 31 circuit court districts in Virginia.
• General District Courts: Handle misdemeanor criminal matters, traffic offenses, and civil cases involving smaller amounts.
• Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts: Handle matters involving juveniles, child custody, support, and domestic violence.

Virginia has made significant strides in providing online access to court records through the Virginia Judicial System’s case information portal. Here are the key online resources:

• Search Public Records
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