Bedford County Criminal Court Records

Bedford County criminal court records are kept by the Circuit Court Clerk on East Main Street in Bedford and through the General District Court serving the county. If you need to find a felony case, misdemeanor filing, or related criminal court docket in Bedford County, you can start with the free online tools provided by the Virginia court system or visit the courthouse during business hours. This page covers where to search, what to expect, and how to get copies of official court documents.

Bedford County Circuit Court Clerk

The Bedford County Circuit Court Clerk is located at 123 E. Main Street, Suite 201, Bedford, VA 24523. The clerk's office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. This office maintains all felony criminal case files for Bedford County, as well as civil cases over $25,000, appeals from the General District Court, marriage licenses, and notary commissions. The clerk's staff can help you locate a case and provide copies of public records on file.

Bedford County's Circuit Court handles the most serious criminal matters filed in the county, including felony charges that are transferred up from the General District Court after preliminary hearings. The clerk keeps all charging documents, indictments, plea agreements, sentencing orders, and final judgments on file. These records are open to the public with some narrow exceptions for sealed matters. Visit bedfordcountyva.gov/circuit-court-clerk for the most current contact details and any changes to office hours.

Copy fees are $0.50 per page for plain copies. Certified copies add $2.00 to the base cost. Triple-seal certifications, which some employers and government agencies require, add $2.50 on top of that.

Note: The Bedford County government website at bedfordcountyva.gov has general information about county departments and contact numbers for the clerk's office.

Search Bedford County Court Records Online

Virginia's statewide case information tools make it easy to search Bedford County criminal records from home at no cost. The main tool for circuit court cases is the Online Case Information System at eapps.courts.state.va.us/ocis. The screenshot below shows the OCIS search page, which lets you search all Virginia circuit courts by defendant name or case number.

Search results from OCIS typically show the defendant's name, case number, charge descriptions, scheduled court dates, and the final disposition. The system is free, does not require an account, and is available any time of day. It works for cases filed in Bedford County Circuit Court and covers records going back several years in the electronic system. Older paper-only records require a visit or written request to the clerk's office.

The Virginia Judiciary website at vacourts.gov/caseinfo is another starting point. It links to all online case search tools maintained by the Office of the Executive Secretary and provides general information about how the Virginia court system is organized.

General District Court in Bedford County

Misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic offenses, and preliminary felony hearings in Bedford County are handled by the General District Court. This court sits below the Circuit Court and resolves a large share of the county's criminal matters. Many misdemeanor cases end in General District Court without ever reaching the Circuit Court level.

You can search Bedford County General District Court records using the statewide General District Court case search tool. Select Bedford County from the list to see misdemeanor cases, traffic matters, and preliminary hearing records. Results show case numbers, charges, court dates, and outcomes. The screenshot below shows the General District Court search system.

If you are looking for a felony case, it may show up in both the General District Court records (from the preliminary hearing stage) and the Circuit Court records (after indictment). Search both systems if you are not sure how far the case moved through the court process. The General District Court search is maintained by the same office that runs OCIS and is updated on a regular basis.

Getting Copies of Bedford County Criminal Records

Criminal court records in Virginia are public documents under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act. The FOIA statute is at Virginia Code Title 2.2, Chapter 37. You do not need to be a party to a case to request copies of court records from the Bedford County Circuit Court Clerk. Any member of the public can walk in, ask for a file, and get copies of non-restricted documents.

When you go to the clerk's office at 123 E. Main Street in Bedford, bring your ID and be ready to give the full name of the defendant or the case number. Staff can search the system and pull the file. You will pay $0.50 per page for plain copies. If you need a certification, add $2.00. Triple-seal certifications cost $2.50 more on top of that. Mail-in requests are also possible; contact the clerk to find out what information to include and how to send payment.

Some records are not available to the public. Juvenile cases are sealed. Expunged records are removed from view under Virginia Code Title 19.2, Chapter 23.1. Certain victim information may be withheld depending on the nature of the case. If a record does not appear online, the clerk can tell you whether it is restricted or simply not yet in the electronic system.

For official criminal history records used in background checks, contact the Virginia State Police. The state police maintain the Central Criminal Records Exchange, which is separate from the court clerk's case files and has different access rules under Virginia Code 19.2-389.

Self-Help and Legal Resources

People who want to understand the criminal court process or find official court forms can use the Virginia Courts Self-Help website. This site has step-by-step guides on topics including expungements, how to respond to criminal charges, and how to request records. Forms that used to require a trip to the courthouse can often be downloaded from this site.

If you have questions about whether a public records request was properly denied by the clerk's office, the Virginia FOIA Council can advise you on your rights. This office provides free guidance to the public on FOIA matters and can help you understand whether a denial was proper under the law.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Bedford County. Criminal records for cases filed near county lines may be held in one of these neighboring clerk's offices.