Find Criminal Court Records in Chesterfield County

Chesterfield County criminal court records are maintained at the Circuit Court, General District Court, and Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, all located at 9500 Courthouse Road in Chesterfield, Virginia. As one of the most populous counties in Virginia, Chesterfield has a high-volume court system that processes thousands of criminal cases each year. You can search for criminal records online through the Virginia court system's public portals, pay for online case access, or visit the clerk's office in person during business hours. This page explains how each court works, what records are public, and where to find help.

Chesterfield County Circuit Court

The Chesterfield County Circuit Court is located at 9500 Courthouse Road and is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The Circuit Court handles felony criminal cases, civil matters over $25,000, family law appeals, and land records. It is the highest trial court in the county and the court of record for all major criminal proceedings. The clerk maintains all official filings including indictments, trial transcripts, sentencing orders, and appeal records.

Chesterfield's Circuit Court processes a large volume of criminal cases compared to most Virginia counties. The court has multiple judges and an active felony docket. If you need to look up a felony case, the online tools are a good starting point. The Circuit Court also maintains civil, criminal, and land records, as well as marriage licenses and probate filings, all from the same clerk's office. Copy fees are $0.50 per page. Certified copies, which carry an additional $2.00 fee for the certification plus $2.50 for a triple seal when required, may be needed for official use outside the court system. Virginia Judiciary's online system gives access to many records filed in recent years.

Online Access to Chesterfield Criminal Records

The statewide Online Case Information System lets you search Chesterfield County Circuit Court criminal records by name or case number. Results show case type, charges, filing date, and current status. The system is free and does not require registration. It covers cases going back to the early 2000s for most jurisdictions, including Chesterfield. For Circuit Court criminal records specifically, this is the primary online tool.

The image below shows the OCIS statewide search portal used for accessing Chesterfield County Circuit Court criminal cases.

OCIS pulls live data from court management systems across Virginia. Results reflect the current status of cases and are updated daily.

The case status and information portal on the main Virginia Judicial System website is another entry point for Chesterfield criminal case lookups. It covers multiple court levels and is a good option when you are not certain whether a case was handled by the Circuit Court or one of the district courts. The site also includes court contact information, docket schedules, and legal resource links.

General District Court in Chesterfield

The Chesterfield County General District Court is also located at 9500 Courthouse Road. It handles traffic offenses, misdemeanor criminal cases, and civil matters up to $25,000. The GDC has separate divisions for traffic, criminal, and civil matters, though they are all administered through the same court. There are no jury trials here. Defendants who want a jury trial must appeal to the Circuit Court after a GDC verdict. The GDC accepts online payments for some case types and provides online case information through the state system.

You can search Chesterfield General District Court criminal and traffic records using the Virginia GDC online portal. This system is separate from the OCIS Circuit Court tool. Checking both ensures you capture all criminal case history regardless of which court handled the matter. GDC records include charge information, court dates, and case outcomes. Some civil small claims cases also appear in this system.

Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court

The Chesterfield Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court handles cases involving minors charged with criminal offenses, as well as domestic violence, child abuse, child neglect, and custody matters that touch on criminal proceedings. This court operates with more restricted public access than the Circuit or General District Courts. Juvenile records are generally sealed and not accessible to the public. Some adult domestic violence cases that involve criminal charges may have public records, but documents related to children are typically protected.

If you are trying to access a record that originated in the J&DR Court, contact the court clerk directly to ask about what is available. Much of what goes through this court is off-limits to general public records requests. The clerk can tell you what documents, if any, are open for inspection in a specific case.

Note: Domestic violence protective orders that were issued by the J&DR Court may appear in background check systems even if the underlying case record is restricted at the courthouse level.

Public Access to Court Records and FOIA

Most Chesterfield criminal court records are open to the public. Virginia law does not require you to give a reason for wanting court records or prove any relationship to the case. Standard in-person access is available at the clerk's office during courthouse hours. The state's Freedom of Information Act, found at Title 2.2, Chapter 37 of the Virginia Code, covers government records requests more broadly. Agencies must respond within five working days. For investigative records, they may take up to 60 additional days. The Virginia FOIA Council provides guidance and handles disputes.

Cases that ended in dismissals and were expunged under Virginia Code section 19.2-389 are removed from public records. Virginia's conviction sealing law, effective July 2026 under Title 19.2, Chapter 23.1, will allow some individuals with older convictions to petition for sealing. Offenses that are ineligible under section 19.2-392.12, such as violent crimes, cannot be sealed regardless of when they occurred.

For a statewide criminal history that covers more than just Chesterfield, contact the Virginia State Police, which manages the central criminal history records system. VSP reports cover all Virginia jurisdictions and are often used when a comprehensive background check is needed.

Self-Help and Legal Aid Resources

The Virginia Courts Self-Help Center has free guides for common court tasks including how to request criminal records, how to respond to a criminal charge, and how to understand court orders. It covers all court levels and is updated when Virginia law changes. Chesterfield County residents who need a lawyer but cannot afford one may be eligible for assistance through the Central Virginia Legal Aid Society, which serves the greater Richmond area including Chesterfield County.

The Richmond metro area is served by several legal aid organizations and law school clinics that accept criminal court matters. The Virginia Judicial System website has a directory of court contacts across the state and links to state-run legal resources. If you need help specifically with understanding or accessing a criminal court record in Chesterfield, start with the clerk's office at 9500 Courthouse Road or use the online tools to pull up the case first.

Independent Cities Near Chesterfield

Chesterfield County borders several independent cities in the Richmond metro area. Each city has its own courts, separate from the Chesterfield County court system.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Chesterfield and each operates its own court system and records office.