Search Fairfax County Criminal Records

Fairfax County criminal court records are managed by the Circuit Court Clerk and the General District Court, both located at the courthouse complex on Chain Bridge Road in Fairfax. The Fairfax County Circuit Court is the largest trial court in Virginia, handling more than 30,000 cases each year. You can search felony case filings, misdemeanor dockets, warrants, and dispositions online through free state portals or visit the courthouse in person. The county is part of the 19th Judicial Circuit, and this guide covers how to find and access Fairfax County criminal records across all available channels.

Fairfax County Circuit Court Records

The Fairfax County Circuit Court is the court of general jurisdiction for the county and handles all felony criminal cases, grand jury proceedings, and appeals from lower courts. It is part of Virginia's 19th Judicial Circuit. As the largest trial court in the Commonwealth, it processes a high volume of criminal cases across dedicated dockets for drug offenses, domestic violence, mental health, and veterans matters. The Circuit Court Clerk's office at 4110 Chain Bridge Road maintains official records for all civil and criminal cases, including indictments, warrants, sentencing orders, and final dispositions. Records are public unless sealed by the court.

The Circuit Court Clerk's office also maintains the Court Public Access Network, known as CPAN, which includes land and court records going back to 1742. For criminal case searches, the primary public tool is the CJISWeb system from the Virginia Judicial System. Select Fairfax County from the court list and search by party name, case number, or hearing date. Cases beginning with "CR" are criminal matters. The database updates in real time and reflects current court data. Online searches are free and open to anyone.

The clerk's office phone number is (703) 691-7320. Copy fees are $0.50 per page. Certified copies add $2.00. Triple-seal certifications are available for an additional $2.50. Expedited service may be available for an extra fee. More information about court services is at the Fairfax County Circuit Court website.

The Fairfax County Circuit Court uses the Virginia Judiciary E-Filing System (VJEFS), which allows attorneys to file civil cases and pleadings electronically. The court also uses the Virginia Sentencing Guidelines to ensure consistency in felony sentences. Specialized dockets include Drug Court, Mental Health Court, Domestic Violence Court, and a Veterans Treatment Court, each providing alternatives to standard sentencing for qualifying defendants.

The official Fairfax County Circuit Court website provides direct access to the courthouse's case information portal and other services. The screenshot below shows the court's online interface for searching criminal case filings and dockets.

The Fairfax County Circuit Court portal gives public access to criminal case data, upcoming hearings, and court dockets. It is one of the most comprehensive local court websites in Virginia.

Fairfax County General District Court

The Fairfax County General District Court is located at 4110 Chain Bridge Road and handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, and preliminary hearings for felony cases. Civil claims up to $25,000 are also within its jurisdiction. There are no jury trials at this level. If a defendant requests a jury, the case must be appealed to the Circuit Court, where it starts fresh in a de novo proceeding. The General District Court has a Drug Court program and handles tens of thousands of cases each year across its criminal, traffic, and civil dockets.

General District Court records for Fairfax County are searchable through the GDC online portal. You can search by name or case number to find misdemeanor, traffic, and civil case information. The Fairfax County General District Court website offers additional resources, local scheduling information, and online payment options for qualifying cases. Preliminary felony hearing records appear in the GDC system before a case is certified to the Circuit Court and are part of the public record.

The Fairfax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court, at the same courthouse complex, handles juvenile delinquency, child custody, domestic violence protective orders, and related family matters. That court's website is at fairfaxcounty.gov/jdr. Those records are not accessible through the standard public search portals.

Online Search Tools for Fairfax Records

Virginia provides several free online tools for searching criminal court records, and Fairfax County's large caseload is fully represented in all of them. The OCIS 2.0 system allows searches across multiple courts at once. This is particularly useful when a person may have cases in Fairfax County as well as in neighboring jurisdictions like Arlington or Prince William. For Fairfax-specific circuit court records, CJISWeb is the most direct tool. For misdemeanor and traffic records, use the GDC portal or the Fairfax County GDC website.

The Virginia Judicial System's main portal at vacourts.gov links to all search tools and lets you check active case status. You can see scheduled hearings, dispositions, and case history without creating an account or paying a fee. Given the size of the Fairfax County court system, these online tools are usually the fastest way to locate a specific case. No other Virginia county has a higher volume of active criminal filings.

Note: Sealed records, juvenile matters, and certain domestic cases are not visible in public online searches, regardless of the county or court type.

Criminal Record Access in Fairfax County

Under Virginia Code § 19.2-389, criminal history record information and its release are regulated at the state level. Court case files maintained by the circuit and district court clerks are separate from law enforcement criminal history records. Files in the clerk's office are generally open to the public. You can inspect records in person or request copies for the standard fees listed above. Fairfax County FOIA requests for court records go through the Circuit Court Clerk. Requests for county government records go through the Fairfax County Attorney's office.

The Virginia Freedom of Information Act, found at Virginia Code Title 2.2, Chapter 37, governs records requests to public bodies. A public body must respond within five working days. In complex cases, investigative records may fall under FOIA exemptions and take longer. The Virginia FOIA Advisory Council offers free guidance on requests, agency obligations, and how to handle disputes when records are withheld. Fairfax County's size means it handles a large volume of FOIA requests each year, and having your request clearly written and specific helps speed up the process.

Statewide criminal background checks for Fairfax County residents or for records originating there go through the Virginia State Police CCRE program at vsp.virginia.gov. This is a separate process from requesting court records at the clerk's office. The CCRE covers arrests and dispositions from all Virginia jurisdictions, not just Fairfax County.

Record Sealing and Expungement

Virginia law allows sealing of certain criminal records. Under Virginia Code Title 19.2, Chapter 23.1, dismissed charges may be eligible for sealing under § 19.2-392.2. If a case was dropped or the defendant was acquitted, the record can be removed from public view through a petition to the court. Serious crimes listed under § 19.2-392.12 are not eligible for sealing even if the case was dismissed. Given Fairfax County's volume, petitions for sealing are relatively common and the clerk's office is familiar with processing them.

Virginia's sealing law expands significantly in July 2026, allowing people with certain qualifying convictions to petition for sealing. This is not automatic. You must file a petition in Fairfax Circuit Court and satisfy all statutory requirements. The Virginia Courts Self-Help Center has forms and step-by-step instructions for filing. The Fairfax courthouse also maintains a Law Library open to the public, which can be a useful resource for researching eligibility before filing.

Self-Help and Legal Resources

The Virginia Courts Self-Help Center provides forms and instructions for people navigating the court system without a lawyer. Topics include responding to criminal charges, requesting records, filing petitions, and understanding court procedures. The center is run by the Virginia Judicial System and covers all Virginia courts, including those in Fairfax County.

The Fairfax County courthouse complex also has a public Law Library with legal research tools, form books, and computer access to legal databases. This is a free resource for anyone who needs help understanding a case or preparing a filing. The courthouse is accessible by Metro on the Orange, Blue, and Silver lines via the Vienna or Dunn Loring stations, and also by bus. Parking is available at the complex.

Legal aid organizations in the Northern Virginia region serve Fairfax County residents who qualify based on income. The Virginia State Bar's lawyer referral service can also connect people with private attorneys. Contact details are available through the Self-Help Center or at vacourts.gov. Interpreters are available at the courthouse for non-English speakers with advance notice.

Note: Because Fairfax County handles a very high volume of cases, it is best to use online tools to research your records before visiting the courthouse to avoid long wait times at the clerk's office windows.

Nearby Counties

Fairfax County is surrounded by other Northern Virginia jurisdictions, each with their own courts and criminal records systems.