Search Franklin County Criminal Court Records

Franklin County criminal court records are held by the Circuit Court Clerk at 275 S. Main Street, Suite 212 in Rocky Mount, Virginia. You can search criminal case filings, dockets, and dispositions online through state court portals or go to the courthouse in Rocky Mount to request copies in person. Franklin County is served by the 22nd Judicial Circuit and sits in the foothills of the Blue Ridge in southwest Virginia. This guide covers how to find felony and misdemeanor records, how the FOIA process works locally, and what online tools the state provides.

Franklin County Circuit Court Records

The Franklin County Circuit Court is the court of general jurisdiction for the county. It handles felony criminal cases, grand jury proceedings, and appeals from the General District Court. The Circuit Court Clerk, based at 275 S. Main Street, Suite 212, Rocky Mount, VA 24151, maintains case files including indictments, sentencing orders, warrants, and final dispositions. All of these records are public unless sealed by a court order.

You can search Franklin County Circuit Court criminal records online through the CJISWeb system run by the Virginia Judicial System. Select Franklin County from the county list and search by name, case number, or hearing date. Case numbers with "CR" at the front are criminal matters. The data is updated regularly. This is the best first step for finding out if a criminal case was filed in Franklin County Circuit Court before contacting the clerk's office. Copies of case documents cost $0.50 per page, with certified copies adding $2.00 per document. The clerk's office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.

The Franklin County Circuit Court Clerk maintains a public FOIA policy. The screenshot below is from the Franklin County FOIA policy page, which lays out how to request records from the clerk's office and what to expect in terms of timelines and fees.

You can review the full FOIA procedures on the Franklin County Clerk of Circuit Court FOIA Policy page before submitting your request.

Franklin County General District Court

The Franklin County General District Court handles misdemeanor criminal charges, traffic violations, and preliminary hearings for felony cases. Civil claims up to $25,000 also go through this court. There are no jury trials at the district level. A defendant who wants a jury trial must appeal to the Circuit Court, where the case is retried from the start under de novo review.

Case records from the Franklin General District Court are available through the GDC online case search system. You can search by party name or case number without creating an account. The court operates Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Staff can assist with case lookups and document requests in person during those hours.

Preliminary felony hearings that take place in the General District Court are part of the public record. After a case is certified to the Circuit Court, the circuit-level filings are searchable through CJISWeb.

Online Search Tools for Franklin Records

Virginia gives the public several free online tools to look up criminal court records. For Franklin County circuit court filings, the CJISWeb system is the main tool. For district court records, use the GDC portal. The OCIS 2.0 system is useful when you want to search across multiple counties at once. This is helpful if you're not sure whether a case was filed in Franklin County or in a neighboring jurisdiction like Henry or Bedford.

The main Virginia courts website at franklincountyva.gov also lists local court contact information and department directories. For statewide tools, the Virginia Judicial System site links to all court search portals in one place.

Note: Sealed records, juvenile cases, and certain domestic matters will not appear in public court search portals, regardless of which tool you use.

Record Access and FOIA in Franklin County

Criminal court records filed in Franklin County are public records under Virginia law. The circuit court clerk's case files are open to anyone during business hours. Under Virginia Code § 19.2-389, criminal history record information held by law enforcement is separately regulated. If you need a statewide criminal history, you must go through the Virginia State Police at vsp.virginia.gov, not the clerk's office.

Franklin County has its own FOIA policy for records requests directed to the clerk's office. The county follows the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, codified at Virginia Code Title 2.2, Chapter 37. A public body must respond to your request within five working days. If costs are expected to exceed $200, the county may require a deposit before proceeding. The Virginia FOIA Advisory Council provides free guidance if your request is denied or you have questions about the process.

Record Sealing in Franklin County

Virginia allows certain criminal records to be sealed under Virginia Code Title 19.2, Chapter 23.1. Cases that were dismissed or resulted in acquittal may be eligible for sealing under § 19.2-392.2. Sealing removes a record from public view. Certain serious offenses listed under § 19.2-392.12 are not eligible, even if other conditions are satisfied.

Virginia's expanded sealing law takes effect in July 2026, allowing some people with qualifying convictions to petition for sealing. This is not automatic. You must file a petition in court and meet all the legal requirements. The Virginia Courts Self-Help Center has step-by-step guides and forms to help with the petition process in Franklin County's circuit court.

Self-Help and Legal Resources

The Virginia Courts Self-Help Center provides free guides and forms for people handling court matters on their own. It covers how to request records, respond to charges, file petitions, and understand court procedures across all Virginia courts. It's a good starting point before making any decisions about your case or records situation.

Legal aid is available for Franklin County residents who qualify based on income. Blue Ridge Legal Services covers the southwest Virginia region and can assist with criminal record matters, including expungement and record sealing petitions. Contact information is available through the Self-Help Center. The Franklin County Government website also lists county departments if you need to contact a specific office directly.

Note: Mail requests for court records should include a written description of the case, full name, approximate date of the case, and a check for applicable copy fees made payable to the Franklin County Circuit Court Clerk.

Nearby Counties

Franklin County shares borders with several other Virginia counties, each maintaining public criminal court records through the state's court system.