Criminal Court Records in Henrico County

Henrico County criminal court records are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk and the General District Court, both operating in one of Virginia's most populous and active court systems. You can search felony cases, misdemeanor filings, traffic offenses, and case outcomes online through Virginia's free court portals or in person at the courthouse on East Parham Road. Henrico County is part of the Richmond metropolitan area and sits within the 14th Judicial Circuit. This guide covers how to find and access criminal court records in Henrico County, including online tools, copy procedures, FOIA rights, and record sealing options.

Henrico County Circuit Court Records

The Henrico County Circuit Court is the court of general jurisdiction for the county and handles all felony criminal cases, civil claims over $25,000, grand jury proceedings, and appeals from the General District Court. As part of the 14th Judicial Circuit, the court processes one of the highest caseloads in Virginia given Henrico's size and population. The Circuit Court Clerk maintains criminal case files, including indictments, sentencing orders, arrest warrants, probation orders, and final dispositions. These records are public unless a judge has sealed them.

Criminal records from the Henrico County Circuit Court can be searched online through the CJISWeb system operated by the Virginia Judicial System. Select Henrico County from the county list. You can search by party name, case number, or hearing date. Case numbers beginning with "CR" are criminal matters. The system provides real-time data as entered by the clerk's office and includes case status, upcoming hearings, and, in many instances, filed documents. Using CJISWeb first can help you confirm a case number or check status before contacting the clerk.

The Henrico County Circuit Court Clerk's office is at 4301 E. Parham Road, Henrico, VA 23228. Phone is (804) 501-4727. Court hours are 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday -- note that Henrico's hours start slightly earlier than many rural courts. Copy fees are $0.50 per page, with an extra $2.00 for certified copies and $2.50 for triple-seal copies. Large copy requests may require advance payment. All visitors must pass through a security screening at the entrance.

The image below is from the Henrico County Police Department website, which is one of the agencies that maintains arrest records separate from the court clerk's case files.

The Henrico County Police Department handles arrest records, incident reports, and law enforcement records that are distinct from the court case files maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk.

Henrico General District Court

The Henrico County General District Court handles misdemeanor criminal charges, traffic offenses, and preliminary hearings for felony matters before they move to Circuit Court. Civil claims up to $25,000 also go here. All cases at this level are decided by a judge. No jury trials take place. Defendants who want a jury trial must appeal to the Circuit Court, where the case starts fresh under Virginia's de novo appeal process.

Because Henrico County has a large population, the General District Court processes a high volume of cases. You can search records online through the GDC system provided by the Virginia Judicial System. The tool is free, requires no login, and lets you search by name, case number, or hearing date. It covers misdemeanor, traffic, and civil cases. Preliminary felony hearing records also appear in the GDC system before those cases transfer to Circuit Court. The Henrico General District Court operates Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

Online Search Tools for Henrico Records

Virginia provides several free tools to search criminal court records across the state. The CJISWeb system covers circuit court criminal and civil cases. The GDC portal covers misdemeanors and traffic cases. The OCIS 2.0 statewide system lets you search across multiple court types at once without knowing which specific court handled a case -- useful when a person may have cases in both Henrico and other nearby jurisdictions like Richmond City or Chesterfield.

All three portals are free and open to the public without an account. You can search by full name, partial name, case number, or hearing date depending on the system. Results show the case number, charge, filing date, current status, and upcoming hearings. For complete case documents, you will need to contact the Henrico County Circuit Court Clerk at (804) 501-4727 and pay copy fees. Mail requests are accepted as well -- call ahead to confirm the exact process and payment method.

The Case Alert Subscription System (CASS) is a free service offered through the Virginia Judicial System that lets you sign up for text or email notifications when a specific case is updated. This is useful if you need to monitor ongoing proceedings in Henrico County without checking the portal manually every time.

Note: Sealed records, juvenile cases, and certain domestic matters will not show up in public search results regardless of which portal you use.

Criminal Record Access in Henrico County

Court case files maintained by the Henrico County Circuit Court Clerk are public records under Virginia law. You can inspect them in person at 4301 E. Parham Road during business hours or request copies by mail. For records held by the Henrico County Police Department rather than the courts -- arrest reports, incident records, investigative files -- you would submit a Freedom of Information Act request. The Virginia FOIA statute requires public bodies to respond within five working days. Criminal investigative files may take up to 60 additional working days.

The Virginia FOIA Advisory Council provides free guidance for anyone navigating the public records request process. For a statewide criminal history report -- one that covers arrests and dispositions from agencies across all of Virginia -- submit your request to the Virginia State Police at vsp.virginia.gov. That process is governed by Virginia Code § 19.2-389 and is entirely separate from what the court clerk maintains. The clerk holds court case files; the State Police hold the broader arrest history through the Central Criminal Records Exchange.

Note: Henrico County is an urban county with active law enforcement and court systems. Case volumes are high, which means response times for manual records requests may be longer than in rural counties.

Record Sealing and Expungement in Henrico

Virginia law permits sealing certain criminal records. If a case in Henrico County was dismissed, nolle prossed, or ended in an acquittal, you may petition the Circuit Court to seal those records under Virginia Code § 19.2-392.2. Once sealed, the records are removed from public databases and will no longer appear in the online court search portals. Not all cases qualify. Certain serious offenses enumerated in § 19.2-392.12 are excluded from sealing even when all other criteria are met.

Virginia is also expanding its sealing law to cover convictions beginning in July 2026. The expanded rules allow people with certain qualifying convictions to petition to seal those records after completing waiting periods and meeting other requirements. The process is not automatic and requires filing a petition in Henrico County Circuit Court followed by a hearing. The Virginia Courts Self-Help Center has the forms and instructions you need to get started. Given the complexity of Henrico's court system and the volume of cases, having a licensed Virginia attorney review your case before filing is often worthwhile.

Treatment Court Programs

Henrico County Circuit Court operates a Treatment Court program for non-violent offenders who have substance abuse issues. Participants go through intensive supervision, court monitoring, and drug treatment as an alternative to standard prosecution. Completing the program can result in reduced or dismissed charges. Eligibility depends on the specific charge and the individual's background. Not every case qualifies.

Cases that go through the Treatment Court program may show a different disposition in the public records than a standard conviction. If you are researching a Henrico County case and see an unusual outcome code in the online search system, the Treatment Court program may be the reason. Contact the Circuit Court Clerk at (804) 501-4727 for details on specific case dispositions.

Self-Help and Legal Resources

The Virginia Courts Self-Help Center is the primary statewide resource for people who need to navigate courts without legal representation. It covers how to request records, file sealing petitions, understand criminal charges, and handle court procedures. All content applies directly to Henrico County courts. The site is run by the Virginia Judicial System and regularly updated to reflect changes in law.

Legal aid organizations serve Henrico County residents who need free or low-cost legal help. Central Virginia Legal Aid Society and the Legal Aid Justice Center both operate in the greater Richmond area and may be able to help with criminal record questions and sealing petitions. Contact the Henrico County Government website for additional community resources and referrals. Parking is free at the courthouse complex on East Parham Road, and the facility is accessible to persons with disabilities.

Nearby Counties

Henrico County surrounds much of Richmond City and borders Chesterfield, Hanover, Goochland, and New Kent counties in the Richmond metro region.