Henry County Criminal Court Records

Henry County criminal court records are held by the Circuit Court Clerk and the General District Court near Martinsville in southern Virginia. You can search felony cases, misdemeanor charges, traffic offenses, and case dispositions using Virginia's free online court portals or request records in person at the courthouse on Kings Mountain Road. Henry County is served by the 21st Judicial Circuit and is located in the Piedmont region bordering North Carolina. This page explains where criminal records live, how to access them, and how the record sealing process works for qualifying cases.

Henry County Circuit Court Records

The Henry County Circuit Court is the court of general jurisdiction for the county, handling all felony criminal cases, civil claims over $25,000, grand jury proceedings, and appeals from the General District Court. It is part of Virginia's 21st Judicial Circuit, which covers Henry County and the City of Martinsville. The Circuit Court Clerk's office near Martinsville keeps all case files, including indictments, criminal orders, sentencing documents, warrants, and final dispositions. These records are open to the public unless a court has ordered them sealed.

You can search Henry County Circuit Court criminal records online through the CJISWeb system maintained by the Virginia Judicial System. On the search page, select Henry County from the county list. You can look up cases by party name, case number, or hearing date. Case numbers starting with "CR" are criminal matters. The system shows current case data as entered by the clerk's office, including status, upcoming hearings, and in some cases, filed documents. Running a CJISWeb search before calling the courthouse can save you a phone call or a trip.

The Circuit Court Clerk's office is located at 3160 Kings Mountain Road, Martinsville, VA 24112. Phone is (276) 634-4661. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Standard copy fees are $0.50 per page. Certified copies cost $2.00 more. Triple-seal copies add another $2.50. The clerk's office also issues marriage licenses ($30) and concealed handgun permits ($50).

The image below is from the Henry County Government website, which provides links to county offices and resources relevant to public records requests.

The Henry County Government website lists department contacts, including the Circuit Court Clerk and other offices that handle public records in the county.

Henry County General District Court

The General District Court in Henry County handles misdemeanor criminal charges, traffic offenses, and preliminary felony hearings before those cases move to the Circuit Court. Civil claims up to $25,000 also go here. All cases are decided by a judge. There are no jury trials at this level. If a defendant wants a jury, they must appeal to the Circuit Court, where the case is heard fresh under Virginia's de novo appeal process.

Records from the Henry County General District Court are searchable online through the GDC online system provided by the Virginia Judicial System. The search is free and does not require an account. You can search by name, case number, or hearing date. The system covers criminal, traffic, and civil cases. Preliminary felony hearing records appear here before those matters are transferred to Circuit Court. Court hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. In-person help is available from court staff during business hours.

Online Search Tools for Henry County

Virginia offers free online access to criminal court records through several portals. The CJISWeb system covers circuit court records for felony cases. The GDC portal handles misdemeanor and traffic cases. The OCIS 2.0 statewide search lets you search across multiple courts in one step, which is useful when you are not sure which court level handled a case or when you need to check records in both Henry County and the adjacent City of Martinsville.

All three portals are free and open to the public without registration. Results show case number, charge description, filing date, current status, and scheduled hearings. For complete case documents such as orders, indictments, and plea agreements, you will need to contact the Henry County Circuit Court Clerk directly at (276) 634-4661 and pay the standard copy fees. Mail requests are typically accepted -- call ahead to confirm the process before sending payment.

Note: Sealed records, juvenile matters, and certain domestic relations cases will not appear in any of the public search portals.

Criminal Record Access in Henry County

Criminal court case files held by the Henry County Circuit Court Clerk are public by default under Virginia law. You can inspect them in person at the courthouse during business hours or submit a written request by mail. For records held by the Henry County Sheriff or other law enforcement agencies -- arrest reports, investigative files -- you would submit a FOIA request. Under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, public agencies must respond within five working days. Criminal investigative files may take up to 60 more working days.

The Virginia FOIA Advisory Council offers free help to requesters who need guidance on how to write effective records requests or what to do if a request is denied. For statewide criminal history records -- 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 separate from what the court clerk maintains. The clerk holds court case files; the State Police hold the broader criminal history through the Central Criminal Records Exchange.

Record Sealing and Expungement

Virginia allows certain criminal records to be sealed. If a case in Henry 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 record is removed from public access systems including the online court portals. Not all cases qualify for sealing. Certain serious offenses listed under § 19.2-392.12 cannot be sealed regardless of the disposition.

Virginia's expanded sealing law for convictions takes effect in July 2026. Under those new rules, people with qualifying convictions can petition to seal their records after meeting waiting period and eligibility requirements. The process is not automatic. You must file a petition in Henry County Circuit Court and attend a hearing. The Virginia Courts Self-Help Center has the forms and step-by-step instructions to guide you through the process. If your case involves multiple charges or a complex record, consider speaking with a licensed Virginia attorney before filing.

Drug Court Program in Henry County

Henry County is served by the Southwest Virginia Drug Courts program, which offers an alternative track for non-violent offenders who have substance abuse problems. Participants go through intensive court supervision, regular check-ins, and structured treatment as an alternative to standard prosecution and incarceration. Successful program completion can result in reduced or dismissed charges, which affects how a case appears in public court records.

Not everyone is eligible for drug court participation. The prosecutor and the court evaluate each case individually based on charge type, prior criminal history, and the person's willingness to participate in treatment. If you are searching Henry County criminal records and see an unusual disposition, the drug court program may be a factor. Contact the Circuit Court Clerk at (276) 634-4661 for details on specific cases.

Self-Help and Legal Resources

The Virginia Courts Self-Help Center is the main resource for anyone who needs to handle court matters without a lawyer. It covers record requests, sealing petitions, how to respond to charges, and how to understand court processes. The site is run by the Virginia Judicial System and applies to all Virginia courts, including those in Henry County and the City of Martinsville.

Legal aid services are available to income-eligible residents in Henry County. The Blue Ridge Legal Services organization and other groups serve this part of southern Virginia. Contact information is available through the Self-Help Center or through the Virginia State Bar's referral directory. The Henry County Government website can also help you find the right department or contact when you are not sure where to direct a records request.

Note: Henry County courts also serve cases from the City of Martinsville in some contexts. If your case originated in Martinsville, check whether Martinsville has its own court records since independent cities in Virginia operate separate systems.

Nearby Counties

Henry County borders Patrick, Franklin, and Pittsylvania counties in southern Virginia, and shares its southern boundary with North Carolina.