Find Criminal Filings in New Kent County
New Kent County criminal court records are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk and the General District Court in New Kent, Virginia. Felony case filings, misdemeanor dockets, warrants, and case dispositions can be searched online through Virginia's free public court systems or requested in person at the courthouse on Courthouse Circle. New Kent County sits between Richmond and Williamsburg and is served by the 9th Judicial Circuit. This guide covers how to find criminal records in both courts, how to submit a FOIA request to the county, and what Virginia's record sealing law allows.
New Kent County Overview
New Kent Circuit Court Records
The New Kent County Circuit Court handles all felony criminal cases, grand jury proceedings, and appeals from the General District Court. It is part of Virginia's 9th Judicial Circuit. The Circuit Court Clerk keeps files on all criminal matters, including indictments, motions, sentencing records, and final dispositions. These records are open to the public unless sealed by court order. Anyone can view them at the clerk's office on Courthouse Circle in New Kent during normal business hours.
You can search New Kent County circuit court records through the CJISWeb portal provided by the Virginia Judicial System. Select New Kent County from the list and search by name, case number, or date. Criminal cases carry a "CR" prefix in their case numbers. The portal reflects current data and lets you confirm whether a case exists and what its current status is before you contact the clerk. The clerk's office is at newkentcountyva.gov/circuit-court-clerk.
Standard copy fees apply. Physical copies cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies require an additional $2.00, and triple-seal certification adds $2.50. The clerk's office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
| Office | New Kent County Circuit Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 12001 Courthouse Circle, New Kent, VA 23124 |
| Judicial Circuit | 9th Judicial Circuit |
| Online Search | CJISWeb Circuit Court Search |
| Clerk Website | newkentcountyva.gov/circuit-court-clerk |
| Copy Fees | $0.50/page; certified +$2.00; triple-seal +$2.50 |
The OCIS 2.0 statewide search system lets you look up cases across Virginia courts, including New Kent County, when you are not sure which court level handled the case.
New Kent General District Court
The General District Court in New Kent County covers misdemeanor criminal charges, traffic cases, and preliminary felony hearings. Civil claims up to $25,000 also fall under its jurisdiction. This court does not conduct jury trials. Defendants who want a jury must appeal to the Circuit Court, where the case is retried from the beginning under de novo rules.
You can search New Kent General District Court records through the GDC case search system. Look up misdemeanor, traffic, and civil cases by name or case number at no charge. The court is open Monday through Friday during standard business hours. Preliminary hearing records appear in the GDC system and reflect what the court handled before any case moved to Circuit Court.
For juvenile and domestic relations matters, use the GDC court selector to navigate to the correct court. Those cases are handled separately from standard criminal matters in the General District Court.
| Office | New Kent General District Court |
|---|---|
| Jurisdiction | Misdemeanors, traffic, civil to $25K, preliminary hearings |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Online Search | GDC Case Search System |
Online Search Tools for New Kent Records
Virginia provides several free public court search tools. For New Kent County, CJISWeb covers circuit-level felony records and the GDC system covers General District Court. The OCIS 2.0 statewide portal is helpful when you need to search across multiple courts at once or are unsure which court filed a specific case. You can look up cases by name without creating an account.
The Virginia case status and information page lets you confirm active case status and upcoming hearing dates. This is separate from the historical case search in CJISWeb. Together, these tools give you a full picture of a case from initial filing through final disposition. All tools are maintained by the Virginia Judicial System and are free to access.
Note: Online search systems only return records that are publicly accessible. Sealed cases, juvenile records, and certain domestic filings will not appear in search results.
Criminal Record Access in New Kent County
Criminal court case files held by the New Kent Circuit Court Clerk are public records. Anyone can review them at the clerk's office. Under Virginia Code § 19.2-389, criminal history records held by law enforcement are treated differently than court case files. The statute governs what can be released from the law enforcement side. Court records operate under separate rules and are open by default.
For records held outside the court system, the Virginia Freedom of Information Act at Virginia Code Title 2.2, Chapter 37 applies. New Kent County's FOIA procedures and contact information are available at newkentcountyva.gov/foia. Public bodies must respond to FOIA requests within five working days. The county government site at newkentcountyva.gov lists department contacts for submitting requests to the right office.
The Virginia FOIA Advisory Council provides guidance for people who need help submitting a records request or who believe a request was improperly denied. For statewide background checks, use the Virginia State Police Central Criminal Records Exchange through vsp.virginia.gov.
Record Sealing and Expungement
Virginia's sealing law is found at Virginia Code Title 19.2, Chapter 23.1. Under § 19.2-392.2, if a criminal case was dismissed or ended in an acquittal, the defendant may be eligible to have that record sealed. Sealing removes the case from public view. The petition is filed in the Circuit Court where the case was originally heard. For New Kent County cases, that is the 9th Circuit Court located at the New Kent courthouse.
Not all dismissed cases are eligible. Certain serious offenses under § 19.2-392.12 are excluded from sealing even when no conviction resulted. Virginia is also expanding its sealing law in July 2026 to allow some people with qualifying convictions to petition for sealing. That process is not automatic and requires filing in court. The Virginia Courts Self-Help Center offers forms and instructions for starting a sealing petition without an attorney.
Self-Help and Legal Resources
The Virginia Courts Self-Help Center is a free resource maintained by the Virginia Judicial System. It has forms, guides, and plain-language explanations for a wide range of court processes, including records requests, sealing petitions, and how to respond to criminal charges. No registration is required.
New Kent County sits in a growing area between Richmond and Williamsburg, and its population has increased in recent years. The clerk's office in New Kent handles records for the county's Circuit Court. Mail requests are accepted if you cannot visit in person. If you send a written request, include the full name of the person, the approximate case date or year, and a check or money order for the applicable copy fees.
Legal aid resources serving the greater Richmond region can assist New Kent County residents with criminal court matters. Contact information and income eligibility details are available through the Self-Help Center or the Virginia State Bar lawyer referral service.
Note: New Kent County's proximity to Richmond means some residents may have cases filed in neighboring Henrico or Charles City counties. Check each county's court separately since records do not cross jurisdictions.
Nearby Counties
New Kent County borders Charles City, James City, King William, Hanover, and Henrico counties. Each has a separate circuit court clerk and maintains its own criminal records.