Alexandria Police Records

Alexandria police records include arrest reports, incident files, crash data, and criminal case documents maintained by the Alexandria Police Department and Circuit Court. As an independent city in Northern Virginia, Alexandria runs its own law enforcement and court system separate from any county. Searching for police records here means working with city agencies directly, along with state-level tools from the Virginia State Police. This page walks through how to find, request, and get copies of police records in Alexandria. Whether you need a crash report from a recent accident or want to look up a criminal case, the steps and contacts below will help you get started with the right office.

Alexandria Police Department Records

The Alexandria Police Department handles records requests through its Information Services Section. This office is the main point of contact for anyone who needs copies of police reports, arrest records, or incident files from the city. The section is located inside police headquarters and is open to walk-in visitors on most weekdays. Hours run from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. The office is closed to the public on Wednesdays, weekends, and holidays.

Police records staff can help victims and reporting parties with limited record requests. You can ask for a brief case synopsis, also called an insurance verification. Bring a valid driver's license, the case number, and $10.00 to get one. Requests can be made in person or sent by mail to the Records Section at the address above. The fee applies regardless of how you submit your request.

Warrant information is handled differently. You must show up in person at police headquarters with a valid ID. The department will not discuss warrant details over the phone.

Alexandria Police Records and Arrest Data

If you want your own Alexandria arrest record, there are specific rules. You must currently live or work in the City of Alexandria. You need two government-issued forms of identification, and one must include a photo. Take those to the Alexandria Police Department during normal business hours. This type of request is handled only in person. The fee for an Alexandria-only arrest record is $10.00.

The Alexandria Police Department does not provide criminal history checks to the general public. For a full criminal history that covers all of Virginia, you need to go through the Virginia State Police. The Virginia Code Section 19.2-389 governs how criminal history records are shared. The Central Criminal Records Exchange at the Virginia State Police is the keeper of record for all Virginia criminal histories.

Note: Alexandria-only arrest records show local arrests. They do not include charges from other Virginia jurisdictions or federal cases.

Crash Reports in Alexandria

Crash reports are one of the most common police records people request. In Alexandria, you can get a copy of a State Accident Report (FR-300P) if you are a driver, injured person, vehicle owner, insurance provider, or legal guardian involved in the crash. The main way to get crash reports is now through the online portal at crashdocs.org. This is the primary method, and a FOIA request is not needed for crash reports.

You can also get a copy in person by visiting the Information Services Section during business hours. The fee is $5.00 for a crash report, no matter which method you use. If you go in person, bring your ID and the report number if you have it.

Alexandria FOIA Requests for Police Records

The Virginia Freedom of Information Act gives you the right to request public records from the City of Alexandria. Police records fall under this law. You can file a FOIA request by email, phone, mail, fax, or in person. The city uses a GovQA online portal for submitting and tracking FOIA requests, which makes the process easier to manage.

The city's Interim FOIA Officer is David Lanier in the City Attorney's Office. He handles general FOIA questions and can direct you to the right department. His office is at 301 King Street, Suite 1300, Alexandria, Virginia 22314. You can reach him at 703-746-3750 or by email at FOIArequests@alexandriava.gov. The city must respond within five working days. If more time is needed, they can take up to seven extra days. Weekends and holidays do not count toward the deadline.

Under Virginia Code Section 2.2-3700 et seq., all public records are presumed open unless a specific exemption applies. Common exemptions for police records include criminal investigation files, personnel records, and documents covered by attorney-client privilege. If any part of your request is denied, the city must cite the exact exemption and explain why.

Fees for FOIA requests depend on what you ask for. The first hour of search time with the FOIA Officer is free. After that, the city charges the actual hourly rate of the staff member doing the work. Copying costs reflect actual expenses. Electronic payments go through the GovQA portal. Checks should be payable to City of Alexandria and mailed to Office of City Attorney, P.O. Box 178, Alexandria, VA 22313.

Alexandria Circuit Court Records

The Alexandria Circuit Court sits in the 18th Judicial Circuit and handles felony criminal cases, civil cases over $25,000, and family law matters. The Clerk of Court is Hon. J. Greg Parks. The courthouse is at 520 King Street, Alexandria, VA 22314. Office hours run from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM on weekdays. You can call the clerk's office at (703) 746-4044.

Court records are available at public access terminals inside the courthouse. Land records can be searched online through a paid subscription service. For criminal case records, you can also use the Virginia Circuit Court Case Information System. This free tool lets you search by name, case number, or hearing date across all Virginia circuit courts.

Misdemeanor cases, traffic violations, and preliminary felony hearings go through the Alexandria General District Court. The General District Court Online Case Information System covers those records. Both databases are run by the Virginia Judicial System and are updated on a regular basis.

Virginia State Police Records

For a statewide criminal history check that includes Alexandria and every other jurisdiction in Virginia, use the Virginia State Police. Submit Form SP-167 to the Central Criminal Records Exchange. The fee is $15 per search. The form must be notarized before you mail it to Virginia State Police, CARE, 7700 Midlothian Turnpike, North Chesterfield, VA 23235.

The Virginia State Police FOIA portal accepts electronic requests for state police records. This is useful for incident reports and other files held at the state level rather than by Alexandria city agencies. Processing for SP-167 requests takes about 15 business days. The results are based on name matching, so provide as much detail as possible for accurate results.

Search Alexandria Police Records Online

Several free tools let you search for Alexandria police records without leaving home. The Virginia Courts website links to both circuit and district court case search systems. You can look up criminal cases, check hearing dates, and see case outcomes. The Virginia Judicial System website is the starting point for those searches.

The Virginia State Police runs the Sex Offender Registry, searchable by name or location. This covers all of Virginia, including Alexandria. For crash reports, the crashdocs.org portal lets you purchase reports online if you are an involved party. The city's FOIA page also links to the GovQA portal for broader records requests.

The screenshot below shows the Alexandria Police Department Information Services page, which explains how to request police records in the city.

This page details hours, fees, and the types of records available through the police department.

Below is the Alexandria FOIA and police records request page on the city website.

Use this portal to file FOIA requests for police reports and other city records.

Nearby Cities

These Virginia independent cities are near Alexandria. Each has its own police department and court system for police records.