Access Fredericksburg Police Records
Fredericksburg police records cover arrest data, incident reports, crash reports, and criminal case filings from this historic independent city along the Rappahannock River. The Fredericksburg Police Department handles law enforcement for the city, and the Circuit Court Clerk's Office manages court records and FOIA requests. Records are public under Virginia's Freedom of Information Act, with the usual exceptions for active investigations and protected information.
Fredericksburg Quick Facts
Fredericksburg Police Department Records
| Department | Fredericksburg Police Department |
|---|---|
| Address | 2200 Cowan Boulevard, Fredericksburg, VA 22401 |
| Phone | (540) 373-3122 |
| Fax | (540) 372-1177 |
| Records Hours | Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. |
The Fredericksburg Police Department is at 2200 Cowan Boulevard, Fredericksburg, VA 22401. The records office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. You can call the non-emergency line at (540) 373-3122 or send a fax to (540) 372-1177. The department has an online crime report form for non-emergency situations that can be filled out during regular business hours.
For police records requests, you can use the Fredericksburg FOIA Requests page. You can submit requests by U.S. Mail, fax, email, phone, or in person. FOIA does not require your request to be in writing, and you do not need to say you are making a FOIA request. Just describe what records you need with enough detail so the department can find them.
The city has five working days to respond. If it is not possible to fulfill the request in that time, the city can take up to seven more days, for a total of twelve working days. Criminal investigative files get up to 65 working days under Virginia Code § 2.2-3706.1.
Fredericksburg Clerk and Police Records
The Fredericksburg Circuit Court Clerk's Office also handles FOIA requests. The clerk, Jeff Small, serves as the designated FOIA Officer for the clerk's office. He can be reached at (540) 372-1066. The Fredericksburg Clerk FOIA page provides details on how to direct your request. The clerk's office is at 701 Princess Anne Street, Fredericksburg, VA 22401.
Keep in mind that the police department and the clerk's office handle different types of records. If you want incident reports or arrest records, go to the police department. If you want court filings, case dispositions, or other court documents, go to the clerk's office. Each office responds to FOIA requests on its own timeline.
Note: Fredericksburg is an independent city, not part of any county. The nearby counties of Spotsylvania and Stafford have their own sheriff's offices and court systems. If the incident happened outside Fredericksburg city limits, check with the relevant county.
Court Records in Fredericksburg
The Fredericksburg Circuit Court is at 701 Princess Anne Street, Fredericksburg, VA 22401, phone (540) 372-1066. This court handles felonies, civil cases over $25,000, family matters, and appeals from lower courts. The General District Court is at the same address and hears traffic violations, misdemeanors, and preliminary hearings for felony charges.
You can search Fredericksburg court records online through the Virginia Courts Case Information portal. This free system covers both circuit and general district courts. Search by name, case number, or hearing date. The Circuit Court Case Information System gives detailed results for felony and civil cases, including charge descriptions, hearing schedules, and final dispositions.
Court records are public unless sealed. They show the full arc of a case from filing to outcome. You can see what charges were brought, how the defendant pleaded, whether there was a trial, and what the sentence was. Dismissed and nolle prosequi cases also appear in the records.
Fredericksburg Criminal History Checks
For a statewide criminal history search, contact the Virginia State Police. The check costs $15 and uses a notarized SP-167 form. Mail it to Virginia State Police, CARE, 7700 Midlothian Turnpike, North Chesterfield, VA 23235. Results cover convictions from across Virginia and come back by mail.
Access to criminal history records is restricted under Virginia Code § 19.2-389. Only the person named in the record, their attorney with a notarized release, law enforcement, and certain government agencies can get the full report. Traffic records are handled by the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, not the police or the state police.
Court records offer an alternative for public searches. Anyone can look up criminal case filings in the Virginia court system online. These records show charges, trial dates, and outcomes, though they do not include the same level of detail as a formal criminal history report.
Public Fredericksburg Police Records
Virginia law requires police departments to release certain information. Felony incident details are public, including the type of crime, date, location, investigating officer, and a summary of injuries or property damage. Adult arrest photos from booking must be released unless doing so would harm a felony investigation. The name and charge status of arrested adults are also public. Juvenile information is not.
Records that can be withheld include active investigation files under Virginia Code § 2.2-3706, victim and witness identities, and records protected by attorney-client privilege. The department must cite the specific exemption when withholding records. If you think your rights were violated, you can petition the court or contact the Virginia FOIA Council at foiacouncil@dls.virginia.gov or (804) 698-1810.
The Fredericksburg Police Department website provides information on how to request police records and file non-emergency crime reports.
The records office at 2200 Cowan Boulevard is open weekdays. Call (540) 373-3122 for non-emergency inquiries.
The Fredericksburg Clerk's Office FOIA page explains the process for requesting court records and other public documents from the clerk.
Clerk Jeff Small is the designated FOIA officer for the court. Contact him at (540) 372-1066 for court-related records requests.
Nearby Virginia Cities
Fredericksburg sits between Richmond and Washington, D.C. Several other independent cities in the region maintain their own police departments and court systems.