Lexington Police Records

Lexington police records include arrest reports, incident files, crash data, and criminal case documents maintained by the Lexington Police Department, the Rockbridge County Sheriff's Office, and the combined Rockbridge/Lexington Circuit Court. Lexington is an independent city in the Shenandoah Valley, but it shares a circuit court system and sheriff's office with Rockbridge County. This page covers how to search for, request, and obtain police records in Lexington, with contacts, fees, and step-by-step guidance for each agency that holds records here.

Lexington Police Department Records

The Lexington Police Department is located at 11 S Henry Street in Lexington. This is the main point of contact for police reports, incident files, and arrest data originating within city limits. For non-emergency questions or records inquiries, call (540) 462-3705. The department handles FOIA requests and can help you identify which records are available.

To submit a FOIA request, you can use the online FOIA Request Form on the city's transparency page. Requests are also accepted by phone, email, fax, mail, or in person. You must give your name and address when making a request. The records you want must be described with "reasonable specificity," which is a common-sense standard. It does not limit how many records you can ask for. It just means the agency needs enough detail to find what you need.

The city must respond within five working days. Day one starts the day after your request comes in. Weekends and holidays do not count. If the city cannot respond in time, it must explain why in writing and gets seven more working days. That gives a total of 12 working days to answer your request.

Lexington Police Records Fees

Charges for Lexington police records are based on actual costs. A public body can charge for the time spent searching, accessing, and copying records. No extra fees for general overhead are allowed. Duplication costs cannot go past the real cost of making copies. If the total is expected to go over $200, the city or the Commonwealth's Attorney may require a deposit before starting the work.

The five-day response clock pauses while the city waits for your deposit. Once you pay, the clock restarts. You have the right to ask for a cost estimate before any work begins. This way you know what to expect and can decide if you want to move forward with the request.

Note: If you do not respond to a cost estimate within 30 days, most Virginia agencies treat the request as withdrawn.

Rockbridge County Sheriff and Lexington

The Rockbridge County Sheriff's Office serves both Rockbridge County and the City of Lexington. This combined office handles patrol, arrests, and court security for the area. The sheriff's office is at 258 Greenhouse Road, Lexington, VA 24450. The administrative office number is (540) 463-7329. For dispatch, call (540) 463-7328. The fax number is (540) 463-5693.

If you need arrest records or want to check on the status of a case that involved the sheriff's office, contact them at the numbers above. FOIA requests can be directed to the sheriff's office for records they hold. The same five-day response rule applies. Records from the sheriff may overlap with Lexington Police Department records in some cases, so it helps to know which agency handled the incident you are asking about.

Lexington Police Records and FOIA Exemptions

Under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, Section 2.2-3700 et seq., all public records are presumed open. That includes police reports and arrest data. But criminal investigative files are specifically excluded from mandatory release. The law defines these as any documents, complaints, court orders, memos, notes, diagrams, maps, photos, correspondence, reports, witness statements, and evidence tied to a criminal investigation or prosecution, other than criminal incident information.

The Rockbridge/Lexington Commonwealth's Attorney also handles FOIA requests for records in its custody. The office notes that criminal investigative files are excluded from FOIA. If you believe your FOIA rights have been violated, you can file a petition in district or circuit court. You can also contact the FOIA Advisory Council for a free, nonbinding advisory opinion.

Criminal incident information, however, is generally available. That includes basic facts about felony offenses: a general description of what happened, the date, the location, the investigating officer, and a description of any injuries or property damage. Adult arrest photos taken during booking are also usually available, unless release would hurt an active felony investigation.

Rockbridge/Lexington Circuit Court

The Rockbridge County Circuit Court Clerk's Office is at 20 S Randolph Street, Lexington, VA 24450. Phone: (540) 463-2232. This court handles felony cases, civil cases over $25,000, family matters, and appeals from lower courts. The Lexington and Rockbridge courts are combined, so all circuit-level cases for the city go through this office.

You can search for case information online through the Virginia Circuit Court Case Information System. Select the Rockbridge court to find Lexington cases. The General District Court Online Case Information System covers traffic violations, misdemeanors, and preliminary hearings. Both systems are free to use.

There is no statewide search for circuit court cases in Virginia. Many circuit courts either do not use the online system or use a different platform. For Lexington, you should search specifically under Rockbridge. Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court cases are not available online.

Virginia State Police Records

A statewide criminal history check is done through the Virginia State Police. Submit Form SP-167 with a $15 fee to the Central Criminal Records Exchange, P.O. Box 85076, Richmond, VA 23261-5076. The form must be notarized. Include fingerprints on Form FD-258 if you are requesting your own record. Processing takes about 15 business days.

The Virginia State Police also runs the Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry. This is free to search online by name or location. The VSP FOIA portal accepts electronic requests for state-level police records and documents not held by local agencies in Lexington.

The Rockbridge/Lexington Commonwealth's Attorney FOIA page explains how to request records and what exemptions may apply to police files.

This page details your rights under FOIA and the types of records that may be withheld, including criminal investigative files.

Nearby Cities

These Virginia independent cities are near Lexington. Each maintains its own police department and court system.