Find Staunton Police Records

Staunton police records cover arrest reports, incident files, crash data, license plate reader data, and criminal case documents held by the Staunton Police Department and the Staunton Circuit Court. Staunton is an independent city in the Shenandoah Valley. This page covers how to find and request Staunton police records, including the FOIA path, fees, and court case lookups.

Staunton Police Department Records

The Staunton Police Department is the main law enforcement agency in the City of Staunton. The department handles records requests under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act. Staunton has been noted for full FOIA compliance with media requests, including a 2024 case involving Flock license plate reader data. In that case, Staunton turned over LPR footage showing a vehicle captured by cameras in Lynchburg and Roanoke.

Records held by the Staunton Police Department include incident reports, arrest data, crash reports, body camera video, dash camera video, and Flock LPR data. License plate reader data has become a major topic in Virginia FOIA cases. Staunton was one of the agencies that turned over LPR data when asked, while some other Virginia cities did not.

Crash reports usually need the report number and your ID. Incident reports may be requested by parties involved or through formal FOIA. Body camera video and other digital files are also part of Staunton police records and can be asked for through the same FOIA process.

Staunton Police Records FOIA Process

The Virginia Freedom of Information Act gives you the right to request Staunton police records. Under Virginia Code Section 2.2-3700 et seq., all public records are presumed open unless an exemption applies. You do not need to state a reason. You can file by mail, email, in person, or by phone.

Staunton must respond within five working days. Day one is the day after the request comes in. Weekends and holidays do not count. If Staunton needs more time, the city can take up to seven extra working days after sending written notice. For criminal investigative files asked for under Virginia Code Section 2.2-3706.1, the city can take up to 60 extra working days.

Common exemptions for Staunton police records are in Virginia Code Section 2.2-3706. This covers criminal investigation files, witness identities, victim data, and personnel records. If your request is denied, the city must cite the exact code section. You can appeal to the Virginia Freedom of Information Advisory Council or file in circuit court.

Note: Virginia law lets public bodies require a deposit if the cost is more than $200. You then have 30 days to respond before the request is deemed withdrawn.

Staunton Sheriff and Other Offices

The Staunton Sheriff's Office is a separate agency from the police. The sheriff handles court security and civil process service in Staunton. Records held by the sheriff include civil process records, eviction data, and court security files. Staunton does not run a city jail of its own, so inmate records for city arrestees are typically held at the regional jail.

The Staunton Commonwealth's Attorney prosecutes crimes in the city. This office holds prosecution files and may receive FOIA requests for closed case data. Each office is its own custodian of records. Send your request to the right office to avoid delays.

Staunton Circuit Court Records

The Staunton Circuit Court sits in the 25th Judicial Circuit. It handles felony criminal cases, civil cases over $25,000, and family law matters. The clerk's office keeps case files with indictments, plea deals, sentencing orders, and other court papers. These are public records and can be viewed at the courthouse or searched online.

You can search Staunton circuit court cases through the Virginia Circuit Court Case Information System. This free tool lets you look up cases by name, case number, or hearing date. It covers all Virginia circuit courts. For misdemeanors and traffic offenses, use the General District Court Online Case Information System instead.

The Staunton General District Court handles preliminary hearings for felonies, misdemeanor trials, traffic cases, and small civil claims. Both court systems feed into the statewide database run by the Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia. Visit the Virginia Judicial System site for all court search tools.

Virginia State Police Records

For a statewide criminal history check that covers Staunton and every other city in Virginia, use the Virginia State Police. Submit Form SP-167 to the Central Criminal Records Exchange. The fee is $15 per name search. The form must be notarized before mailing to Virginia State Police, CARE, 7700 Midlothian Turnpike, North Chesterfield, VA 23235. Processing takes about 15 business days.

The Virginia State Police FOIA portal takes electronic requests for state police records. The Virginia Sex Offender Registry is also free to search and covers all of Virginia, including Staunton.

Staunton Police Records Fees

Fees vary by request type. FOIA requests may include charges for staff time spent searching, reviewing, and redacting records. Staunton charges actual cost, not a flat rate. Common costs include per-page copy fees and hourly labor for hard searches.

Background checks through Virginia State Police cost $15 per name. Crash reports through the police department cost a small fee per copy. Under Virginia Code Section 2.2-3704, public bodies may charge reasonable fees not to exceed actual cost. Staunton follows this standard.

The screenshot below shows the Virginia Courts Case Information system, which can be used to search Staunton circuit court case records online.

Use this free database to look up felony cases and other circuit court filings in Staunton.

Nearby Cities

These Virginia independent cities are near Staunton in the Shenandoah Valley. Each runs its own police and court system for police records.