Find Police Records in Accomack County

Accomack County police records are held by the Sheriff's Office in Accomac and the Circuit Court Clerk. These records cover arrests, criminal charges, incident reports, and booking data from across Virginia's Eastern Shore. The Accomack County Sheriff's Office handles FOIA requests for law enforcement files, while the Circuit Court maintains case records for felony and misdemeanor proceedings. You can request copies of police records by mail, email, fax, in person, or by phone. State law does not require requests to be in writing or to cite FOIA by name. This page covers how to search for and get copies of Accomack County police records through local and state channels.

Accomack County Sheriff's Office Records

The Accomack County Sheriff's Office is the main source for police records in the county. Captain Carl Wright serves as the FOIA officer. You can send your request to the Sheriff's Office by mail, email, fax, or in person. Phone requests are also accepted. The office must respond within five business days, not counting weekends or holidays. If you need arrest records, incident reports, or booking details from Accomack County, start here.

The Sheriff's Office treats every request for records as a FOIA request, even if the requester does not cite the law. Under Virginia Code Section 2.2-3700 et seq., all public records are presumed open. A public record includes any paper document, electronic file, audio recording, or video held by the office in the course of public business. Only records that fall under a specific statutory exemption can be withheld.

How to Get Accomack County Police Records

Filing a FOIA request with Accomack County is straightforward. You can use any of these methods: U.S. Mail, fax, email, in person, or phone. The law does not require a written request. You do not need to say you are making a FOIA request. Just describe the records you want with enough detail so staff can find them.

The county also accepts FOIA requests through a general email address at FOIA@co.accomack.va.us. You can direct requests to the county FOIA Officer at 23296 Courthouse Avenue, Room 203, P.O. Box 388, Accomac, VA 23301. The phone number is (757) 787-5700. As of July 2023, Accomack County tries to fill FOIA requests at no charge when possible. But fees may apply based on the hourly rate of the staff member who searches for the records. The county uses the lowest paid employee who can handle the search.

For records from the Sheriff's Office specifically, a staff charge of $40 per hour may apply after the first hour. Copying costs run $0.08 per printed page. If the estimated cost goes above $200, the office will ask for a deposit equal to half the estimate before starting work.

Police Records Exemptions in Accomack County

Not all police records in Accomack County are open to the public. Virginia law sets out specific exemptions that let agencies withhold certain files. The Accomack County Sheriff's Office lists several common exemptions that may apply to records requests. These include personnel records, documents covered by attorney-client privilege, and vendor proprietary information.

Records tied to pending criminal investigations are also exempt. The same goes for informant information, internal affairs files, and juvenile records. Suspect information like name, date of birth, and pending charges may be withheld in some cases. Contract negotiation records before an award are exempt too. Security-related documents fall under a separate exemption. If the Sheriff's Office denies part or all of your request, they must cite the specific exemption and explain why it applies. You have the right to appeal a denial.

Note: Accident reports are not handled by the Sheriff's Office; contact the Virginia State Police or the local police department that responded to the incident.

Accomack County Circuit Court Records

The Accomack County Circuit Court in Accomac handles felony cases, major civil cases, and family law matters. The Circuit Court Clerk maintains records of all cases filed in the court. If you need records from a criminal case that went through the circuit court, the clerk's office is where to look. This includes indictments, plea records, sentencing orders, and case dispositions.

You can also search Accomack County court records online. The Virginia Circuit Court Case Information System lets you look up case details by name, case number, or hearing date. The system covers criminal and civil cases in all Virginia circuit courts, including Accomack County. It is free to use and does not require an account.

For misdemeanor cases, traffic violations, and preliminary hearings on felony charges, check the General District Court. The General District Court Online Case Information System provides similar search tools for lower court records. Both systems are run by the Virginia Judicial System and are updated regularly.

Virginia State Police Criminal History

For a statewide criminal history check that covers Accomack County and all of Virginia, use the Virginia State Police. Submit Form SP-167 to the Central Criminal Records Exchange (CARE). The fee is $15 per search. You must have the form notarized before sending it. Mail the form to Virginia State Police, CARE, 7700 Midlothian Turnpike, North Chesterfield, VA 23235.

The Virginia State Police FOIA portal also accepts electronic records requests. First Sergeant William "Kent" Shipman is the VSP FOIA Officer. You can reach him at (804) 674-2642 or FOIA@vsp.virginia.gov. This portal is useful if you need state police incident reports, accident records, or other law enforcement files that are not held at the county level.

Processing time for SP-167 requests runs about 15 business days. The results show arrests and convictions from across the state. This is a name-based search, so the results depend on the accuracy of the information you provide. A fingerprint-based check is more thorough but is typically reserved for specific purposes like licensing.

Accomack County Arrest Records Access

Arrest records in Accomack County are generally public under Virginia FOIA. Criminal incident information, including the nature of the offense, date, location, investigating officer, and a description of injuries or property damage, is open to the public under Virginia Code Section 2.2-3706.1. This applies to felony offense information specifically.

To get arrest records, contact the Sheriff's Office using the FOIA process described above. Provide the full name of the person and any other identifying details you have, such as date of birth or approximate arrest date. The more specific your request, the faster the office can locate the records. Broad or vague requests may take longer and cost more if extensive searching is needed.

Search Accomack County Police Records Online

Several online tools let you search for Accomack County police records from home. The Virginia Courts Case Information system is free and covers both circuit and district courts. You can search by name to find criminal cases, check hearing dates, and view case outcomes. The Virginia Judicial System website links to both the circuit court and general district court search tools.

The Virginia State Police also maintains the Sex Offender Registry, which is searchable by name or location. This registry covers all of Virginia, including Accomack County. For broader searches, the VSP criminal background check page explains how to request a formal criminal history report.

Note: Online court records may not include every detail found in the full case file held by the clerk's office.

The screenshot below shows the Virginia Courts Case Information portal, which you can use to look up Accomack County criminal and civil court records.

This free tool covers all Virginia circuit courts and is updated with new filings on a regular basis.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Accomack County. Each has its own Sheriff's Office and Circuit Court for police records.