Albemarle County Police Records

Albemarle County police records are managed by both the Sheriff's Office and the Albemarle County Police Department, which operate as separate agencies in the Charlottesville area. The county also has its own Circuit Court that handles felony criminal cases and maintains detailed case files. Under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, most police records in Albemarle County are open to the public. You can request arrest records, incident reports, and criminal case information through FOIA or search court records online through the Virginia Judicial System. This page explains where to find Albemarle County police records and how to get copies.

Albemarle County Sheriff's Office

The Albemarle County Sheriff's Office is the primary custodian of police records in the county. The office is an accredited law enforcement agency through the Virginia Law Enforcement Professional Standards Commission. To get copies of arrest records, incident reports, or other law enforcement files, submit a written FOIA request. You can file in person, by mail, or by email.

Arrest records in Albemarle County are generally public under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act. Under Virginia Code Section 2.2-3706, criminal incident information for felony offenses is a public record. This includes the nature of the crime, the date and location, and the identity of the investigating officer. The Sheriff's Office must respond to your request within five working days under Virginia Code Section 2.2-3704. Agencies may charge reasonable fees for the actual cost of searching, duplicating, or accessing the records.

Albemarle County Police Department Records

Albemarle County is one of the few Virginia counties that has both a Sheriff's Office and a separate police department. The Albemarle County Police Department is located at 1600 5th Street, Charlottesville, VA 22902. Phone: (434) 296-5807. The ACPD handles its own records requests and may withhold certain files under FOIA exemptions.

Unlike some jurisdictions, Albemarle County law enforcement agencies do not maintain public-facing online databases of booking photographs. You will not find mugshots on the county website or social media pages. The Virginia Court Case Information System provides case information but does not include booking photos. If you need a mugshot, you must request it directly from the agency that made the arrest.

The county FOIA Officer is James Douglas, who can be reached at (434) 972-4067 ext. 7930. He handles FOIA requests for county government offices outside the Sheriff's Office and police department. Each department has its own FOIA contact, so direct your request to the right office to avoid delays.

Albemarle County Criminal Court Records

The Albemarle County Circuit Court is located at 501 E. Jefferson Street, Charlottesville, VA 22902. Phone: (434) 972-4083. The court handles felony cases, civil cases over $25,000, and family law matters. The Circuit Court Clerk maintains records of all cases filed in the court.

Court records can be accessed through the Virginia Judicial Online Case Information System. This free tool lets you search by name or case number. It covers all circuit courts in Virginia. For Albemarle County, you can find felony case filings, hearing dates, dispositions, and sentencing information. The General District Court handles misdemeanors and traffic cases, and those records are searchable through the General District Court online system.

Police Records and Criminal History Checks

For a full criminal history covering Albemarle County and all of Virginia, use the Virginia State Police. Submit Form SP-167 to the Central Criminal Records Exchange. The form must be notarized. Include required identification and a $15 payment. Mail it to: Virginia State Police, Civil and Applicant Records Exchange (CARE), 7700 Midlothian Turnpike, North Chesterfield, VA 23235.

The SP-167 is a name-based search. It returns arrest and conviction records from the entire state. Processing takes about 15 business days by mail. The results will show charges, dispositions, and sentencing data. For Albemarle County arrests specifically, the records will appear alongside any other Virginia arrests on the subject's history.

Note: A fingerprint-based check is more comprehensive but is typically limited to specific purposes under state law.

Search Albemarle County Police Records Online

You have several options for searching Albemarle County police records online. The Virginia Courts website at vacourts.gov provides free access to both circuit court and general district court case records. These databases are updated regularly and cover all criminal cases in the county.

The Virginia State Police FOIA portal lets you submit records requests electronically. This is useful for state-level records, accident reports from state police, and criminal history files. You can also check the Virginia Sex Offender Registry to search for registrants in Albemarle County by name or address.

Below is a screenshot of the Albemarle County Sheriff's Office website, where you can find FOIA contact information and records request details.

The Sheriff's Office provides FOIA request forms and contact details for records inquiries on its site.

Albemarle County Crash Reports

Crash reports for wrecks in Albemarle County are filed on Form FR-300 by the Sheriff's Office or by Virginia State Police. The deputy or trooper turns the form in to the Virginia DMV within 24 hours. To get a copy, file Form CRD-93 with DMV. The fee is $8 per copy. Drivers, owners, insurers, and lawyers tied to the wreck can ask. The Albemarle County Sheriff's Office may also keep a local copy with photos and witness statements.

Many wrecks on Interstate 64 and US 29 that cross Albemarle County are worked by State Police. You can ask either agency. The crash report shows date, time, road, weather, drivers, and a basic diagram.

Statewide Tools and CCRE

The Central Criminal Records Exchange (CCRE) is run by Virginia State Police. CCRE holds fingerprint-based criminal history for all of Virginia. Albemarle County arrest data flows into CCRE through the booking process at the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail. Courts and police use the new OCIS 2.0 case system to file and look up case data statewide.

If you hit a snag with an Albemarle County records request, the Virginia FOIA Council can help. Call (804) 698-1810 or email foiacouncil@dls.virginia.gov. The council gives free advice. It does not have power to force release. Its written opinions still carry weight in court.

For expungement, file a petition in the Albemarle County Circuit Court under Virginia Code § 19.2-392.2. This applies if you were found not guilty or had charges dropped. The court schedules a hearing. If granted, the order seals the arrest from public view but does not erase it from CCRE. Note that the City of Charlottesville is an independent city with its own police and courts. Arrests in Charlottesville do not show up in Albemarle County files.

Nearby Counties

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