Police Records in Appomattox County

Appomattox County police records are held by the Sheriff's Office and the Circuit Court Clerk in the town of Appomattox. These files include arrest reports, criminal incident records, booking data, and court case documents for felony and misdemeanor proceedings. The Sheriff's Office handles FOIA requests for law enforcement records, and the Circuit Court Clerk manages criminal case files. Virginia law gives the public a right to request most of these records. This page covers where to find Appomattox County police records and what to expect when you make a request.

Appomattox County Sheriff's Office Records

The Appomattox County Sheriff's Office is the primary law enforcement agency for the county. Major Travis Firebaugh serves as the FOIA Officer. You can send your records request to the Sheriff's Office by mail, email, or in person. The office also accepts phone requests.

Criminal record request forms are available from the Sheriff's Office. The form asks for the subject's full name, middle name, maiden name, Social Security number, city and state of birth, race, sex, and date of birth. A signature with notary acknowledgment is required. This form is for local criminal history checks covering arrests and cases handled within Appomattox County.

Appomattox County Police Records Request Process

The Appomattox County FOIA page explains how to request records under Virginia Code Section 2.2-3700 et seq. Requests can be made by U.S. Mail, fax, email, in person, or over the phone. You do not need to put your request in writing, and you do not need to cite FOIA by name.

The county must respond within five working days. "Day one" is the day after the request is received. If it is not practically possible to respond in five days, seven more working days are allowed, for a total of 12. For criminal investigative files requested under Section 2.2-3706.1, an extra 60 working days are allowed, bringing the total to 65 days.

Fees are based on the time spent by staff compiling and redacting documents. The rate is calculated by dividing the employee's annual pay by 2,080 hours, then multiplying by the time spent in six-minute increments. Copying and printing fees are $0.50 per page. If the estimated cost goes over $200, a deposit may be required. If you owe money from a past FOIA request unpaid for more than 30 days, the county may hold new requests until you pay.

Appomattox County Circuit Court Records

The Appomattox County Circuit Court Clerk is Janet Hix. The office is at 297 Court Street, Suite B, Appomattox, VA 24522. Mailing address: P.O. Box 672, Appomattox, VA 24522. Phone: (434) 352-5275. The clerk maintains land records, death records, wills, marriage records, criminal cases, and civil cases.

The Appomattox County Circuit Court handles felony cases, civil cases over $25,000, and family law matters. The General District Court handles misdemeanors, traffic violations, and preliminary hearings. You can search both courts online through the Circuit Court Case Information System and the General District Court system.

Note: The Circuit Court Clerk's office also handles expungement petitions for eligible criminal records.

Virginia State Police Records for Appomattox County

A statewide criminal history check covers Appomattox County along with every other jurisdiction in Virginia. Submit Form SP-167 to the Virginia State Police Central Criminal Records Exchange. The fee is $15. The form must be completed and notarized. Mail it to Virginia State Police, CARE, 7700 Midlothian Turnpike, North Chesterfield, VA 23235.

Processing takes about 15 business days. The results include arrests and convictions from across the state. This is the most comprehensive name-based search available through the state police. For Appomattox County arrests specifically, these records will show alongside data from other counties and cities.

The Virginia State Police FOIA portal accepts electronic requests for state police records. Use this for incident reports, accident records, and files not held by the county. The VSP FOIA Officer is reachable at (804) 674-2642 or FOIA@vsp.virginia.gov.

Appomattox County Arrest Records Access

Arrest records from Appomattox County are generally public under Virginia FOIA. Criminal incident information for felony offenses is a public record under state law. This includes the general description of the crime, date and location, investigating officer, and a description of injuries or property damage. Some records are exempt, including juvenile records, pending investigation files, and records that would jeopardize an ongoing case.

If the Sheriff's Office denies your request, they must cite the specific exemption. You can appeal through the circuit court or contact the Virginia FOIA Council. The council offers free advisory opinions and mediation services for disputes between the public and agencies.

Below is a screenshot of the Appomattox County FOIA procedures page, which details the request process and fee structure for police records.

The page covers response timelines, cost calculations, and deposit requirements for records requests.

Appomattox County Crash Reports

Crash reports for wrecks in Appomattox 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 Appomattox County Sheriff's Office may keep a local copy with photos and witness statements.

Wrecks on US 460 that crosses Appomattox County are often worked by State Police. You can ask either agency. The crash report shows date, time, road, weather, drivers, plates, and a basic diagram.

Statewide Tools and CCRE

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

The Virginia FOIA Council can help with disputes over an Appomattox County records request. 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 of an Appomattox County arrest, file a petition in the 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.

Nearby Counties

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