Bedford County Police Records Search

Bedford County police records are managed by the Sheriff's Office and the Circuit Court Clerk in Bedford. The county covers a large area in central Virginia, south of Roanoke. Police records include arrest reports, criminal incident information, booking data, and court case files. The Sheriff's Office treats every request for records as a FOIA request, whether or not you cite the law. This page walks through how to search for and get copies of Bedford County police records from local and state agencies.

Bedford County Sheriff's Office Records

The Bedford County Sheriff's Office handles all police records requests for the county. It is the policy of the office to treat every oral or written request for records as a request under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (VFOIA). You do not need to cite the law in your request. However, your request should identify the records you want with reasonable specificity.

The VFOIA Officer for the Bedford County Sheriff's Office is the Administrative Lieutenant in the Administrative Division. The Sheriff is the ex officio custodian of the records. The Records Manager or clerk will routinely respond to VFOIA requests. VFOIA creates a general rule of mandatory disclosure. It permits any Virginia citizen, or media representative circulating or broadcasting in or into Virginia, to inspect and copy public records during regular office hours.

Criminal Incident Information in Bedford County

Under Virginia law, "criminal incident information" from the Bedford County Sheriff's Office is defined as: a general description of the criminal activity reported, the date and general location the alleged crime was committed, the identity of the investigating officer, and a general description of any injuries suffered or property damaged or stolen. This information is public for felony cases under Virginia Code Section 2.2-3706.1.

Not all records are available. Records tied to pending investigations, juvenile cases, and informant identities can be withheld. If the office denies your request, they must tell you why and cite the specific exemption. You can appeal a denial through the Bedford County Circuit Court or the Virginia FOIA Council.

Note: The Sheriff's Office must respond to FOIA requests within five working days under Virginia law.

Bedford County Criminal Court Records

The Bedford County Circuit Court handles major civil cases, felonies, and family law matters. The Circuit Court Clerk maintains all court records, including criminal case files, sentencing orders, and case dispositions. For misdemeanor and traffic cases, the General District Court is the appropriate court.

Search Bedford County court records online for free. The Circuit Court Case Information System covers felony cases. The General District Court Online Case Information System covers misdemeanors and traffic cases. Both are maintained by the Virginia Judicial System and are accessible without an account.

Virginia State Police Records for Bedford County

The Virginia State Police (VSP) is the sole agency responsible for maintaining statewide criminal records in Virginia. For a criminal history check that covers Bedford County and every other jurisdiction, submit Form SP-167 to the Central Criminal Records Exchange. The fee is $15 per request. For records that include sex offender information, the fee is $20.

There are two main forms. Form SP-167 is for the record subject, out-of-state agencies, private companies, and members of the public. Form SP-230 is reserved for specific purposes. Mail the completed and notarized form to Virginia State Police, CARE, 7700 Midlothian Turnpike, North Chesterfield, VA 23235. Processing takes about 15 business days.

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

Bedford County Police Records and Public Access

Bedford County criminal records provide comprehensive histories of criminal activities within the county. Under VFOIA, the general rule is mandatory disclosure. Exemptions exist but are read narrowly. If you are a Virginia citizen or a media representative, you have the right to inspect and copy most police records during the office's regular business hours.

You can request records by mail, email, phone, fax, or in person. For the fastest response, submit your request in writing with as much detail as possible about the records you need. Include the subject's full name, date of birth if known, and the approximate date range of the records. The more specific your request, the easier it is for staff to locate the files.

For a broader search, the Virginia Sex Offender Registry covers Bedford County registrants and is searchable by name or location. The Virginia Courts website provides free access to case records from both circuit and district courts.

The image below shows the Bedford County criminal records access page with information about requesting police records.

This resource covers the SP-167 process and local request procedures for Bedford County.

Bedford County Crash Reports

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

Wrecks on US 460, US 221, and Route 24 that cross Bedford 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. Bedford 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.

If you hit a snag with a Bedford County records request, the Virginia FOIA Council can help. Call (804) 698-1810 or email foiacouncil@dls.virginia.gov. The council gives free advice. Its written opinions still carry weight in court.

For expungement of a Bedford 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. The Town of Bedford has its own police department, but it is not an independent city. Bedford town arrests still flow through the Bedford County court system.

Nearby Counties

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