Search Botetourt County Police Records

Botetourt County police records hold arrest reports, incident files, accident data, and criminal case files kept by the Sheriff's Office and the Circuit Court Clerk in Fincastle. The Sheriff's Office runs an online Citizen Connect system that puts some of these records right at your fingertips. This page walks through how to look up Botetourt County police records, what each office keeps, and how to send a FOIA request to the right place.

Botetourt County Sheriff's Office Records

The Botetourt County Sheriff's Office handles all police records for the county. The office runs a Citizen Connect system that lets the public look up outstanding criminal warrants, accident reports, and incident reports. You can also send anonymous crime tips through Citizen Connect. The Sheriff's Office Policy and Procedure Manual is 685 pages long. In 2023, the office logged 713 arrests, with simple assault as the most common offense.

To send a FOIA request, fill out the FOIA Request Form on the Botetourt County Sheriff's Office FOIA page and email or mail it to the office. You can also drop one off in person. Public arrest records show the arrestee's full name, gender, age, and mugshot. They also show the arrest date and location, the arresting agency, the charges, the booking ID, and any bail terms.

Note: Some records are not public. Juvenile records, health information, sensitive personal data, files tied to ongoing cases, and the names of confidential informants are all closed.

Botetourt County Police Records Under FOIA

Arrest records are public under Virginia FOIA. Under Virginia Code Section 2.2-3706.1, criminal incident information must be released for felony cases. The Sheriff's Office must reply to a FOIA request within five working days. If the office needs more time, it can ask for up to seven more workdays. The office must give a clear reason for any denial.

Send written requests to the Sheriff's Office or to the FOIA Officer. Be as specific as you can. Include the subject's full name, date of birth, and the date range of the records. The more detail, the faster the reply. Simple requests get free service. Larger requests can have fees for staff time and copy costs.

Botetourt County Court Records

The Botetourt County Circuit Court is at 1 W. Main Street, Fincastle, VA 24090. The phone is 540-928-2350. The court was once held in the basement of the Sheriff's Office at 205 N. Roanoke Street. The General District Court and the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court are at 20 East Back Street, Fincastle. The General District Court phone is 540-928-2270. The JDR phone is 540-928-2280.

You can search Botetourt 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 run by the Virginia Judicial System.

Virginia State Police Records for Botetourt

The Virginia State Police is the only agency that holds statewide criminal history files. For a check that covers Botetourt County and the rest of the state, send Form SP-167 to the Central Criminal Records Exchange. The fee is $15 per request. Mail the notarized form to Virginia State Police, CARE, P.O. Box 85076, Richmond, VA 23285.

Virginia State Police Area 39 covers parts of southwestern Virginia. The office is at 3861 South Lee Highway, Natural Bridge, VA 24578. The phone is (540) 291-2548. The email is area39@vsp.virginia.gov. State troopers handle highway crashes, drug cases, and other crimes that cross county lines. Their reports can be requested through the Virginia State Police FOIA portal.

Note: VSP processing for SP-167 background checks runs about 15 business days from the date the form is received.

Botetourt County Police Records Online

For a sex offender search that covers Botetourt County, the Virginia Sex Offender Registry is open and free. Search by name, by ZIP code, or by city. The registry is updated daily. The Sheriff's Office Citizen Connect system also gives the public a quick way to look up active warrants and recent reports.

The image below shows the Botetourt County Sheriff's Office Citizen Connect page where the public can search records.

This is the main entry point for warrants, accident reports, and incident reports in Botetourt County.

Botetourt County Incident and Arrest Reports

Daily incident logs are kept by the Botetourt County Sheriff's Office. These logs list calls for service, arrest activity, and case numbers. The log is a public record under FOIA. You can ask for a copy by date range or by case number. Some entries get redacted when a case is still open.

Arrest reports show the name, age, charge, and booking date. The arrest record is split from the full case file. To get the case file, you may need to wait for the case to close. Open case files fall under Va. Code § 2.2-3706.1, which sets out the rules for criminal investigative files. The sheriff has 65 working days to respond to those.

The 911 call logs and CAD data also count as public records. Ask the dispatch unit for the call sheet. Audio of the call may be held back if it is part of an open case.

Statewide Police Records Tools

The Central Criminal Records Exchange, or CCRE, is run by the Virginia State Police. It holds all reportable arrests and court outcomes from every county, Botetourt County included. To get a Botetourt County criminal history check, file Form SP-167. The fee is $15 and the form must be notarized. Most reports come back in 12 to 15 business days.

The Online Case Information System (OCIS 2.0) is the state court search tool. It covers circuit, general district, and juvenile and domestic relations cases. Search by name, case number, or date. The system is free. Results show the charge, court date, and case status. Botetourt County cases are part of the same statewide index.

The Virginia Sex Offender Registry is set up under Va. Code § 9.1-902. Search by name, ZIP, or county. Botetourt County offenders show up with photos, address, and offense type. The registry is free and open to all.

Note: The Virginia FOIA Council at 1-866-448-4100 gives free help if your Botetourt County request is delayed or denied. They can issue an opinion but cannot force the county to act.

Juvenile and Sealed Records

Juvenile records in Botetourt County are not open to the public. Access rules are set by Va. Code § 16.1-301. Only the child, the parent, the attorney, and certain agencies can view the file. The clerk of the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court holds these records.

Some juvenile felony cases are open if the child was 14 or older at the time of the act. Those files may show up in the court system. Most stay sealed.

Expungement of adult arrests goes through the Botetourt County Circuit Court. The law is Va. Code § 19.2-392.2. Only dismissed charges, nolle prosequi, or full acquittals qualify. A guilty plea or conviction does not. The petition fee is $84. The Commonwealth's Attorney is served and can object at the hearing.

Tips for Filing a Botetourt County FOIA Request

Be clear and short. Name the date, the report number if you have it, and the type of file you want. Vague asks slow the search and raise the fee. The sheriff's staff bills by the 10-minute block.

Ask for an estimate up front. If the cost may top $200, the county can ask for a deposit. Get the cost in writing before work starts. You can also ask to inspect files in person at no copy fee. Botetourt County will set a time and place for the review.

If the request is denied, ask for the legal cite. The denial must point to a section of the code. Common cites are § 2.2-3705.1 for personnel files and § 2.2-3706 for police files. You can then call the FOIA Council or file in circuit court.

Nearby Counties

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