Search Frederick County Police Records
Frederick County police records are available through the Sheriff's Office and through the county's online FOIA portal. Located in the northern Shenandoah Valley, Frederick County surrounds the independent city of Winchester and has a well-organized records request system. The county FOIA Officer processes requests and can be reached by phone or email. This page explains how to search for police records, what types of information are public, and how to run background checks through state databases.
County Seat: Winchester
FOIA Response Time: 5 business days (up to 12 with extension)
State Background Check: $15 via VSP Form SP-167
Circuit Court: 26th Judicial Circuit
Frederick County Police Records Contacts
| Office | Frederick County Sheriff's Office |
|---|---|
| Address | 1080 Coverstone Drive, Winchester, VA 22602 |
| Phone | (540) 662-6168 |
| Fax | (540) 504-6400 |
| FOIA Contact | Karen Vacchio, Public Information Officer, 107 North Kent Street, Winchester, VA 22601, Phone: 540-722-8307, Email: karen.vacchio@fcva.us |
How to Request Records
Frederick County uses an online FOIA portal at frederickcountyva.nextrequest.com for submitting and tracking public records requests. This is the fastest way to get started. You can also write to the FOIA Officer, Karen Vacchio, at 107 North Kent Street, Winchester, VA 22601, or call 540-722-8307.
All requests fall under Va. Code § 2.2-3700 et seq. The county must respond within five working days. If they need more time, they can extend by seven days (12 total). Criminal investigative files get up to 65 working days under § 2.2-3706. Include as much detail as possible in your request: names, dates, case numbers, and the type of record you need.
Fees cover the actual cost of access, duplication, and search time. You have the right to get an estimate before charges accrue.
What Police Records Are Public
Virginia law requires release of criminal incident information for felonies. That means you can always get a general description of the crime, date and location, the name of the investigating officer, and a summary of injuries or damage. Adult arrest photos are public. Records from completed unattended death investigations are also subject to mandatory release under § 2.2-3706.
Active investigations are exempt. The sheriff's office can withhold evidence, witness statements, internal memos, and correspondence connected to an open case. Confidential informant identities are never released. Records that could jeopardize a case or endanger someone may also be kept back.
Closed cases are not automatically released in full. You need to file a new FOIA request after a case concludes to see what additional records are available.
Frederick County Court Records
The Frederick County Circuit Court is at 5 N Kent St, Winchester, VA 22601. Phone: (540) 667-5770. It is part of the 26th Judicial Circuit and handles felony cases, civil matters over $25,000, and family law. Court records overlap with police records in many cases, showing charges, pleas, and sentencing details.
Search cases online through the Circuit Court Case Information System. For misdemeanors and traffic cases, use the General District Court system. Both are free. Copy fees at the clerk's office are $0.50 per page, plus $2.00 for certification.
Statewide Criminal Checks
The Virginia State Police Central Criminal Records Exchange is the sole statewide repository. A name search costs $15 with Form SP-167. It must be notarized. Results take 12 to 15 business days and show all Virginia arrests, charges, dismissals, and convictions.
A combined criminal history and sex offender check runs $20. The Sex Offender Registry is free to search online for violent offenders. Full registry searches use Form SP-266 at $15. National fingerprint-based checks for employment cost $27 through Form SP-325. Volunteers pay $20. Fingerprinting at VSP offices costs $10 per card.
Note: Mail background check requests to Virginia State Police, P.O. Box 85076, Richmond, VA 23285. Phone: (804) 674-2131.
Frederick County Records Privacy
Access to criminal history from the state database is governed by Va. Code § 19.2-389. Authorized recipients include criminal justice agencies, school boards, health facilities, social services, and individuals requesting their own records. The list runs over 50 categories.
Arrest records older than one year with no disposition and no active prosecution cannot be shared with non-criminal justice entities. This one-year rule prevents stale arrest data from following someone unnecessarily.
Expungement petitions go to the Frederick County Circuit Court under § 19.2-392.2. You must show that keeping the records causes manifest injustice. Only dismissed charges and acquittals qualify. The Commonwealth's Attorney is notified and can oppose the petition.
Other Frederick County Record Sources
For crash reports, contact the Virginia DMV. Reports cost $8 and can be requested by mail (Form CRD 93) or in person. The DOC Offender Locator shows current inmates statewide. VINE alerts notify victims about custody status changes.
The Department of Criminal Justice Services handles victim support programs and law enforcement training oversight. Phone: (804) 786-3414. The FOIA Advisory Council can assist if your records request is wrongly denied.
The independent city of Winchester has its own police department and handles its own records separately from Frederick County.
Frederick County's online FOIA portal lets you submit and track records requests electronically.
The portal is the fastest way to file a request with Frederick County agencies.
Frederick County Jail and Inmate Search
Inmates from Frederick County are held at the Northwestern Regional Adult Detention Center, which serves Frederick, Clarke, and Warren counties along with the city of Winchester. The jail keeps booking logs, intake photos, and inmate housing data. To find a Frederick County inmate, you can use the regional jail's online roster or call the records desk during business hours. The state-level VADOC Offender Locator shows people held in state prisons after sentencing.
Booking records list the name, age, charge, arrest date, and arresting agency. Mugshots of adults are public under Virginia FOIA. The jail does not give out medical info, mental health notes, or visitor lists. Send written requests for booking files to the regional jail's records officer.
Frederick County Police Records Online
The Virginia Judicial System runs Online Case Information System 2.0, also called OCIS 2.0. It is the main free tool for finding Frederick County court files. The system covers circuit, general district, and juvenile and domestic relations courts. Search by name, case number, or hearing date. The data refreshes each day. Sealed cases and juvenile files do not show up.
For a full state criminal history, use the Central Criminal Records Exchange, or CCRE. The CCRE is the only valid source for a complete Virginia rap sheet. The Frederick County Sheriff's Office can run a local check, but it will not show arrests in other counties. Mail the SP-167 form to Virginia State Police, P.O. Box 85076, Richmond, VA 23285.
Note: Local Sheriff's Office checks are not the same as a CCRE check. Always specify which one you need.
Frederick County Juvenile Records
Juvenile police and court records are closed under Va. Code § 16.1-301. Only parents, the courts, and certain agencies may see them. Some serious felony cases involving older juveniles may be open by court order, but most stay sealed for life. The Frederick County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court handles intake and disposition. Call the clerk for procedure questions about a specific case.
The Virginia FOIA Advisory Council can help with denied requests. Call (804) 698-1810 or toll-free 1-866-448-4100. The council writes free advisory opinions and runs FOIA training for both citizens and public officials.