Search Hanover County Police Records
Hanover County police records are managed by the Hanover County Sheriff's Office, which has a dedicated records and FOIA section at 7522 County Complex Road in Hanover, Virginia. You can look up criminal cases online through the Virginia Courts system, file a FOIA request by email, or visit the Sheriff's Office in person to get copies of incident reports and arrest records. The county also has set fees for local record checks and report copies. This page explains how to access Hanover County police records and what to expect during the process.
Hanover County Overview
Hanover County Sheriff's Office Records
The Hanover County Sheriff's Office runs a Records and FOIA section that handles all public records requests for law enforcement files. Lieutenant Justin Hall is the FOIA contact for the Sheriff's Office. You can reach him by email at HCSOFOIA@hanovercounty.gov or by phone at 804-365-6107. The office is at 7522 County Complex Road, Hanover, VA 23069, and you can walk in to submit a request or pick up copies.
Hanover County police records available through the Sheriff's Office include incident reports, accident reports, and local record checks. The fee for a local record check is $6. Copies of accident reports cost $6, though victims are not charged. Incident report copies also run $6, with the same waiver for victims. Standard photocopies are $0.25 per page for black and white and $0.50 for color. These fees are set by the Hanover County Sheriff's Office records page.
| Office | Hanover County Sheriff's Office |
|---|---|
| Address | 7522 County Complex Rd, Hanover, VA 23069 |
| Phone | 804-365-6107 |
| FOIA Contact | Lieutenant Justin Hall - HCSOFOIA@hanovercounty.gov |
The county also accepts general FOIA requests through the email foiarequest@hanovercounty.gov. This email goes to the county's central FOIA team. If your request is for Sheriff's Office records specifically, send it directly to the Sheriff's Office FOIA contact for faster processing. The Hanover County government office is at 7516 County Complex Rd, and can be reached at (804) 365-6000 for general questions.
The Hanover County government website provides access to county services, contact information, and FOIA request instructions.
From this site you can find phone numbers, addresses, and links to the online FOIA submission system for Hanover County police records.
How to Search Hanover County Police Records Online
Start with the Virginia Courts Case Information System. It is free and open to everyone. You can search by name or case number to find criminal and traffic cases filed in Hanover County. The results show charge descriptions, court dates, and case outcomes. No registration is needed.
The General District Court Online system covers misdemeanor and traffic cases from Hanover County. The General District Court is at P.O. Box 176, 7530 County Complex Road, 1st Floor, Hanover, VA 23069. You can reach them at (804) 365-6290. For felony cases, use the Circuit Court Case Information search tool. Both are free and run by the Virginia Judicial System.
For a full criminal history that goes beyond just Hanover County, use the Virginia State Police Form SP-167. It costs $15 and covers the entire state. Mail the completed form with a notarized signature to the Virginia State Police CCRE. Processing takes about 15 business days. This is the most complete check you can run for Virginia criminal records.
Note: Victims of crimes in Hanover County can get copies of incident and accident reports at no charge from the Sheriff's Office.
The Hanover County Sheriff's Office records page lists fees, FOIA contacts, and instructions for requesting police records.
The page includes the direct email and phone number for FOIA requests along with a full fee schedule for Hanover County records.
Hanover County FOIA Fees and Procedures
Hanover County follows Virginia's FOIA law, which requires a response within five working days. If the county needs more time, they can extend the deadline by seven additional working days with a written explanation. All FOIA requests should identify the records you want with reasonable detail. You do not need to explain why you want the records.
The fee schedule for Hanover County police records is straightforward. A local record check costs $6. Incident report copies and accident report copies each cost $6, but victims get them free. Black and white photocopies run $0.25 per page. Color copies are $0.50 each. If your request will cost a lot, the county may ask for a deposit before starting the work. These fees cover only the actual cost of copying and staff time.
Some records are exempt from release. Active criminal investigation files, personnel records, and certain internal documents are protected under Virginia FOIA exemptions outlined in Virginia Code § 2.2-3706. The Sheriff's Office will tell you if any part of your request falls under an exemption and cite the specific code section.
Hanover County Court Records
The Hanover County Circuit Court Clerk is at 7530 County Complex Road, Hanover, VA 23069. Call (804) 365-6151 for questions about court files. The Circuit Court handles felony criminal cases, civil matters over $25,000, and appeals from the General District Court. Criminal case records from the Circuit Court include indictments, plea agreements, sentencing orders, and case dispositions.
The General District Court at the same address handles misdemeanors, traffic violations, and preliminary hearings for felony cases. Phone is (804) 365-6290. Both courts are searchable online through the Virginia Judicial System's free case lookup tools. For certified copies, contact the clerk directly. There are fees set by state law for certified documents.
State-Level Police Record Resources
The Virginia State Police runs the Central Criminal Records Exchange. It holds arrest and conviction data from every law enforcement agency in Virginia, including the Hanover County Sheriff's Office. The OCIS 2.0 case search combines data from multiple court levels into one tool. The VSP FOIA Portal lets you submit state police records requests online.
The Department of Criminal Justice Services publishes crime statistics and law enforcement data for all Virginia jurisdictions. The Virginia Judicial System Self-Help site offers free guides on court procedures and forms. For the full text of Virginia's FOIA law, see the FOIA statutes on the official state legislature website.
Nearby Counties
Hanover County is in central Virginia just north of Richmond. These nearby counties maintain their own police records through separate Sheriff's Offices and courts.