Access Highland County Police Records
Highland County police records are held by the Highland County Sheriff's Office in Monterey, Virginia. As the least populated county in Virginia, Highland County handles a small volume of police records compared to larger jurisdictions. You can search for criminal cases online through the Virginia Courts system or contact the Sheriff's Office directly to request incident reports and arrest data. This page covers the process for getting Highland County police records, the agencies involved, and the state-level tools available for criminal record searches.
Highland County Overview
Highland County Sheriff's Office
The Highland County Sheriff's Office is at 165 W Main St, Monterey, VA 24465. The phone number is (540) 468-2210. The Sheriff is the sole law enforcement agency for the county. There is no separate police department. All police records from Highland County, including arrest reports, incident logs, and criminal complaints, are held by the Sheriff's Office.
Highland County is small enough that most records requests can be handled with a phone call or a visit in person. For formal written requests, Virginia FOIA applies. You can send your request to the Highland County government office at P.O. Box 360, Monterey, VA 24465, or call (540) 468-2447. The county follows standard Virginia FOIA rules, which means they have five working days to respond. Fees are based on the actual cost of reproducing records.
| Office | Highland County Sheriff's Office |
|---|---|
| Address | 165 W Main St, Monterey, VA 24465 |
| Phone | (540) 468-2210 |
| FOIA Contact | County Government Office - (540) 468-2447 |
Because Highland County has such a small population, the Sheriff's Office serves as the primary point of contact for nearly all law enforcement matters. If you are looking for Highland County police records, start by calling the Sheriff's Office. They can tell you what records exist and how to get copies. Walk-in requests are common in smaller counties like Highland.
The Highland County government website provides general county information and contact details for government offices.
From this site you can find phone numbers and addresses for the Highland County Sheriff's Office and other county departments.
How to Search Highland County Police Records
Use the Virginia Courts Case Information System to search Highland County criminal cases for free. Enter a name or case number to pull up charges, court dates, and case status. This covers both the Highland County Circuit Court and General District Court. No account is needed.
The General District Court Online search shows misdemeanor and traffic cases from Highland County. The Circuit Court Case Information system handles felony lookup. Both are free and open to everyone. For Highland County, the case volume is low, so searches tend to return results quickly.
A statewide criminal history check through the Virginia State Police costs $15 and covers every jurisdiction in Virginia. Mail Form SP-167 with a notarized signature. Processing takes about 15 business days. This is the most complete criminal records search available and pulls data from the Central Criminal Records Exchange, which receives reports from the Highland County Sheriff's Office and every other agency in the state.
Note: Highland County is Virginia's smallest county by population, so in-person visits to the Sheriff's Office are often the quickest way to get police records.
Highland County FOIA Process
Virginia's Freedom of Information Act applies to all Highland County government agencies including the Sheriff's Office. Under Virginia Code § 2.2-3704, the county has five working days to respond to a FOIA request. If they need more time, they can extend the deadline by up to seven additional working days with written notice. You do not need to state a reason for wanting the records.
Fees for Highland County police records follow Virginia law. The county can charge for the actual cost of reproducing records, including staff time, copying costs, and any special materials needed. For small requests, the cost is usually minimal. If the estimated cost exceeds $200, the county may require a deposit before starting work. Records tied to active criminal investigations are exempt from release under FOIA.
Highland County does not appear to have an online FOIA portal. Requests should be made by phone, mail, or in person. Given the county's small size and limited staff, response times are generally fast for straightforward requests. For complex or voluminous requests, allow extra time.
Highland County Court Records
The Highland County Circuit Court handles felony criminal cases, civil matters over $25,000, and family law cases. Criminal records from the Circuit Court include indictments, plea agreements, sentencing orders, and case dispositions. You can search Highland County Circuit Court cases online through the Circuit Court Case Information system at no cost.
The General District Court processes misdemeanors, traffic offenses, and preliminary hearings for felony cases. The General District Court Online tool lets you look up these cases by name. For certified copies of any Highland County court records, contact the Circuit Court Clerk. Fees are set by Virginia Code Title 17.1.
State-Level Resources
The Virginia State Police maintains the Central Criminal Records Exchange, which holds data from the Highland County Sheriff's Office and all other Virginia law enforcement agencies. The OCIS 2.0 case search is Virginia's newest multi-court lookup tool. The VSP FOIA Portal lets you file records requests to the state police online.
The Department of Criminal Justice Services oversees crime reporting and law enforcement standards in Virginia. The Virginia Judicial System Self-Help site provides free court forms and procedural guides. For the complete text of the open records law, see the FOIA statutes on the state legislature website.
Nearby Counties
Highland County is in the Allegheny Mountains of western Virginia. These bordering counties each have their own law enforcement and courts.