Washington County Police Records Search

Washington County police records are maintained by the Sheriff's Office in Abingdon and the Circuit Court Clerk. These files include arrest reports, criminal incident data, law enforcement records, and court case filings from across the county. The Sheriff's Office has a dedicated FOIA request form available online, and the county's Public Information Officer coordinates records access for other departments. You can request records by mail, email, or in person. This page covers how to find and get copies of Washington County police records from local and state agencies.

Washington County Sheriff's Office Records

The Washington County Sheriff's Office is the main law enforcement agency for the county. It keeps arrest records, incident reports, and other police files. The office has a specific FOIA request form that you can download from the Washington County government website. Mail the completed form to the FOIA Request Office at 20281 Rustic Lane, Abingdon, VA 24210.

Under Virginia Code Section 2.2-3700 et seq., all public records are presumed open. The office must respond within five working days. Day one starts the day after the request arrives. If the office needs more time, it can take up to seven additional days, making twelve working days total. The county's Public Information Officer, Heather Damron, handles general government records requests at (276) 525-1387 or hdamron@washcova.com.

Fees are based on reasonable charges that cannot exceed the actual cost. Staff time is billed at the actual hourly rate of the employee doing the search. Duplication costs are charged at cost as well. The county uses the lowest paid employee who can fulfill the request to keep charges down.

How to Get Washington County Police Records

Start by downloading the FOIA request form from the Washington County website. Fill in your name, address, and a clear description of the records you need. Be as specific as you can. Give the person's full name, dates, case numbers if you have them, and the type of record. The more detail you provide, the faster staff can find what you are looking for.

Mail the form to the Sheriff's Office at 20281 Rustic Lane, Abingdon, VA 24210. Mark it "Attn: FOIA Request Office." You can also contact the office by phone or visit in person during business hours. For records from other county departments, reach out to Heather Damron at the county administration office. The fax number is (276) 525-1309. Office hours run Monday through Friday starting at 8:00 AM.

Note: Crash reports from Washington County go through the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. Law enforcement forwards accident reports to DMV within 24 hours. Request copies for $8 per report using Form CRD 93.

Washington County Police Records Exemptions

Some police records in Washington County are exempt from public disclosure. The Sheriff's Office may withhold personnel records, documents under attorney-client privilege, and records tied to criminal investigations. Ongoing investigation materials are exempt at the agency's discretion. Under Virginia Code Section 2.2-3706, criminal incident information for felony offenses must be released. This covers the nature of the crime, date, location, investigating officer, and a description of injuries or damage.

Criminal investigative files are different. The release of these files is discretionary under state law. The Sheriff's Office can choose to share them or withhold them. If any part of your request is denied, the office must cite the specific statute and explain why it applies. You can appeal a denial to the Washington County Circuit Court. The Virginia Freedom of Information Advisory Council can also answer questions about your FOIA rights. Reach them at (804) 698-1810 or toll-free at 1-866-448-4100.

Washington County Circuit Court Records

The Washington County Circuit Court sits in Abingdon at 189 East Main Street. It handles felony cases, civil cases over $25,000, and family law matters. The court is part of the 28th Judicial Circuit. The Clerk's Office maintains records of all cases filed, including indictments, sentencing orders, plea records, and case dispositions. If you need records from a criminal case that went through the circuit court, contact the clerk directly.

You can search Washington County court records online. The Virginia Circuit Court Case Information System lets you look up cases by name, case number, or hearing date. It is free and covers all Virginia circuit courts. For misdemeanor cases, traffic violations, and preliminary hearings on felony charges, check the General District Court Online Case Information System. Both are run by the Virginia Judicial System.

Copies from the clerk's office cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies are $2.00 extra. Triple-seal copies add $2.50 to the base price. The Virginia Courts Case Information portal also connects you to OCIS 2.0 for statewide search with text and email case alerts.

State Police Criminal Background Checks

A statewide criminal history check covers Washington County and every other jurisdiction in Virginia. Submit Form SP-167 to the Virginia State Police Central Criminal Records Exchange. The fee is $15 per name search. The form must be notarized before mailing. Send it to Virginia State Police, CARE, P.O. Box 85076, Richmond, VA 23285.

Processing takes about 12 to 15 business days. Results include all arrests, pending charges, dismissals, and convictions statewide. This is a name-based search, so accuracy depends on the information you submit. Form SP-266 handles Sex Offender Registry searches at $15 per search. A combined check is $20. The Sex Offender Registry on the Virginia State Police website lets you search violent offenders for free.

Washington County Arrest Records

Arrest records from Washington County are generally public under Virginia FOIA. Criminal incident information for felony offenses must be released. Adult mugshots are also public records. To get arrest records, contact the Sheriff's Office using the FOIA process and provide the full name and any identifying details for the person you are searching.

Under Virginia Code Section 19.2-389, criminal history from the state's Central Criminal Records Exchange has limits on who can receive it. Arrest information cannot be released to noncriminal justice agencies if more than a year has passed since the arrest with no disposition recorded and no active prosecution pending. This rule applies to the state-level repository. Local records held by the Sheriff's Office may still be available depending on the circumstances.

The Virginia Department of Corrections Offender Locator shows current inmate information statewide, including charges, facility, and projected release dates. VINE victim notification is available at vinelink.vineapps.com for custody status alerts.

Expungement in Washington County

If you were acquitted or had charges dismissed in Washington County, you may petition for expungement of police and court records. Under Virginia Code Section 19.2-392.2, the petition goes to the circuit court where the case was resolved. The Commonwealth's Attorney must be served and can object. The court will hold a hearing and may order expungement if it finds that keeping the records would cause manifest injustice.

The Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services provides victim services and law enforcement training information. For legal help with a records request or expungement petition, the Virginia State Bar lawyer referral service can connect you with an attorney in the Washington County area.

The screenshot below shows the Washington County government website, which links to the Sheriff's Office FOIA request form and county department contacts.

Use this site to download the FOIA form and find contact details for the FOIA Request Office at the Sheriff's Office.

Cities and Nearby Counties

The independent city of Bristol borders Washington County and has its own police department and court system. These counties also neighbor Washington County, each with its own Sheriff's Office and Circuit Court.