Prince William County Criminal Records
What Is Prince William County Criminal Records
Criminal records in Prince William County encompass official documentation of an individual's interactions with the criminal justice system within the county's jurisdiction. These records are maintained pursuant to Virginia Code § 19.2-389, which establishes parameters for criminal history record information.
Criminal records in Prince William County include several distinct categories:
- Arrest Records: Documentation of when an individual is taken into custody by law enforcement, including the Prince William County Police Department or Sheriff's Office
- Conviction Records: Official records of guilty verdicts or pleas in criminal cases
- Felony Records: Documentation of serious crimes punishable by imprisonment of more than one year
- Misdemeanor Records: Records of less serious offenses typically punishable by less than one year of incarceration
- Adult Records: Criminal records for individuals 18 years and older
- Juvenile Records: Records for individuals under 18, which are generally sealed and confidential under Virginia law
- Active Warrants: Current outstanding orders for arrest
- Historical Records: Past criminal justice interactions, including dismissed cases
Multiple agencies maintain these records within Prince William County:
Prince William County Police Department
1 County Complex Court
Woodbridge, VA 22192
703-792-6500
Prince William County Police Department
Prince William County Sheriff's Office
9311 Lee Avenue
Manassas, VA 20110
703-792-6070
Prince William County Sheriff's Office
Prince William County Circuit Court Clerk's Office
9311 Lee Avenue, Suite 300
Manassas, VA 20110
703-792-6015
Circuit Court Clerk's Office
Virginia State Police
Criminal Records Exchange
P.O. Box 85076
Richmond, VA 23285
804-674-2000
Virginia State Police
Comprehensive criminal records typically include documentation of charges, arraignments, pleas, trial proceedings, sentencing information, and probation or parole status. The maintenance and accessibility of these records are governed by both Virginia state law and county regulations.
Are Criminal Records Public In Prince William County
Criminal records in Prince William County are generally considered public information under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), specifically § 2.2-3706, which addresses access to criminal records. This statute establishes that "Criminal incident information relating to felony offenses shall be open to inspection and copying by any citizen of the Commonwealth."
However, public access to criminal records is subject to important limitations and exceptions:
- Adult Conviction Records: Generally accessible to the public
- Court Proceedings: Most criminal court hearings and records are open to public inspection
- Ongoing Investigations: Records pertaining to active investigations may be withheld
- Sealed Cases: Records that have been sealed by court order are not publicly accessible
- Juvenile Records: Protected under Virginia Code § 16.1-301, which states "The court shall require all law-enforcement agencies to take special precautions to ensure that law-enforcement records concerning a juvenile are protected against disclosure to any unauthorized person"
- Expunged Records: Criminal records that have been expunged are removed from public access
The Prince William County Circuit Court maintains public criminal case records, while the Prince William County Police Department and Sheriff's Office maintain arrest records and incident reports. The Adult Arrest Report published by the Prince William County Police Department provides information about recent adult arrests, though juvenile arrest information is explicitly excluded due to legal protections.
Members of the public seeking access to criminal records should note that while Virginia law provides for public access, certain personal identifying information may be redacted, and specific records may require formal requests through established procedures.
How To Look Up Criminal Records In Prince William County in 2026
Members of the public seeking criminal records in Prince William County may utilize several established methods to access this information. The county maintains multiple channels for record retrieval, each appropriate for different types of criminal record information.
For online access to court records:
- Visit the Prince William County Circuit Court online records portal
- Select "Court Case Information" for cases dating back to July 1989
- Choose the appropriate division (Criminal or Civil)
- Search by name, case number, or hearing date
- Review the available case information
For in-person requests at the courthouse:
Prince William County Circuit Court Clerk's Office
9311 Lee Avenue, Suite 300
Manassas, VA 20110
703-792-6015
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Circuit Court Clerk's Office
- Complete a records request form at the public service counter
- Provide identification and any applicable case numbers
- Pay any required fees for copies (currently $0.50 per page)
- Wait for staff to retrieve the requested records
For police records and reports:
Prince William County Police Department Records Section
1 County Complex Court
Woodbridge, VA 22192
703-792-7200
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Police Records & Reports
- Submit a request in person or via mail
- Complete the required forms specifying the records sought
- Provide proper identification
- Pay applicable fees
- Allow processing time as required by department policy
For comprehensive criminal history checks:
- Contact the Virginia State Police Criminal Records Exchange
- Submit fingerprints and required forms
- Pay the established fee
- Allow processing time for complete results
Requestors should note that certain records may require specific authorization or court orders for release, particularly those involving juvenile cases, sealed records, or ongoing investigations.
How To Find Criminal Records in Prince William County Online?
Prince William County offers several online resources for accessing criminal records digitally. These electronic systems provide convenient access to various types of criminal justice information without requiring in-person visits to county offices.
The primary online resources include:
-
Circuit Court Case Information System
- Access via the Court Case Information portal
- Contains cases dating back to July 1, 1989
- Excludes juvenile, adoption, and sealed cases
- Search parameters include:
- Name (last, first, middle)
- Case number
- Hearing date
- No registration required for basic searches
- Displays case status, charges, hearing dates, and disposition information
-
Online Access to Court Records
- Available through the Access to Online Records system
- Provides more detailed case documents
- Requires registration and approval for full access
- Contains pleadings, orders, and other filed documents
-
Adult Arrest Reports
- Published on the Prince William County Police Department website
- Updated regularly with recent adult arrests
- Includes arrest date, charges, and basic defendant information
- Excludes juvenile arrests per Virginia law
-
Online Police Report Filing System
- While primarily for filing new police reports, this system also allows tracking of previously filed reports
- Requires incident number and personal information to access
Users should note that online systems have certain limitations:
- Not all criminal record information is available electronically
- Some detailed records require in-person requests
- Certain sensitive or sealed records are excluded from online access
- Historical records predating digital systems may have limited online availability
For comprehensive criminal history information, the Virginia State Police maintains the Central Criminal Records Exchange (CCRE), though access is restricted to authorized agencies and individuals with proper consent forms.
Can You Search Prince William County Criminal Records for Free?
Prince William County provides several options for free access to criminal records, in accordance with Virginia's public records laws. The Virginia Freedom of Information Act establishes the public's right to inspect many government records, though certain fees may apply for copies or extensive searches.
Free inspection options include:
-
In-Person Court Record Review
- Visit the Prince William County Circuit Court Clerk's Office
- 9311 Lee Avenue, Suite 300, Manassas, VA 20110
- Public terminals available for searching case information
- No fee for viewing records on-site
- Staff assistance available for locating physical case files
- Operating hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
-
Online Court Case Information
- The Court Case Information system is available at no cost
- Provides basic case information including:
- Case numbers
- Charges
- Hearing dates
- Case status
- Disposition information
- No registration required for basic searches
-
Adult Arrest Reports
- Adult arrest information is published online free of charge
- Updated regularly with recent arrest data
- Searchable by date ranges
- Includes basic arrest information and charges
-
Sheriff's Office Information
- The Prince William County Sheriff's Office provides certain public safety information at no cost
- Includes information about current operations and public notices
While basic access is free, fees may apply in certain circumstances:
- Copy fees ($0.50 per page for standard documents)
- Certification fees for official court documents
- Research fees for extensive or complex record searches
- Specialized reports or comprehensive background checks
Requestors should note that while inspection is generally free, staff time and resources required for extensive searches may incur reasonable fees as permitted under Virginia FOIA provisions.
What's Included in a Prince William County Criminal Record?
Criminal records in Prince William County typically contain comprehensive information about an individual's interactions with the criminal justice system. The specific content varies based on the type of record and maintaining agency, but generally includes the following categories of information:
Identifying Information:
- Full legal name and known aliases
- Date of birth
- Physical description (height, weight, eye color, hair color)
- Mugshot/booking photograph when available
- Last known address
- State Identification (SID) number
- FBI number (if applicable)
Arrest Information:
- Date and time of arrest
- Arresting agency
- Booking number
- Initial charges filed
- Bail or bond information
- Detention facility
Court Case Information:
- Case number
- Court of jurisdiction
- Filing date
- Formal charges and corresponding Virginia statutes
- Classification of offenses (felony classes A-6 or misdemeanor classes 1-4)
- Plea information
- Attorney of record
- Judge assigned
Disposition Information:
- Verdict (guilty, not guilty, dismissed, nolle prosequi)
- Conviction date
- Sentencing details:
- Incarceration length
- Fines and court costs
- Restitution orders
- Probation terms and conditions
- Appeal information
- Probation/parole status
Additional Information:
- Active warrants
- Protective or restraining orders
- Sex offender registration requirements
- DUI/DWI offenses
- Traffic violations connected to criminal charges
- Pending charges
The Circuit Court Clerk's Office maintains the official court records, while arrest and incident information is maintained by the Prince William County Police Department. These records are subject to Virginia's records retention requirements and may be maintained in both electronic and physical formats depending on the age and nature of the case.
How Long Does Prince William County Keep Criminal Records?
Prince William County maintains criminal records according to retention schedules established by the Library of Virginia Records Management Program under the authority of the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia § 42.1-76 through § 42.1-91). These schedules dictate how long different types of criminal records must be preserved.
The retention periods for common criminal record types include:
-
Felony Case Files
- Capital Murder: Permanent retention
- Other Felonies: 20 years after case closure
- Case indices: Permanent retention
-
Misdemeanor Case Files
- Generally retained for 10 years after case closure
- DUI/DWI cases: 20 years after case closure
-
Arrest Records
- Adult arrests: 75 years from date of arrest
- Juvenile arrests: Until subject reaches age 19 (longer for serious offenses)
-
Court Dockets and Indices
- Permanent retention as required by statute
-
Expunged Records
- Removed from public access immediately upon court order
- Physical destruction according to court order specifications
-
Investigative Records
- Felony investigations: 75 years
- Misdemeanor investigations: 10 years
- Unfounded investigations: 3 years
The Prince William County Circuit Court Clerk, as the official custodian of court records, maintains permanent records of case indices and dockets, while case files are retained according to the schedules above. The Prince William County Sheriff's Office and Police Department maintain their respective records according to law enforcement retention schedules.
Digital records systems have expanded the county's capacity to maintain older records, but physical space limitations may affect the availability of older paper records. Records that have met their retention requirements may be destroyed in accordance with proper procedures, though indices and basic case information are typically maintained permanently.