Virginia Statewide Criminal Background Check
Search Virginia Circuit Court and General District Court criminal records for any applicant with one order.
Each report shows the original charge, any amended charge, the final disposition and the full sentence.
Plus, you skip the notarized forms and the mail-in wait at the State Police.
What Our Virginia Statewide Criminal Background Check Covers
Our Virginia statewide criminal background check searches the courts where Virginia criminal cases actually live.
Specifically, we query Circuit Court and General District Court records across Virginia’s 95 counties and 38 independent cities.
As a result, one order replaces dozens of separate courthouse searches.
Our quality review team then checks every possible match against the applicant’s name and date of birth.
Felonies and Misdemeanors
Circuit Court felonies and General District Court misdemeanors come back in one search.
Original and Amended Charges
You see the code section, charge, case type and class before and after any amendment.
Every Key Date
Offense, arrest, filing and disposition dates appear on each case.
Final Disposition
The report names the outcome and how the case concluded, such as a guilty plea.
Full Hearing History
The report lists every hearing, continuance, plea entry and grand jury result the court recorded.
Complete Sentencing Detail
Jail time, suspended time, programs, fines, costs and payment status all appear.
One Clear Price for Every Virginia Name
You pay a flat $20 for each Virginia name you search.
That single price covers both court levels, so you never pay per court.
Most searches return in 24 hours or less, and you only pay for the names you order.
Price Per Name
One flat price for every Virginia name you order.
Court Levels
Circuit Court and General District Court records, both included.
Typical Turnaround
Most results post to your secure account within one business day.
No Notary, No Mail
Your applicant signs your FCRA authorization, not a notarized state form.
Meanwhile, the State Police quote up to 15 business days for a mailed request.
Secure Online Delivery
Results arrive in your password-protected account, never as an open email attachment.
That way, you control who sees each report.
Virginia State Police Check vs. Real-Time Court Search
The Virginia State Police run the Central Criminal Records Exchange, the state’s criminal history repository.
However, a name-based request on Form SP-167 returns Virginia convictions only.
In addition, both the applicant and the results recipient must sign before a notary.
The State Police then allow up to 15 business days after your mailed form arrives.
Form SP-230 skips the notary, yet it serves only approved Virginia employers and still returns conviction data only.
By contrast, a court search also shows pending cases, amended charges and the full sentence.
| Feature | State Police Name Search (SP-167) | BCS Virginia Statewide Court Search |
|---|---|---|
| Records returned | Virginia convictions only | Charges, amendments, dispositions and sentences |
| Signatures | Applicant and recipient, both notarized | Standard FCRA disclosure and authorization |
| Delivery | Mail, up to 15 business days | Online, 24 hours or less in most cases |
| Price | $15 ($20 with sex offender registry) | $20 per name |
| Pending cases | Not shown | Shown with the latest hearing |
| Hearing history | Not shown | Every hearing entry the court lists |
| Amended charges | Not shown | Original and amended charge side by side |
Fingerprint searches exist too, at $13.75 for the state plus $13.25 for the FBI.
Still, they need fingerprint cards and the same mail-in process.
So most employers choose the court search for speed and detail.
Which Virginia Courts the Statewide Search Covers
Virginia splits criminal cases between two trial court levels.
Because a case can start in one court and finish in the other, we search both.
Circuit Courts
Virginia has 31 judicial circuits, with a circuit court serving every county and city.
These courts try felonies and hear misdemeanor appeals from the district courts.
Grand jury indictments and jury trials also happen here.
General District Courts
General District Courts try misdemeanors and traffic offenses.
They also hold preliminary hearings before a felony moves up to circuit court.
Many applicants’ records sit only at this level.
Coverage Note: Fairfax and Alexandria
Fairfax Circuit Court and Alexandria Circuit Court do not share case data with the statewide court system.
For those two localities, the search returns General District Court results only.
Therefore, add a county criminal court search when an applicant lived or worked there.
Juvenile cases in the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts stay confidential and never appear.
Why the Amended Charge Matters in Virginia
Virginia court records carry two charge blocks: the original charge and the amended charge.
Prosecutors often amend a charge during plea talks.
For example, a Class 6 felony can end as a Class 1 misdemeanor.
If a screener reads only the original line, the report overstates the conviction.
Consequently, our reports place the amended code section, charge, case type and class beside the original.
Original Charge
§ 18.2-57 assault on a law enforcement officer.
Filed as a Class 6 felony by indictment.
Amended Charge
§ 18.2-460 obstructing justice by threat or force.
Reduced to a Class 1 misdemeanor.
Final Disposition
Guilty plea to the amended charge.
So the conviction on record is a misdemeanor, not a felony.
The sample report below shows exactly this pattern on two companion cases.
Virginia Statewide Criminal Background Check Sample Report
This sample shows how a Virginia statewide result looks in your account.
It uses a fictitious applicant with two companion cases from the same incident.
Notice how each case lists the original felony charge first and the amended misdemeanor below it.
Defendant Information
Case / Charge Information
Appeal Information
Hearing Information
| Date | Time | Result | Type | Courtroom | Plea | Duration | Jury |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12/10/2025 | 09:00 AM | SENTENCED | PLEA | — | GUILTY | — | — |
| 11/19/2025 | 09:00 AM | CONTINUED | PLEA | — | — | — | — |
| 10/06/2025 | 01:00 PM | CONTINUED | TO BE SET | — | — | — | — |
| 09/10/2025 | 09:00 AM | CONTINUED | TO BE SET | — | — | — | — |
| 08/14/2025 | 09:00 AM | CONTINUED | JURY TRIAL | — | — | — | NO |
| 08/11/2025 | 09:00 AM | CONTINUED | MOTION – OTHER PRE-TRIAL | — | — | — | — |
| 06/18/2025 | 09:00 AM | CONTINUED | PLEA | — | — | — | — |
| 05/21/2025 | 09:00 AM | CONTINUED | TERM | — | — | — | — |
| 04/23/2025 | 09:00 AM | CONTINUED | PLEA | — | — | — | — |
| 03/26/2025 | 09:00 AM | CONTINUED | TERM | — | — | — | — |
| 02/26/2025 | 09:00 AM | CONTINUED | TERM | — | — | — | — |
| 01/29/2025 | 09:00 AM | CONTINUED | TO BE SET | — | — | — | — |
| 01/08/2025 | 09:00 AM | CONTINUED | TERM | — | — | — | — |
| 12/04/2024 | 09:00 AM | CONTINUED | TERM | — | — | — | — |
| 11/06/2024 | 09:00 AM | CONTINUED | TERM | — | — | — | — |
| 10/09/2024 | 09:00 AM | CONTINUED | TERM | — | — | — | — |
| 09/11/2024 | 09:00 AM | CONTINUED | TERM | — | — | — | — |
| 08/21/2024 | 10:10 AM | CONTINUED | PLEA | — | — | — | — |
| 08/07/2024 | 09:00 AM | CONTINUED | TERM | — | — | — | — |
| 07/10/2024 | 09:00 AM | CONTINUED | TERM | — | — | — | — |
| 06/12/2024 | 09:00 AM | CONTINUED | TERM | — | — | — | — |
| 05/13/2024 | 09:00 AM | TRUE BILL | GRAND JURY | — | — | — | — |
Disposition Information
Jail: 12 months, with 11 months and 16 days suspended.
Program: Community Corrections Program.
Costs: $1,689.00, paid in full on 03/18/2026.
In plain terms: The felony charge became a misdemeanor, and the applicant pleaded guilty to it. The sentence left 14 days to serve.
Defendant Information
Case / Charge Information
Appeal Information
Hearing Information
| Date | Time | Result | Type | Courtroom | Plea | Duration | Jury |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12/10/2025 | 09:00 AM | SENTENCED | PLEA | — | GUILTY | — | — |
| 11/19/2025 | 09:00 AM | CONTINUED | PLEA | — | — | — | — |
| 10/06/2025 | 01:00 PM | CONTINUED | TO BE SET | — | — | — | — |
| 09/10/2025 | 09:00 AM | CONTINUED | TO BE SET | — | — | — | — |
| 08/14/2025 | 09:00 AM | CONTINUED | JURY TRIAL | — | — | — | NO |
| 08/11/2025 | 09:00 AM | CONTINUED | MOTION – OTHER PRE-TRIAL | — | — | — | — |
| 06/18/2025 | 09:00 AM | CONTINUED | PLEA | — | — | — | — |
| 05/21/2025 | 09:00 AM | CONTINUED | TERM | — | — | — | — |
| 04/23/2025 | 09:00 AM | CONTINUED | PLEA | — | — | — | — |
| 03/26/2025 | 09:00 AM | CONTINUED | TERM | — | — | — | — |
| 02/26/2025 | 09:00 AM | CONTINUED | TERM | — | — | — | — |
| 01/29/2025 | 09:00 AM | CONTINUED | TO BE SET | — | — | — | — |
| 01/08/2025 | 09:00 AM | CONTINUED | TERM | — | — | — | — |
| 12/04/2024 | 09:00 AM | CONTINUED | TERM | — | — | — | — |
| 11/06/2024 | 09:00 AM | CONTINUED | TERM | — | — | — | — |
| 10/09/2024 | 09:00 AM | CONTINUED | TERM | — | — | — | — |
| 09/11/2024 | 09:00 AM | CONTINUED | TERM | — | — | — | — |
| 08/21/2024 | 10:10 AM | CONTINUED | PLEA | — | — | — | — |
| 08/07/2024 | 09:00 AM | CONTINUED | TERM | — | — | — | — |
| 07/10/2024 | 09:00 AM | CONTINUED | TERM | — | — | — | — |
| 06/12/2024 | 09:00 AM | CONTINUED | TERM | — | — | — | — |
| 05/13/2024 | 09:00 AM | TRUE BILL | GRAND JURY | — | — | — | — |
Disposition Information
Jail: 12 months, with all 12 months suspended.
Program: Community Corrections Program.
No fine, cost or payment amounts appear on this case.
In plain terms: This companion charge ended the same way. However, the court suspended the full jail term, so this case carries no active time.
* The court marks fine and cost amounts with an asterisk; we show them exactly as the court lists them.
Sample data is fictitious and does not describe any real person.
Virginia Record Sealing and Employer Rules for 2026
Virginia’s record sealing law took effect on July 1, 2026.
Now, sealed cases leave public court indexes, and some sealing happens automatically.
Under Va. Code § 19.2-392.15, employers may not require applicants to disclose sealed arrests, charges or convictions.
Limited exceptions cover police agencies, national security roles and jobs where other law requires the inquiry.
Sealed Records Stay Out
Va. Code § 19.2-392.16 requires businesses that disseminate criminal records to delete sealed records promptly.
Violations allow $1,000 or actual damages, whichever is greater, plus attorney fees.
Because we search court indexes in real time, results reflect each court’s current public record.
The FCRA Still Applies
First, give the applicant a stand-alone disclosure and get written authorization.
Before any rejection, send a pre-adverse action notice with a copy of the report.
Finally, send the adverse action notice once you decide.
Virginia sets no state lookback cap on convictions for private employers.
Even so, the FCRA limits most non-conviction records to seven years for jobs paying under $75,000.
For every statute and agency, read our guide to Virginia background screening laws.
How to Order a Virginia Statewide Criminal Search
Ordering takes a few minutes once your account is open.
Follow these four steps for each applicant.
- 1
Open Your Account
Sign up online and complete business verification.
- 2
Collect Consent
Give the FCRA disclosure and get the applicant’s signed authorization.
- 3
Enter the Applicant
Add the full legal name, middle name and date of birth, then pick Virginia statewide.
- 4
Review the Results
Open the finished report in your secure account, usually within 24 hours.
Pair Your Virginia Search With These Add-Ons
A statewide search covers Virginia courts only.
So add these searches when an applicant has lived, worked or driven elsewhere.
County Criminal Court Search
Fill the Fairfax and Alexandria circuit gap, or search any county outside Virginia.
Nationwide Criminal Database Search
Locate out-of-state leads at $17, then verify each hit at the source court.
SSN Trace
Find past addresses and names to decide which counties and states to search.
Access to SSN Trace functionality is restricted at initial registration. This feature cannot be accessed at initial signup until your organization’s business use case is verified.
Motor Vehicle Records
Check driving histories for delivery, trucking, sales, and CDL positions.
Virginia Statewide Criminal Background Check FAQs
What does a Virginia statewide criminal background check include?
It includes criminal cases from Virginia Circuit Courts and General District Courts.
Each record lists charges, amended charges, key dates, the disposition and the full sentence.
The hearing history and payment status appear too.
How much does a Virginia statewide criminal search cost?
The search costs a flat $20 per name.
That price covers both Circuit Court and General District Court records.
How long does a Virginia statewide criminal background check take?
Most results post within 24 hours or less.
By comparison, a mailed State Police request can take up to 15 business days.
Does the search cover every court in Virginia?
It covers Circuit Courts and General District Courts statewide.
However, Fairfax Circuit Court and Alexandria Circuit Court do not share data with the statewide system.
For those localities, add a county criminal court search.
Is this the same as a Virginia State Police background check?
No, the two checks use different sources.
The State Police name search returns Virginia convictions only and needs notarized signatures.
Our court search also shows pending cases, amended charges and sentences.
How far back does a Virginia criminal background check go?
Virginia sets no state lookback limit on convictions for private employers.
Still, the FCRA limits most non-conviction records to seven years for jobs paying under $75,000.
Online court data reaches back to 1990 or earlier in most localities.
Will sealed or expunged Virginia records appear?
No, sealed and expunged cases leave the public court index.
Since July 1, 2026, Virginia’s sealing law also bars most employers from asking about sealed records.
What is the difference between the original charge and the amended charge?
The original charge is what the case started with.
The amended charge is what the prosecutor changed it to, often during a plea.
Always judge the conviction by the amended charge and the final disposition.
Start Your Virginia Statewide Criminal Background Check Today
Open an account with BCS Background Screening LLC and place your first Virginia order the same day.
Every user account also offers optional Multiple Authentication Factor (MAF) for added login security.
BCS Background Screening LLC is a consumer reporting agency, and this page is not legal advice. Court data coverage can change when a court updates its systems. The sample report uses a fictitious subject, fictitious case numbers and fictitious identifiers.