Chesterfield County Public Records / Chesterfield County Arrest Records

Chesterfield County Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in Chesterfield County

Arrest records in Chesterfield County, Virginia, are generally considered public records under state law. Pursuant to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Va. Code § 2.2-3700 et seq.), members of the public may inspect and obtain copies of records maintained by public bodies, including law enforcement agencies. Arrest records — which document the act of taking an individual into custody — are distinct from conviction records, which reflect a formal finding of guilt by a court. An individual may have an arrest record without ever being convicted of a crime, and under Virginia law, an arrest alone does not constitute evidence of guilt. The Chesterfield County Police Department and the Virginia State Police maintain arrest-related records and are subject to FOIA disclosure requirements, though certain exemptions may apply to records that could compromise ongoing investigations or endanger individuals.

What's in Chesterfield County Arrest Records

Chesterfield County arrest records contain a standardized set of data fields compiled at the time of booking and throughout the processing of an arrested individual. The following categories represent the typical contents of an arrest record maintained by the Chesterfield County Police Department or the Chesterfield County Sheriff's Office.

Arrestee Identifying Information:

Full legal name and any known aliases
Date of birth and age at time of arrest
Gender, race, and physical description (height, weight, eye and hair color)
Current residential address
Social Security Number (restricted from public disclosure in most cases)

Arrest Details:

Date, time, and location of arrest
Name and badge number of the arresting officer
Arresting agency (e.g., Chesterfield County Police Department)
Incident or case number associated with the arrest

Charge Information:

Specific criminal charges filed at the time of arrest
Virginia Code section(s) alleged to have been violated
Classification of offense (felony, misdemeanor, or infraction)

Warrant Information (if applicable):

Warrant number and issuing court
Date warrant was issued
Type of warrant (arrest warrant, bench warrant)

Booking Information:

Date and time of booking into the Chesterfield County Jail
Booking number assigned by the facility
Fingerprint and photograph (mugshot) records

Bond/Bail Information:

Bond type (personal recognizance, secured bond, no bond)
Bond amount set by the magistrate or court
Bond conditions imposed

Court Information:

Scheduled court date and court division
Assigned case number in the Chesterfield County General District or Circuit Court

Custody Status:

Current custody status (held, released, transferred)
Release date and method of release if applicable

Additional Information May Include:

Prior arrest history if compiled in the same record
Disposition of charges if updated by the court
Detainer or hold information from other jurisdictions

How To Look Up Arrest Records in Chesterfield County in 2026

Members of the public may access Chesterfield County arrest records through several official channels. The following steps outline the process for submitting a records request:

Submit a FOIA Request to the Chesterfield County Police Department. Individuals seeking arrest records may submit a written Virginia Freedom of Information Act request to the Chesterfield County Police Department's FOIA Officer. Requests may be submitted by mail, in person, or via the department's online portal. The request should specify the name of the subject, approximate date of arrest, and any known case or incident numbers.
Contact the Chesterfield County Sheriff's Office. For records related to individuals booked into the Chesterfield County Jail, requestors may contact the Sheriff's Office directly. The Sheriff's Office maintains booking logs and inmate records that are accessible to the public subject to applicable exemptions.
Request Records from the Virginia State Police. The Virginia State Police maintains the Central Criminal Records Exchange (CCRE), which compiles statewide criminal history information. Members of the public may request a name-based criminal history search through the Virginia State Police.
Access Court Records Through the Virginia Judiciary. Arrest records that have resulted in criminal charges may be tracked through the Virginia Judiciary's online case information system, which provides access to district and circuit court case data.

Chesterfield County Police Department 10001 Iron Bridge Road, Chesterfield, VA 23832 (804) 748-1251 Chesterfield County Police Department

Chesterfield County Sheriff's Office 9500 Courthouse Road, Chesterfield, VA 23832 (804) 748-1251 Chesterfield County Sheriff's Office

Virginia State Police — Bureau of Criminal Investigation 7700 Midlothian Turnpike, North Chesterfield, VA 23235 (804) 674-2000 Virginia State Police

How To Find Chesterfield County Arrest Records Online

Several official online platforms provide access to Chesterfield County arrest-related information. Members of the public may use the following resources:

Virginia Judiciary Online Case Information System (OCIS): The Virginia Judiciary's case information portal allows users to search for criminal cases by name or case number across General District and Circuit Courts. This system reflects charges filed following an arrest and is updated regularly.
Chesterfield County Inmate Lookup: The Chesterfield County Sheriff's Office provides an online inmate search tool that allows members of the public to determine whether an individual is currently held in the Chesterfield County Jail, along with basic booking information.
Virginia State Police CCRE Portal: The Virginia State Police offers an online portal for submitting criminal history record requests, which may include arrest data compiled statewide.

How To Search Chesterfield County Arrest Records for Free?

Members of the public may access certain Chesterfield County arrest records at no cost through the following methods:

Virginia Judiciary Online Case Information System: Court case records, including criminal charges arising from arrests, are available at no charge through the Virginia court case search tool maintained by the Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia.
In-Person Inspection at the Police Department or Sheriff's Office: Under Va. Code § 2.2-3704, public bodies must make records available for inspection during regular office hours at no charge. Members of the public may visit the Chesterfield County Police Department or Sheriff's Office during business hours to inspect records without incurring copying fees, provided they do not request physical copies.
Chesterfield County General District Court: Members of the public may visit the clerk's office to review criminal case files, which include arrest-related information, free of charge during public counter hours.

Chesterfield County General District Court 9500 Courthouse Road, Chesterfield, VA 23832 (804) 748-1241 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Chesterfield County General District Court

How To Delete Arrest Records in Chesterfield County

Virginia law provides two primary legal mechanisms for limiting public access to arrest records: expungement (legal erasure of the record) and sealing (restricting public access while preserving the record for law enforcement purposes). These are distinct remedies with different eligibility criteria and effects.

Expungement results in the physical destruction or removal of arrest records from law enforcement and court databases. Under Va. Code § 19.2-392.2, individuals may petition for expungement in the following circumstances:

The charge was dismissed or nolle prossed (not prosecuted)
The individual was acquitted at trial
The individual was the victim of identity theft and was wrongfully arrested under another person's identity

Sealing became available in Virginia following the enactment of the Virginia Clean Slate Act, which expanded record-sealing eligibility to certain individuals with misdemeanor convictions and deferred dispositions. Sealed records are not accessible to the general public but remain available to law enforcement and certain licensing authorities.

Steps to Petition for Expungement in Chesterfield County:

Obtain a copy of the arrest record and court disposition from the Chesterfield County Circuit Court Clerk's Office.
Complete the Petition for Expungement form (available from the Virginia Supreme Court or the Circuit Court Clerk).
File the petition with the Chesterfield County Circuit Court and pay the applicable filing fee.
Serve a copy of the petition on the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office.
Attend the scheduled hearing, at which the court will determine eligibility.

Chesterfield County Circuit Court Clerk's Office 9500 Courthouse Road, Chesterfield, VA 23832 (804) 748-1241 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Chesterfield County Circuit Court

Chesterfield County Commonwealth's Attorney's Office 9500 Courthouse Road, Suite 2200, Chesterfield, VA 23832 (804) 748-1281 Commonwealth's Attorney's Office

What Happens After Arrest in Chesterfield County?

The criminal justice process in Chesterfield County follows a structured sequence from the point of arrest through final case disposition. Understanding this process assists members of the public in locating records at each stage.

Arrest and Booking: Following an arrest, the individual is transported to the Chesterfield County Jail for booking. Booking involves recording personal information, photographing, fingerprinting, and entering charges into the system.
Magistrate Hearing: A magistrate reviews the charges and determines whether probable cause exists to detain the individual. The magistrate also sets bond conditions.
Arraignment: The arrested individual appears before a judge in the General District Court, where formal charges are read and a plea is entered.
Preliminary Hearing (Felony Cases): For felony charges, a preliminary hearing is held in General District Court to determine whether sufficient evidence exists to certify the case to the Circuit Court grand jury.
Grand Jury Review: A grand jury convenes in the Circuit Court to determine whether an indictment should be issued.
Trial or Plea: The case proceeds to trial or is resolved through a plea agreement. The outcome — conviction, acquittal, or dismissal — constitutes the final disposition and is reflected in court records.
Sentencing: Upon conviction, the court imposes a sentence in accordance with Virginia sentencing guidelines.

How Long Are Arrest Records Kept in Chesterfield County?

Arrest records in Chesterfield County are retained in accordance with the Virginia Public Records Act and the records retention schedules established by the Library of Virginia. Under current law, law enforcement agencies are required to maintain records for specified minimum periods depending on the nature of the record and the outcome of the associated case.

Arrest records for felony charges are generally retained permanently or for a minimum of 25 years following case disposition.
Arrest records for misdemeanor charges are typically retained for a minimum of 10 years.
Records of arrests not resulting in conviction are retained for a minimum period established by the General Schedule for Law Enforcement Agencies (GS-21), issued by the Library of Virginia.
Booking photographs and fingerprints are maintained by the Virginia State Police CCRE and are subject to statewide retention standards.

Different agencies within Chesterfield County — including the Police Department, Sheriff's Office, and Circuit Court — maintain separate records with potentially different retention schedules. Records retention serves the dual purpose of preserving evidence for future proceedings and maintaining accountability within the criminal justice system.

How to Find Mugshots in Chesterfield County

What Mugshots Are Mugshots are official photographs taken by law enforcement at the time of booking following an arrest. They are part of the booking record and serve as a visual identification tool for law enforcement purposes.

Where Mugshots Are Maintained In Chesterfield County, mugshots are maintained by the Chesterfield County Sheriff's Office, which operates the county jail and conducts the booking process. Copies may also be transmitted to the Virginia State Police CCRE as part of the statewide criminal history record.

Finding Mugshots Members of the public may request mugshots through a formal Virginia FOIA request submitted to the Chesterfield County Sheriff's Office or the Chesterfield County Police Department. Requests should include the subject's full name, date of birth, and approximate date of arrest.

Can They Be Found Online At present, Chesterfield County does not maintain a publicly accessible online mugshot database. Some third-party websites aggregate booking photographs from public records; however, these sites are not official government sources and may contain outdated or inaccurate information.

Obtaining Mugshots Officially To obtain a mugshot through official channels, members of the public must submit a written FOIA request to the appropriate agency. Pursuant to Va. Code § 2.2-3704, the agency must respond within five business days of receiving the request.

Restrictions on Mugshot Access Mugshots associated with juvenile arrests are not subject to public disclosure under Virginia law. Additionally, mugshots connected to records that have been expunged or sealed are withheld from public release in accordance with the applicable court order.

Chesterfield County Sheriff's Office 9500 Courthouse Road, Chesterfield, VA 23832 (804) 748-1251 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Chesterfield County Sheriff's Office