Petersburg Warrant Records Search
Petersburg warrant records are held by the Bureau of Police Records Management Team and the circuit court clerk. The Petersburg police records unit serves as the main place for all police records, including warrants. You can search Petersburg warrant records through the state online case system, by email, or by going to the court clerk on Courthouse Avenue. This page covers where to go, what fees to expect, and how to look up Petersburg warrant records by name or case number.
Petersburg Warrant Records Overview
Where to Find Petersburg Warrant Records
The Petersburg Bureau of Police Records Management Team is the main office for police warrant records. The team stores all warrants generated by or given to the Petersburg Bureau of Police. They also keep criminal histories, fingerprints, photographs, and incident reports. You can email the records team at pbprecordsmanagement@petersburg-va.org to start a request.
The Petersburg Circuit Court Clerk is at 7 Courthouse Avenue, Petersburg, VA 23803. The phone is (804) 733-2369. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The clerk holds case files once warrants are served and returned to the court. You can view most files at the public terminal or ask for copies. Copy fees follow the state rule at $0.50 per page.
The Records Management Team also works with the FBI, the Virginia State Police, and the Department of Criminal Justice Services on data exchange. They handle emergency communications and coordinate with outside agencies on warrant-related records. For most public requests, the email address above or a walk-in visit to the clerk's office is the way to go.
Note: Email pbprecordsmanagement@petersburg-va.org for police warrant record requests in Petersburg.
Search Petersburg Warrants Online
The Virginia Judicial System case search covers Petersburg courts. Pick Petersburg from the dropdown. Type a name and run the search. The system shows open and closed cases with charges, hearing dates, and status. Cases tagged with capias or failure-to-appear charges tie to bench warrants. The tool is free.
The circuit court case search covers Petersburg felony files. Use it for felony warrant cases tied to indictments or grand jury returns. Both state tools are run by the Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia. Neither tool shows active arrest warrants that have not been served yet.
Petersburg also offers online crash reports through a third-party service and incident reports through a secure online portal. These tools are separate from the warrant search. For warrant-specific data, the state case search or a direct request to the records team is the best path.
Petersburg Police Records Management
The Records Management Team at the Petersburg Bureau of Police is the single office that holds all police records. That includes every warrant issued by or given to the department. The team also stores criminal histories, fingerprints, photos, incident reports, and accident reports. They are the point of contact for FOIA requests and records checks.
The Petersburg police records page is shown below. View the records page here.
The records management page lists contact info, fee schedules, and the services the team provides for warrant and police record requests in Petersburg.
The fee schedule for Petersburg police records includes $5 for accident and incident reports, $10 for fingerprints, and $12.80 per hour for FOIA search time plus $0.15 per page for copies. A CD costs $2.00. These fees apply to warrant-related records when a formal FOIA request is needed.
Types of Petersburg Warrant Records
Petersburg courts issue arrest warrants, bench warrants, capias warrants, and search warrants. Arrest warrants are issued by a magistrate under Va. Code § 19.2-71 when probable cause exists. Bench warrants come from a judge for a missed court date. Capias warrants follow probation violations or unpaid fines.
Search warrants must be served within 15 days under Va. Code § 19.2-56. An officer files a sworn affidavit under Va. Code § 19.2-54 before a judge signs the warrant. After the search, the officer returns the warrant and an inventory of items taken under Va. Code § 19.2-57. The file then becomes part of the court record.
A Petersburg warrant file typically shows:
- Name and date of birth of the accused
- Charge and statute cited
- Issuing court or magistrate
- Date the warrant was issued
- Bond amount if set
- Return of service showing when and how it was served
Note: Active Petersburg warrants may not be confirmed by phone if the case involves a search for the named person.
Petersburg FOIA Warrant Requests
Virginia FOIA at Va. Code § 2.2-3700 gives the public the right to most Petersburg warrant records. The city has five working days to respond. Active criminal investigative files can be held back for up to 65 working days under Va. Code § 2.2-3706.1. Fees in Petersburg run $12.80 per hour for search time, $0.15 per page for copies, and $2.00 per CD.
Send a FOIA request to the Petersburg Records Management Team by email at pbprecordsmanagement@petersburg-va.org. You can also file a request with the circuit court clerk for court-held warrant files. You don't need to be a Virginia resident. You don't need to give a reason. The Virginia FOIA Advisory Council answers free questions about the process at (804) 698-1810.
Statewide Tools for Petersburg Warrants
The Virginia State Police criminal background check costs $15 and covers all Virginia jurisdictions. Mail Form SP-167 to VSP in Richmond. The result lists past arrests and warrants tied to a name. The VADOC offender locator shows people in state prison. The Virginia sex offender registry is free to search.
For federal cases tied to Petersburg, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Richmond Division, covers the area. PACER is the federal case file lookup tool. The Code of Virginia has the full text of Title 19.2, which controls warrant rules across the state.
Are Petersburg Warrant Records Public
Most are. Once a warrant is served and the file goes back to the court, it is open to the public. Anyone can ask the clerk for a case file. Copy fees are small. Active warrants may be limited in what the police will share if the person has not been found.
Juvenile records follow their own rules under Va. Code § 16.1-301. Search warrant affidavits may be sealed while a case is open. Records that name a confidential source or could put a witness at risk may stay closed. Under Va. Code § 2.2-3704, most Petersburg warrant records become public once the investigation wraps up. Criminal history at the state police level falls under Va. Code § 19.2-389.
Nearby Cities and Counties
Petersburg sits in central Virginia near Colonial Heights, Dinwiddie County, and Prince George County. Each area has its own offices for warrant records.