Accomack County Arrest, Court, and Public Records
Accomack County public records consist of written or recorded data compiled, prepared, owned, or maintained by a public institution, its employees, officers, or agents. Accomack County public records may be handwritten, printed, photographed, or typewritten. The state’s public record law requires record custodians to provide public access to these records regardless of their physical form or characteristics. However, the FOIA prohibits record custodians from granting access to some public records. Some restricted records include:
- Confidential records such as documents containing a crime victim's identity
- Records containing a security system's design, operation, function, and access control
- School security plans
- Mental health assessment records
- Records held by the Virginia Military Advisory Council
- Specific architectural or construction drawings
- Records of an ongoing investigation conducted by the Department of Health or any health regulatory board
- Test or examination questions prepared by a public body
- Vendor proprietary information software contained in a public record
- Financial information such as account numbers or debit and credit card routing information
In addition to government agencies, county public records may also be obtained from third-party websites. These platforms feature intuitive tools that allow for comprehensive searches. Record seekers may either use these tools to search for a specific record or multiple records. Users can search third-party websites remotely for multiple documents at a time using the name of the record subject and their last known location, including the city, county, or state. Third-party sites are not sponsored by government agencies. Hence, record availability and results may vary.
Accomack County Crime Statistics
The FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program publishes annual reports for crimes in Accomack County. In 2019, the county's law enforcement agencies reported 17 violent crimes, 14 property crimes, and 5 arson incidents. The offenses comprised 3 murders, 14 aggravated assaults, 13 larceny thefts, and 1 motor vehicle theft.
On the other hand, the 2018 report revealed 27 violent crimes, including 1 rape and 26 aggravated assault cases. Law enforcement also recorded 17 property crimes in the same year, including 1 burglary, 14 larceny thefts, and 2 motor vehicle thefts. Based on the published data, the county's crime rate reduced by 29% between the two years.
Are Accomack County Criminal Records Public?
Yes. Accomack County criminal records containing information regarding a person's criminal history and these records are available to interested persons. Persons seeking Accomack county criminal records will be required to complete and submit the Criminal Record Name Search Form SP-167, and third-party requestors require notarized signatures appended by the subject of the record. Record seekers can mail the completed form to:
Virginia State Police
Civil & Applicants Records Exchange
P.O. Box 85076
Richmond, VA 23285
Requesting parties may also request Accomack criminal records from the Accomack County Sheriff's Office. Typically, the requestor will be required to provide the information required to facilitate the record search. The Sheriff's Office entertains mail and in-person requests at:
Accomack County Sheriff's Office
23323 Wise Court
P.O. Box 149
Accomack, VA 23301
How to Obtain Accomack County Police Reports and Arrest Records
Record seekers may obtain Accomack County arrest records and police reports from the county Sheriff's Office. To obtain a record, the requestor must complete the Incident Report Authorization Release form and submit it along with a photo ID.
Requests for these records may be made in person or via mail.
How to Find Sex Offender Information in Accomack County
Residents of Accomack County can access sex offender information online using the Virginia State Police Sex Offenders Registry Search. Anyone can search the database by address, name, county, city, zip code, or school.
The information available on the site includes each offender's registration ID, sex, physical description, photograph, alias, address, registration information, and conviction details. Interested persons may also find related information on the Offender Supplemental Search Registry. Furthermore, record seekers may use the provided Community Notification service to receive email alerts when a sex offender's details change, or if their locations change.
How to Find Accomack County Inmate Records
Persons seeking records of inmates at the Accomack County Jail may contact the Sheriff's Office. Inmate records typically detail the specifics of an inmate and their offense including names, dates, charge information, and booking details. To obtain a record, the requestor must supply the Accomack County Sheriff's Office with the information required to facilitate the search. Requests may be made in person, via mail, phone or email.
Accomack County Court Records
The Accomack County court system comprises the county's Circuit Court, a General Court, and a Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court. The Circuit Court has general jurisdiction over all criminal and civil cases ranging from felonies and misdemeanors to divorce and property disputes.
The General Court handles felony preliminary hearings, ordinance violations, and misdemeanor cases. The court also has a Small Claims Division for property or money claims up to $5,000.00. On the other hand, the Accomack County Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court presides over most domestic relations, juvenile, and criminal cases. The court typically hears child custody, parentage, child abuse, adoption, mental health matters, and criminal cases involving a family member. Parties seeking Accomack court records may submit requests to the overseeing court at any of the following addresses:
Accomack County Circuit Court
2nd Judicial Circuit of Virginia
23316 Courthouse Avenue
P.O. Box 126
Accomack, VA 23301-0126
Phone: (757) 787-5776
Fax: (757) 787-1849
Accomack County General District Court
2A Judicial District of Virginia
23371 Front Street
P.O. Box 276
Accomack, VA 23301-0276
Phone: (757) 787-0923
Fax: (757) 787-5619
Accomack County Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court
2A Judicial District of Virginia
23371 Front Street
P.O. Box 299
Accomack, VA 23301-0299
Phone: (757) 787-0920
Fax: (757) 787-4526
Are Accomack County Court Records Public?
Most Accomack County court records are public records. All parties interested in obtaining copies of a court record can request them at the courthouse that presided over the case by providing the Clerk of Court's Office with relevant details. However, Virginia state law restricts access to the following records:
- Juvenile court records
- Adoption records
- Mental health records
- Records sealed by a court order
- Confidential court records
How to Obtain Accomack County Civil Court Case Records
The Accomack County Clerk of Circuit Court maintains civil court case records and makes them available to record seekers. Parties interested in obtaining these records may visit the Public Records Room at the Circuit Clerk's Office from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM on weekdays. A record seeker can also mail a request to the Clerk's Office, providing the case number, case name or business name, citation number, file date, and other record details required to process their request. Interested persons may query the clerk's office at:
Accomack County Clerk of Court's Office
23316 Courthouse Avenue
P.O. Box 126
Accomack, VA 23301
Phone: (757) 787-5776
Fax: (757) 787-1849
Alternatively, requestors may obtain Accomack County civil court case records online using the Virginia Courts Case Information System or the General District Court Online Case Information System. These online databases hold information regarding Circuit Court cases and matters heard at the General District Court, respectively. Both platforms allow searches using case names, case numbers, or hearing dates.
How to Obtain Accomack County Criminal Court Records
All persons seeking criminal court case records may contact the Accomack County Clerk of Courts Office. Record seekers may obtain the document at the Public Records Room during business hours in person, or they may mail in written requests to the Clerk of Court's Office.
Interested parties can also find Accomack County criminal court records online via the Virginia Court Case Information System for Circuit Court cases or the General District Court Online Case Information System.
What are Accomack County Vital Records?
Accomack County vital records are government-generated records of county marriages, divorces, births, and deaths. Requestors can obtain marriage and divorce records from the Circuit Court Clerk's Office, while death and birth records are available at the Virginia Department of Health (VDH). However, not all Accomack vital records are open to the public.
Accomack County Divorce Records
A divorce record is an official document confirming the end of a marriage. Parties interested in Accomack County divorce decrees should submit requests to the Circuit Court. Each request should provide the Clerk of Court's Office with the names of both parties as well as the date and location of the divorce.
Accomack County Marriage Records
A marriage record is an official document issued following the solemnization of a wedding.
The Circuit Court Clerk's Office maintains and disseminates Accomack County marriage records. Requesting parties may send written applications by mail or visit the office for in-person requests. Each application should contain the names of the married persons, the marriage date, and its location. Accomack County marriage certificates cost $3.00 per copy, and applicants may submit requests to the county clerk of court.
Accomack County Birth Records
A birth record is a government-generated record containing a county resident's birth-related information. It typically includes the child's name, date of birth, place, and parent's names.
Record seekers can obtain Accomack County birth records from the VDH. However, state law restricts public access to birth records, and only the record's subject, parents, siblings, spouse, grandparents, or legal guardian, are eligible to access these records.
Eligible persons can obtain Accomack County birth certificates by submitting completed copies of the Application for Certification of a Birth Record form. Each record costs $12.00, payable by check or money order made out to the "State Health Department". The VDH entertains walk-in requests every weekday from 7:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Authorized persons should submit requests with valid identification to:
Virginia Department of Health
Office of Vital Records
2001 Maywill Street
Suite 101
P.O. Box 1000
Richmond, VA 23230
Phone: (800) 662-6200 (Call Center)
Accomack County Death Records
A death record confirms the date, time, age, and cause of death of a decedent. The VDH only issues certified copies of Accomack County death records to immediate family members such as the decedent's parents, spouse, children, siblings, and grandparents. However, non-immediate family members can obtain the Verification of Death after proving a direct and tangible interest in the record.
An Accomack County death certificate costs $12.00, payable by checks or money orders made out to the State Department of Health. The VDH also accepts cash and credit card payments for in-person requests. Eligible record seekers may complete the Application for a Certification of Death Record form and submit it with a valid ID and fees by mail or in-person to the state vital records office in the Virginia department of health.
