SUFFOLK PUBLIC RECORDS

What Are Suffolk City Public Records?

Suffolk City administrators create and maintain public records according to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act. The act defines Suffolk City public records as any writing or recording that a public body or its officers, employees, or agents create, possess, or use while carrying out duties. These records may consist of letters, words, pictures, or numbers, and the agents may create them by handwriting, typing, photocopy, printing, audio recording, or any other data compilation method.

Although the Freedom of Information Act covers most Virginia agencies, some records are exempt, including:

• Records that the Virginia Parole Board creates about inmates who have applied for parole consideration;
• Petit jury and grand jury records;
• Family assessment and planning team records, per § 2.2-5207;
• Sexual assault response team records, per § 15.2-1627.4;
• Child abuse records, per § 15.2-1627.5;
• Voter registration and election records.

Suffolk City Crime Statistics

To achieve its goal of keeping citizens informed about the crimes occurring in and around their community, the Suffolk City Police Department provides crime statistics on its website. The Department also forwards the information to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for inclusion in its annual Uniform Crime Report. In 2018, the Bureau reported 251 violent crimes and 2,340 property crimes among Suffolk City’s 90,817 residents.

Violent offenses consisted of two murders, 30 rapes, 69 robberies, and 150 cases of aggravated assault. Property crimes outnumbered violent ones, with 296 burglaries, 1,892 cases of larceny-theft, 152 vehicular thefts, and 10 arson cases.

In 2018, the crime rate in Suffolk was 276.38 per 100,000 persons, a 9.3% decline from the previous year. The violent crime rate in Suffolk City is 22% below the national average, while the property crime rate is 17% above it.

Are Suffolk City Criminal Records Public?

Per the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, most Suffolk City criminal records are publicly available, except for juvenile criminal records as provided in §19.2-389.1. The Central Records Unit of the Suffolk City Police Department allows individuals to obtain their criminal history records. Requesters will need to complete an SPD Request for Information Form, attach a valid state ID and the appropriate fee of $10, and submit the package to the Police Department in person or by mail to:

City of Suffolk Police Department
111 Henley Place,
Suffolk, VA 23434
Phone: (757) 923-2350

The Virginia State Police also allows the general public to request criminal record name searches. Interested persons must fill out a “Criminal History Request Form SP-167,” print it out and have it notarized, and send the completed package to the Virginia State Police by mail to:

Virginia State Police
P.O. Box 27472
Richmond, VA 23261

Criminal history name searches cost $15 per request. Requesters will receive conviction information only. The State Police will provide complete criminal history information to the following bodies only:

• Domestic or international adoptions and foster care agencies;
• Hospital pharmacy employees;
• Adult home care facilities;
• Licensed homes for adults;
• District homes for adults;
• Adult daycare centers;
• Licensed child care centers;
• Unlicensed child care centers;
• Cities or counties under a duly enacted ordinance;
• Licensed assisted living facilities.

How to Obtain Suffolk City Police Reports and Arrest Records?

The Central Records Unit of the Suffolk City Police Department maintains Suffolk City arrest records, incident reports, and accident reports and makes them available to the public. Interested persons who wish to obtain Suffolk City police reports must complete an SPD Request for Information Form, attach a copy of valid identification and the appropriate fee of $10, and submit the package to the Police Department in person or by mail.

City of Suffolk Police Department
111 Henley Place,
Suffolk, VA 23434
Phone: (757) 923-2350

How to Find Sex Offender Information in Suffolk City

Convicted Suffolk City sex offenders must register their details with the Suffolk City Police Department, who forwards the information to the Virginia State Police Department. The State Police makes this information publicly available on its Sex Offender Registry. Researchers can find Suffolk City sex offenders by name, home, or workplace address. Interested persons can also search within a radius of a specific zip code, school, or playground, for offenders that live close. Finally, interested persons may register their emails to receive community notifications. Subscribers will receive notifications whenever a sex offender moves into the neighborhood, allowing them to take the necessary precautions to protect the community.

How to Find Suffolk City Inmate Information

The Western Tidewater Regional Jail is responsible for housing inmates convicted in Suffolk City, Isle of Wight County, and the City of Franklin. The Jail maintains a record of all inmates incarcerated behind its walls and makes that record available online. Interested persons can look through the log to find inmates listed by name, booking date, and possible release date. Researchers can click on each inmate’s name to find additional information like conviction charges and a mugshot.

How Do I Visit an Inmate in Suffolk City Jail?

Individuals arrested and convicted for crimes in Suffolk City serve time in the Western Tidewater Regional Jail. Interested friends and family members may visit inmates at the facility, located at:

Western Tidewater Regional Jail
2402 Godwin Boulevard
Suffolk, VA 23434
Phone: (757) 539-3119

Individuals may visit inmates according to the Blocks they reside in. However, visitation times are generally between 7:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Inmates must register potential visitors on their Request for Visitation Privileges form and may receive not more than two visitors in one twenty-minute visit per week. All visitors must be above sixteen years old and present a valid government-issued ID to access the facility. Minors are not allowed to visit inmates.

All visitors must sign in at least thirty minutes before the session begins. Once sat in front of a visitation booth, visitors cannot switch booths. Immediately the call ends, they must exit the premises. The facility staff will ask visitors to leave if either the inmate or the visitor violates any established rules or regulations. Visitors may not leave personal items in the lobby. They may, however, store them in their vehicles or the lobby lockers. Visitors cannot bring any of the following items into the facility:

• Tobacco or tobacco-related products;
• Lighting devices;
• Pocketbooks;
• Handbags;
• Backpacks;
• Food;
• Beverages;
• Communication devices;
• Photographic devices;

Visitors must dress casually but conservatively. Shirts and shoes are mandatory. The prison staff will deny visitors’ entry if they wear any of the following:

• Sleeveless shirts and tank tops;
• Clothing that exposes too much flesh (e.g., exposing the chest, back, breast, thighs, or midsections);
• Clothing that looks similar to prison or law enforcement uniforms;
• Clothing with lewd, violent, or gang-related print.

Suffolk City Court Records

The Suffolk City legal system consists of three courts: the Circuit Court, the General District Court, and the Juvenile & Domestic Relations Court. The Circuit court is responsible for civil cases involving large monetary sums, marriages, divorces, and criminal hearings. However, the General District Court handles civil cases involving smaller monetary sums, misdemeanors, preliminary criminal hearings, and traffic cases. The Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court handles all juvenile hearings, custody cases, and family support issues.

Location of Courts in Suffolk City

City of Suffolk Circuit Court - 5th Judicial Circuit
Mills E. Godwin Courts Complex
150 N Main Street,
P.O. Box 1604,
Suffolk, VA 23434
Phone: (757) 514-7800
Fax: (757) 514-7103

City of Suffolk General District Court - 5th Judicial District
Mills E. Godwin Courts Complex
150 N Main Street,
Suffolk, VA 23434
Phone: (757) 514-4822
Fax: (757) 925-7783

City of Suffolk Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Court
Mills E. Godwin Courts Complex
150 N Main Street,
Suffolk, VA 23434
Phone: (757) 514-7768

Are Suffolk City Court Records Public?

Per Virginia’s Freedom of Information laws, Suffolk City court records are in the public domain. Interested persons may query the custodian clerk of the court to obtain records. The FOIA states that requesters have the right to inspect or copy court records, and the clerk has the responsibility to provide those records, barring any of the following exemptions:

• Records sealed by court order
• Records containing personnel information, per § 2.2-3705.1 (1);
• Records subject to attorney-client privilege, per § 2.2-3705.1 (2);
• Vendor proprietary information software, per § 2.2-3705.1 (6).

Can You Look up a Suffolk City Court Case Online?

Individuals interested in getting online access to Suffolk City court cases may do so using the Suffolk Circuit Court Clerk’s e-portal. The portal allows users to request plain or certified copies of Suffolk City court records secured using digital certificate encryption.

The Virginia Judicial System also allows interested persons to search for court case information online, using its Case Status and Information page. The public can search for criminal court records, civil court case records, family court records, and more.

How to Obtain Suffolk City Civil Court Case Records

The Suffolk Circuit Court Clerk is responsible for curating Suffolk City civil court case records and making them available to the public. Individuals who wish to obtain Suffolk City civil court case records may query the Suffolk Circuit Court Clerk online or by mail.

Persons who wish to view Suffolk City civil court case information online may do so using the Suffolk Circuit Court Clerk’s e-portal. The portal allows users to request uncertified or certified copies of Suffolk City court records secured using digital certificate encryption. To order, users must create an account and then enter the desired document’s details. The fee for non-certified copies is fifty cents per page or $4 with a customized transaction. Certified copies cost fifty cents per page plus $5 for certification. Users can also opt for a customized transaction, which will cost $8. Once the researcher completes payment, they may print the certified or uncertified copy.

Individuals who wish to send in a written request for Suffolk City civil court case records may complete an FOIA request form, attach appropriate payment, and send it to the Suffolk Circuit Court Clerk at:

Suffolk Circuit Court Clerks' Office
P.O. Box 1604
Suffolk, VA 23439-1604

How to Obtain Suffolk City Criminal Court Records

The Suffolk Circuit Court Clerk manages Suffolk City criminal court records and provides them to the public upon request. Persons who wish to obtain Suffolk City criminal court records may query the Suffolk Circuit Court Clerk online or by mail.

Individuals who wish to get Suffolk City criminal court records online may do so using the Suffolk Circuit Court Clerk’s e-portal. The portal allows users to request uncertified or certified copies of Suffolk City court records secured using digital certificate encryption. To order, users must create an account and then enter the desired document’s details. The fee for non-certified copies is fifty cents per page or $4 with a customized transaction. Certified copies cost fifty cents per page plus $5 for certification. Users can also opt for a customized transaction, which will cost $8. Once the researcher completes payment, they may print the certified or uncertified copy.

Individuals who wish to send in a written request for Suffolk City criminal court records may complete an FOIA request form, attach appropriate payment, and send it to the Suffolk Circuit Court Clerk at:

Suffolk Circuit Court Clerks' Office
P.O. Box 1604
Suffolk, VA 23439-1604

What Are Suffolk City Vital Records?

Suffolk City vital records are the official documents that city agents create when essential life events happen. Examples of these events include childbirth, marriage, death, and divorce. Per exemptions in the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, Suffolk City vital records are not publicly accessible. Only the following eligible persons may request them:

• The record holders/subjects;
• The record holder’s spouse;
• The record holder’s parents;
• The record holder’s siblings or children;
• The record holder’s legal representative;
• Anyone who possesses a court order to obtain a vital record.

The Virginia Department of Health is responsible for creating and maintaining all vital records and provides copies to eligible parties. The cost of a vital record is $12 per copy or - if the document is unavailable - per search.

Where and How to Get Suffolk City Divorce Records

The Suffolk Circuit Court handles all Suffolk City divorces. The Circuit Court clerk forwards the records to the Virginia Department of Health, who makes certified copies available to the following eligible persons:

• The divorcees;
• The divorcees’ immediate family members (e.g., parents, children, siblings);
• The divorcees’ legal representatives;
• Anyone authorized by a court order.

Eligible persons may request Suffolk City divorce records by applying online. Requesters may also complete an Application for Certification of a Divorce Record, attach a photocopy of a state-approved photo ID and the appropriate fees ($12 per document), and mail the complete package to the Department of Health. Requesters must provide the following information on the form:

• Requester’s name;
• Requester’s contact details;
• Requester’s relationship with the record’s subject;
• Reason for requesting the record;
• The divorcees’ names;
• The date and place of divorce;
• The number of copies required.

Send complete application to:

Office of Vital Records,
P.O. Box 1000
Richmond, VA 23218-1000
Phone: (804) 662-6200

Where and How to Get Public Suffolk City Marriage Records

The Suffolk Circuit Court is responsible for the city’s marriage register. Per Virginia’s statutes, Suffolk City marriage records are confidential for the first 25 years, after which they are in the public domain.

Individuals who wish to obtain public Suffolk City marriage certificates may request them by completing an Application for Certification of a Marriage Record, attaching the appropriate fees ($12 per document), and mailing the complete package to the Department of Health. Requesters must provide the following information on the form:

• Requester’s name;
• Requester’s contact details;
• Requester’s relationship with the record’s subject;
• Reason for requesting the record;
• The married couple’s names;
• The date and place of marriage;
• The number of copies required.

Send complete application to:

Office of Vital Records,
P.O. Box 1000
Richmond, VA 23218-1000
Phone: (804) 662-6200

Where and How to Get Confidential Suffolk City Marriage Records

The Suffolk Circuit Court is responsible for issuing marriage licenses in Suffolk City. The Circuit Court clerk forwards the marriage records to the Virginia Department of Health, who makes certified copies available to the following eligible persons:

• The married couple;
• The couple’s immediate family members (e.g., parents, children, siblings);
• The couple’s legal representatives;
• Anyone authorized by a court order.

Eligible persons may request Suffolk City marriage records by applying online. Requesters may also complete an Application for Certification of a Marriage Record, attach a photocopy of a state-approved photo ID and the appropriate fees ($12 per document), and mail the complete package to the Department of Health located at:

Office of Vital Records,
P.O. Box 1000
Richmond, VA 23218-1000
Phone: (804) 662-6200

Requesters must provide the following information on the form:

• Requester’s name;
• Requester’s contact details;
• Requester’s relationship with the record’s subject;
• Reason for requesting the record;
• The couple’s names;
• The date and place of marriage;
• The number of copies required.

Where and How to Get Suffolk City Birth Records

The Virginia Department of Health is responsible for issuing Suffolk City birth certificates and makes certified copies available to the following eligible persons:

• The registrant (above 18 years old);
• The registrant’s parents (listed on the record);
• The registrant’s spouse;
• The registrant’s immediate family members (e.g., children, siblings);
• The registrant’s legal representatives;
• Anyone with a court order to obtain a Suffolk City birth record.

Eligible persons can obtain Suffolk birth certificates by applying online. Requesters may also complete an Application for Certification of a Birth Record, attach a photocopy of a state-approved photo ID and the appropriate fees ($12 per document), and mail the complete package to the Department of Health. Requesters must provide the following information on the form:

• Requester’s name;
• Requester’s contact details;
• Requester’s relationship with the record’s subject;
• Reason for requesting the record;
• The registrant’s name;
• The date of birth;
• The mother’s name;
• The number of copies required.

Send complete application to:

Office of Vital Records,
P.O. Box 1000
Richmond, VA 23218-1000
Phone: (804) 662-6200

Where and How to Get Suffolk City Death Records

The Virginia Department of Health creates and maintains Suffolk City death certificates. It also makes certified copies available to the following eligible persons:

• The deceased’s parents;
• The deceased’s spouse;
• The deceased’s immediate family members (e.g., children, siblings);
• The deceased’s legal representative;
• Anyone with a court order to obtain a Suffolk City death certificate.

Eligible persons can obtain Suffolk death certificates by applying online. Requesters may also complete an Application for Certification of a Death Record, attach a photocopy of a state-approved photo ID and the appropriate fees ($12 per document), and mail the complete package to the Department of Health at:

Office of Vital Records,
P.O. Box 1000
Richmond, VA 23218-1000
Phone: (804) 662-6200

Requesters must provide the following information on the form:

• Requester’s name;
• Requester’s contact details;
• Requester’s relationship with the record’s subject;
• Reason for requesting the record;
• The deceased’s name;
• The date of death;
• The number of copies required.