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  1. Norfolk City County Court
  2. Norfolk City County Arrest Records

Norfolk City, Virginia Arrest Records

Norfolk City arrest records are documentation on the apprehension of suspects of crimes by the city's law enforcement agencies. These documents detail individuals' interaction with the county's law enforcement agencies' criminal justice system, and typically include the arrested person's identity, date and time of arrest, and charges filed at the time of arrest. 

In Norfolk City, arrest records are created and maintained by city and state law enforcement agencies, including the Norfolk Police Department, the Norfolk Sheriff’s Office, and the Virginia State Police (VSP). Virginia mandates public disclosure of arrest records to promote government accountability and transparency and ensure public oversight of law enforcement actions. While the Virginia Freedom of Information Act grants general access to government records (including Norfolk City arrest records), the state operates a separate rule for Criminal History Record Information (CHRI). Section 9.1-389 of the Virginia Code regulates the collection, storage, and dissemination of criminal offender record information within Norfolk City and the rest of the state.

Are Arrest Records Public Information in Norfolk, Virginia?

Yes, arrest records are public in Norfolk City. Section 2.2-3706 of the Virginia Code (Disclosure of Law Enforcement and Criminal Records) mandates law enforcement agencies to make basic details about arrests public. This legislation outlines the information that is publicly disclosable in adult arrest records, including the identity of the arrested person, information that the person has been arrested, charges against the individual, and booking photos. 

According to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, access to government records is limited to citizens of the Commonwealth and representatives of the media. Notwithstanding, individuals can access Norfolk City arrest records online without an ID, regardless of their citizenship status.

What Do Public Norfolk City Arrest Records Contain?

Public access to Norfolk City's arrest records is governed by Section 2.2.2-3706 of the Virginia Code. Per this statute, law enforcement agencies must permit public access to basic information about adult arrests. Consequently, a public-facing Norfolk City arrest record displays:

  • The name and identity of the arrestee.
  • The specific criminal charges filed against the arrested person at the time of arrest.
  • The current status of the arrest or charges (for instance, pending court appearance)
  • General description of the crime the individual allegedly committed. 
  • Time, date, and location of the arrest. 
  • The identity of the arresting officer and the name of the investigating agency. 
  • Description of any injuries sustained, property damaged, or stolen during the incident. 

Although arrest records are public in Virginia, law enforcement will redact or withhold information whose public disclosure will: 

  • Compromise active investigation
  • Threaten the safety of a victim, witness, or undercover agent 
  • Cause a suspect to abscond 
  • Destroy evidence. 

Furthermore, the public cannot access juvenile arrest records, sealed or expunged records, and information protected by privacy laws.

Norfolk City,  Virginia Arrest Search

Aside from local departments and search tools, record seekers may find information about arrests in Norfolk City through state and federal sources. One of the most effective ways to search for Norfolk City arrest records at the state level is through the Virginia Judiciary Online Case Information System. Users can track adult arrest information as it progresses through the Norfolk City Circuit and General District Courts. Furthermore,  the Virginia State Police maintains a Central Criminal Records Exchange database where individuals can access arrest records through criminal background checks. Information seekers can complete an SP-167 Form and access Norfolk City arrest records through the VSP Criminal History Record Checks.  

Individuals can also search for Norfolk City arrest records at the federal level. The Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) portal may provide information about arrests in Norfolk City that resulted in federal prosecutions. Likewise, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) maintains a nationwide repository for criminal history data submitted by law enforcement agencies and courts across the United States. While the FBI does not serve as a public repository for local police records, interested parties can request fingerprint-based access to their criminal history records (this includes arrest information) through FBI Identity History Summary Checks. Information seekers can also search for arrest details of individuals arrested for sex offenses in Norfolk City on the National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW) SMART Search Portal. 

Norfolk City Inmate Locator

In Norfolk City, the Sheriff's Office Inmate Lookup Tool provides direct access to arrest information. This official search tool allows users to access arrest details through the city's jail roster. Information seekers can use names and ID numbers to access the arrest records of individuals in custody at the Norfolk City Jail. 

To search for arrest records in Norfolk City:

  • Visit the Norfolk Sheriff’s Office website. 
  • Scroll down and click “Inmate Lookup Tool”.
  • Enter the first name and the ID number of the subject into the search tool. 
  • Click “Search” to submit the query. 

The Norfolk City Police Department also provides access to arrest records. Information seekers should visit the NCPD Open Data Portal Arrest Report webpage to access daily arrest reports. In Norfolk City, the Norfolk Police Department is the primary law enforcement agency, while the Norfolk Sheriff’s Office operates the Norfolk City Jail. Individuals seeking access to Norfolk City's arrest records should contact these agencies at the following addresses:

Norfolk Sheriff’s Office 

811 E. City Hall Avenue, 

Norfolk, 

VA 23510

Phone: (757) 664-4700

Email: info@norfolk-sherrif.com

Norfolk Police Department 

100 Brooke Avenue, 

Norfolk, 

VA 23510

Phone: (757) 664-3277 (general non-emergency), (757) 664-7038 (Central Records Division).

Active Warrant Search in Norfolk City

Norfolk City arrest warrants are official orders authorizing law enforcement to arrest and bring named individuals before a court. These documents are issued by the magistrates of the Norfolk City and General District Courts when law enforcement presents evidence that identified individuals committed crimes. Judges in the city's Circuit and General District Courts also issue bench warrants for the arrest of defendants who fail to appear for scheduled court hearings. 

According to Section 19.2-72 of the Virginia Code, for a Norfolk City arrest warrant to be valid,  it must:

  • Be directed to an appropriate law enforcement officer or officers.
  • Name the accused or provide a description by which the wanted person can be identified with reasonable certainty. 
  • Describe the alleged criminal offense with reasonable certainty. 
  • Command law enforcement to arrest and bring the named person before the court.

The Norfolk Police Department maintains an active warrant database. Individuals seeking information about active warrants in Norfolk City should visit the Norfolk Police Department's Active Warrants webpage. Interested individuals can also access arrest warrants issued by Norfolk City courts through the Virginia Judiciary General District Court Online Case Information System. This portal permits users to search for records by:

  • Name 
  • Case number 
  • Hearing date
  • Service/process.

For offline access to Norfolk City's arrest warrants, call the Norfolk Police Department Warrant Division at (757) 664-4709 or contact the Norfolk City General District Court Clerk’s Office at:

150 Saint Paul's Boulevard, 

Norfolk, 

VA 23510

Phone: (757) 664-4910.

Agency/Resource

Purpose

Search Methods

Notes

Norfolk Police Department Central Records Division 

Serves and maintains arrest warrants 

Phone, online, in person

The Norfolk Police Department provides online access to arrest warrants through its Active Warrants page. Information seekers can also call (757) 664-4709 or visit the agency's office 

Norfolk City General District Court 

Official custodian of court records 

In person,  mail

Mail or visit the clerk’s office at:

150 Saint Paul's Boulevard, 

Norfolk, 

VA 23510

Virginia Judiciary Case Information System 

Tracks court case status 

Online 

Provides access to case-related bench warrants. 

How to Find Arrest Records for Free in Norfolk City

There are several ways individuals can access Norfolk City arrest records for free. The Norfolk Police Department Arrest Report provides free details on individuals arrested by the agency. Information seekers can also access Norfolk City arrest records for free through the Norfolk Sheriff’s Office Inmate Lookup. The Norfolk General District Court Online Case Information System also provides access to case-related arrest records. 

While it is possible to find arrest records for free in Norfolk City, information seekers should note the following limitations of these free-tier tools:

  • The Norfolk Open Data Arrest Report portal provides access to only recent records. Likewise, only the records of Norfolk City Jail's current inmates are accessible through the Norfolk Sheriff’s Office Inmate Lookup Tool. 
  • For privacy and security reasons, official portals do not host redacted records. 
  • To ensure search precision, users of free online record access tools must provide accurate search data.
  • Most free-tier search tools do not provide access to certified copies of records. 

Norfolk City Arrest Report

Arrest reports are detailed narratives of arrest incidents. These documents are created by arresting officers or investigating agencies after arrests. In addition to basic arrest details, a Norfolk City arrest report may also contain:

  • The arresting officer’s firsthand account of events 
  • Witness statements 
  • Probable cause supporting the arrest
  • Details of evidence collected at the arrest scene
  • Information about victims and other involved parties 
  • Time sequence of events 
  • Reference to related police or supplemental reports.

Although the Virginia Freedom of Information Act categorizes Norfolk City's arrest reports as public, these documents are investigative in nature, and access is often more restricted than arrest records. Consequently, a Norfolk City arrest report may qualify for exemption from public disclosure under Sections 2.2-3706 and 2.2-3706.1 of the Virginia Code.

How to Get an Arrest Record Expunged in Norfolk City

Under Virginia laws, there are two pathways for individuals seeking to remove arrest information from their records. These are expungement and sealing. The expunction of a criminal record makes it legally non-existent, and the subject can claim that it never existed. By comparison, sealing a criminal record under Virginia laws makes it accessible only to law enforcement agencies, courts, and high-security employers. 

Per Section 19.2-392.2 of the Virginia Code, a Norfolk City arrest record becomes eligible for automatic expungement if it does not result in a criminal conviction. In the same way, under Section 19.2-392.5 of the Virginia Code, the eligibility for sealing a Norfolk City arrest record depends on the seriousness of the offense and its outcome. A Norfolk City arrest record is eligible for automatic sealing after the subject observes the waiting period if the offense is a minor misdemeanor, such as trespassing, minor marijuana possession or distribution, or shoplifting/petit larceny. Individuals can also qualify for petition-based sealing of their arrest records if they fulfill the requirements of Section 19.2-392.12 of the Virginia Code.

The following steps outline the procedure for a petition-based sealing of a Norfolk City arrest record: 

  • Obtain the disposition documents from the Norfolk City court that handled the original case.
  • Fill out two copies of Form CC-1473 and file the petition at the Norfolk City Circuit Clerk's Office. 
  • Pay the filing fee.
  • Take a copy of the petition to the Norfolk Police Department and obtain a fingerprint card.
  •  Submit a copy of the petition along with the fingerprint card to the Virginia State Police. 
  • The Norfolk Circuit Clerk will serve notice of the petition to the Norfolk Commonwealth Attorney. 
  • Attend the court hearing, if the public prosecutor's office objects or the judge requires it
  • If the judge approves the petition, the court will enter an order of expungement/sealing. 

How Do You Remove Norfolk City Arrest Records From the Internet?

Removing a Norfolk City arrest record from the internet requires sealing/expungement through the Norfolk Circuit Court and removal requests to the non-official online publishers of the record. To remove a Norfolk City arrest record from the internet:

  • Expunge or seal the record through the Norfolk Circuit Court and obtain certified copies of the expungement/sealing order.
  • Identify all the third-party online publishers of the arrest record and URLs where the information appears. 
  • Submit removal requests along with copies of the expungement/sealing order and the URLs to the websites’ compliance departments.
  • Request de-indexing of the record to make it inaccessible through search engines.