Police Records and Service Fees

🚨Effective July 1, 2026, the Virginia Sealing of Criminal History Record Information and Court Records legislation goes into effect. The Police Department is prohibited from providing any information about sealed records. 🚨

Effective July 1, 2026, the Virginia Sealing of Criminal History Record Information and Court Records legislation goes into effect. This legislation prohibits the release of records related to certain arrests, charges, or convictions that are subject to sealing except to certain individuals.

The Police Department is prohibited from providing any information about sealed records. If you request a record that is sealed under this law, the Police Department will respond that no record exists as required by law unless you are a party that is allowed access to a sealed file under Virginia Code 19.2-392.13.

When submitting a request for law enforcement records, you may wish to submit information that allows the Police Department to determine whether you are a party that is entitled to release of information that is contained in sealed files pursuant to Virginia Code 19.2-392.13.

Files that may be eligible for sealing pursuant to law or a court order under certain circumstances under this new legislation include, but are not limited to arrests, charges and convictions related to the following types of offenses and statutes:

  • Traffic infractions that are not punishable as a criminal offense over 11 years old
  • Virginia Code § 18.2-250.1 – Possession of marijuana
  • Virginia Code § 18.2-96. - Petit larceny
  • Virginia Code § 18.2-103 - Concealing or taking possession of merchandise; altering price tags; transferring goods from one container to another; counseling, etc., another in performance of such acts.
  • Virginia Code § 18.2-119. - Trespass after having been forbidden to do so; penalties.
  • Virginia Code § 18.2-120. - Instigating, etc., such trespass by others; preventing service to persons not forbidden to trespass.
  • Virginia Code § 18.2-134. - Trespass on posted property
  • Virginia Code § 18.2-248.1 - Penalties for sale, gift, distribution or possession with intent to sell, give or distribute marijuana
  • Virginia Code § 18.2-415 - Disorderly conduct in public spaces
  • Virginia Code 19.2-392.5 et seq - Matters sealed by Court Orders

The Police Department cannot provide any legal advice about access to sealed files or the process of sealing law enforcement records.

 

Hours of Operation
Hours of operation for in-person administrative services at the Arlington County Police Department are provided below. The Arlington County Police Department is located within the Arlington County Courthouse at 1425 N. Courthouse Road. Learn about security precautions within the Arlington County Courthouse.

Administrative Support Unit – Office of Records
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday: 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Friday: 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Staff is also available to assist customers by phone, email, or fax Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Phone: 703-228-4292 
Fax: 703-228-4298
Email: ACPDRecords@arlingtonva.us 
Location: 1425 N. Courthouse Road, Suite 2100

Evidence and Inventory Management Unit 
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday: 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Tuesday and Thursday: 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Taxi Cab and Vendor Licensing
Taxi and vendor licensing requests are processed on Thursdays from 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. 

Certain documents provided through the Office of Records Customer Service Counter may be requested and paid for online. After making your request for documents, the Office of Records will process it and inform you by email when it is available. Following the completion of online payment, your documents will become available for electronic download. When submitting a request, you will need to upload a copy of your government-issued identification. Please note that all request for records fulfilled online will incur an $9 processing fee.  

The following documents are available for electronic request, processing, payment and download:  

  • Police Incident Report Verification 
  • Crash Reports 
  • Criminal History Background Check – Government/Law Enforcement Requestor

For in-person requests, the Office of Records Customer Service Counter accepts cash, credit/debit cards, money orders and company checks (payable to Treasurer of Arlington) for all payments. For more information, call or visit during business hours.  

Request Records or Documents Online

Criminal History Records Information Request ($10 Fee) 

Criminal History background checks may be requested in-person or mail. To obtain your own criminal history background check, you must pay the $10 fee and provide a valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID, which includes one of the following: 

  • Driver’s license 
  • Passport/visa 
  • Green card 
  • State-issued ID card 

Note: This background check only includes arrests made in Arlington County by ACPD. 

To obtain another person’s criminal history, you must provide a copy of a valid photo ID of that person, your valid photo ID and a current notarized authorization letter. You may also present a power of attorney, which authorizes you to conduct a criminal background check on the individual from ACPD or from all local police departments within Virginia. If presenting a power of attorney, you must appear in person to make your request.  

Police Incident Report Verification ($10 Fee) 

You can request a Police Incident Report Verification online, in-person or by mail, if the report lists you as the victim, complaint/reported party. The verification includes information from the original report, including: 

  • The victim’s name 
  • The incident’s address 
  • The offense 
  • The report number 
  • A brief summary of the incident 
  • Any stolen/damaged items 
  • Any injuries received 

When making your request, you must pay the $10 fee and provide a copy of your valid photo ID and all the necessary information concerning the incident. 

Note: If you are a suspect, arrestee, or an attorney representing a suspect or arrestee, or if you are requesting records such as a case report, body‑worn camera footage, or related materials, you must submit a Virginia Freedom of Information Act (VFOIA) request.

Crash Reports ($10 Fee)
  • You were directly involved in the crash and your name is listed
  • You are the owner of the property that was involved in the crash
  • You are listed as an injured passenger/pedestrian
  • You are the insurance company or attorney representing the person(s) involved

You can request a crash report in person, by mail or online via Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, LexisNexis or Carfax.

Request Records or Documents Online

Back to top