Warrant records are public documents in Arlington County, Virginia, pursuant to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (VFOIA), Code of Virginia § 2.2-3700 et seq. This legislation establishes the presumption that all government records shall be open to public inspection to promote governmental transparency and accountability. Under this statutory framework, warrant records maintained by Arlington County law enforcement agencies and courts are generally accessible to members of the public.
The Virginia Freedom of Information Act specifically provides that public bodies shall make reasonable efforts to reach an agreement with requesters concerning the production of the records requested. In accordance with § 2.2-3704, citizens of the Commonwealth, representatives of newspapers and magazines with circulation in the Commonwealth, and representatives of radio and television stations broadcasting in or into the Commonwealth may request to inspect or receive copies of public records.
Warrant records accessibility serves as a fundamental component of judicial transparency, enabling citizens to verify the existence of warrants and comprehend their legal implications. Through maintenance of open access to these judicial documents, Arlington County upholds the principles of open government mandated by Virginia state law.
Warrant records maintained by Arlington County judicial authorities typically contain the following information:
Pursuant to Virginia Code § 19.2-54, search warrants must particularly describe the place to be searched and the persons or things to be seized. Similarly, arrest warrants must contain sufficient particularity regarding the alleged offense and the identity of the accused as required by § 19.2-72.
Members of the public seeking to determine the existence of warrants in Arlington County may utilize several no-cost methods in accordance with Virginia public records laws:
Requesters should be prepared to provide identifying information such as full legal name and date of birth to facilitate accurate record searches. Pursuant to § 2.2-3704(F), public bodies may make reasonable charges not to exceed actual cost for accessing, duplicating, supplying, or searching for requested records.
The Arlington County Sheriff's Office is authorized under Virginia Code § 19.2-80 to execute warrants issued by judicial officers within the jurisdiction. Sheriff warrants in Arlington County constitute official legal instruments that authorize law enforcement personnel to perform specific actions, including:
The Sheriff's Office maintains records of all warrants assigned for service within its jurisdiction. These documents contain statutorily required elements including the subject's name, nature of the charges, and specific conditions under which the warrant must be executed.
Arlington County Sheriff's Office
1425 N. Courthouse Road, Suite 9100
Arlington, VA 22201
(703) 228-4460
Official Website of Arlington County Sheriff's Office
Individuals seeking to determine if they are subject to an active warrant in Arlington County in 2025 may utilize several official channels to obtain this information:
Pursuant to Virginia Code § 19.2-390.3, electronic access to criminal history record information may be restricted in certain circumstances. However, information about one's own records remains accessible to the individual subject of those records.
Arlington County residents and interested parties may verify the existence of outstanding warrants through several authorized channels:
Individuals conducting warrant searches should be aware that pursuant to Virginia Code § 19.2-389, dissemination of criminal history record information is regulated, and improper use of such information may result in civil or criminal penalties.
Members of the public seeking to access warrant records in Arlington County may utilize the following resources:
Arlington Circuit Court
1425 North Courthouse Road
Arlington, VA 22201
(703) 228-7010
Arlington Circuit Court Website
Arlington General District Court
1425 North Courthouse Road, Suite 2400
Arlington, VA 22201
(703) 228-7900
Arlington General District Court Website