Warrants are public records in Suffolk County, Virginia, pursuant to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), Code of Virginia § 2.2-3700 et seq. This legislation establishes the public's right to access governmental records, including warrant information, to ensure transparency in judicial proceedings. The Commonwealth of Virginia maintains this policy to uphold democratic principles through an informed citizenry.
The Suffolk County Magistrate's Office processes and maintains warrant records as part of its official duties. These records are generally accessible to members of the public, with certain statutory exceptions for sensitive cases such as those involving juveniles, ongoing investigations, or matters of public safety as outlined in § 2.2-3705.1 through § 2.2-3706 of the Code of Virginia.
Individuals seeking warrant information may contact the Suffolk Magistrate's Office, which is located at 2402 Godwin Boulevard, Suffolk, VA 23434, adjacent to the Western Tidewater Regional Jail. This office operates continuously, 24 hours per day, throughout the year.
Warrant records maintained by Suffolk 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 items to be seized. These details are included in the warrant documentation and become part of the public record after execution, unless sealed by court order.
Suffolk County residents and other interested parties may verify warrant status through several no-cost methods:
Individuals should be prepared to provide proper identification and basic information such as full legal name, date of birth, and other identifying details to facilitate accurate record searches. The Virginia Courts Case Information system allows for searches by name across multiple jurisdictions within the Commonwealth.
The Suffolk County Sheriff's Office is the primary agency responsible for serving warrants issued within the jurisdiction. Sheriff's deputies execute various types of warrants including:
The Suffolk Police Department, located at 111 Henley Place, Suffolk, VA 23434 (phone: 757-514-7900), works in coordination with the Sheriff's Office to execute warrants within city limits. Law enforcement agencies maintain databases of active warrants and routinely conduct operations to serve outstanding warrants.
Pursuant to Virginia Code § 19.2-76, warrants must be executed by a law enforcement officer, who shall inform the accused of the charges and provide a copy of the warrant at the time of service.
To determine warrant status in Suffolk County in 2025, individuals may utilize the following official channels:
The Virginia Department of Corrections also maintains an Inmate Locator service that can help determine if a warrant has resulted in incarceration. This service is accessible online 24 hours per day.
Individuals with reason to believe they may have an outstanding warrant are advised to address the matter promptly, as unresolved warrants may result in arrest during routine interactions with law enforcement, such as traffic stops.
Suffolk County provides multiple methods for verifying the existence of outstanding warrants:
When conducting a warrant search, requestors should provide complete and accurate identifying information to ensure proper results. Under Virginia Code § 19.2-390, criminal history record information is maintained by the Virginia State Police and may be accessed through proper channels by authorized individuals.
The Virginia Department of Corrections maintains records of individuals who have been taken into custody on outstanding warrants and can provide information regarding current incarceration status.