Colonial Heights 24 Hour Booking

Colonial Heights 24 hour booking records are handled by the Colonial Heights Police Department in this independent city in the Richmond metro area. When an arrest happens in Colonial Heights, a booking record is created under Virginia law and becomes available to the public through state databases and city channels.

Find Colonial Heights 24 Hour Booking Records

Colonial Heights is an independent city in Virginia that sits adjacent to Chesterfield County and borders the city of Petersburg. As an independent city, it has no ties to county government. The city runs its own police department, its own court system, and coordinates with regional detention facilities for holding people after arrest. The Colonial Heights Police Department handles all arrest and booking activity for the city.

To search Colonial Heights booking records, start with the Virginia Department of Corrections Inmate Locator. This free state tool covers people in VADOC custody. For local arrest and holding information, contact the Colonial Heights Police Department directly. Court case records are available through Virginia's court case information portal. The Circuit Court Online Case Information System covers Colonial Heights criminal cases with data on charges, hearing dates, and case status searchable by name or case number.

Colonial Heights shares regional jail resources with nearby cities and counties. After initial booking, people may be transferred to a regional facility. Call the police department to confirm where a person is currently being held if you don't find them in online systems.

Records may not show up online right away. Give it at least 24 hours after an arrest before checking state databases.

Colonial Heights Police Department

The Colonial Heights Police Department is the sole law enforcement agency for the city. Officers patrol city streets, respond to calls, and handle all arrests within city limits. For major crimes, the department can request assistance from the Virginia State Police or coordinate with neighboring agencies in Petersburg, Chesterfield County, and Hopewell. The department is relatively small given the city's size but handles the full range of police functions.

When an officer arrests someone in Colonial Heights, the person is transported for booking. The process includes confirming identity, entering all charges into the system, taking mugshots and fingerprints, and conducting a medical screening. After booking, a Virginia magistrate reviews the case and decides whether to set bail and at what amount. Virginia magistrates operate at all hours, so this review happens right away regardless of when the arrest took place.

To get booking records from the Colonial Heights Police Department, you can call, stop in, or submit a written FOIA request. Staff can search by name or booking number. Certified copies of arrest records may have a small fee attached. For recent arrests, calling the department directly is often faster than waiting for records to appear in statewide databases.

The Colonial Heights Police Department is located on Boulevard in Colonial Heights. They can be reached during business hours for records requests and at the main dispatch line for more urgent questions about recent arrests and current custody status.

Your FOIA Rights in Colonial Heights

Virginia law makes most arrest records public. The key statute is Virginia Code § 2.2-3706, which spells out what law enforcement agencies must release. Under this law, agencies are required to give out the name of any adult arrested and charged, the status of that arrest or charge, and any booking photo taken during initial intake. This is not optional. The law requires it.

Some things are still exempt. Juvenile records stay sealed. Medical and mental health information from the booking process is private. Details about an active criminal investigation can be withheld if disclosure would harm the case. Information that might identify a confidential informant is also protected. But for most adult arrests in Colonial Heights, the basic booking data is public and must be released when asked.

If the Colonial Heights Police Department denies your FOIA request, you can appeal to the Virginia Freedom of Information Advisory Council. They help work out disputes between requestors and agencies. Agencies must respond within five working days. If they need more time, they must tell you and can take another seven days beyond that.

The daily arrest log maintained by the Colonial Heights Police Department is a public record. You don't need to show cause or explain your reason for asking.

Arrest and Booking Process in Colonial Heights

Virginia's arrest process follows Virginia Code § 19.2-72, which governs how magistrates issue arrest warrants. A magistrate may issue a warrant when a sworn complaint shows probable cause that a crime occurred. The warrant names the accused, describes the charge, and orders that the person be brought before a court. Virginia magistrates are on duty 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

Once a Colonial Heights officer makes an arrest, the person is taken to the booking facility. Intake includes verifying identity, entering the charges, taking fingerprints and mugshots, and completing a health screening. After booking, a magistrate decides on bail. The decision looks at the charges, the person's community ties, and any prior record. Under Virginia Code § 19.2-82, anyone arrested without a warrant must be brought before a magistrate without delay. That can happen in person or by two-way video link, which is common in the Richmond-area jurisdictions.

For Class 3 and 4 misdemeanors, officers may issue a summons instead of a full custodial arrest. A summons is a written order to appear in court on a certain date. No jail booking is needed in those cases. If the officer believes the person might skip court or poses a safety risk, a full arrest and booking can still happen even for minor offenses.

Colonial Heights Court Records and Case Lookup

After booking, criminal cases in Colonial Heights go through the Colonial Heights General District Court or the Colonial Heights Circuit Court. Misdemeanors are handled in General District Court. Felonies go to Circuit Court. Court records are separate from jail booking records. Booking reflects the arrest. Court records pick up when charges are formally filed in court.

Search Colonial Heights court records through Virginia's Circuit Court Online Case Information System. This covers most Virginia circuit courts including Colonial Heights. Search by name, case number, or hearing date. Use "CR" as a prefix for criminal cases. Results show party names, charges, hearing dates, and current status. The data is real-time and free to access.

For broader court access, visit Virginia Courts Online. Both General District Court and Circuit Court records are available there. No account is needed to search.

Note: Colonial Heights shares a court jurisdiction area with Petersburg and Chesterfield County, so nearby jurisdictions may appear in related searches. Make sure you're filtering results to Colonial Heights specifically if you need city-level data.

Sealing and Expungement of Colonial Heights Booking Records

Virginia's new record sealing law takes effect July 1, 2026, and it will bring major changes for people with old arrest records. About 90% of all misdemeanors and nearly two-thirds of Class 5 and 6 felonies become eligible for sealing under the new rules. For Colonial Heights residents, the Justice Forward Virginia Foundation has a full guide on who qualifies and how to apply.

Automatic sealing will apply to offense categories including misdemeanor larceny, concealment, trespass, and disorderly conduct. A person must have no new convictions for seven years after the original conviction to qualify. Marijuana possession records will be automatically sealed, regardless of how the case was resolved. After July 1, 2026, filing fees and fingerprint requirements for petition-based sealing will also be eliminated.

Under the current law, if your Colonial Heights case was dismissed or ended in a not-guilty verdict, you may be able to file an expungement petition with the Colonial Heights Circuit Court right now. Convictions are subject to the 2026 rules. A local attorney in the Colonial Heights or Petersburg area who handles criminal records can review your situation under both current and upcoming law.

Nearby Virginia Cities

Colonial Heights borders several other independent Virginia cities in the Richmond metro area. Each has its own booking page.