Located in northern Virginia across the Potomac River, Arlington County is the smallest self-governing county in the U.S., with a land area of 26 square miles. It was created in 1801, and as of the 2020 census, it has a population of 238,643. The Pentagon, which houses the U.S. Department of Defence headquarters, is situated in the county amongst other national institutions.
Courts in Arlington County
The court system in Arlington County comprises circuit, district, and juvenile courts. The Arlington County 17th Judicial Circuit Court is the highest court in the county. It typically handles all cases beyond the jurisdiction of other courts in the county. It hears felonies, misdemeanors brought about by grand jury indictment, and other offenses arising from the same conditions as felonies. It also hears divorce cases, adoptions, probates, and emergency protective orders. In addition, it has exclusive jurisdiction for civil case claims in excess of $25,000, but may also hear civil cases with claims above $4,500.
The Arlington County 17th Judicial General District Court hears misdemeanors, traffic infractions, ordinance violations, and felony preliminary hearings. It has concurrent jurisdiction with the Circuit Court over civil cases with claims between $4,500 and $25,000 but exclusive jurisdiction over civil cases with claims under $4,500.
Finally, the Arlington County Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court has jurisdiction over juvenile cases, most domestic relations cases, and some criminal cases involving harm to a child or family member.
Where to Find Public Court Records in Arlington County
Public court records in Arlington County are court records that can be viewed and copied by the public, and they include court transcripts, court filings, judgments, warrants, and orders. The clerk of each court is responsible for maintaining the records originating from their courts. The public can visit the clerk’s office to view and request copies of non-confidential court records. They can also search for Arlington public court records online. Public court records from Arlington County 17th Judicial Circuit Court can be found on the Virginia Courts Case Information (Circuit) portal. In contrast, those of the Arlington County 17th Judicial General District Court can be found on the General District Court Online Case Information System portal.
Types of Public Court Records in Arlington County
The following types of court records are made available to the public in Arlington County unless sealed by court orders:
- Criminal Case Records: convictions and court proceedings for felonies and misdemeanors
- Civil Case Records: court proceedings and judgments for civil cases, including eminent domain, product liabilities, professional malpractices, and trade secrets
- Family Law Records: includes divorce decrees, child custody decree, emancipation, and spousal support
- Probate Records: documentations of wills, estates, trusts, and guardianship
Confidential Court Records in Arlington County
Confidential court records in Arlington County are court records sealed to protect personal privacy and the privacy of persons involved in court proceedings, such as minors and jurors. Details of confidential court records cannot be accessed by the public but are available to authorized persons or by specific court orders. Confidential court records in Arlington County can sealed by default under Virginia laws or by court orders. Generally, court records exempted from public access in Virginia include the following:
- Mental health records
- Adoption records
- HIV/AIDS test results and treatment records
- Certain records of victims of sexual or domestic abuse
- Records of proceedings under the Virginia Drug Control Act
- Records of dismissed or acquitted charges
Furthermore, part of an Arlington County court record may be sealed if it contains sensitive information such as:
- Social Security number
- Driver’s license number
- Individual financial information
- Tax returns
Juvenile Delinquency in Arlington, VA
Unfortunately, in many areas of the Arlington County, juvenile delinquency offenses are on the rise. There are many reasons for the inflation in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in Virginia often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of charges, and other family matters.
In 2017, a total of 684 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Arlington County. Of that total, 76% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 519 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.
A lot of counties, including, Arlington County, are focusing on family counseling and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Arlington County juvenile delinquency tallies will show whether or not this approach is working.
| Juvenile Cases | Number of cases |
|---|---|
| Delinquency | 13,016 |
| Dependency | 0 |
| Status | 2,861 |
Government of Arlington County, VA
| County Seat: | Arlington |
| Government Type: | County |
| Authority: | Dillon's Rule |
| Year Organized: | 1801 |
| Total Square Miles: | 26 |
| 2019 Population: | 234,965 |
| Persons/Square Mile: | 0.00 |
| County Contact: | 2100 Clarendon Blvd
County Courthouse Arlington , VA 22201-5447 https://www.arlingtonva.us/ |