Forms & Links

• Virginia Court Case Information
• List of Driver Improvement Clinics (DMV) 
• Criminal Background Check (Virginia State Police)
• Suggested Practices and Procedures for the Circuit Court of the City of Richmond
• Local Rule and Standing Order on Criminal Discovery
• Informational Sheet for Scheduling Cases
• Certificate of Incarcerated Period
• Request for Waiver of Interest on Fines and Costs
• Supreme Court Rule 1:24
• Notice of Payment Alternatives for Fines and Costs
• Request Clerk Approval of Designated Payment Plans
• Motion for Court Approval of a Payment Plan for Fines and Costs and DC-211
• Motion to Satisfy Fines and Costs by Performing Community Service and DC-211
• Motion for Community Service Credit While Incarcerated
• Virginia Judiciary Online Payment System (VJOPS)

 

General Information

The Criminal Division of the Circuit Court handles all felony and misdemeanor cases originating by Grand Jury action, as well as misdemeanor appeals from the General District and Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts. Traffic infractions are handled by the General District Court, which is a separate entity with its own Clerk's Office. Only when traffic cases are appealed from the General District or Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Court do they fall under the jurisdiction of the Circuit Court. Therefore, before contacting the Circuit Court to inquire about the status of a traffic infraction case or pre-payment of a traffic fine, it is important to ascertain beforehand which Court has jurisdiction. This will prevent any unnecessary delay in processing. Unlike the District Courts that have separate traffic dockets, the Circuit Court integrates traffic infraction appeals into its criminal docket.

 

Fines, Court Costs and Payment Instructions

When an individual is convicted of a felony or misdemeanor in the Circuit Court, court-imposed fines and/or court costs will be assessed against the defendant. All court costs are assessed in accordance with the Code of Virginia. Fines and costs are due at the time of sentencing unless the defendant enters into a payment plan agreement approved by the Court.

All unpaid costs and fines are eligible for an Installment or Deferred Payment Agreement.   Deferred payment of fines and costs, restitution payments and community service credits will be made in accordance with the Court’s Order.  Restitution payments are to be made in accordance with the Court’s Order for Restitution.  Any sums collected shall be used first to satisfy such restitution order and any collection costs associated with restitution prior to being used to satisfy any fine, forfeiture, penalty, or costs assessed against a defendant.

Effective July 1, 2013, accounts which initially become delinquent and transmit to collections on or after July 1, 2013 will be assessed a fee (currently 17% of the judgment principal) to help defray the expense associated with outside collection efforts. The Clerk cannot remove, reduce, or alter this fee.

All accounts delinquent more than 90 days, or in default of a payment agreement will be reported to the Department of Taxation, the State Compensation Board, the Attorney for the Commonwealth, and the Court’s Collection Agent.  In addition, a collection fee currently 17% of the principal balance due will be applied to the account.      

A judgment will be entered against the defendant and interest will accrue on the balance due. A judgment is entered on all convictions that are not paid the same day. All judgments will be docketed against real estate, thereby creating a lien on the defendant's real property in the land records.

Payment Instructions

Payments for fines and/or court costs are accepted Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding holidays. Payments may be made in person in the Circuit Court Clerk's Office, on the Virginia Judiciary Online Payment System (VJOPS) by clicking on the Online Payments tab above or via the mail. Payment can be made via a personal check with proper ID, Visa, MasterCard, Discover Card, American Express, money order, or cash. Please note credit card payments cannot be made by phone.  Payments on accounts which have been referred to collections must be made at the office of the collections agent, Parrish and Lebar, LLP, 5 East Franklin St., Richmond, VA 23219, (804)788-4721.

When paying by personal check or credit card, individuals must provide a form of identification (i.e., a driver's license or picture ID). Credit card account holder must be present. Checks should be made payable to Edward F. Jewett, Clerk. Money orders, certified checks and cashier's checks are also acceptable methods of payment.

Always indicate clearly the case number and defendant's name that payment is to be applied to. This is very important if there are multiple accounts for the same defendant. In addition, please include the defendant's name and case number on all checks or money orders for proper credit. Never send cash payments via mail.

 

Notice of Payment Alternatives for Fines and Costs

Pursuant to §19.2-354 and §19.2-354.1 of the Code of Virginia

For the purposes of an agreement for installment or deferred payments, the term fines & costs means fines, court costs, forfeitures, and penalties assessed by this Court in a criminal and/or traffic case, and any restation owed only if the court has not entered a separate payment schedule for restitution. For the purposes of community service credit, the term fines & costs means fines and court costs only. Any outstanding fines/costs for which the limitation period has run will not be included in any agreement. Any other fines/costs you owe this Court may be incorporated into a single agreement unless otherwise ordered in specific cases. Denial of a payment plan cannot be solely based on offense type, amount of fines/costs due, previous default/collections, or lack of payment history. As a condition of any agreement, you are required to inform the Court promptly of any change of your mailing address.

Standard Payment Agreements: The Court has given the Clerk authorization to enter standard payment agreements for either an installment payment plan with a minimum payment of $25.00/month or a deferred payment plan agreeing to pay in full within 6 months. Standard payment agreements are available to everyone regardless of their financial resources. To enter a standard agreement, you must sign and file Form CC-1379 with the Clerk outlining the terms of the standard agreement.  

Other Payment Agreements: You must provide financial information by fully completing and filing Form DC-211; if you request a payment plan during a hearing, the Court may ask you questions about your resources and obligations. If you request an installment agreement with monthly payments (less than $25), please check the box “[  ] in periodic payments”.  If you request a deferred payment agreement, check the box “[  ] in one payment due in full on a future date”, and for a modified deferred payment agreement, also check “[  ] and I shall try to make periodic payments until that future date”. The Court will set a reasonable payment plan based on your ability to pay after considering the information you provide on Form DC-211, basing the determination of ability to pay on any non-exempt financial resources & obligations, including fines/costs owed to other courts. The Court is only permitted discretion to offer a monthly installment payment of less than $25 if you are determined to be indigent pursuant to § 19.2-159. The Court may require a down payment on a subsequent agreement. CONTACT the Clerk’s office at (804)646-6553 within 5 to 7 days of the date of filing the DC-211 to learn the decision of the Court and, if the Court authorizes an agreement, sign and file Form CC-1379 with the Clerk (see Notice of Potential Default).

Modifications of Payment Agreements & Subsequent Agreements: To request a modification of a current agreement, fill in and file Form DC-211; the Court will consider the request based on good faith showing of need.  If you have defaulted on an agreement, you may petition for a subsequent agreement by filing form DC-211; the Court will consider any change in circumstances and may require a down payment in the amount statutorily authorized.

NOTICE OF POTENTIAL DEFAULT: If you do not timely either pay the balance in full or enter an approved agreement with the Court by signing Form CC-1379, you will be in default. If you do not make timely payments as ordered by the Court, you will be in default. If you default, action may be taken against you in accordance with §19.2-349. If you fail to make any ordered payment within 10 days of the due date, you may be fined or imprisoned pursuant to §19.2-358. 

NOTICE OF EXEMPTION: To inform the Court of regarding the sources of your financial resources, file Form DC-211. If the Court is informed that you receive a Social Security benefit (“SSB”) or Supplemental Security Income (“SSI”), no payment towards fines/costs shall be taken from either of these exempt sources. If your sole financial resource is SSB/SSI, you are exempt from making payments until you have another financial resource, and your case shall not be referred to collections. If you are exempt, sign Form CC-1379 and file it with the Clerk. It will show that “[ ] Defendant is exempt from making payments as defendant indicated that defendant’s sole financial resource is asocial security benefit or supplemental security income.”

Community Service Credit: The Court provides “an option to any person upon whom a fine and costs have been imposed to discharge all or part of the fine or costs by earning credits for the performance of community service work (i) before or after imprisonment or (ii) in accordance with the provisions of § 19.2-316.4, 53.1-59, 53.1-60, 53.1-128, 53.1-129, or 53.1-131 during imprisonment.” Va. Code § 19.2-354(C). If all program requirements are met, credits will be calculated based on the prevailing minimum wage in the Commonwealth at the time the work was performed.  Documentation of work hours may not be submitted any other court. Any credits approved will only be applied towards the fines and court costs owed in this Court.  You will not receive any leftover credit amounts.

The statute draws a distinction between community service work performed by those who are not currently incarcerated, see § 19.2-354(C)(i) (“before or after imprisonment”), and those who are incarcerated, see § 19.2-354(C)(ii) (“during imprisonment”). The respective terms and conditions are outlined below.

People Who ARE NOT Incarcerated Please apply for authorization by filing in and filing Form DC-211 with the Clerk; check the box “[  ] by doing community service work to earn credit for fines and costs only, if available.” CONTACT the Clerk’s office at (804)646-6553 within 5 to 7 days of the date of filing the DC-211 (see Notice of Potential Default). If your request is not approved, you must timely pay the balance due or enter an approved payment plan (see Notice of Potential Default). If approved, the Court will enter an Order granting your request and specifying the relevant terms and conditions (see Notice of Potential Default). Community service work must be performed at an organization receiving 501(c)(3) status through the Internal Revenue Service. The period of authorization usually expires after one year, after which participants must pay in full, enter a payment plan, or request another authorization. Participants are usually required to perform a minimum of 5 hours a month during that period and file monthly documentation of the hours worked. The documentation must be on the letter head of the organization; must state each of your dates of service and the hours you worked on each date of service; and contain the name, contact information, and signature of the representative of the non-profit organization who supervised your community service hours. Participants must sign each letter in front of a notary public or return to the Clerk’s Office in person to swear an oath that everything contained in the letter is accurate and true. Final documentation must be filed before the expiration of the authorization for the performance of community service hours (usually one year). NOTICE OF POTENTIAL DEFAULT: If your request is approved, you must comply with all terms of the program as outlined in the Court Order granting your request. Failure to comply may result in the authorization being revoked, requiring you to forthwith pay in full or enter an approved payment agreement to avoid default. If you do not either pay the balance in full/enter a new payment plan/receive a new authorization before the end of the period authorized for the performance of community service hours for credit towards fines/costs, you will be in default.  If your request is not approved, you must timely pay the balance in full or enter an approved payment agreement with the Court by signing Form CC-1379, or you will be in default. If you default, action may be taken against you in accordance with §19.2-349.

People Who ARE Incarcerated If you have performed qualifying work, you may request credit towards your fines and costs by filing the Form Motion for Community Service Credit for Work Performed While Incarcerated with documentation of the qualifying work you have completed in the form of an original letter from the jail, prison, or community corrections alternative program (CCAP) sponsoring the work program, certifying the hours, dates, and describing type work, or certifying that the accompanying documentation of the hours, dates, and type of work are true and accurate, and all letters must contain the name, contact information, and signature of the certifying employee. Other forms of documentation may be considered in the discretion of the Court. An Order will be entered granting or denying your motion. Only some of categories of work qualify for credit under §19.2-354(C)(ii). Work performed as required by a community corrections alternative program pursuant to §19.2-316.4 (CCAP). Work performed building or maintaining the roads or performing public works approved by the Director pursuant to §53.1-59. “Public works” are “works (such as schools, highways, docks) constructed for public use or enjoyment especially when financed and owned by the government.” Mirriam-Webster. Work performed during work release from a state facility pursuant to §53.1-60 or a local work release program pursuant to §53.1-131. Work performed for a workforce program of a local jail that was authorized by the local governing body pursuant to §53.1-128. Work performed that was ordered by a circuit court or authorized by a district court pursuant to §53.1-129.

 

Subpoenas and Subpoenas Duces Tecum

Subpoena requests in felony or misdemeanor appeal cases should be delivered or mailed to the Circuit Court Clerk's Office. A letter specifying the request must be provided. In order to allow adequate time for the preparation of a subpoena, a lead-time of five days from the date of service is requested. There is no fee for issuance of witness subpoenas. For a subpoena duces tecum, a $17.00 fee must be remitted along with the request. The following information must be included in a request for a subpoena:

• Defendant's full name
• Circuit Court case number
• Certificate of service on opposing counsel
• Any subpoenas that should be served by a Sheriff in another county will be forwarded to that Sheriff by the Clerk's Office.

In addition to the above information, a request for a subpoena duces tecum must contain the following:

• Name and address of person/place with custody of the records
• Specific description of the records that are being subpoenaed
• Date the records must be produced in the Clerk's Office (NOTE: These records must be made returnable to the Clerk's Office, not an attorney's office.)

 

NOTE: If a witness subpoena or subpoena duces tecum needs to be served on a person or an entity outside of Virginia the requesting party should follow procedures for a Foreign Witness, as provided in Code of Virginia § 19.2-272, et seq.