Central Records

A criminal record check will disclose a date of incident, criminal charge, and disposition if available. All individuals and background investigators requesting a criminal record check will be provided with a form upon inquiry. If you prefer to arrive with the form signed and completed click here to retrieve it from our forms page.

Procedures for Requesting a Criminal Record Check of Yourself:

Individuals requesting a personal criminal records check must request this in person with a valid photo ID. If an individual is requesting a background check but lives outside of the immediate area or internationally, the following documents will need to be sent via mail to Central Records, or via fax:

• Part 1&2 of the criminal record check request form filled out (disregard Name & Address of Agency)
• A formal letter requesting a background check, notarized
• A copy of a valid driver’s license or passport

Procedures for Background Investigators Requesting a Criminal Record Check of a Third Party:

Background investigators seeking a criminal records checks on individuals must provide the following:

• a copy of the release of information form and have credentials in hand.

Record checks can be requested via fax with the required release of information, Background Investigators must appear in person and show ID to retrieve the background check. International requests must include certification by US embassy or consulate.

DISCLAIMER: Criminal record checks only disclose arrests made by George Mason University Police officers. Further inquiry can be made with the city, county, or state police localities.

Procedures for Requesting Traffic Crash Reports:

To obtain a copy of the crash report all insurance companies and/or attorneys must request this in a formal written document. Individuals may request this in person with a photo ID; a driver’s license or passport is acceptable. All requests for a vehicle accident report are releasable with a fee of $5.

*Acceptable payment methods are by check or money order.

This document is releasable to:

• Driver, and passengers involved in the crash
• Injured persons/pedestrians/bicyclist in the crash
• Property/vehicle owner
• Attorneys and or insurance agents representing the driver or property owner

In circumstances where an Incident Report was not taken, your FOIA request was denied, or a copy of the Incident Report is not needed, you can request an Incident Verification Letter for the incident at no cost. Incident Verification Letters are releasable only to involved parties. Incident Verification Letters are similar to a receipt acknowledging police were called to the incident and typically include the following information:

• Incident number
• Incident date
• Report date
• Name of victim or complainant (only if the requesting party is the victim or complainant involved in the incident)
• Name of investigating officer
• Nature of the incident
• Location of the incident
• Whether any injuries were reported
• Whether any property was damaged or stolen
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Procedures for Requesting an Incident Verification Letter:

Individuals involved in a particular incident may request an Incident Verification Letter in-person during regular business hours at the Records Office. You must show a photo ID (driver’s license, GMU ID, or passport are acceptable) to prove involvement in the incident.

Incident reports and other public records are only releasable to law enforcement agencies, pursuant to subpoena or court order, or pursuant to Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. Incident reports are considered “public records” under FOIA. See Va. Code § 2.2-3700 et seq. Requests for other public records such as audio and video recordings, call for service records, and other report records are also considered a FOIA request. For more information, please visit the Freedom of Information Act page.

The results of any systematic investigations, inquiries, or examinations into criminal or suspected criminal acts that have been committed, are being committed, or are about to be committed that the agency has deemed to be:

1. Non-serious in nature – 5 years after closed
2. Less serious in nature – 25 years after closed
3. Serious in nature – 75 Years after closed

Such records may include but are not limited to records pertaining to the following: Breath Alcohol, Confiscated (non-weapon) Property, City-wide/In-car Surveillance/ Monitoring Recordings, Controlled Substance Seizures, Dispatch/ Communications Recordings, Emergency Calls, Evidence (including receipts and requests for), Field Notes, Fingerprints (including latents), Incident Reports, Lab Requests/ Reports/ Certificates of Analysis, Photographs, Polygraphs, Release (Waiver) Forms, Summons, and Virginia Criminal Information Network/ National Crime Information Center (VCIN/NCIC) entries.

Reports with no investigative value are retained for 5 years after closed. Such reports may include but are not limited to non-criminal incidents and occurrences such as accidental deaths, suicides, lost and found property, and other occurrences that have been determined not to require further investigation. Such records may include but are not limited to the following: incident reports, tracking records, property receipts, and investigative files.

Investigations into and reporting of motor vehicle accidents/crashes that involve law enforcement vehicles are retained for 3 years after closed. Such records may include but are not limited to the following: notes, reports, photographs, evidence, and other supporting documentation.