Frequently Asked Questions

How Virginia Court Records Work

Virginia operates a two-tier trial court system. General District Courts (GDC) handle misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic offenses, civil cases under $25,000, and preliminary felony hearings. Circuit Courts handle felony trials, civil cases over $25,000, and appeals from GDC decisions. Virginia has 120 General District Courts and 31 Circuit Courts across 95 counties and 38 independent cities.

Criminal records in Virginia are created when charges are filed with a court. Each case receives a unique case number — for example, "GC24001234-00" for a General District Court case in 2024. The case record includes the defendant's name, date of birth, charge codes (Virginia Code sections), hearing dates, and dispositions (guilty, not guilty, dismissed, nolle prosequi, deferred disposition, etc.).

MohnMatrix accesses these records in real time. When you search someone, our AI queries the court's online system, parses the raw data, and translates it into a clean, readable report. This is the same data available to attorneys, law enforcement, and the general public — we simply make it fast and understandable.

Understanding AI Risk Scores

Every MohnMatrix background check includes an AI-generated risk score from 0 to 100. The score is calculated by analyzing the type and severity of charges, recency of offenses, patterns of repeat behavior, whether charges resulted in conviction, and the presence of violence-related or sexual offenses.

Scores are displayed as green (low risk, 0-33), yellow (moderate risk, 34-66), or red (high risk, 67-100). The score is designed as a quick visual indicator — it does not replace careful review of the full report. A person with a single dismissed charge from 10 years ago will score very differently from someone with multiple recent convictions.

The AI also translates charge codes into plain English. Instead of seeing "§ 18.2-266 Class 1 Misdemeanor", you'll see "DUI First Offense — Class 1 Misdemeanor. Maximum penalty: 12 months jail, $2,500 fine, 12-month license revocation."

Virginia-Specific Legal Facts

Virginia has several laws that are unique or unusual compared to other states, and these frequently appear in background check results:

• Reckless driving is a criminal offense: Unlike most states, Virginia treats reckless driving (§ 46.2-852) as a Class 1 misdemeanor — the same criminal classification as DUI, simple assault, and petit larceny. Driving 20+ mph over the speed limit or over 85 mph qualifies. This means a reckless driving conviction creates a permanent criminal record.
• Marijuana decriminalization (2021): Simple possession of up to one ounce of marijuana was decriminalized in Virginia in 2021, reduced to a $25 civil penalty. However, possession of larger amounts, distribution, and manufacturing remain criminal offenses.
• Expanded expungement (2025): Virginia's expanded expungement law (§ 19.2-392.12) allows automatic sealing of certain criminal records that did not result in conviction. Eligible records include dismissed charges, acquittals, and charges reduced to a lesser offense after specified waiting periods (3-7 years depending on the offense).
• 38 independent cities: Virginia is unique in having 38 cities that are completely independent from any county. Each city operates its own court system, sheriff's office, and Commonwealth's Attorney. MohnMatrix covers all 38 independent cities and all 95 counties.

Subscription Plans & Pricing

MohnMatrix offers three consumer plans: Free (1 background check, no credit card required), Pro ($9.99/month for 10 searches, saved reports, and real-time arrest feed), and Freedom ($29.99/month for unlimited searches, $200 bail credit, full police scanner access, and 500 $MOHN tokens per month). Professional plans for attorneys, law firms, and enterprises are also available starting at $149/month. Visit our pricing page for complete details.