Vermont VCIC Criminal History

Why You Need Your Official Record

Filing an expungement or sealing petition based on what you remember about your case history is one of the most common reasons petitions get denied. Courts require exact docket numbers, precise offense descriptions, correct disposition dates, and confirmation that sentences have been fully completed. A single error — wrong docket number, misidentified charge, or a case you forgot about — can result in a denial that triggers a mandatory two-year wait before you can refile.

Your official criminal history from the Vermont Crime Information Center (VCIC) is the starting point for any record-clearing effort in the state.

What VCIC Is

VCIC is the division of the Vermont Department of Public Safety that maintains the state's central criminal history repository. It compiles records from all Vermont courts, law enforcement agencies, and corrections facilities into a single database. When an employer or landlord runs a Vermont background check, the data often traces back to VCIC's records.

VCIC also manages the state's connection to federal databases. When a court grants an expungement or sealing order, VCIC processes the state-level update and notifies the FBI to purge or restrict the federal record.

How to Request Your Record

You have three options, each with the same $30 fee.

Walk-in at the Waterbury office. This is the fastest method. Bring two forms of valid identification (at least one must be a primary photo ID like a driver's license or passport) and $30 in exact cash, credit card, or money order. Processing typically takes about 10 minutes.

By mail. Complete a Request for Personal Criminal Record Check form, attach a notarized identity verification form with a raised notary seal, and include a $30 cashier's check or money order payable to the Vermont Department of Public Safety. Send it with a self-addressed stamped envelope. Mail requests take longer because of mailing and processing time.

VCCRIS online search. The Vermont Criminal Conviction Record Internet Service (VCCRIS) allows online name-based searches of the state repository. The fee is $30 per search. This is convenient but has limitations — an online search can miss records that are indexed under slight name variations or that haven't been fully digitized.

VCIC Record vs. Court Record

Understanding the difference matters. A VCIC report pulls from the statewide repository and shows records across all Vermont counties. A court record request (using Form 200-00331, also $30) only covers the specific county court where you file it.

If you know your entire criminal history is confined to one county, a court record request may be sufficient. But if you've had any contact with law enforcement in multiple counties — or if you're not sure — the VCIC report is the safer bet because it captures everything in one document.

Neither source covers federal records. If you were arrested by a federal agency or your fingerprints were processed through the FBI's system, those records exist in a separate federal database that VCIC doesn't control.

What Your Report Will Show

A VCIC criminal history report typically includes:

• Arrest records (dates, agencies, charges)
• Court dispositions (convictions, dismissals, acquittals, deferred sentences)
• Sentence information (jail time, probation terms, fines)
• Outstanding warrants or pending charges
• Any prior sealing or expungement orders that have been processed

Review every entry carefully. If you find errors — a case listed as "open" that was actually dismissed, a disposition that's missing, or charges attributed to you that belong to someone else — address those with the court clerk before filing a petition. Filing a petition that references inaccurate records creates confusion and delays.

Using Your Report to Plan Your Petition

Once you have your VCIC report, audit each docket against Vermont's eligibility rules:

1. Identify the offense type (misdemeanor, felony, DUI) for each conviction
2. Check each against the exclusion lists for sealing eligibility
3. Note the sentence completion date for each — this is when the waiting period starts
4. Calculate whether the relevant waiting period has passed (3 years for misdemeanors, 7 for eligible felonies, 10 for DUI)
5. Flag any outstanding restitution, surcharges, or fees

If you have eligible convictions in multiple counties, you'll need separate petitions filed in each county's Superior Court Criminal Division. The VCIC report helps you identify all the counties involved so you don't miss one.

Free Alternative: Courthouse Public Access Terminals

If $30 is a barrier, you can visit a Vermont courthouse in person and use the public access terminals to view your records for free. You can look up your cases, check dispositions, and review docket details without paying a fee. The catch is that printing costs extra, you're limited to the records in that particular court's system, and the experience is less comprehensive than a formal VCIC report.

For the purposes of filing a petition, a VCIC report or formal court record request carries more weight because it comes with official verification. But the public terminals are useful for a preliminary check before you spend the $30.

The Vermont Expungement & Record Sealing Guide includes a record request checklist and a case-by-case eligibility audit worksheet built around the VCIC report format.

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