Arrests.org WV – West Virginia Arrest, Inmate & Mugshot Records

Arrests.org WV serves as a starting point for people looking for West Virginia arrest records, mugshots, and detention details. This platform gathers public data from various sources to show who police took into custody. You can search for names, charges, and booking photos. While third-party sites like Arrests.org WV provide a quick look at data, official government databases offer the most current status. West Virginia law makes these records public. You can view them online through state agencies or local sheriff departments.

West Virginia uses a unique system for jails. Most counties do not run their own long-term jails. Instead, the state uses a Regional Jail Authority. This means you must check specific state-run databases to locate someone. Third-party sites might not update as fast as the official daily booking logs. Always verify what you see on an aggregator site with the official West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DCR) tools.

Search Official West Virginia Inmate Records

The West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DCR) holds the primary data for all inmates. This agency manages both prisons and regional jails. When police arrest someone, they transport the person to a regional jail. The DCR website updates these lists frequently. You can check the status of a friend or family member for free.

Follow these steps to use the DCR tools:

• Go to the West Virginia DCR website.
• Locate the “Offender Search” section.
• Choose “Offender Search (Jails)” for recent arrests.
• Select “Offender Search (Prisons)” for people serving long sentences.
• Type the last name of the person. First names help narrow the list.
• Enter the Offender ID (OID) if you know it.
• Review the results for the correct person.

The search results show vital data. You will see the full name, birth date, and the specific jail housing the inmate. The system also lists the case number and the charges. A mugshot often appears next to the name. If the person posted bail, they might not appear on the active inmate list anymore.

Difference Between Regional Jails and Prisons

West Virginia organizes its correctional facilities differently than many states. Knowing the difference helps you look in the right place.

Regional Jails

Regional jails hold people awaiting trial. They also hold people serving short sentences, usually under one year. When a sheriff deputy or city police officer makes an arrest, the suspect goes here first. There are ten regional jails across the state. Each one serves multiple counties. For example, the North Central Regional Jail serves counties like Doddridge, Harrison, and Marion. You must check the “Jails” database for anyone arrested recently.

State Prisons

State prisons house inmates convicted of felonies. These individuals serve sentences longer than one year. The DCR manages these facilities too. Examples include the Mount Olive Correctional Complex and the St. Marys Correctional Center. If a person appeared in court and received a prison sentence, their record moves to the “Prisons” database. The DCR website keeps these databases separate. You might need to check both if you do not know the person’s legal status.

Locate Arrest Records Through Local Police

Some arrest records do not appear on the DCR website immediately. This happens when a person is in a temporary holding cell at a local police station. This period usually lasts only a few hours before transport to a regional jail. During this time, you must contact the local department directly.

City police departments and county sheriff offices maintain their own logs. These are often paper logs or internal digital files. They might not post them online. To get this data, you must call the non-emergency number of the department. Ask the desk sergeant if they currently hold the person. You can also visit the station in person.

To find the correct department:

• Identify the city or county where the incident happened.
• Search online for “[City Name] Police Department” or “[County Name] Sheriff Office.”
• Look for a “Records” or “Corrections” phone number.
• Call during business hours for records, or 24/7 for current custody status.

Smaller towns often transfer arrestees to the county sheriff or the regional jail very quickly. Large cities like Charleston or Huntington might hold people slightly longer for processing. Always start with the agency that made the stop.

Contacting Inmates and Posting Bail

Once you locate someone in a West Virginia jail, you might want to speak with them or pay for their release. Each facility has strict rules. You must follow them exactly, or the jail will deny your request.

Inmate Communication Rules

Inmates cannot receive incoming calls. You must wait for them to call you. They can make collect calls or use a prepaid account. Third-party services usually manage these accounts. You set up an account, deposit money, and the inmate uses those funds to call your number. The jail records all calls except those to attorneys.

Visitation requires planning. Most jails in West Virginia use video visitation. Some still allow in-person visits behind glass. You must register as a visitor beforehand. The jail creates a list of approved visitors. If you have a felony record, the jail might deny your application. Check the specific regional jail’s webpage for their visitation hours. They assign times based on the inmate’s last name or housing unit.

The Bail Process in West Virginia

Bail is money paid to the court. It guarantees the defendant will return for trial. A magistrate judge sets the bail amount during the arraignment. This hearing happens shortly after the arrest.

You have three main ways to pay bail:

1. Cash Bond: You pay the full amount to the court or jail. The court returns this money at the end of the case if the defendant shows up to all hearings.
2. Property Bond: You use real estate as collateral. The equity in the property must usually be double the bail amount. The court places a lien on the property.
3. Surety Bond (Bail Bondsman): You pay a fee to a professional bondsman. In West Virginia, this fee is usually 10% of the total bail. This money is non-refundable. The bondsman then guarantees the full amount to the court.

If you use a bondsman, you might need to sign a contract. You might also need to provide collateral like a car title. If the defendant flees, you owe the bondsman the full bail amount.

West Virginia Criminal Record Reports

An arrest record is just one part of a criminal history. A full criminal record, often called a “rap sheet,” lists every interaction with the justice system. This includes arrests, charges, court outcomes, and sentences. The West Virginia State Police (WVSP) maintains these records. They keep the central database for the entire state.

County Court Records

For details on a specific case, go to the county clerk. West Virginia has two main types of lower courts: Magistrate Court and Circuit Court. Magistrate Courts handle misdemeanors and preliminary hearings. Circuit Courts handle felonies and appeals. The Clerk of Court in each county keeps the files for these cases. These files are public records.

You can visit the courthouse to view files. Some counties offer online search tools. You search by the defendant’s name or the case number. The file contains the complaint, the arrest warrant, bail papers, and the final judgment. If you need a certified copy for legal reasons, the clerk will charge a small fee per page.

State Police Background Checks

Employers and licensing boards often need a full background check. The WVSP handles these requests. They no longer do this at local detachments. They use a service called IdentoGO. This service takes fingerprints and checks them against state and federal databases.

To get a background check:

• Register online with IdentoGO.
• Choose a location for fingerprinting.
• Pay the required fee (usually around $45 to $50).
• Bring a valid photo ID to your appointment.
• The system sends the results to the agency requesting them or to you.

This is a Level 2 background check. It is very accurate because it uses biometrics. A Level 1 check only uses a name. Name-based checks can have errors if two people share the same name.

Probation and Parole Search

Probation and parole allow offenders to live in the community under supervision. Probation usually happens instead of jail time. Parole happens after serving part of a prison sentence. The West Virginia Parole Board decides who gets parole. The Division of Probation Services oversees probationers.

West Virginia does not have a simple online map for all probationers. You often need to call the local probation office. The DCR website sometimes lists parole status in the offender search. It will show “Parole” as the current location or status. If you need to find a specific probation officer, contact the Circuit Court Clerk in the sentencing county. They can direct you to the probation department.

For federal probationers, you must check federal systems. The state of West Virginia does not track federal offenders. Use the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) locator for this data.

Expungement: Removing Records

A criminal record can make life hard. It affects jobs and housing. West Virginia law allows people to remove some records. This legal process is called expungement. When a court expunges a record, they seal it. The public can no longer see it.

Not every crime qualifies for expungement. Serious violent crimes and sex offenses usually stay on the record forever. However, many misdemeanors and some non-violent felonies are eligible. You must wait a certain time after your sentence ends before you apply.

Steps to File for Expungement

You must file a petition with the circuit court. You need specific forms based on your case:

• Form SCA-C906: Use this for misdemeanor convictions.
• Form SCA-C907: Use this for felony convictions.
• Form SCA-C903: Use this if the court dismissed your charges or found you not guilty.

Fill out the form completely. You must list the specific charges and the dates. You then file it with the Circuit Clerk. You must pay a filing fee, which is often $200. You also send copies to the prosecutor and the police agency that arrested you. They have a chance to object. If the judge approves, you pay another fee to the State Police to process the removal. The total cost is often around $300.

Warrant Search Strategies

An arrest warrant gives police the power to arrest someone. Warrants are public records, but they are not always easy to find online. West Virginia does not have one single website for all active warrants. You must check county by county.

Start with the county sheriff’s website. Some counties, like Kanawha, post a list of active warrants. If the county has no website list, call the Sheriff’s Office. Ask for the warrant division. Be careful if you ask about yourself. If you have an active warrant, they might arrest you when you show up or call.

You can also check with the Magistrate Court Clerk. They issue most warrants. They can tell you if a warrant exists in your name. Third-party background check sites also list warrants, but they might be outdated. A warrant might be recalled, but the site still shows it as active. Always verify with the court.

Federal Inmate Search

Some crimes break federal laws, not state laws. Examples include drug trafficking across state lines or mail fraud. People arrested for these crimes go to federal prison. The West Virginia DCR does not list these inmates. You must use the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) website.

Use the “Find an Inmate” tool on the BOP site. You can search by name or by registration number. West Virginia has federal prisons, such as FCI Beckley, FCI Gilmer, and USP Hazelton. The search results show the inmate’s age, race, sex, and release date. It also tells you which facility holds them.

Sex Offender Registry

West Virginia tracks people convicted of sex crimes. The State Police manages the Sex Offender Registry. This database is public. You can search to see if offenders live in your neighborhood.

The search tool allows you to look up names or locations. You can type in your city or street name. The map shows red pins for offender homes. Click on a pin to see a photo and details. The profile lists the person’s physical description, the crime they committed, and their address. It also lists their car and any online names they use. This tool helps communities stay informed.

Your Rights and Public Records Laws

West Virginia has laws that protect your right to see government records. The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) says most records are open. This includes arrest logs, court dockets, and jail lists. You do not need a special reason to see them. You just need to ask.

However, some records remain private. Juvenile records are almost always sealed. Police also keep ongoing investigation files private. If a case involves sensitive victims, the court might seal those parts of the file.

When employers check your background, they must follow federal laws. The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) sets rules. Employers must ask for your permission before they run a background check. If they deny you a job because of the report, they must tell you. They must give you a copy of the report so you can fix any errors.

West Virginia also has “Ban the Box” laws for some public jobs. This means the government employer cannot ask about criminal history on the initial job application. They can only ask later in the hiring process. This gives people with records a fair chance to show their skills first.

Official Contact Information

Use these contacts to verify any information you find on Arrests.org WV or other third-party sites.

West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DCR)
Phone: (304) 558-2036
Address: 1409 Greenbrier Street, Charleston, WV 25311
Website: dcr.wv.gov

West Virginia State Police (Criminal Records)
Phone: (304) 746-2450
Address: 701 Jefferson Road, South Charleston, WV 25309
Website: wvsp.gov

County Sheriff Office Contacts

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

This section answers common questions about West Virginia arrest records. We cover how to find mugshots, correct errors, and handle privacy concerns. These answers help you use the records system effectively.

Why does Arrests.org WV show a record that the court dismissed?

Third-party websites scrape data from official sources at a specific moment in time. If they copy a record on the day of the arrest, they save that data. If the court dismisses the charges a month later, the third-party site might not check back to update the file. The official court record changes, but the copy on the private site stays the same. To fix this, you often need to contact the website owner directly. You must show them proof of the dismissal, like a court order. They might remove it, or they might update it to show “Dismissed.” Always rely on the Circuit Clerk’s files for the final truth about a case.

How fast does the WV Regional Jail site update after an arrest?

The West Virginia DCR website updates very frequently, often every hour. However, there is a gap between the physical arrest and the data entry. When police arrest someone, they must drive them to the jail. Then, the booking officers must take fingerprints, photos, and enter the personal data into the computer. This intake process takes time. If the jail is busy, it might take 4 to 6 hours for the name to appear online. If you do not see the name yet, wait a few hours and check again. The person might still be in transit or in the intake holding area.

Can I find out the bail amount online?

Sometimes, but not always. The DCR inmate search tool lists the charges and the location, but it does not always list the specific cash bond amount. The Magistrate Court sets this amount. To get the exact figure, you usually need to call the regional jail where the person is held. You can also call the Magistrate Court Clerk in the county where the arrest happened. They can look up the case file and tell you the bond conditions. This includes the dollar amount and whether you need a surety (bondsman) or if you can pay 10% directly to the court.

Do West Virginia arrest records show up on national background checks?

Yes, they do. West Virginia shares its data with national systems. The State Police sends fingerprint data to the FBI. If an employer runs a national background check, they will see arrests and convictions from West Virginia. This applies to both felonies and misdemeanors. However, traffic tickets usually do not appear on a criminal background check unless they involved an arrest, like a DUI. If you expunge a record in West Virginia, the state tells the FBI to seal their copy too. This stops it from showing up on national checks after the expungement is complete.

Is it legal to publish mugshots in West Virginia?

Yes, mugshots are public records in West Virginia. The state considers the booking photo part of the arrest record. Because it is a public record, newspapers, TV stations, and websites can publish them. They do not need the arrested person’s permission. This is part of the Freedom of Information Act. However, some commercial sites charge money to remove mugshots. West Virginia has looked at laws to stop this “pay-for-removal” practice, as many consider it predatory. Legitimate news sites publish them for information, not to extort money.

What do I do if I find an error on my criminal record?

If you see a mistake on your official rap sheet, you must challenge it. The West Virginia State Police has a form for this. It is called the “Challenge of Criminal History Record Information.” You fill out this form and send it to the Criminal Identification Bureau. You should include proof of the error, such as a court document showing the correct charge or disposition. The State Police will review the claim. If they agree, they will fix the database. If the error is on a third-party site, fixing the State Police record won’t automatically fix the private site. You have to contact the private site separately.