Brooke County Arrest Records

In Brooke County, West Virginia, arrests are legal procedures for apprehending persons suspected of breaking the law. Law enforcement officers have the legal right to arrest and detain suspects in the county jail. Arrestees are typically detained in the county jail, pending the outcome of further investigations.

Brooke County arrest records are under the jurisdiction of arresting agencies like the county sheriff's office. The county sheriff creates arrest records by compiling all information about an arrest event. Furthermore, the sheriff may disclose the record to interested public members.

Public members may also access arrest information in crime-related public files. For example, Brooke County court records include arrest details like warrants, charges, booking date, crime scene exhibits, and bond amount.

Are Arrest Records Public in Brooke County?

Per Chapter 29B of the West Virginia Code, most arrest records are accessible to the public. The state law allows public members to legally access records generated by government entities and requires government entities to honor requests for public records unless they are exempt under state laws.

However, some arrest records may be redacted or withheld from public view. Such records typically contain information whose disclosure does not serve the public interest. Examples of non-public arrest records include:

• Files that reveal information about crime investigation strategies.
• Documents that contain information about ongoing criminal investigations.
• Personal information about law enforcement officers.
• Documents that are sealed or expunged due to court orders.

Brooke County Arrest Statistics

West Virginia State's Troop oversees arrest statistics reports for 12 counties, including Brooke County. Per the agency, the counties documented a total of 6,635 arrests in 2024. As of 2025, Brooke County has no county-level inmate statistics report. However, the state's correctional centers housed 5,847 inmates as of December 31, 2025.

Find Brooke County Arrest Records

In Brooke County, public members may find arrest records by contacting the agency that made the arrest. In most cases, you will find arrest records in the custody of the county sheriff's office.
Inquirers may also find arrest information in inmate records. These records typically contain arrest details like the inmate's name, physical description, charges, arrest date and location, arrest number, and bond amount.

The West Virginia Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation maintains a searchable database for inmate records. Inquirers must fill in the inmate's first and last name to view records in the database. The Federal Bureau of Prisons also maintains an online search platform for inmates held in federal prisons. Inquirers using the platform may search by the inmate's name or prison number.

Brooke County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Brooke County arrest records are distinct from criminal records in these aspects:

The records contain different information.

Arrest records only provide information about arrest events. The records also contain information received before and after an arrest event. For example, you may find warrant documents and booking information in arrest records. However, criminal records contain an individual's criminal conviction history, including arrests, court activities, and incarceration details.

The records are under the purview of different agencies

You will mostly find arrest records in the custody of local arresting agencies like the county sheriff's office. However, the state's police department has jurisdiction over criminal records. The agency creates criminal records by gathering all crime-related information regarding an offender.

The records have different social implications.

Arrest records do not indicate if the offender was convicted of the arrest charges. Thus, the records do not lead to negative implications like discrimination and restrictions. However, this is not the case for criminal record holders, who may face discrimination, such as limited job opportunities. The law might also restrict convicted sex offenders from living or working in specific areas.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In Brooke County, arrest records remain permanently visible in public records. However, arrestees may legally remove them by following the state-outlined procedures. The procedure includes filing a petition for expungement with the circuit court and other concerned agencies.

Brooke County Arrest Warrants

Arrest warrants are court documents that authorize arresting persons suspected of committing a crime. Per Chapter 62 of the West Virginia Code, court magistrates will issue arrest warrants under these conditions:

• The defendant disobeyed the court summons.
• An arresting officer presents a complaint or affidavit that proves the defendant violated the law.

Arrest warrants in Brooke County typically include information on the following:

• The defendant's data (names, known aliases, and body markings.
• Crime description.
• The court magistrate's signature.
• A court statement that the defendant must be arrested.

Do Brooke County Arrest Warrants Expire?

In Brooke County, arrest warrants do not expire. Instead, they remain valid even after the statute of limitations for the crime has passed. The document only becomes invalid when the defendant is taken into custody or the court nullifies it.

Expunge Brooke County Arrest Records

Expungement is a legal procedure for removing arrest records from publicly available databases. In Brooke County, you may file an arrest record by petitioning the circuit court. The court will then review the petition and determine whether the petitioner can expunge their record.

Who is eligible to expunge arrest records in Brooke County?

Per Chapter 61 of the West Virginia Code, you may expunge arrest records if:

• You were not found guilty of the arrest charges.
• The charges were dismissed and did not lead to a conviction.
• You were convicted and have completed the court-mandated sentence.

How to expunge Brooke County arrest records

1. Create a petition that includes the following data:
   • The petitioner's name, known aliases, current address, social security number, and birth date.
   • Arrest date and charges.
   • Court information, including case number, court of jurisdiction, summons, or indictment
   • Reasons why the court must grant the expungement.
2. Create copies of the petition and send them to these entities:

   • The Brooke County circuit court at:

     Brooke County Judicial Center
     620 Main Street
     P.O. Box 474
     Wellsburg, WV 26070
     Phone: (304) 737-1400
     Fax: (304) 737-5123

   • The Brooke County prosecuting attorney at:
     620 Main Street
     Suite 106
     Wellsburg, WV 26070
     Phone: (304) 527-4220

   • The commissioner, superintendent, or warden at the correctional facility where the petitioner served time.

   • The superintendent of police at:

     West Virginia State Police Headquarters
     725 Jefferson Road
     South Charleston, WV 25309
     Phone: (304) 746-2115