Hancock County Arrest Records

In Hancock County, arrests become necessary when there is probable cause to believe an individual has committed an offense. The Hancock County Sheriff’s Department is the primary law enforcement agency responsible for performing arrests, generating arrest records, and operating the county jail. Local police departments, such as the Weirton Police Department, also have the authority to arrest individuals within their jurisdictions.

Once a person is arrested in Hancock, they are typically booked into the county jail. Juvenile arrestees, however, are detained in the Brooke/Hancock County Youth Reporting Center, which is managed by the West Virginia Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Following an arrest, the arresting agency creates an arrest record. Details about an arrestee’s interaction with the judicial system can be found by accessing Hancock County court records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Hancock County?

Yes, Hancock County arrest records are generally considered public under the West Virginia Freedom of Information Law (W. Va. Code § 29B-1-1 et seq.). This means that individuals may freely request access to arrest records from law enforcement agencies in the county. However, state law typically exempts certain arrest information and documents from public disclosure. These records include:

• Records related to ongoing investigations
• Personal details of law enforcement officers
• Arrest records tied to terrorism
• Information that may identify undercover law enforcement personnel or victims of certain crimes
• Juvenile arrest records
• Medical information

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Public Hancock County arrest records generally contain the following information:

• Full name, age, gender, and physical description (height, weight) of the arrested individual
• Location and date of arrest
• Arresting agency (e.g., Hancock County Sheriff’s Office)
• Alleged criminal charges
• Booking details
• Bail or bond information
• Next court date and presiding court
• Arrestee’s mugshot

Hancock County Arrest Statistics

Individuals can find Hancock County arrest statistics on the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer portal. To access a local law enforcement agency’s arrest data, users should choose "West Virginia" as the location to search and the specific law enforcement agency in Hancock County.

According to data shown on the portal, the Hancock Sheriff’s Office reported 29 arrests in 2023, 24 of which involved males and 5 of which involved females. The offenses that resulted in the most arrests were simple assault (6 arrests) and driving under the influence (5 arrests).

Note that not all law enforcement agencies in Hancock County are represented on the Crime Data Explorer. Therefore, individuals are encouraged to contact the respective departments for more comprehensive arrest data.

Find Hancock County Arrest Records

Arrest records are accessible at all arresting agencies in Hancock County. Inquirers can access and obtain the record of an arrest from the agency that made the arrest. Most likely, inquirers will be asked to provide the name of the arrestee on the record and additional details such as the date and location of the arrest.

Related information about a Hancock County arrestee can also be accessed online through any of these portals:

• West Virginia Daily Incarceration portal: Provides access to incarceration logs in West Virginia counties, including Hancock County.
• Offender Search (Jails) portal: Provides information about inmates in county jails. The search criteria include the inmate’s last name and first name.

Researchers can obtain information on inmates in a state-run correctional facility via the Offender Search (Prisons) portal. An inmate’s record can be located using their Offender ID (OID) Number or last and first name.

Additionally, certain federal inmate records are accessible through the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Inmate Locator. A search can be performed using the inmate’s name or ID.

Free Arrest Record Search in Hancock County

Individuals seeking access to arrest records in Hancock may often find them on online third-party platforms. These platforms typically aggregate public records from various government sources and make them available to the public. Users can usually search for arrest records using a name or case number.

While some platforms may offer limited access for free, most require a fee for full or unrestricted access. It is important to note that third-party platforms cannot provide information on confidential arrest records.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

The length of time an arrest remains on an individual’s record in the State of West Virginia depends on the nature of the offense and the outcome of the legal case:

• Arrests that did not lead to a conviction are typically retained for 10 years after a case dismissal.
• Arrests leading to misdemeanor convictions are generally retained for 75 years following a conviction date.
• Arrest records related to felonies where no probable cause was found are retained for one year.

West Virginia law also allows individuals to file for the expungement of their arrest records. However, expungement is only possible under certain conditions.

Expunge Hancock County Arrest Records

Expungement in Hancock County allows eligible individuals to have certain arrest records sealed from public access. The expungement process in Hancock County is governed by state law (W. Va. Code §§ 61-11-25 to 61-11-26b). Individuals may be eligible for expungement in West Virginia if:

• They were found not guilty of the criminal charges.
• The charges were dismissed, but not as part of a plea deal, leading to a conviction.
• They completed a pre-trial diversion program or a deferred adjudication program.
• They have not been convicted of a felony in the past.
• They have no pending charges or proceedings at the time of petitioning.
• They have a nonviolent felony conviction or multiple misdemeanor convictions and:
  • have a medically documented substance abuse history and have completed an approved treatment program, or
  • have graduated from an approved job readiness training course, or both

Additionally, individuals with convictions must have waited the necessary time after completion of the terms of their sentences:

• 1 year for a single misdemeanor
• 2 years for multiple misdemeanors
• 5 years for a nonviolent felony

Violent crimes, sex offenses, and certain serious felonies are generally not eligible for expungement. The expungement process in Hancock involves filing a petition in the local Circuit Court. The petition should contain pertinent details about the arrest, including the grounds on which the petitioner is seeking an expungement. If, after a review of the petition, the court is satisfied with all aspects, an order for expungement will be issued. The effect is the record's withdrawal (or sealing) from public access; however, law enforcement agencies and courts may still have access to the record.

Hancock County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant is a court-issued document directing law enforcement to arrest an individual. A warrant is typically issued after law enforcement lodges a complaint with the court. The complaint is a sworn, written statement made under oath before a judge, and it establishes probable cause that the person accused therein has committed a crime. If the judge finds sufficient grounds for an arrest based on the complaint, they will issue an arrest warrant. In some instances, more than one warrant can be issued on the same complaint. For example, a search warrant and an arrest warrant may be issued together in cases where law enforcement needs to conduct a search and seizure that could uncover incriminating evidence.

Arrest warrants issued in Hancock County generally contain the following information:

• The defendant’s name, or a description with which they may be identified with reasonable certainty if the name is unknown
• The offense the defendant is charged with
• An order to arrest the defendant and bring them before the court

Do Hancock County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No, An arrest warrant generally does not expire after issuance in Hancock County. It remains active until it is executed, recalled by the court, or rendered void due to unique circumstances, like the defendant's death.