Jefferson County Arrest Records

Jefferson County arrest records contain official information about arrests that occur within the county’s borders. Law enforcement agencies generate these records after arresting and detaining individuals pursuant to court-issued warrants or based on probable cause. Interested persons may access arrest records by contacting the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office or the local police department that made the arrest. Arrest records are typically part of broader official records maintained by other government bodies, such as Jefferson County court records and criminal history records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Jefferson County?

Arrest records are public in Jefferson County. Records maintained by law enforcement agencies and other government bodies in the county are open to public access under the West Virginia Freedom of Information Act. However, certain arrest records may not be accessible to members of the public, such as juvenile arrest records, sealed and expunged records, and records containing sensitive information.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Arrest records contain information about the arrest and detention of persons in connection with criminal allegations. Information found in a typical Jefferson County arrest record includes the following:

• Name and physical details of the arrested person
• Date and time of arrest
• Place of arrest
• Warrant information
• Bail and bond information
• Mugshot
• Fingerprints
• Arresting authority

Jefferson County Arrest Statistics

According to data provided by the West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation, 135 individuals were incarcerated in Jefferson County in 2023. Persons detained in Jefferson County are often held at the Eastern Regional Jail and Correctional Center.

Find Jefferson County Arrest Records

Interested persons may find information about persons incarcerated in Jefferson County by contacting the law enforcement agencies in the county. Alternatively, they may find inmate records through the Division of Corrections Daily Incarceration webpage. The webpage contains information about individuals admitted into jail within the last 24 hours. Users may also select the inmate search option to search inmate information by name. For details on inmates detained in federal correctional facilities, use the inmate locator tool managed by the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP).

Free Arrest Record Search in Jefferson County

Interested persons may view arrest records and inmate information through official sources such as the Division of Corrections Daily Incarceration webpage and the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ inmate locator tool. Researchers may also find similar records through third-party websites that provide access to public records. Third-party websites are often easy to use, but they may not contain accurate information.

Jefferson County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Jefferson County criminal and arrest records contain information generated during the activities of law enforcement agencies within the county. However, both serve different functions. Arrest records provide official information about arrests and detentions that occur in connection with a criminal complaint. They do not provide comprehensive information on the institution, outcome, and disposition or court proceedings on the criminal charge. Meanwhile, criminal records cover circumstances surrounding a person’s interaction with the criminal justice system from the point of arrest up to the disposition of the case and any completion of any court-ordered program. In essence, criminal records cover a wider range of events than arrest records.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Arrests in Jefferson County remain on an individual’s record indefinitely unless legal action is taken to expunge the record or the person receives a pardon.

Expunge Jefferson County Arrest Records

Generally, arrests relating to charges that do not result in conviction may be expunged in Jefferson County. Under West Virginia Code §61-11-26, an individual may also be eligible to expunge an arrest record in any of the following circumstances:

• If one year has passed from the completion of a sentence or supervision for a misdemeanor conviction
• If 5 years have passed from the completion of a sentence or supervision for a felony conviction
• For multiple misdemeanors, if 2 years have passed after completion of a sentence or supervision for the last conviction

Persons who have completed substance abuse treatment, recovery and counseling programs, or certain education goals may be eligible for a shorter waiting period. Also, note that arrests relating to certain convictions, such as domestic violence, sexual offenses, and DUIs, may not be eligible for expungement in Jefferson County.

Eligible applicants may then file the Petition for the Expungement of Misdemeanor Violation or Petition for the Expungement of Felony Violation with the Jefferson County Circuit Court and send copies to the following persons and entities:

• The Superintendent of the State Police
• The county’s prosecuting attorney
• The executive head of the law enforcement agency that made the arrest
• The executive head of the local police department where the offense occurred
• The superintendent or warden of any institution where the applicant was incarcerated
• The court that handled the criminal charges

Following the filing and appropriate service of the petition, these entities may object to the expungement, and the applicant may reply to such objections. Once the expungement is approved, the arrest record becomes inaccessible to the public.

Jefferson County Arrest Warrants

In Jefferson County, a magistrate of the circuit court may issue an arrest warrant based on a complaint or affidavit demonstrating probable cause for the arrest of a person suspected of committing a crime. The warrant directs law enforcement agencies or officers within the jurisdiction to apprehend and bring the suspect before the court. Typical contents of an arrest warrant include the following:

• The court issuing the warrant
• Signature of the magistrate
• Name of the suspect
• The criminal charges alleged in the complaint
• Directions to law enforcement to apprehend the suspect

Do Jefferson County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Generally, an arrest warrant in Jefferson County remains valid until the suspect named on it is apprehended and brought before the court. Nonetheless, a warrant may be canceled or dismissed by the court that issued it.