Mineral County Arrest Records

Arrest records document the circumstances under which law enforcement officers in Mineral County, West Virginia, took a person into custody. Under W. Va. Code § 62-1-5, deputies, municipal police, or other authorized agents may make an arrest when they witness a crime, hold a valid warrant, or have probable cause to believe an offense has been committed. Individuals taken into custody are typically booked at the Potomac Highlands Regional Jail, while the Mineral County Sheriff’s Office is responsible for creating and maintaining the associated records. These files often link to other public documents, such as criminal-history reports and court case dockets, so researchers frequently consult Mineral County court records in tandem with arrest information.

Are Arrest Records Public in Mineral County?

Yes, West Virginia’s Freedom of Information Act, W. Va. Code ch. 29B makes most arrest records public. However, § 29B-1-4(a) exempts specific categories from disclosure, including:

• Details that would compromise an active investigation or endanger an individual’s safety
• Identities of confidential sources or undercover personnel
• Medical information, juvenile records, or any document sealed by court order

Unless a statutory exemption applies, members of the public may submit a written or in-person request to the Sheriff’s Office or the relevant court clerk to inspect or obtain copies of arrest records. Access to restricted files is limited to the arrestee, their legal counsel, or others granted permission by a judge.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

In Mineral County, a public arrest record typically comprises:

• The complete name of the person.
• Birthdate.
• Description of the arrestee's body.
• The offense is charged.
• The time and date of the arrest.
• The arresting organization.
• The Booking information.
• Bond or bail details.

Mineral County Arrest Statistics

The FBI UCR and the State Police have provided arrest statistics for Mineral County. The most recent data from Police Scorecard shows that, of the 1,365 total arrests from 2013–2023, 46% (634 arrests) were for low-level, non-violent offenses (e.g., drug possession, petty theft). 8% of all arrests were for violent crimes. Although FBI UCR data may be sparse in some instances, previous reports mentioned 60 property crime arrests (such as burglary and theft) and 17 violent crime arrests (such as aggravated assault and robbery) in previous years. While precise jail population statistics are not available, the county's incarceration rates are consistent with statewide trends of overcrowding. The precise distribution of felonies and misdemeanors is unknown. However, drug-related charges accounted for a sizable portion of all arrests (10%).

Find Mineral County Arrest Records

In Mineral County, county residents may utilize varying county, state, and federal services to locate arrest records. Locally, arrest records are maintained by the Mineral County Sheriff's Office, which can be contacted for mail-in or in-person requests. Usually, requesters need to include the subject's full name, birthdate, and a legitimate government-issued identification document. The Sheriff's Office can be reached at:

Mineral County Sheriff's Office
150 Armstrong Street,
Keyser, WV 26726
Phone: (304) 788-0341

The West Virginia State Police also provides a criminal history check service. To obtain comprehensive arrest histories through the department, applicants are usually required to fill out a request form and provide their fingerprints. Through the website of the West Virginia Regional Jail and Correctional Facility Authority, the Potomac Highlands Regional Jail also offers an online inmate search tool for current inmates. Users can search the database by booking date or name.

At the federal level, interested persons may monitor the incarceration status of West Virginia criminals by using the VINE (Victim Information and Notification Everyday) system. VINE may be accessed online through the West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DCR) or over the phone for free. For inmates housed in federal prisons, the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) also provides an inmate locator tool. Access requirements usually include the convict's name, and users may be required to set up an account for alerts. Record seekers can expect to be charged for copies of complete reports.

Free Arrest Record Search in Mineral County

In Mineral County, there are numerous free resources for looking up arrest records. Most of the search tools listed in the preceding sections are free to use. A free online inmate search tool is available from the West Virginia Regional Jail and Correctional Facility Authority. On request, the Mineral County Sheriff's Office may also furnish basic arrest details at no cost, especially where copies are not requested. Through the VINE system, users may also sign up for free updates to monitor the status of inmates. Alternatively, third-party sites may provide options for free or inexpensive searches. However, since they operate independently of official custodians, the accuracy and validity of the information they provide may not be guaranteed.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

If an arrest is not erased, it usually stays on a person's record indefinitely in Mineral County. According to West Virginia Code § 61-11-25, interested persons may request expungement if their charges were dropped, they were found not guilty, or they finished specific probationary requirements. Expungement may be ordered 60 days following dismissal in non-conviction situations. Those convicted of some misdemeanors are usually required to wait a year following the completion of their sentence. Arrest records are perpetually accessible to law enforcement and background checks if not expunged. These state regulations govern how county agencies handle and disseminate arrest records.

Expunge Mineral County Arrest Records

Mineral County arrest records may be expunged; however, eligibility and the procedure are contingent upon the case's outcome and the type of offense committed. The primary sources of West Virginia expungement laws are W. Va. Code §§ 61-11-25, 61-11-26, and 61-11-26a. Although law enforcement may still have access, the legal procedure of expunging arrest or conviction records from the public domain is known as expungement.

Persons who are arrested but not found guilty—for example, when charges are dropped or they are found not guilty—may ask the court for expungement 60 days following the dismissal under § 61-11-25. The petition needs to be served on the arresting agency and prosecuting attorney in the court where the matter was heard.

Section 61-11-26 permits expungement for some non-violent crimes one year after the sentence is served, as long as the offender has no further convictions. This does not include violent crimes, DUIs, or sexual offenses. Generally speaking, felonies are not eligible unless they fall under one of the designated first-time offender diversion programs. Furthermore, those who finish a probation/diversion program or a deferred sentence may be eligible for expungement, according to § 61-11-26a.

Usually, the procedure for expungement calls for filing a petition with the circuit court that includes information on the arrest, the outcome of the case, and an eligibility statement. If there are no objections or the court determines that the petitioner is eligible, an expungement order will be issued after the hearing. After being approved, the erased records must be made inaccessible to the general public by the West Virginia State Police and other organizations, so they cannot be found in online databases or during background checks.

Mineral County Arrest Warrant Search

An arrest warrant is a signed, written order from a judge or magistrate that permits police enforcement to arrest a particular individual. Law enforcement may arrest without a warrant, but a warrant is required if a suspect is not apprehended at the scene of a crime or shortly after it is committed.

To get an arrest warrant, an officer must present an affidavit demonstrating reasonable cause that a crime was committed and that the defendant was accountable for it. A judge or magistrate reviews the papers and, if satisfied, issues the warrant.

Under W. Va. Code Section 62-1-3, an arrest warrant needs to include:

• The complete name of the defendant or a fairly accurate description
• An explanation of the claimed transgression
• When and where the warrant was issued
• The name of the issuing judge or magistrate
• A command to summon the individual before a court
• The jurisdiction in which the warrant is applicable

Warrants, which peace officers execute, must be served within a reasonable time frame. To find out if there are any active warrants, inquirers may contact the Mineral County Sheriff's Office or the Mineral County Magistrate Court. In-person queries typically require a valid ID because warrant details are not disclosed over the phone for privacy and security concerns.

Do Mineral County Arrest Warrants Expire?

In Mineral County, arrest warrants are perpetual. Under W. Va. Code § 62-1-4, once issued by a judge or magistrate, they are enforceable until they are executed, recalled by the court, or revoked by legal action. A warrant's status could be impacted by the suspect's passing, the underlying charges being dropped, or a motion to quash the warrant being granted. However, no matter how much time has passed, law enforcement can act on legitimate, unsealed warrants at any moment.