Monongalia County Arrest Records

In Monongalia County, arrest records contain information concerning arrest events that occurred within the county. Such records are generated when law enforcement officers apprehend persons suspected of breaking the law. Officers may also conduct arrests to prevent potential crimes. Depending on the offense type and severity, arrested persons may be detained at the county jail.

Law enforcement agencies are primarily in charge of creating and storing arrest records. To get Monongalia County arrest records, interested parties must visit the county sheriff’s office at this address:

Monongalia County Sheriff’s Office
116 Walnut Street
Morgantown, WV 26505
Phone: (304) 291-7260

Arrest records are also available in crime-related public documents, such as criminal history records and inmate information. Monongalia County court records may also include information on arrested persons.

Are Arrest Records Public in Monongalia County?

Arrest records are mostly public documents, according to Chapter 29B of the West Virginia Code. The state law permits access to most records generated by public entities. Furthermore, it determines the procedure and other requirements for accessing arrest records in Monongalia County. For example, citizens seeking to obtain arrest records must contact government agencies designated as record custodians. In turn, designated custodians must honor public records requests unless the records are exempt under state laws. The West Virginia Code generally exempts the following arrest-related documents:

• Documents that contain information on the detection and investigations of crimes
• Documents exempt from public view due to a court order
• Arrest documents that contain information on the investigative processes used in terrorist acts
• Law enforcement officers’ personal information, such as social security numbers, home addresses, and personal phone numbers or emails.

Note: Legally eligible persons or entities can view or obtain copies of exempt arrest records. In most cases, the record subject, their legal representatives, and specific government agencies can legally view these records. Nevertheless, eligible persons must present a valid ID to access the records from designated custodians.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Public arrest records in Monongalia County may typically include these details:

• Arrestee’s name and identifying features like sex, age, height, weight, and race
• Arrestee’s photograph
• Booking information
• Arresting agency and location
• Bail type

Monongalia County Crime Rate

According to the FBI's Crime Data Explorer, Monongalia County recorded a total of 358 crimes, including 43 violent-type and 315 property-type crimes. The report covers information on index crimes like murder, larceny, arson, and aggravated assaults. Based on the report, larceny thefts and burglaries were the most reported crimes at 265 and 36, respectively.

Monongalia County Arrest Statistics

West Virginia State Police troops stationed in Morgantown recorded a total of 1,113 arrests in 2023. Although there is no country-specific incarceration data, the state’s correctional facilities housed 5,847 on December 31, 2021.

Find Monongalia County Arrest Records

Monongalia County arrest records are accessible in related public documents like inmate records. Such records typically contain arrest data like the arrestee's name, charges, booking date, and physical-identifying features.

Inmate records are publicly accessible and under the purview of designated government agencies. For instance, the West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation maintains an online database of all detained persons in the state’s correctional facilities. Persons interested in viewing Monongalia inmate records must input the offender’s first or last name into the allocated search boxes. The database features arrest information, such as the name, mugshot, booking date, and physical features.

In contrast, the Federal Bureau of Prisons has an online search portal for all incarcerated offenders. Record seekers using the portal must provide the offender’s name or prison number to obtain arrest information.

Free Arrest Record Search in Monongalia County

In Monongalia County, record seekers can conduct free searches for arrest records using government-owned resources. The resources may include online portals or in-person access to arrest records. Case in point, record seekers can find arrest records on these online resources:

• West Virginia’s inmate search portal
• Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator

Third-party search sites are also alternative options for finding arrest records for free. Such sites are generally easy to use and do not restrict users based on their geographical locations. Nevertheless, third-party search sites mostly operate outside government jurisdiction. This means they are unregulated and may not provide accurate or updated arrest data.

Get Monongalia County Criminal Records

Monongalia County criminal records contain information on an individual’s criminal history. Such records typically contain arrest information, court disposition data, and incarceration records.

West Virginia’s State Police, via the Criminal Identification Bureau, is the designated custodian of criminal records. The agency allows fingerprint-based searches for criminal records in their custody. To obtain criminal records from the agency, applicants must use the agency’s approved third-party vendor. The vendor provides fingerprinting services and forwards the request to the agency. Upon receiving the request, the agency will process it and send the criminal record to the address provided to the applicant.

Note: The agency does not accept in-person requests for criminal records.

Monongalia County Arrest Records vs. Criminal Records

In Monongalia County, arrest records and criminal records provide information on criminal activities. However, the records are quite distinct and differ based on content, creation process, and implications.

For instance, arrest records only cover information on arrest events, including the arrestee’s name, charges, arresting agency, and booking date. In contrast, criminal records are a compilation of crime-related events and may include arrest information, court data, and inmate records.

The creation process of records is also a differentiating factor. Arrest records are generally created after an arrest event. Furthermore, law enforcement agencies are responsible for collating and documenting this information. In contrast, criminal records are created after a criminal conviction and are often under the purview of state-level agencies.

Arrest records are not indications of the arrestee’s guilt; they only contain information on charges.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In Monongalia County, arrest information permanently stays on your record. However, they can be legally removed by expungement or sealing. Note that there are set procedures for sealing or expunging arrest records in Monongalia County.

Expunge Monongalia County Arrest Records

Expungement is a legal process that removes certain records from public view. In Monongalia County, you can expunge arrest records by filing a petition with the circuit court. Upon receiving the petition, the court may grant the request after considering the petitioner’s eligibility and complaints from concerned parties.

Who is eligible to expunge arrest records in Monongalia County?

Under Chapter 61 of the West Virginia Code, you can expunge arrest records under these conditions:

• You were charged with a criminal offense but were not found guilty.
• Your charges were dismissed and did not lead to a conviction.
• You were convicted and completed the court-mandated sentence, program, or treatment.

When can I expunge arrest records in Monongalia County?

Under §61-11-26, there are no waiting periods for expunging arrest charges that did not result in a conviction. However, there are different timeframes for expunging criminal records. To expunge a misdemeanor criminal record, petitioners must wait one year after the court’s conviction, completing a sentence or a supervision period. However, you must wait for two years before expunging multiple misdemeanor offenses. For non-violent felonies, offenders must wait five years after conviction, sentence completion, or supervision period.

Which arrest records are not eligible for expungement?

Per West Virginia law, the following offenses can not be expunged:

• Violent felony offense
• A felony offense in which the victim is a minor
• An offense in which the petitioner used a deadly weapon or instrument
• Offenses that involve driving under the influence
• Sexually motivated criminal convictions

How to expunge Monongalia County arrest records

Petitioners can expunge Monongalia County arrest records by following this guide:

1. Create a petition that contains the following data:
   1. The petitioner’s current name and aliases, current address, birth date, and social security number.
   2. Arrest date
   3. Court of jurisdiction, case number, complaint, indictment, or summons (required if expunging criminal convictions). You can obtain case documents from the court that oversaw the case.
   4. Arrest charges or criminal convictions
   5. Other case-related information, including court disposition and sentencing information
   6. Reasons for filing an expungement, which may include employment or license-related reasons
2. Attach documents that support the request for expungement. The document may include an affidavit or sworn statement.
3. Send a copy of the completed petition and required documentation to these entities:
   1. The circuit court (for arrest charges that led to a dismissal or did not lead to a court conviction). For a criminal conviction, send it to the court that oversaw the case.
   2. The Monongalia County prosecuting attorney at:
      75 High Street
      Morgantown, WV 26505
      Phone: (304) 291-7250
4. The warden, superintendent, or commissioner at the correctional facility where the petitioner was held
5. The superintendent of state police at:
   West Virginia State Police Headquarters
   725 Jefferson Road
   South Charleston, WV 25309
   Phone: (304) 746-2115
6. Within 30 days of receiving the petition, entities who wish to oppose the expungement petition must file a notice of opposition with the court clerk.
7. The court clerk will file a copy of the notice with the petitioner.
8. Next, the court will make a decision concerning the petition or notice of opposition (if filed).

Monongalia County Arrest Warrants

Arrest warrants are court documents that authorize the arrests of persons suspected of breaking the law. Under Chapter 62 of the West Virginia Code, magistrate court judges issue arrest warrants upon receiving an affidavit or complaint from law enforcement officers. In some cases, a judge may issue an arrest warrant if the defendant fails to obey the court summons.

Arrest warrants in Monongalia County typically contain the following information:

• The defendant’s full name and any known aliases
• The magistrate’s signature
• A description of the offense
• A statement that demands the defendant’s arrest.

Monongalia County Arrest Warrant Search

In Monongalia County, citizens can find arrest warrants at the county sheriff’s office. To obtain or view arrest warrants, citizens must contact the county sheriff at:

Note that arrest warrants are also court documents. Thus, citizens may find the record at the courthouse that issued the warrant.

Do Monongalia County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Arrest warrants issued in Monongalia County do not expire. However, the warrant remains valid until the defendant is taken into custody or the court nullifies it.