Wood County Arrest Records

Wood County arrest records comprise information received or created after an arrest. The record may include arrest-related data such as the arrestee’s personal information, charges, date, and location.

Arrests are legal procedures for apprehending suspected offenders. Peace officers have the legal right to conduct arrests with or without an arrest warrant. For example, the West Virginia Code §15-5-18 enables officers to arrest without a warrant any person who violates state laws in their presence.

Wood County arrest records are mostly under the purview of local law enforcement agencies. The agencies create arrest records and may release them to interested public members.

Public members may also obtain arrest information in crime-related public documents. For instance, Wood County court records may include information on arrests conducted within the county. Criminal history records and inmate records are also sources for finding arrest information.

Are Arrest Records Public in Wood County?

Yes, most Wood County arrest records are public documents. Chapter 29B of the West Virginia Code legalizes public access to arrest records. West Virginia law also determines the procedures and requirements for obtaining the records. For instance, inquirers seeking to obtain arrest records must use resources provided by record custodians. In turn, record custodians may release records to requesters who fulfill the requirements for obtaining records.

Note: Record custodians have the legal right to deny requests for certain arrest records. The exempt records often contain information that violates an individual’s right to safety or privacy. Examples of exempt arrest records include the following:

• Crime detection and investigation files.
• Arrest records that were sealed or expunged due to a court order.
• Law enforcement officers’ personal information, such as emails and home addresses.
• Arrest documents that contain information on the investigative processes used in terrorist acts.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Public arrest records in Wood County typically contain the following details:

• The arrestee’s name, aliases, and other physical features like weight, sex, and age.
• Mugshot
• Arrest charge, date, and location
• Arresting agency
• Booking information
• Bail type.

Wood County Arrest Statistics

As of October 2024, there were no reports on the number of arrests conducted in Wood County. However, the West Virginia Police’s Troop 4 documented a total of 887 arrests in 11 counties, including Wood County. At the same time, there is no county-specific incarceration data for inmates in Wood County jail. West Virginia’s correctional center housed a total of 5,487 inmates as of December 31, 2021.

Find Wood County Arrest Records

Inmate records mostly contain information on arrest events. The records may include arrest details like the arrestee’s name, arrest charges, booking number, and bond information. To access inmate records, interested parties must use resources maintained by state and federal agencies.

At the state level, the West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation hosts a daily list of inmates recently incarcerated in the state’s correctional centers. In addition, the agency hosts a searchable portal for inmates in the state’s jails and prisons. To use the portal, users must input the inmate’s first and last name in the provided search box.

In contrast, the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ inmate locator features information on persons serving time in federal correctional institutions. Record seekers must provide the inmate number or prison number to view records on the platform.

The Wood County sheriff’s office offers an alternative option for finding arrest records. Interested parties must submit a request for arrest records in person at this address:

401 2nd Street
Suite 11
Parkersburg, WV 26101
Phone: (304) 424-1951

Free Arrest Record Search in Wood County

Government-owned search sites offer free access to Wood County arrest records. Inquirers may find arrest records on the following government sites:

• The West Virginia Department of Corrections’s offender search.
• The Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator.

Likewise, third-party search sites offer free access to arrest records generated in Wood County. The sites typically feature user-friendly interfaces that enable users to conveniently find arrest records. Some third-party sites may feature download options for different file formats. Nevertheless, users must note that third-party search sites operate outside government jurisdiction. This means they are not reliable sources for finding Wood County arrest records.

Wood County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Wood County arrests and criminal records provide information on crime-related activities. However, the records are quite different in terms of content, the creation process, and their record custodians.

Arrest records in Wood County only contain arrest-related information. The records typically cover details, such as the arrestee’s personal information, arrest charges and date, and the arresting agency. In contrast, criminal records contain not only arrest information but also court and inmate data.

The creation process for these records is also a differentiating factor. Local law enforcement agencies create arrest records after conducting an arrest. The agencies also serve as the primary record custodians of arrest information. However, the West Virginia Police, via the Criminal Information Bureau, create criminal records by collecting data from the courts, correctional centers, and law enforcement agencies. State-level agencies also maintain criminal records and release them to interested public members.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Wood County arrest records stay on records until they are sealed or expunged. However, not all arrest records are eligible for expungement, according to state laws. To expunge eligible arrest records, you must file a petition with the appropriate government entity.

Expunge Wood County Arrest Records

In Wood County, expungement is a legal process for erasing public records from publicly owned domains. To expunge arrest records in Wood County, the record subject must file a petition with the circuit court. The court will review the petition and submissions from concerned parties. Next, the court may grant or deny the petition based on factors such as eligibility or public safety.

Who is eligible to expunge Wood County arrest records?

Per West Virginia state laws, you are eligible to expunge Wood County arrest records if:

• You were convicted and have completed the court-mandated sentence, program, or treatment.
• Your arrest charges were dismissed or did not lead to a conviction.
• You were charged but acquitted by the courts.

When may I expunge arrest records in Wood County?

You may immediately file a petition to expunge dismissed or non-conviction arrest charges. However, you must wait for a specific time frame when expunging criminal conviction records. To expunge a misdemeanor conviction, you must for a year after completing the court sentence. You must, however, wait for two years if convicted of more than one misdemeanor offense. Persons convicted of a felony must wait for five years after completing the court sentence.

How may I expunge arrest records in Wood County?

You may expunge Wood County arrest records by following these steps:

1. Create a petition that contains these details:
   1. The petitioner’s name, aliases, age, sex, birth date, social security number, and current address.
   2. Arrest information, including charges, date, and location.
   3. Court case files. You may obtain court records from the county court that handled the court case.
   4. Reasons for filing an expungement petition.
2. Attach more documents that support your reasons for filing a petition. The record may include testimonials of good conduct from the community.
3. Make copies of these documents and send them to the agencies listed below:

The superintendent of state police at:

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

Wood County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office
317 Market Street
Parkersburg, WV 26101
Phone: (304) 424-1776

Circuit Court Clerk’s Office
Wood County Judicial Office
#2 Government Square
Room 133
Parkersburg, WV 26102

1. The commissioner, warden, or superintendent at the correctional facility that held the petitioner.

These agencies must file a notice of opposition within 30 days of receiving the petition. The court will review the petition and notice of opposition before making a final decision. If the petition is approved, the court will issue an order to expunge the records.

Wood County Arrest Warrants

Wood County arrest warrants authorize the arrests of persons named on the warrant. The court judge may issue arrest warrants if:

• The defendant refused to honor the court summons
• The arresting agency tenders a complaint or affidavit about the defendant’s crimes.

Arrest warrants issued in Wood County may include the defendant’s personal information, arrest charges, and the court official’s signature.

Do Wood County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Wood County arrest warrants do not expire. The warrant only becomes invalid when the court recalls them or the defendant gets arrested. Note that the statute of limitations does not affect the validity of an arrest warrant.